ANNA. Grand-dad! Talk to me, darling--I feel so sick . . .
LUKA. Never mind--it's always like this before you die, little
dove--never mind, dear! Just have faith! Once you're dead, you'll have
peace--always. There's nothing to be afraid of--nothing. Quiet! Peace!
Lie quietly! Death wipes out everything. Death is kindly. You die--and
you rest--that's what they say. It is true, dear! Because--where can
we find rest on this earth?
[_Pepel enters. He is slightly drunk, dishevelled, and sullen. Sits
down on bunk near door, and remains silent and motionless._]
ANNA. And how is it--there? More suffering?
LUKA. Nothing of the kind! No suffering! Trust me! Rest--nothing else!
They'll lead you into God's presence, and they'll say: "Dear God!
Behold! Here is Anna, Thy servant!"
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_sternly_] How do you know what they'll say up there?
Oh, you . . .
[_Pepel, on hearing Miedviedieff's voice, raises his head and
listens._]
LUKA. Apparently I do know, Mr. Sergeant!
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_conciliatory_] Yes--it's your own affair--though I'm
not exactly a sergeant--yet--
BUBNOFF. I jump two!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Damn--play!
LUKA. And the Lord will look at you gently and tenderly and He'll say:
"I know this Anna!" Then He'll say: "Take Anna into Paradise. Let her
have peace. I know. Her life on earth was hard. She is very weary. Let
Anna rest in peace!"
ANNA [_choking_] Grandfather--if it were only so--if there were only
rest and peace . . .
LUKA. There won't be anything else! Trust me! Die in joy and not in
grief. Death is to us like a mother to small children . . .
ANNA. But--perhaps--perhaps I get well . . . ?
LUKA [_laughing_] Why--? Just to suffer more?
ANNA. But--just to live a little longer . . . just a little longer!
Since there'll be no suffering hereafter, I could bear it a little
longer down here . . .
LUKA. There'll be nothing in the hereafter . . . but only . . .
PEPEL [_rising_] Maybe yes--maybe no!
ANNA [_frightened_] Oh--God!
LUKA. Hey--Adonis!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Who's that yelping?
PEPEL [_crossing over to him_] I! What of it?
MIEDVIEDIEFF. You yelp needlessly--that's what! People ought to have
some dignity!
PEPEL. Block-head! And that's an uncle for you--ho-ho!
LUKA [_to Pepel, in an undertone_] Look here--don't shout--this
woman's dying--her lips are already grey--don't disturb her!
PEPEL. I've respect for you, grand-dad. You're all right, you are! You
lie well, and you spin pleasant yarns. Go on lying, brother--there's
little fun in this world . . .
BUBNOFF. Is the woman really dying?
LUKA. You think I'm joking?
BUBNOFF. That means she'll stop coughing. Her cough was very
disturbing. I jump two!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. I'd like to murder you!
PEPEL. Abramka!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. I'm not Abramka to you!
PEPEL. Abrashka! Is Natasha ill?
MIEDVIEDIEFF. None of your business!
PEPEL. Come--tell me! Did Vassilisa beat her up very badly?
MIEDVIEDIEFF. That's none of your business, either! It's a family
affair! Who are you anyway?
PEPEL. Whoever I am, you'll never see Natashka again if I choose!
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_throwing up the game_] What's that? Who are you
alluding to? My niece by any chance? You thief!
PEPEL. A thief whom you were never able to catch!
MIEDVIEDIEFF. Wait--I'll catch you yet--you'll see--sooner than you
think!
PEPEL. If you catch me, God help your whole nest! Do you think I'll
keep quiet before the examining magistrate? Every wolf howls! They'll
ask me: "Who made you steal and showed you where?" "Mishka Kostilyoff
and his wife!" "Who was your fence?" "Mishka Kostilyoff and his wife!"
MIEDVIEDIEFF. You lie! No one will believe you!
PEPEL. They'll believe me all right--because it's the truth! And I'll
drag you into it, too. Ha! I'll ruin the lot of you--devils--just
watch!
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_confused_] You lie! You lie! And what harm did I do to
you, you mad dog?
PEPEL. And what good did you ever do me?
LUKA. That's right!
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_to Luka_] Well--what are you croaking about? Is it any
of your business? This is a family matter!
BUBNOFF [_to Luka_] Leave them alone! What do we care if they twist
each other's tails?
LUKA [_peacefully_] I meant no harm. All I said was that if a man
isn't good to you, then he's acting wrong . . .
MIEDVIEDIEFF [_uncomprehending_] Now then--we all of us here know each
other--but you--who are you? [_Frowns and exit_]
LUKA. The cavalier is peeved! Oh-ho, brothers, I see your affairs are
a bit tangled up!
PEPEL. He'll run to complain about us to Vassilisa . . .
BUBNOFF. You're a fool, Vassily. You're very bold these days, aren't
you? Watch out! It's all right to be bold when you go gathering
mushrooms, but what good is it here? They'll break your neck before
you know it!
PEPEL. Well--not as fast as all that! You don't catch us Yaroslavl
boys napping! If it's going to be war, we'll fight . . .