Elephant Walk Page #6

Let him get through the barrier?

Carver, get that fellow to hospital

and take the shot out of his leg.

Show him around to the others

as an example, if they want to spread panic.

That's one way of stopping an epidemic:

shoot the people.

He had to do it, Dick.

If they'd gotten away, they could've

spread cholera all over the island.

Master.

- You wanted to see me, Doctor?

- Just a moment.

No, darling.

- Not Coru's mother?

- She's out of her misery, poor woman.

Isn't there anything more

we can do for them?

Make them as comfortable as we can.

If they last 36 hours, they usually survive.

Make sure everyone disinfects his hands

before he leaves the ward.

- John.

- Yes.

I don't like to press you to a decision,

but it's getting urgent.

- What is it? What can I do?

- The burials are piling up.

The men are frightened.

They won't touch them.

John, the bodies must be buried

immediately.

All right. I'll do it myself.

Master.

Look, master.

Look.

No water. Elephant people blame us.

We wait for rain.

Each day we feel it must come,

but the clouds pass.

The monsoon has never been so late.

There is much sickness and suffering.

Soon our Lord Buddha

must answer our prayers.

Put them over there, Coru, and go over

and disinfect your hands and arms.

Have there been any more deaths today?

Coru, have there been...

Coru, come back!

Ruth.

You shouldn't be lifting things like this.

- Where do you want it?

- Over there.

Coru just ran away.

I hope he doesn't try

and break the quarantine.

I don't blame him.

I don't blame any of them.

We're running out of water.

I know.

I checked the main tank this afternoon.

It's down next to nothing.

I pray.

I pray all the time.

- A lot of good that will do.

- Don't.

Ruth, what's the use?

What's the good of killing yourself

trying to save poor natives...

that are going to die anyway?

I've just been down at the hospital.

Pereira says there have been

no new cases today.

If that keeps up, they'll lift

the quarantine in a couple of days.

You can both leave at the end of the week.

- By the end of the week, Ruth...

- He said "if."

If it keeps up.

Appuhamy, there's some

curry and rice in the pantry.

- We might as well eat now.

- Yes, mistress.

John, you must eat something.

- If you won't sleep, you must eat.

- I thought the rains were coming today.

There was a big thundercloud to the north.

Then they disappeared.

Mistress has been working very hard

these last few days.

Won't you rest now?

- I will do this.

- No, Appuhamy. I'm all right.

It's just this heat.

- Will it rain?

- Yes, mistress.

We have all been praying.

Keep on praying, Appuhamy.

- Are the supplies ready?

- Yes, Doctor.

- Did you hear the thunder?

- Thunder does not always mean rain.

In this part of the world,

sometimes it thunders for days.

Dr. Pereira has some good news, Ruth.

Yes. We've just made a tour

of the workers' quarters.

Not one new case in three days.

The quarantine can be lifted.

- That's wonderful news.

- We'd better hurry.

Can you stay?

Appuhamy can make

some tea and sandwiches.

I told John and the men I'd pick them up

when they'd finished.

Where is John?

They're burning

the last of the contaminated huts.

We'll see you in an hour or so.

We can leave tomorrow, Ruth.

Not yet, Dick. We shouldn't.

Why not? We've done all that

could be expected of us. More!

We can't leave John alone now.

If the rain comes, then, maybe.

John's done a good job

fighting the epidemic...

I'll give him credit for that.

But don't fool yourself.

Nothing else has changed at all.

As long as there's an Elephant Walk,

he's still Tom Wiley's son.

I have misjudged her, master.

Forgive me. I have made much trouble.

She is mistress of this house now.

She is needed here.

It is my earnest prayer she will not leave.

- It's over at last, Appuhamy.

- Yes, mistress.

The time will come when my people

will no longer fear inoculation.

They will listen to the master

and to Dr. Pereira, as I did.

They will learn. They are learning fast.

Will you make some tea

and sandwiches now, please?

The men should be back soon.

- Will the mistress sleep now?

- I think I can.

Thank you, Appuhamy.

Boy, get out. Go on.

Master! Master! Look!

Where's Ruth?

We just left her at the bungalow.

What's the matter?

The elephants are headed there.

There are no beaters to hold them off.

No. You go down to the moat and

try to stop them at the wall. I'll get Ruth.

You better come along, Doctor.

Mistress.

- What is it?

- There.

No.

Go back!

Go back, elephant people! Go back!

Appuhamy!

Ruth!

John!

Oh, John!

Looks like I get to Paris one boat late,

more or less.

- I'm sorry, darling.

- I'm not.

Let them have their Elephant Walk.

Ruth, we'll build a new place,

a home somewhere else.

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