human
Left to themselves, the soldiers would end this war in thirty minutes. It's the one man at the top who won't let them. It's hellish--it's hellish----
gpt
And you would justify an assassin?
human
Who is an assassin, dear? he demanded tensely.
gpt
The man who wields a knife or the tyrant who calls the fanatic into being? Brutus or Cæsar, William Tell or Gessler? Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God----
human
John, John--how can you say such things--you don't believe in murder----
gpt
No! he breathed fiercely.
human
I don't now. I used to until I had a revelation----
gpt
Revelation--what do you mean?
human
I didn't want to tell you this, he began slowly.
gpt
I meant to keep the black thing hidden in my own soul. But you'll understand better if I speak. I killed Ned Vaughan with my own hands----
human
You're mad----
gpt
I wish I were--no--I was never sane before that flash of red from hell showed me the truth--showed me what I was doing. We fought in the darkness of a night attack, hand to hand, like two maddened beasts. He ran me through with his sword and I sent the last ball left in my revolver crashing through his breast. In the glare of that shot I saw his face--the face of my brother! I caught him in my arms as he fell and held him while the life blood ebbed away through the hole I had torn near his heart. And then I saw what I'd been doing, saw it all as it is--war--brother murdering his brother--the shout and the tumult, the drums and bugles, the daring and heroism of it all, just that and nothing more--brother cutting his brother's throat----
human
But you didn't know, dear--you wouldn't have fired that shot if you had----
gpt
No. That's just it, he answered bitterly.
human
I wouldn't have done it had I known--nor would he, had he known. But I should have seen before that every torn and mangled body I had counted in the reckoning of the glory of battle was some other man's brother, some other mother's boy----
gpt
Well I'm awake now--I know and see things as they are!
human
Merciful God--John--my darling--you are mad--what are you going to do?
gpt
Why nothing, dear, he protested,
human
You are going to kill the President!
gpt
Nonsense--but if I were--what is the death of one man if thousands live? I saw sixty thousand men in blue fall in thirty days--two thousand a day--besides those who wore the grey. At Cold Harbor I saw ten thousand of my brethren fall in twenty minutes. Why should you gasp over the idea that one man may die whose death would stop this slaughter?
human
John, you're mad! she cried, clinging to him desperately.
gpt
You're mad, I tell you. You've lost your reason. Come with me, dear--come at once----
human
No. I was never more sane than now,
gpt
Then I'll warn the President----
human
You understand that if it's true, my arrest, court-martial and death follow?
gpt
No. I'll warn him not to come. I alone know----
human
Wait! my men are in that hall--it's his life or mine now. You can take your choice----
gpt
Take your men out and go with them at once!
human
No. If he does justice, I may spare his life. If he does not----
gpt
You shall not see him----
human
It's my life or his--I warn you----
gpt
Then it's yours--I choose my country!