The White Plague [Volume: 7(1988), pp. 431-504]

456
KAREL CAPEK
SCENE FIVE
(The same corridor. A line of orderlies in white but with a military bearing.)
OFFICIAL (Looking at his watch)
Really now!
DEPUTY ASSISTANT (running in, out of breath)
We've just had word, sir! The Marshal's car is on its way.
OFFICIAL
Let's go over it once more, shall we? All wards...
DEPUTY ASSISTANT..are to be locked at nine o'clock, the entire staff is to gather in the
lobby... They're down there now. Oh, and so is the Minister of Health.
I've go to run... (Runs off.)
OFFICIAL
Attention! (The ORDERLIES come to attention.) Now for the last time:
You may let no one pass but the Marshal and his party. At ease! (A car
siren comes from offstage.) Here he comes! Attention! (Exits.)
(The silence that follows is broken by the welcome speech coming up
from the lobby. Enter two MEN in civilian clothes. The ORDERLIES
salute. The MEN cross and exit. Enter the MARSHAL in uniform with
DR. SIGELIUS on one side and the MINISTER OF HEALTH on the other.
They are followed by the ADJUTANT, the OFFICIAL, the DEPUTY
ASSISTANT and a group of DOCTORS.)
SIGELIUS.. and here in Ward Twelve we have the control patients-patients suffering
from the Cheng Syndrome but not receiving the new treatment-who serve
as a standard of comparison.
MARSHAL
I see. Shall we have a look at them?
SIGELIUS
Your Excellency will not take it amiss if I remind him that the disease is
highly contagious. Moreover, the patients are quite repellent in appearance
and-despite all the measures we have taken-in... odour.
MARSHAL
Military men and medical men can stand anything. In we go! (Enters Ward
Twelve. The other members of his party follow.)