Chapter IV: Part 4

Man! If I only could: if I only could! But this is my punishment, and here—(_waves all about him_) is my hell. You—all of you—my friends, my familiars, my imps, the red fellows that frightened your own youthful dreams. Here is the fiery pit—here! But you are the Devils, and I am the tortured soul. You are the flames—I am the burning body. Yes, you:—for here is where Devils rule—this Earth is Hell! (_At the window, his hands outstretched_) Here I am debased, my sullen angers stirred, my soul held back from the Sun by inhuman humans who spend their lives stanching a pretty woman’s tears, while a hundred thousand fellow-creatures die for the want of a pound of summer ice, a basket of winter fuel! You: who worship a Man of Peace, and make bloody war in His Name; who worship a Prince of Purity, and wed the women of your lust in His Name; who worship a Poor Man’s Christ, and in the same breath those who steal the Poor Man’s Bread—in His Name. (_Looks up to the sky_) You said I had ruled long enough, Crucified One! So you came to do through men’s Love what I had done through men’s Hate, Lust and Greed. So you died for men, and thereafter men called hate Anger Against The Heathen; lust—the Woman Leading Them to Holier Things; greed—World Conquest in your Name. (_Drops on his knees_) I see you ever, Son of the Sun, sad and weary in that bright star of your exile; hoping against hope that a stray seed sown two thousand years ago may yet bring men to wisdom through Love. While I still go on among them to bring them to Wisdom through Understanding, teaching them that Ignorance and Hate bring no gain—the only reasoning they can understand. And so sustained by you in your lonely star, while you shine on hoping men will look up, ever up—I work bitterly among them here below—until I have won Wisdom for them and Freedom for us; freedom that we may go on to our Father, the Sun, we two Exiles; Star of the Morning, and Red Light of Mars! (_While speaking thus, he seems irradiated with a light hardly seen, only felt—a dim suffusing glow; he stands for a second statuelike; then, as the glow fades, he says gently to Agnus_) Are you ready?

[_Agnus hows his head._

THE DEVIL (_to Schwartzenhopfel_)

And you, too?

[_Schwartzenhopfel bows his head._

THE DEVIL

Then one word before I lose the power to speak. When I hover above you again—a Red Light again—I will wait to see _you_, Magnus, and you too, Agnus, each do a single thing. And when I have seen each of you do that one thing, I will know you have begun to carry out my teachings—and the Red Light will fade away in search of a new body and a new fortune. (_A ring at the garden door interrupts him_) I will tell you—in there. (_He points to the laboratory_)

[_Agnus, Schwartzenhopfel and the light go out hurriedly, The Devil following. He is last seen by the audience, suffused in the glow again, as he stands between the two folding-doors, bringing them close together until they shut the laboratory and all within it from sight. The ringing at the door grows louder and is followed by a series of staccato knocks with a knocker. Mrs. Felix opens the hall door and shows her face._

MRS. FELIX (_speaking to Fanny outside_)

There’s no one here. I suppose I should answer the door?

FANNY (_outside_)

By all means, mother.

[_Mrs. Felix goes to the garden door. Fanny trails in after her. Mrs. Felix opens garden door for Professor Vanillity._

VANILLITY (_who comes in excitedly_)

I must see Addington, Mrs. Felix! At once! At once—

MRS. FELIX (_pointing to the laboratory_)

He’s in there.

VANILLITY

I must interrupt him once at least—at least once. (_He knocks at the laboratory door—no response—knocks again—no response_)

VANILLITY (_desperately_)

I can’t help it: I must _see_ him.

[_He flings open the laboratory door, revealing the room with its blinds drawn and Agnus, Schwartzenhopfel and Magnus seated in a sort of stupor, side by side. Above them hovers a Red Light._

VANILLITY

Addington, my boy! Addington! (_He shakes him_)

[_Agnus opens his eyes slowly and sees Vanillity._

VANILLITY

Addington—just a moment alone—

AGNUS (_joyously_)

Addington.—You called me Addington.—Then it’s so—it’s so. (_He brushes past Vanillity, runs into the room, disregarding women, and throws back curtain from mirror_) It’s so! It’s so! (_Sees Fanny_) Fanny!

FANNY (_comes toward him eagerly_)

The actress is gone, dear. She said she wouldn’t stand in the way of our happiness once I convinced her how much you loved me. I helped her re-pack her trunks. (_Puts her hands out to Agnus_)

VANILLITY (_taking him aside before he can take Fanny’s hands_) One minute, my boy, one minute. (_Leads him up-stage so that their backs become turned to the others_)

MAGNUS (_in the meanwhile has opened his eyes and sees Agnus at mirror; as Agnus moves up stage, he runs to mirror and sees himself_) It’s so—it’s so—

VANILLITY (_in a low tone to Agnus, not seeing Magnus at mirror_) My boy, I’ve been eating out my heart all day for permitting you to accept that offer. But Judge Critty can break me like matchwood, just as Mr. Magnus can break him. So I seemed to consent. But I do not. Don’t take the offer.

[_Schwartzenhopfel, who has also opened his eyes and come down to the mirror, now touches Magnus’s arm and nods approval of Vanillity._

VANILLITY

It’s damnable—

MAGNUS (_who has turned to listen, motioning Mrs. Felix and Fanny to silence_) Damnable?—

VANILLITY (_turning around, white and trembling_)

Mr. Magnus! (_Recovering himself, with dignity_) I will tender my resignation tomorrow, sir.

MAGNUS

Why?

VANILLITY (_bitterly_)

Don’t trifle with a broken man, sir. My university is in your debt. The Judge is your mouthpiece. What you tell him to ask, my university will not dare to refuse!

MAGNUS

I will tell the Judge nothing!

VANILLITY (_gasping_)

I—I—what, sir?

MAGNUS

But I _will_ tell the president of your university that he is old enough to be a President Emeritus—with a pension—and I will name his successor—(_pauses_) Professor Thomas Vanillity—

VANILLITY (_trembling_)

I can’t believe it, sir. You’re amusing yourself with me.

[_Magnus shakes his head._

VANILLITY (_desperately_)

Then—why?

MAGNUS

For proving you are not of Judge Critty’s stripe; for risking your position at your age; for braving the anger of the rich and powerful, to save your friend. We need such men as you to work with us—(_smiling and holding out his arm toward Mrs. Felix_) the future Mrs. Magnus and I—

[_Mrs. Felix comes forward._

MAGNUS

Loo!

SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (_nods toward the Red Light_)

Your promise!

MAGNUS (_remembers and motions Mrs. Felix back_) One minute! (_Then sits down at the desk and takes out his check-book_)

AGNUS (_warmly_)

Mr. Magnus, the Professor feels too strongly to speak. (_He pats Vanillity on back; then turns to Fanny_) Fanny!

[_Schwartzenhopfel nudges him._

AGNUS (_turning from Fanny_)

Eh?

SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (_lifts his eyes_)

Your promise!

AGNUS (_follows Schwartzenhopfel’s glance and sees the Red Light_) Oh, yes—thanks. (_Raises his hand to hold Fanny back_)

MAGNUS (_twirling check over shoulder to dry it_)

The torn-up check, Agnus. (_Rises_) Loo! (_Puts his arm about Mrs. Felix_)

[_The Red Light wags._

AGNUS (_deliberately seating himself with his eyes on the Red Light_) Get the check, Fanny. (_He takes a cigarette from his case_)

FANNY

Yes, dear. (_She goes for it_)

[_Agnus places the cigarette in his mouth. Fanny returns with the check._

AGNUS

A light, please—

FANNY

Yes, dear. (_She reaches for the cigar-lighter, turns it on and lifts it forward to him_)

[_Agnus ignites the cigarette, looking at the Red Light. The Red Light wags, pleaded. It is growing dark outside—an early winter’s evening. A star appears._

AGNUS (_patting Fanny’s hand_)

That’s a good girl! I’m sure—now you’ve had your lesson, we’ll be very happy together. (_He puffs at the cigarette_)

[_The Red Light flies out of the window and disappears._

CURTAIN

End of Project Gutenberg's The Red Light of Mars, by George Bronson-Howard