_The same hour of night. In the darkness it is difficult to
discern the silhouettes of the ruined buildings and of the
trees. At the right, a half-destroyed bridge. In the distance a
fire is burning. From time to time the German flashlights are
seen across the dark sky. Near the bridge, an automobile in
which the wounded Emil Grelieu and his son are being carried to
Antwerp. Jeanne and a young physician are with them. Something
has broken down in the automobile and a soldier-chauffeur is
bustling about with a lantern trying to repair it. Dr. Langloi
stands near him._
DOCTOR
_Uneasily._
Well? How is it?
CHAUFFEUR
_Examining._
I don't know yet.
DOCTOR
Is it a serious break?
CHAUFFEUR
No--I don't know.
MAURICE
_From the automobile._
What is it, Doctor? Can't we start?
CHAUFFEUR
_Angrily._
We'll start!
DOCTOR
I don't know. Something is out of order. He says it isn't
serious.
MAURICE
Shall we stay here long?
DOCTOR
_To the chauffeur._
Shall we stay here long?
CHAUFFEUR
_Angrily._
How do I know? About ten minutes I think. Please hold the light
for me.
_Hands the lantern to the doctor._
MAURICE
Then I will come out.
JEANNE
You had better stay here, Maurice. You may hurt your arm.
MAURICE
No, mother, I am careful. Where is the step? How inconvenient.
Why don't they throw the flashlight here?
_Jumps off and watches the chauffeur at work._
MAURICE
How unfortunate that we are stuck here!
CHAUFFEUR
_Grumbling._
A bridge! How can anybody drive across such a bridge?
DOCTOR
Yes, it is unfortunate. We should have started out earlier.
MAURICE
_Shrugging his shoulders._
Father did not want to leave. How could we start? Mamina, do
you think our people are already in Antwerp?
JEANNE
Yes, I think so. Emil, aren't you cold?
EMIL GRELIEU
No. It is very pleasant to breathe the fresh air. I feel
stronger.
DOCTOR
_To Maurice._
I think we are still in the region which--
MAURICE
Yes. What time is it, Doctor?
DOCTOR
_Looking at his watch._
Twenty--a quarter of ten.
MAURICE
Then it is a quarter of an hour since the bursting of the dams.
Yes! Mamma, do you hear, it is a quarter of ten now!
JEANNE
Yes, I hear.
MAURICE
But it is strange that we haven't heard any explosions.
DOCTOR
How can you say that, Monsieur Maurice? It is very far away.
MAURICE
I thought that such explosions would be heard a hundred
kilometers away. My God, how strange it is! Our house and our
garden will soon be flooded! I wonder how high the water will
rise. Do you think it will reach up to the second story?
DOCTOR
Possibly. Well, how are things moving?
CHAUFFEUR
_Grumbling._
I am working.
MAURICE
Look, look! Mamma, see how the searchlights are working. They
seem to be frightened. Father, do you see them?
EMIL GRELIEU
Jeanne, lift me a little.
JEANNE
My dear, I don't know whether I am allowed to do it.
DOCTOR
You may lift him a little, if it isn't very painful. The bandage
is tight.
JEANNE
Do you feel any pain?
EMIL GRELIEU
No. They are frightened.
MAURICE
Father, they are flashing the searchlights across the sky like
madmen. Look, look!
_A bluish light is flashed over them, faintly illuminating the
whole group._
MAURICE
Right into my eyes! Does that come from an elevation, father?
EMIL GRELIEU
I suppose so. Either they have been warned, or the water is
reaching them by this time.
JEANNE
Do you think so, Emil?
EMIL GRELIEU
Yes. It seems to me that I hear the sound of the water from that
side.
_All listen and look in the direction from which the noise came._
DOCTOR
_Uneasily._
How unpleasant this is! We should have started out sooner. We
are too late.
MAURICE
Father, it seems to me I hear voices. Listen--it sounds as
though they are crying there. Many, many people. Father, the
Prussians are crying. It is they!
_A distant, dull roaring of a crowd is heard. Then the crash of
shots resounds. Sobs of military horns. The searchlights are
swaying from side to side._
EMIL GRELIEU
It is they.
DOCTOR
If we don't start in a quarter of an hour--
EMIL GRELIEU
In half an hour, Doctor.
MAURICE
Father, how beautiful and how terrible it is! Give me your hand,
mother.
JEANNE
What is it?
MAURICE
I want to kiss it. Mother, you have no gloves on!
JEANNE
What a foolish little boy you are, Maurice.
MAURICE
Monsieur Langloi said that in three days from now I may remove
my bandage. Just think of it, in three days I shall be able to
take up my gun again!... Oh, who is that? Look, who is that?
_All near the automobile assume defensive positions. The
chauffeur and the doctor draw their revolvers. A figure appears
from the field, approaching from one of the ditches. A peasant,
wounded in the leg, comes up slowly, leaning upon a cane._
MAURICE
Who is there?
PEASANT
Our own, our own. And who are you? Are you going to the city?
MAURICE
Yes, we're going to the city. Our car has broken down, we're
repairing it. What are you doing here?
PEASANT
What am I doing here?
_Examines the unfamiliar faces curiously. They also look at him
attentively, by the light of the lantern._
CHAUFFEUR
Give me the light!
PEASANT
Are you carrying a wounded man? I am also wounded, in my leg. I
cannot walk, it is very hard. I must lean on my cane. Are you
going to the city? I lay there in the ditch and when I heard you
speak French I crawled out. My name is Jaqular.
DOCTOR
How were you wounded?
PEASANT
I was walking in the field and they shot me. They must have
thought I was a rabbit.
_Laughs hoarsely._
They must have thought I was a rabbit. What is the news,
gentlemen? Is our Belgium lost?
_Laughs._
Eh? Is our Belgium lost?
MAURICE
Don't you know?
PEASANT
What can I know? I lay there and looked at the sky--that's all I
know. Did you see the sky? Just look at it, I have been watching
it all the time. What is that I see in the sky, eh? How would
you explain it?
EMIL GRELIEU
Sit down near us.
MAURICE
Listen, sit down here. It seems you haven't heard anything. You
must get away from here. Do you know that the dams are broken?
Do you understand? The dams!
PEASANT
The dams?
MAURICE
Yes. Don't you hear the cries over there? Listen! They are
crying there--the Prussians!
PEASANT
Water?
MAURICE
Water. It must be reaching them now. They must have learned of
it by this time. Listen, it is so far, and yet we can hear!
_The peasant laughs hoarsely._
MAURICE
Sit down, right here, the automobile is large. Doctor, help him.
I will hold the lantern.
CHAUFFEUR
_Muttering._
Sit down, sit down! Eh!
DOCTOR
_Uneasily._
What is it? Bad? Chauffeur, be quick! We can't stay here! The
water is coming. We should have started out earlier.
MAURICE
What an unfortunate mishap!
JEANNE
_Agitated._
They shot you like a rabbit? Do you hear, Emil--they thought a
rabbit was running! Did you resemble a rabbit so closely?
_She laughs loudly, the peasant also laughs._
PEASANT
I look like a rabbit! Exactly like a rabbit.
JEANNE
Do you hear, Emil? He says he looks exactly like a rabbit!
_Laughs._
EMIL GRELIEU
Jeanne!
MAURICE
Mamma!
JEANNE
It makes me laugh--it seems so comical to me that they mistake
us for rabbits. And now, what are we now--water rats? Emil, just
picture to yourself, water rats in an automobile!
MAURICE
Mamma!
JEANNE
No, no, I am not laughing any more, Maurice!
_Laughs._
And what else are we? Moles? Must we hide in the ground?
PEASANT
_Laughs._
And now we must hide in the ground--
JEANNE
_In the same tone._
And they will remain on the ground? Emil, do you hear?
EMIL GRELIEU
My dear! My dear!
MAURICE
_To the doctor._
Listen, you must do something. Haven't you anything? Listen!
Mamma, we are starting directly, my dear!
JEANNE
No, never mind, I am not laughing any more. How foolish you are.
Maurice, I simply felt like talking. I was silent too long. I
was forever silent, but just now I felt like chattering. Emil,
I am not disturbing you with my talk, am I? Why is the water so
quiet, Emil? It was the King who said, "The water is silent,"
was it not? But I should like to see it roar, crash like
thunder.... No, I cannot, I cannot bear this silence! Ah, why is
it so quiet--I cannot bear it!
MAURICE
_To the chauffeur._
My dear fellow, please hurry up!
CHAUFFEUR
Yes, yes! I'm working, I'm working. We'll start soon.
JEANNE
_Suddenly cries, threatening._
But I cannot bear it! I cannot!
_Covers her mouth with her hands; sobs._
I cannot!
MAURICE
Mamma!
EMIL GRELIEU
All will end well, Jeanne. All will end well. I know. I also
feel as you do. But all will end well, Jeanne!
JEANNE
_Sobbing, but calming herself somewhat._
I cannot bear it!
EMIL GRELIEU
All will end well, Jeanne! Belgium will live! The sun will
shine! I am suffering, but I know this, Jeanne!
MAURICE
Quicker! Quicker!
CHAUFFEUR
In a moment, in a moment. Now it is fixed, in a moment.
EMIL GRELIEU
_Faintly._
Jeanne!
JEANNE
Yes, yes, I know.... Forgive me, forgive me, I will soon--
_A loud, somewhat hoarse voice of a girl comes from the dark._
GIRL
Tell me how I can find my way to Lonua!
_Exclamations of surprise._
MAURICE
Who is that?
JEANNE
Emil, it is that girl!
_Laughs._
She is also like a rabbit!
DOCTOR
_Grumbles._
What is it, what is it--Who?
_Throws the light on the girl. Her dress is torn, her eyes look
wild. The peasant is laughing._
PEASANT
She is here again?
CHAUFFEUR
Let me have the light!
DOCTOR
Very well!
GIRL
_Loudly._
How can I find my way to Lonua?
EMIL GRELIEU
Maurice, you must stop her! My child, my child! Doctor, you--
CHAUFFEUR
Put down the lantern! The devil take this!
GIRL
_Shouts._
Hands off! No, no, you will not dare--
MAURICE
You can't catch her--
_The girl runs away._
EMIL GRELIEU
Doctor, you must catch her! She will perish here, quick--
_She runs away. The doctor follows her in the dark._
PEASANT
She asked me, too, how to go to Lonua. How am I to know? Lonua!
_The girl's voice resounds in the dark and then there is
silence._
EMIL GRELIEU
You must catch her! What is it? You must!
MAURICE
But how, father?
_They listen. Silence. Dull cries of a mob resound. Jeanne
breaks into muffled laughter._
MAURICE
_Mutters._
Now he is gone! Oh, my God!
CHAUFFEUR
_Triumphantly._
Take your seats! Ready!
MAURICE
But the doctor isn't here. Oh, my God! Father, what shall we do
now?
CHAUFFEUR
Let us call him. Eh!
_Maurice and the chauffeur call: "Doctor! Eh! Langloi!"_
CHAUFFEUR
_Angrily._
I must deliver Monsieur Grelieu, and I will deliver him. Take
your seats!
MAURICE
_Shouts._
Langloi!
_A faint echo in the distance._
Come! Doctor!
_The response is nearer._
PEASANT
He did not catch her. You cannot catch her. She asked me, too,
about the road to Lonua. She is insane.
_Laughs._
There are many like her now.
EMIL GRELIEU
_Imploringly._
Jeanne!
JEANNE
But I cannot, Emil. What is it? I cannot understand. What is
it? Where are we? My God, I don't understand anything. I used
to understand, I used to understand, but now--Where is Pierre?
_Firmly._
Where is Pierre?
MAURICE
Oh, will he be here soon? Mother dear, we'll start in a moment!
JEANNE
Yes, yes, we'll start in a moment! But I don't understand
anything. Where are we? Why such a dream, why such a dream? I
can't understand! Who has come? My head is aching. Who has come?
Why has it happened?
_A mice from the darkness, quite near._
JEANNE
_Frightened._
Who is shouting? What a strange dream, what a terrible,
terrible, terrible dream. Where is Pierre?
MAURICE
Mother!
JEANNE
I cannot!
_Lowering her voice._
I cannot--why are you torturing me? Where is Pierre?
EMIL GRELIEU
He is dead, Jeanne!
JEANNE
No!!!
EMIL GRELIEU
He is dead, Jeanne. But I swear to you by God, Jeanne!--Belgium
will live. Weep, sob, you are a mother. I too am crying with
you--But I swear by God: Belgium will live! God has given me the
light to see, and I can see. Songs will resound here. Jeanne!
A new Spring will come here, the trees will be covered with
blossoms--I swear to you, Jeanne, they will be covered with
blossoms! And mothers will caress their children, and the sun
will shine upon their heads, upon their golden-haired little
heads! Jeanne! There will be no more bloodshed. I see a new
world, Jeanne! I see my nation: Here it is advancing with palm
leaves to meet God who has come to earth again. Weep, Jeanne,
you are a mother! Weep, unfortunate mother--God weeps with you.
But there will be happy mothers here again--I see a new world,
Jeanne, I see a new life!
_Curtain_
End of Project Gutenberg's The Sorrows of Belgium, by Leonid Andreyev