The Americans Part 15

There's some spy here.

LION.

Come down, comrades!

VOICES.

(_Above_)

We're fast! we're fast!

Nails in our hands and feet!

THIRD VOICE.

Who's that?

VOICES.

(_Below_)

They've danced upon my face! And mine!

And mine! And mine! And mine! And mine!

A VOICE.

I've been a door-jamb years and years!

VOICES.

(_From round the walls_)

We've held these arches up for ages!

VOICES.

(_From far below_)

We're the foundations! Help us, comrades!

Down on the rock here--deeper! deeper!

VOICES.

Help us, Sam Williams! Help us, Sam Williams!

LION.

Come down, comrades!

VOICES.

(_From far away_)

We're the windows!

They made us sand, then made us s.h.i.+ne!

We've touched their faces and their hair!

VOICES.

(_From up the stairs_)

We're coming, and there's thousands of us!

VOICES.

(_Far up_)

We're holding up the roof!

LION.

Come down!

You've held her up too long already!

(_There has been a pounding of hammers and a creaking as of timbers being loosened. Sighs and groans fill the hall. The lights burn unsteadily, flas.h.i.+ng or going out or glowing with a tint of blue_)

VOICES.

Help us, Sam Williams! Help _us_! Help _us_!

OTHER VOICES.

Let 'em alone! They're scabs! They're scabs!

(_Carven figures, still rigid, come from the walls. From everywhere they come, in the most fantastic postures, some hopping with one leg lifted, some gliding with raised axes, others bent and in pairs carrying cross-cut saws, still others with peavies in their hands.

Up through the floor all round come dark figures with torches in their caps. Stealthily and with m.u.f.fled voices they gather about the Lion. Suddenly the pounding ceases and all is still_)

A VOICE.

He's coming, and the Powers are with him!

SECOND VOICE.

Justice is all we want!

SEVERAL VOICES.

Right! Right!