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.
[NANKO rises and peers at them.]
NANKO
Ah, but they're red.
Red, aren't they? And there's red on your coat, too.
[He fingers it curiously.]
I suppose that's blood, eh? People are such cowards.
Many of them never seem to understand
That man's a fighting animal. They're afraid,
Dreadfully afraid of the sight of blood.
I think it's a beautiful colour, beautiful!
You know, in the Old Testament, they used
To splash it on the door-posts.
ARRAM
[Pushing him off.]
Go and sit down,
You crazy old devil!
[RADA enters with a bowl of water, sets it on a bench and returns to her place. ARRAM washes his hands.]