PEPEL. Where? Please tell me!
LUKA. Go to Siberia!
PEPEL. If I go to Siberia, it'll be at the Tsar's expense!
LUKA. Listen! You go just the same! You can make your own way there.
They need your kind out there . . .
PEPEL. My way is clear. My father spent all his life in prison, and I
inherited the trait. Even when I was a small child, they called me
thief--thief's son.
LUKA. But Siberia is a fine country--a land of gold. Any one who has
health and strength and brains can live there like a cucumber in a
hot-house.
PEPEL. Old man, why do you always tell lies?
LUKA. What?
PEPEL. Are you deaf? I ask--why do you always lie?
LUKA. What do I lie about?
PEPEL. About everything. According to you, life's wonderful
everywhere--but you lie . . . why?
LUKA. Try to believe me. Go and see for yourself. And some day you'll
thank me for it. What are you hanging round here for? And, besides,
why is truth so important to you? Just think! Truth may spell death to
you!
PEPEL. It's all one to me! If that--let it be that!
LUKA. Oh--what a madman! Why should you kill yourself?
BUBNOFF. What are you two jawing about, anyway? I don't understand.
What kind of truth do you want, Vaska? And what for? You know the
truth about yourself--and so does everybody else . . .
PEPEL. Just a moment! Don't crow! Let him tell me! Listen, old man! Is
there a God?
[_Luka smiles silently._]
BUBNOFF. People just drift along--like shavings on a stream. When a
house is built--the shavings are thrown away!
PEPEL. Well? Is there a God? Tell me.
LUKA [_in a low voice_] If you have faith, there is; if you haven't,
there isn't . . . whatever you believe in, exists . . .
[_Pepel looks at Luka in staring surprise._]
BUBNOFF. I'm going to have tea--come on over to the restaurant!
LUKA [_to Pepel_] What are you staring at?
PEPEL. Oh--just because! Wait now--you mean to say . . .
BUBNOFF. Well--I'm off.
[_Goes to door and runs into Vassilisa._]
PEPEL. So--you . . .
VASSILISA [_to Bubnoff_] Is Nastasya home?