To murder? Boy, don’t say such dreadful things—you are excited——
Geert.
Excited? No—not at all—worn out, in fact—in Atjeh I fought with the rest—stuck my bayonet into the body of a poor devil till the blood spurted into my eyes—For that they gave me the Atjeh medal. I have it still in my bundle. Hand it here. [Jo picks up the bundle; Barend looks on.] Where is the thing? [Jerks the medal from his jacket, throws it out of the window.] Away! you have dangled on my breast long enough!
Kneir.
Geert! Geert! Who has made you like this! I no longer know you——
Geert.
Who—who took an innocent boy, that couldn’t count ten, and kidnaped him for fourteen years? Who drilled and trained him for a dog’s life? Who put him in irons when he defended his girl? Irons—you should have seen me walking in them, groaning like an animal. Near me walked another animal with irons on his leg, because of an insolent word to an officer of the watch. Six days with the damned irons on your claws and no power to break them. Six days lower than a beast.
Jo.
Don’t talk about it any more, you are still so tired——