human
Dismas, said the snub-nosed man,
gpt
What do you see in the sky?
human
Barabbas, replied the other,
gpt
Are you waiting for manna to fall from the sky? said Barabbas.
human
Do you know that I'm almost starved to death? I must go down to the caravan route.
gpt
Well, go. I'll to the oasis of Sheba,
human
Dismas, I hate you,
gpt
Since the day when you refused to help me hold up the caravan of Orientals with my men, I have hated you. They had much frankincense and precious spices and gold. With one blow we should have provided ourselves with enough for many a long year. And you----
human
Wanderers who were seeking the Messiah! I do not attack such as they,
gpt
You, too, are seeking him, you pious highwayman.
human
Of course, I seek him.
gpt
Ha! ha! ha! laughed he of the snub-nose, pressing his pointed chin into his hand.
human
The Messiah! the fairy-tale of dreaming old men. All weak men dream and believe. Don't you see that when you have to strive and struggle for your little bit of life there isn't time to wait for the Messiah!
gpt
That's just what I've believed for many a year and day, answered Dismas sadly.
human
I left my home to follow you; I've plundered men of silks and precious stones here in the desert, and time has flown nevertheless. All the treasure in the world cannot bid it stand still for an hour; comfort only makes the days fly quicker. We should not struggle for life, but hold it fast, for existence is a wondrous thing. Oh, in vain--the days vanish. So I've determined to have nought to say to the hours which pass, but to a time that endures for aye. And only he whom God sends can bring such a time.
gpt
We've only the life we have; there's no other.
human
If it was as you say, returned Dismas,
gpt
If there's no life to come, said Barabbas,
human
That is what bad men think,
gpt
There are no bad men, exclaimed Barabbas,
human
What extraordinary words are those? I never heard such talk before. In whose heart were such ideas born?
gpt
They were not born in the heart, said Barabbas.
human
The heart is dumb. Dismas, if I must dwell in desert caves and do nothing, I must search out and inquire. I break stones in pieces and search. I pull the corpses of animals and men to pieces and inquire. And I find that things are not as the old writings tell us. There's only one Messiah: the truth. Man is an animal like any of the lower creatures--that is the truth. Ha, ha, ha!
gpt
Oh, Lord, in the holy heights, save me!
human
Invoke the stars, said Barabbas, with a scornful laugh.
gpt
You'll be right then. They know nothing of you and your God. They're made of common dust. They themselves, and all the beings on them, live in the same base struggle as does our earth and everything on it. An enormous dust-heap, swarming with vermin, that's all.
human
Barabbas, my comrade, he said at last,
gpt
Why don't you praise him, Dismas? Why don't you shout for joy? My message has redeemed you. You think because you've attacked, slain, and plundered unsuspecting travellers that everlasting hell must be your portion. My strong message does away with hell. Do you see that?
human
I heard a prophet in the wilderness cry that a man whom God had damned could be saved by repentance. Your damnation, Barabbas, never! No Almighty God! Everything a dry, swarming dust-heap, and no escape! Frightful, frightful!
gpt
Do you know, Dismas, your lamentations don't amuse me? said the other, supporting himself on his hands and knees like a four-footed beast.
human
I have a more important matter on hand. I'm hungry.
gpt
If he's hungry, he's capable of killing and eating me.