(The battle is over and night has descended on the battle field.

blood covers everything, the bodies of the dead, and of the dying,

coloring their brown uniforms red)

The Red Soldier: (a very young soldier)

Oh, God....

What pain!

The last one gave me a cruel fight,

And downed me and left me in the night.

The weight! It's pressing down and down,

This awful blackness and no sound.

A long silence, then:)

And the battle, the battle!

The charge, and the shock!

And the blood - ah, God!

And the sound of the long death rattle.

Where are they, where...

Why don't they come?

From our battle line no lights,

No me, no sound of drum.

Ah - the pain -

It burns again.

Mother- mother!

A white robed form appears, a faint light around it, and its

Face hidden beneath a hood.)

The White Soldier:

You called, brother?

The Red Soldier:

I called, yes

And you are here.

The White Soldier:

Brother, never fear

I am come to ease your pain,

To comfort you

And with gently hands

Raise you up again,

And in my arms enfold you.

The Red Soldier:

Your hands are cold.

The White Soldier

My hands across your brow

Means sleep, soldier.

No more suffering now

Sleep soldier.

The Red Soldier: Faintly

THe pain is gone,

ANd night comes on,

And I shall be asleep.

I want...

My mother.

The White Soldier:

Sleep...

Sleep, brother.