KOSTILYOFF [_yelling_] What? I? The Boss? I get out? You thief!
PEPEL [_sullenly_] Go away, Mishka!
KOSTILYOFF. Don't you dare--I--I'll show you.
[_Pepel seizes him by the collar and shakes him. From the stove come
loud noises and yawns. Pepel releases Kostilyoff who runs into the
hallway, screaming._]
PEPEL [_jumping on a bunk_] Who is it? Who's on the stove?
LUKA [_raising his head_] Eh?
PEPEL. You?
LUKA [_undisturbed_] I--I myself--oh, dear Jesus!
PEPEL [_shuts hallway door, looks for the wooden closing bar, but
can't find it_] The devil! Come down, old man!
LUKA. I'm climbing down--all right . . .
PEPEL [_roughly_] What did you climb on that stove for?
LUKA. Where was I to go?
PEPEL. Why--didn't you go out into the hall?
LUKA. The hall's too cold for an old fellow like myself, brother.
PEPEL. You overheard?
LUKA. Yes--I did. How could I help it? Am I deaf? Well, my boy,
happiness is coming your way. Real, good fortune I call it!
PEPEL [_suspiciously_] What good fortune--?
LUKA. In so far as I was lying on the stove . . .
PEPEL. Why did you make all that noise?
LUKA. Because I was getting warm . . . it was your good luck . . . I
thought if only the boy wouldn't make a mistake and choke the old
man . . .
PEPEL. Yes--I might have done it . . . how terrible . . .
LUKA. Small wonder! It isn't difficult to make a mistake of that sort.
PEPEL [_smiling_] What's the matter? Did you make the same sort of
mistake once upon a time?
LUKA. Boy, listen to me. Send that woman out of your life! Don't let
her near you! Her husband--she'll get rid of him herself--and in a
shrewder way than you could--yes! Don't you listen to that devil! Look
at me! I am bald-headed--know why? Because of all these women. . . .
Perhaps I knew more women than I had hair on the top of my head--but
this Vassilisa--she's worse than the plague. . . .
PEPEL. I don't understand . . . I don't know whether to thank
you--or--well . . .
LUKA. Don't say a word! You won't improve on what I said. Listen: take
the one you like by the arm, and march out of here--get out of
here--clean out . . .
PEPEL [_sadly_] I can't understand people. Who is kind and who isn't?
It's all a mystery to me . . .
LUKA. What's there to understand? There's all breeds of men . . . they
all live as their hearts tell them . . . good to-day, bad to-morrow!
But if you really care for that girl . . . take her away from here and
that's all there is to it. Otherwise go away alone . . . you're
young--you're in no hurry for a wife . . .
PEPEL [_taking him by the shoulder_] Tell me! Why do you say all this?
LUKA. Wait. Let me go. I want a look at Anna . . . she was coughing so
terribly . . . [_Goes to Anna's bed, pulls the curtains, looks,
touches her. Pepel thoughtfully and distraught, follows him with his
eyes_] Merciful Jesus Christ! Take into Thy keeping the soul of this
woman Anna, new-comer amongst the blessed!
PEPEL [_softly_] Is she dead?
[_Without approaching, he stretches himself and looks at the bed._]
LUKA [_gently_] Her sufferings are over! Where's her husband?
PEPEL. In the saloon, most likely . . .
LUKA. Well--he'll have to be told . . .
PEPEL [_shuddering_] I don't like corpses!
LUKA [_going to door_] Why should you like them? It's the living who
demand our love--the living . . .
PEPEL. I'm coming with you . . .
LUKA. Are you afraid?
PEPEL. I don't like it . . .
[_They go out quickly. The stage is empty and silent for a few
moments. Behind the door is heard a dull, staccato, incomprehensible
noise. Then the Actor enters._]
THE ACTOR [_stands at the open door, supporting himself against the
jamb, and shouts_] Hey, old man--where are you--? I just
remembered--listen . . . [_Takes two staggering steps forward and,
striking a pose, recites_]
"Good people! If the world cannot find
A path to holy truth,
Glory be to the madman who will enfold all humanity
In a golden dream . . ."
[_Natasha appears in the doorway behind the Actor_]