Rada: A Drama of War in One Act

SCENE--_A guest-chamber, the typical living-room of a prosperous village doctor in the Balkans. On the left, a small window and an entrance door. On the right, a door leading into a bedroom. At the back, an open fire of logs is burning brightly. Over the fireplace is the eikonostasis, with three richly coloured and gilded eikons, the central one of the Madonna. The light, which is never allowed to go out, is burning before it. The room is lit at present only by this, the fire-light, and two candles in brass candlesticks on a black wooden table under the window. Rows of porcelain plates round the walls gleam fitfully. On either side of the eikonostasis is a large chibouk, with inlaid bowl and amber mouth-piece. There is a divan with scarlet rugs flung across it to the right of the fire; and there are several skins and rugs on the floor.

Two Roumanian soldiers_, ARRAM_ and MICHAEL, are seated at the table, drinking.

RADA, a dark handsome woman, sits weeping with her head bowed in her hands, on the divan.

NANKO, the idiot, sits on the floor, rubbing his hands, snapping his fingers, chuckling to himself, and staring into the fire.

ARRAM Look here, my girl, where's the use of snivelling? You ought to think yourself damned lucky to be alive.

RADA O my God! My God!

MICHAEL This is war, this is! And you can't expect war to be all cakes and cream.

[_They laugh and drink_.]

ARRAM You ought to think yourself damned lucky to be alive, and have two men quartered on you instead of one. If your husband and the rest of the villagers hadn't made such a disturbance, they might have been alive, too.

NANKO Exactly! Exactly! I used to be a schoolmaster, you know, in the old days; and, if you knew what I know, you'd understand, my dear, it's entirely a question of the survival of the fittest! The survival of the fittest! That's what it is.

ARRAM Wouldn't they have done the same to us, if they'd had the chance? We've got women and children at home snivelling and saying, "O my God, O my God," just like you. Don't you trouble about God. What can He do when both sides go down on their marrow-bones? He can't make both sides win, can He?

RADA O God! God! God!

MICHAEL [_Getting up and standing in front of her_.] Look here. We've had enough of this music. We've been cutting throats all day, and now we want to unbuckle a bit. There'll be hell to pay when the other boys come back. A pretty wild-goose chase you've sent them on, too, with your tale about the old Jew's money-bags. What was the game? You seemed mighty anxious to wheedle us all out of the house; and you'd never get out of the village alive to-night. Listen to that!

[_There is an uproar outside, a shot, and a woman's scream, followed by the terrified cry of a child_: "Ah! Ah! Father!"]

ARRAM The men are mad with zaki and blood and--other things. There's no holding them in, even from the children. What chance would there be for a fine-looking wench like yourself?

MICHAEL Don't tell me you were going out into that? [_He points in the direction of the uproar_.] Something to hide on the spot, eh? Well, now you've got the others out of the way, we're going to have a look. What's in there? [_He points to the little door on the left_.]

RADA [_Rising to her feet slowly, steadying herself with one hand against the wall, and fixing her eyes on his face_.] This is war, isn't it? If I choose to revenge myself on those I hate-- listen to me. I suppose you--want money. And I can tell you where to find it.

ARRAM Another wild-goose chase to the other end of the valley?

RADA No. In the old mill-house. Not a hundred yards away. Money, money enough to make us all rich. But [_a cunning expression comes into her face_] if I tell you where to find it, you must come back and give me my share.

MICHAEL [_Staring at her._] Another pack of lies! What are you up to, eh?

ARRAM It's been too much for her nerves. Don't worry her, or she'll go out of her mind, and then there'll be nobody to get us our supper.

NANKO That would be selfish, Rada. You know it's Christmas Eve. Nobody ought to think of unpleasant things on Christmas Eve. I don't think it's right to spoil people's pleasure on Christmas Eve. What have you done with the Christmas tree, Rada?

ARRAM And who's to blame? That's what I want to know. You don't blame us, do you? Why, as likely as not, we shall be fighting on your side against somebody else before next Christmas.

MICHAEL What have you got in there? [_He points to the door on the left again and advances toward it._]

RADA [_Hurriedly and as if misunderstanding him, opens a cupboard between him and the door._] Food! Food! Food for hungry men! Food enough for a wolf-pack. Come on, help yourselves!

MICHAEL Holy St. Peter, what a larder! Look at this, Arram. Here's a dinner for forty men.

RADA [_Laughing wildly._] Better take your pick before the others come. It's our Christmas dinner.

[_She thrusts dishes into MICHAEL'S hands and begins loading the table with food._]

NANKO If you happen to have any crystallized plums there, Rada, you might give me one.

ARRAM Lord, what a sight for hungry soldiers! We're in luck's way. Here, fetch me a bowl of water! I'm hungry; but there are times when you can't enjoy food without washing your hands.

[RADA hesitates, then goes out of the room. ARRAM holds out a ring to MICHAEL.]

Her husband's ring. I got it off his finger When he went down. He lay there on his back Howling like a wolf, with his belly blown out. I put him out of his misery. Look at my hands. Ugh! I want to wash.