RADA
There is one woman here,
One woman and a child——
And war they tell me is a noble thing;
It is the mother of heroic deeds,
The nurse of honour, manhood.
SECOND SOLDIER
Christ, a speech!
RADA
Yes, and your training benefits your health.
NANKO
[Who is crouching over the fire again.]
Certainly, Rada! Military training!
Life is a battle.
RADA
You hear, drunk as you are,
Up to your necks in blood, you hear this fool,
This poor old fool, piping his dreary cry;
And through his lips, and through his softening brain,
You and the men that buy you, statesmen, kings,
Teach the poor sheep of the world that war is good.
Go! Take your manhood out of this. Or else——
[She threatens to shoot.]
I have one bullet for the child, and five
To share between you and myself!
FIRST SOLDIER
O, Christ,
A speech!
[They fall back before the revolver as she raises it.]
RADA
If you have children of your own,
Listen to me … The child is twelve years old.
She has never had one hard word spoken to her
In all her life.
FIRST SOLDIER
Nor shall she now, by God!
Where is she? Bring her out!
SECOND SOLDIER
Twelve years of age!
That's ripe enough for marriage to a soldier.
[They laugh.]
FIRST SOLDIER She can't shoot! Look at the way she's holding it! Duck down and make a rush for it! Come on! [Several of them make a rush, RADA steps back and shuts the door in their faces.]