JOHN BEAL

But they are bad gods, Daoud.

DAOUD

I am sad when the bad gods go.

JOHN BEAL

They must go, Daoud.  See, there is no one watching.  Take them now.

DAOUD

Even so, great master.

[He takes up the largest of the gods with rust.]

Come, Aho-oomlah, thou shalt not drink Nideesh.

JOHN BEAL

Was Nideesh to have been sacrificed?

DAOUD

He was to have been drunk by Aho-oomlah.

JOHN BEAL

Nideesh.  Who is he?

DAOUD

He is my son.

[Exit with Aho-oomlah.  John Beal almost gasps.]

Archie Beal [who has been looking round the tent]

What has he been saying?

JOHN BEAL

They’re—­they’re a strange people.  I can’t make them out.

ARCHIE BEAL

Is that the heap that oughtn’t to be worshipped?

JOHN BEAL

Yes.

ARCHIE BEAL

Well, do you know, I’m going to chuck this hat there.  It doesn’t seem to me somehow to be any more right here than those idols would be at home.  Odd isn’t it?  Here goes.

[He throws hat on right heap of idols.  John Beal does not smile.]

Why, what’s the matter?

JOHN BEAL

I don’t like to see a decent Christian hat among these filthy idols.  They’ve all got rust on their mouths.  I don’t like to see it, Archie; it’s sort of like what they call an omen.  I don’t like it.

ARCHIE BEAL

Do they keep malaria here?

JOHN BEAL

I don’t think so.  Why?

ARCHIE BEAL

Then what’s the matter, Johnny?  Your nerves are bad.

JOHN BEAL

You don’t know these people, and I’ve brought you out here.  I feel kind of responsible.  If Hussein’s lot turn nasty you don’t know what he’d do, with all those idols and all.

ARCHIE BEAL

He’ll give ’em a drink, you mean.

JOHN BEAL