Savva and the Life of Man - LightNovelsOnl.com
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SAVVA
Louder! No one hears you. It's a spicy bit of information.
LIPA
Go away from here.
_[The Friar returns._
SAVVA _(looking into the distance with narrowed eyes)_
It's nice out there, isn't it, Va.s.sya? Whose woods are they?
Vazykin's? Have I ever been there with you?
FRIAR _(gleefully)_
Yes, they're Vazykin's. I was there yesterday, Mr. Savva. I caught a whole handful of fireflies, but as I ran--_(He grows sorrowful at the memory)_ My, how they are shouting! What are they up to anyway? Did you say they killed three, Mr. Tropinin? Was that what you said?
SAVVA _(coolly)_
Yes, three.
FRIAR
What are they pus.h.i.+ng and jostling for anyhow? He'll be carried in the procession and they can all see Him.
SAVVA
When will they carry Him?
FRIAR _(looking up)_
It won't be long now.
LIPA
They'll sing "Christ is Arisen" to-day.
SAVVA _(smiling)_
Is that so? Didn't I arrange a feast-day for them though?
_[Tony and Speransky appear._
FRIAR
Are these fellows here too? For goodness' sake, what do they want?
What are they looking for? I don't like it. Mr. Tropinin, come; let's go away from here.
SAVVA
Why?
FRIAR
They are coming this way, Speransky--
SAVVA
Aha! The "Tramp of Death" is approaching.
_[Lipa looks at him in astonishment. The Friar presses his hand to his bosom in a state of agitation._
FRIAR _(plaintively)_
What are you saying? Oh, G.o.d! Why did you say that? You mustn't do it.
This is no tramp of death, nothing of the kind.
SAVVA
It's a kind of story he has written--Good morning, good morning. What can I do for you?
SPERANSKY
Mr. Anthony Tropinin is looking for you, Mr. Savva.
SAVVA
What do you want?
TONY _(very sadly, hiding a little behind Speransky)_
Nothing.
FRIAR _(listening attentively and then speaking with pa.s.sion)_ What are you running around for then, and whom are you hunting? If you want nothing, do nothing. But you are running around and hunting, hunting.
It isn't nice, I tell you!
TONY _(after a pa.s.sing glance at the Friar he fixes his gaze on Savva)_ Savva.
SAVVA _(irritated)_
What do you want?
_[Tony makes no answer, but hides behind Speransky, looking over his shoulder. In the course of what follows he keeps steadily looking at Savva. His lips and eyebrows twitch, and at times he presses both his hands hard against his mouth._
SPERANSKY
The crowd is in a state of great agitation, Miss Olympiada. They broke the old gate opening on the other side of the woods and rushed in. The Father Superior came out and asked them to behave. They shout so you can't hear anything at all. Many are rolling on the ground in convulsions. I suppose they are sick. It's very strange, quite unusual in fact.
