Home > Authors Index > Mary Hunter Austin > Arrow-Maker: A Drama in Three Acts > This page
The Arrow-Maker: A Drama in Three Acts, a play by Mary Hunter Austin |
||
Act 3 |
||
| < Previous |
Table of content |
Next > |
|
________________________________________________
_ Act Third TIME.--_One year later._ [SCENE.--_The top of Toorape, where the tribe has been driven by their enemies of Tecuya. The women and children hide in holes in the rocks. Off to the right on a jutting boulder, against the sky, stands_ YAVI, _as sentinel; two or three wounded lie about. Crouching over the fire are_ SEEGOOCHE, WACOBA, _and_ TIAWA, _showing in their dress and appearance the marks of a year of distress, as do all the others as they appear upon the scene._] YAVI (_To them._) St--st! WACOBA (_Rising._) Some one on the trail! SEEGOOCHE What is it? WACOBA (_To her._) Hush! YAVI The Sparrow Hawk! SEEGOOCHE News from the Fighting Men! TIAWA The gods grant it be good news! (PADAHOON, _weary and with disordered dress, comes clambering up the face of the cliff._) YAVI (_Calling down in a whisper._) What news? TIAWA Are the gods still against us? PADAHOON As they have been since the day the Chisera took away her blessing from the war leader. WOMEN (_Wailing._) Ai! Ai! (_Others come out of the rocks to join in the general grief._) WACOBA Could you but persuade her to give it back again. (_Hopefully._) PADAHOON If I cannot, then this is like to be the last fight of Sagharawite! WACOBA If you cannot, then must the chief enforce her, for since we were driven from our homes, neither the anguish of the women nor the hunger of the children has moved her. PADAHOON I will speak with her at once. (_He goes up among the rocks, and the women huddle wretchedly together watching._) WACOBA Do you think she will consent? SEEGOOCHE She cannot choose but do it. The men have kept her supplied with venison, but she must know that there is hunger in the camp of the women and children. WACOBA And that the Tecuyas have taken the best of our fighting men. TIAWA But no man of hers. I have always said--but because I am old nobody minds me--that if there was one of her household to go to battle, she would need no persuasion to go before the gods. I would Simwa had given her a child. WACOBA (_Aside from_ SEEGOOCHE.) Then you believe that he was her lover? TIAWA What else? Would any but a jilted woman sit and mope while our wickiups go up in smoke? WACOBA I would she had a child, but not Simwa's. One of that breed is enough. SEEGOOCHE (_Who has moved nearer the hut._) Hush, see the curtain! (_They start._) TIAWA It was the wind. SEEGOOCHE They say she has not made medicine since my daughter's marriage. WACOBA (_Looking off to the right where the mountains dip abruptly valleyward._) And to think that even now they must be fighting under Toorape. SEEGOOCHE Hush! Hush! (PADAHOON _and the_ CHISERA _come out of the hut. The_ CHISERA'S _whole appearance is of heartbreak and neglect. She leans against the boulders at the left, holding her blanket close, and answers_ PADAHOON _sullenly._) PADAHOON And is this all your answer? THE CHISERA The trail is cold between the gods and me. PADAHOON Then you will not make medicine? THE CHISERA And would not if I could. PADAHOON Have you turned renegade, Chisera, and side with our enemies of Tecuya? THE CHISERA No, Padahoon, but I see that no good comes of persuading the gods to do more for man than his natural destiny. PADAHOON You have always persuaded them to our advantage. THE CHISERA What good came of having Simwa made war leader? Had I not persuaded them to meddle with that business, the leadership would have fallen to you as the elder, and we should not now be without allies in our need. PADAHOON I am not sure the gods had so much to do with that: but if the mischief came through them, the gods must repair it. THE CHISERA I will not make medicine. Send the women away. PADAHOON What shall I say to them? THE CHISERA To count themselves already blessed in having those for whom they desire blessing. Tell them that to have loved and given the breast is enough to salve the wounds of loss. PADAHOON You are hard, Chisera. THE CHISERA I am jealous of their griefs. Their very pangs I envy them. Who is there of mine goes to this war that I should grieve for his wounding or look for his return? (_She looks bitterly toward the women who have crept from the caves to peer from the rocks in the direction of the fighting._) Persuade me no more, Padahoon. I will not do it. (_She disappears among the rocks to the left, and_ PADAHOON _turns to the women who crowd around him anxiously._) WACOBA Has she promised? TIAWA Will she help us? PADAHOON The Chisera will not make medicine. WOMEN (_Rocking themselves to and fro._) Ai! Ai! SEEGOOCHE Is it because our gifts are so small? She should consider how hard it is to get venison in war-time. PADAHOON Her heart is so full of bitterness that there is no room in it for the gods. WACOBA That is Simwa's doing--though he is your son, Seegooche, I must say it--there was no better Chisera between here and Tehachappi until he curdled her wisdom with his lies. TIAWA Ah, Simwa! I spit upon his name. (_The women spit between their teeth with sharp hisses._) WACOBA How the Chisera hates him! PADAHOON How she loves him! TIAWA (_Struck with this._) You think so? Yet there is not one word of the evil she said of him a year ago that has not come to pass. WOMEN Ai! Ai! On him and us. PADAHOON And hate would have been satisfied to strip him of his honors, but now she lets the whole tribe go down in the ruin of her love. WACOBA (_Hopefully._) Then if she loves him, perhaps he can persuade her. PADAHOON As well persuade the rattlesnake not to strike him. SEEGOOCHE If the Chief should insist, she would not dare refuse. PADAHOON There is little she would not dare. But you can try. WOMEN Let us bring the Chief. (_They go out._) THE CHISERA (_Reappearing cautiously._) Have they gone? PADAHOON To bring Rain Wind to command you. THE CHISERA Can he command the sap to rise or bid the deer-weed spring when there is no rain? My power is gone from me. PADAHOON Chisera, it is a grave matter to refuse service in time of war--be advised by the word of a friend-- THE CHISERA Has the Chisera indeed a friend? PADAHOON Have I not proved-- THE CHISERA Padahoon, when did you ever visit me for any but your own advantage? For what else did you stir me against Simwa, and why now do you seek my blessing but to make good against him the honor of which he has robbed you? Does any one of you bring me venison except for profit or grind my meal for love? PADAHOON Seeing how little good you had of the love of the Arrow-Maker, why should you desire it? THE CHISERA You spit poison like a toad, Padahoon, but your fangs are drawn. The Arrow-Maker never loved me. PADAHOON (_Approaching her with the manner of having gained a point._) If you have the wit to know so much-- THE CHISERA (_Commanding him from her with a gesture as she seats herself._) Padahoon, there is no more power in me than there is tang in a wet bowstring. (_She rocks her head between her hands._) It is gone from me as the shadow goes up the mountain. As the wild geese go northward at the end of the rains, so is my power--How shall I win it again who cannot win the love of man?... Ah, leave me, Padahoon, leave me! (_She covers her head with her blanket._) (_Enter_ CHIEF RAIN WIND, _stumbling blindly, led by his wife and followed at a respectful distance by the other women. He walks with dignity, in spite of his blindness, and has on all the insignia of rank except the war-bonnet._ SEEGOOCHE _has a hasty, eager manner, ingratiating but timid._) PADAHOON (_To them._) You will get nothing. CHIEF I do not come asking: I command. SEEGOOCHE No, no, do not be harsh with her! Let me speak, we women will understand one another. CHIEF (_Putting his wife aside._) Chisera. (_The_ CHISERA _starts at the tone of authority, but controls herself._) Friend of the gods. (_She makes a movement of protest._) I have that to say to you which should be said but once, which to say at all is shame to you. Great powers have been given you to turn the favor of the gods as a willow is turned in the wind. How is it you have not turned them when your people are in war and bad fortune? We are driven as hunted rabbits to hide in holes in the rocks, and our fighting men are outnumbered; even now we do not know if there be one left alive of them--Our tribe shall be as a forgotten tale unless you intercede for us. THE CHISERA (_Over her shoulder._) What? Is it possible Simwa cannot bring this affair to pass without the gods? SEEGOOCHE (_Breaking in eagerly._) Yes, yes; the gods are very great, there is nothing without them. THE CHISERA (_Still to the_ CHIEF.) Does Simwa ask it? CHIEF The chief commands it. SEEGOOCHE (_Cringingly._) No. No. Chisera, mind him not! He is not himself, the hunger and the loss of battle do distress him. We beg of you, we implore you, Chisera--we will bring gifts to you--gifts, Chisera. (_She looks about despairingly for a suitable gift, snatches a great rope of beads from the Chief's neck and drops it in the_ CHISERA'S _lap._) Spoil of our enemies when the war is over, and this to keep as a reminder--So--if only you will persuade the gods to friend us. THE CHISERA (_Lifting the collar and letting it fall._) And if I will not? (_Still with her eyes on the_ CHIEF, _ignoring Seegooche._) CHIEF Chisera, I am an old man, and I knew your father. We had much good talk together--I am very old--but I am not blind in my judgment as I am in my eyes. In war-time there is but one law for those faithless to the tribal obligation. You know it. THE CHISERA (_Drawing her blanket._) I know it. SEEGOOCHE (_Dropping to the ground and beating the earth with her palms._) Do not, do not refuse it, wise one, friend of the Friend! What has Simwa done that you should destroy us? THE CHISERA _You ask me that, Seegooche?_ SEEGOOCHE I know--you said--Such a small thing, Chisera. To love you a little before he loved my daughter. Young men do often so--and you were very fair and no doubt beguiled him--Ah, who could withstand you, daughter of the gods? (_Wheedling._) But your punishment is heavy upon him. THE CHISERA Is it so? SEEGOOCHE (_Thinking she has gained a point._) It is indeed as you said; he makes no more arrows, and his luck in the hunt is gone from him. And the men mock him. A war leader should not be mocked, Chisera. THE CHISERA No more should a friend of the gods, but Simwa mocked me. SEEGOOCHE (_Loosing hope._) He was mad, Chisera, he had eaten rattle-weed. But my daughter did not mock you. Think of my daughter! THE CHISERA When does your daughter ever think of me? SEEGOOCHE (_Broken and drooping._) Every day she thinks of you. When she is a-hungered, when her man brings her nothing from the hunt--as--you have said, Chisera. When she digs roots with the old women and no one prevents her for the sake of a child to be born. THE CHISERA (_With relish._) Does she dig roots? SEEGOOCHE With the barren women. Also her beauty goes, she is so thin with the famine. THE CHISERA (_Baring her arm._) I also am thin. (_From this moment some perception of the pervasive misery of the situation enters her mind and begins to color her speech._) CHIEF Hunger and sickness and war have come into the camp because you kept not your heart, Chisera. Yet a greater than all these shall come upon you if you forget your tribal obligation. THE CHISERA (_Rising on one knee._) What obligation have I owed, Chief Rain Wind, and not remembered it? CHIEF That which lies upon all that have power with the Friend of the Soul of Man. Only the gods can save us, and only you know the true and acceptable road to them. THE CHISERA (_Rising and moving toward her hut._) I am overweary for the road; let Simwa find it. (_An arrow, with a feather and a fragment of bark attached to it, is shot into the camp from the direction of the fighting._ PADAHOON _takes it up and carries it to the_ CHIEF, _the others crowding about._) CHIEF What was that? PADAHOON A message from the Fighting Men. CHIEF Read me the token. PADAHOON A vulture's feather and a bark of _whenonabe_. Defeat and flight. WOMEN Ai! Ai! (_They throw up their arms in despair._) CHIEF They will not be far behind their arrows. (_All listen. A faint whoop is heard._ PADAHOON _answers with his mouth covered with his hands. The rest of the women and children come out of the rocks. Fighting Men come clambering up the steep. They show torn clothing and streaks of blood. The women bring them the water-bottles as they drop upon the ground._ WACOBA'S _husband_, PAMAQUASH, _with an arrow in his side, leaps once in air and drops dead. His wife sinks on the ground beside him, rocking and moaning. One breaks his unstrung bow across his knees and stamps the pieces in the earth. Finally comes_ SIMWA, _his war-bonnet bedraggled._) SIMWA Ugh! Is it so I find the fighting men of Sagharawite--huddled together like rabbits when the coyotes are after them? WACOBA (_Scattering dust on her head._) Ai! Ai! My man, my man! SIMWA Be still, you fool! Would you call up our enemies with your noise? (_The wailing drops to a moan._) Put out that fire--they can sniff smoke as far as a vulture smells carrion. (CHOCO _stamps out the fire._) You, Choco, do you show your face to me, misgotten whelp of a coyote! It was you who led the fleeing. CHOCO (_Sullenly._) It was Tavwots. TAVWOTS By the Bear, you shall have a wound for that, though you ran too fast to have one in battle. (_He draws the obsidian knife at his belt._) PADAHOON Fools! (_He strikes up_ TAVWOTS' _arm; another Indian jerks_ CHOCO _by the ankles causing him to sit down._) Have you killed so many in battle, Tavwots, that you can afford to lose us a fighting man? (_The men subside, exhausted._) CHIEF Peace! Though I am too old for battle, yet am I master in the camp. What has happened? SIMWA We have shown the Tecuyas what running is like. TAVWOTS The gods send we have run fast enough to throw them off the trail, else they will attack before morning. (_Consternation among the women._) CHIEF (_To them._) _Kima!_ (_Their grief falls off to a whimper. To_ SIMWA.) Where met you? SIMWA Under Waban where they stayed to cook venison they had killed. We had every way the advantage-- TAVWOTS As much as rabbits when they have met with coyotes. They were three to one of us. SIMWA (_Ignoring him with an effort._) We were between them and cover--we were driving them toward Waban--but they sent one out against us armed--Chief and father, how do you think he was armed who put the sons of the Bear to flight? With a stick--a painted stick with feathers on it. (_Angry and protesting murmurs._) An old man with a stick, Rain Wind, and they ran before him like squaws who deserve a beating! Faugh! (_Native movement of disgust._) TAVWOTS (_Rising on his elbow._) You shall be sicker, Simwa, when you have eaten your words. That old man was Tibu, the medicine man of the Tecuyas. I knew him. SIMWA Then it was you, Tavwots, who broke and ran? TAVWOTS He came upon us with charms and spells. He had the gods on his side. CHOCO Our hearts were turned to water because of his evil medicine. CHIEF Are not the gods of Sagharawite stronger than the gods of the Tecuyas? TAVWOTS Not when we have one to lead us who despises their blessings. SIMWA Well, I believe in the medicine of Tibu. He has made old women of you. CHIEF Think no more of that. Let us consider what is to be done. (_Shadows of vultures appear on the rocks, attracted by the dead._ WACOBA _springs up from casting dust upon her head to flap them away with her blanket, which she spreads over the body of her husband._) PADAHOON (_As he motions to the men to move the body near the shelter._) Yes, it is time to take counsel when the birds of the air betray us to our enemies. (_The women gather together about the dead. One of them takes the place of the sentry who comes to Council. The men collect near the_ CHISERA'S _hut with the exception of_ SIMWA, _who remains seated, re-stringing his bow._ BRIGHT WATER _goes to him._) BRIGHT WATER Simwa, how long will you let your pride destroy us? SIMWA Is that a word for a man's wife? BRIGHT WATER It is a true one. Do we not know, you and I, that it is but pride that makes you stand out against the friend of the gods? Look at me, Simwa, is it not proved on my body that she spoke truly when she said that you throve only by her blessing? SIMWA Can you bear to admit so much? BRIGHT WATER Bear? What have I not borne? Have I complained when I dig roots? Have I quivered when I was mocked? Has there been any sign of shame on my face for all the scorne on theirs? Have I said, “Give me children,” when the nursing mothers pitied me? Oh, I have borne, I have borne; but this I cannot bear. SIMWA What is now so hard? BRIGHT WATER To know that you and I know the truth and that you will see the tribe wiped out before you will admit it. SIMWA The truth? BRIGHT WATER That you were the Chisera's lover for the sake of what she could do for you, and your denial left her no way to prove it except by taking away the help of the gods from us all. Is not that the truth? SIMWA Would you have me ashamed before all men? BRIGHT WATER When have I not been ashamed since I married you? SIMWA Let her alone! They will kill her if she refuses to make medicine and then we shall be rid of her. BRIGHT WATER And you would permit that? (_He shifts uneasily under her gaze._) Simwa--(_With profound entreaty._) Simwa! SIMWA What is the witch to me? BRIGHT WATER My sister, I think, for she has loved you even as I have, to my sorrow. (_She turns away from him meditating some deep purpose, and from this time on the progress of that purpose in her mind is evident in her bearing toward her husband._) CHIEF (_Coming forward._) Let the Council sit. (_They sit as in_ ACT I.) Simwa, as war leader, what plan have you? SIMWA It wants not plans so much as men to do them. CHIEF Whatever is in any man's mind for the good of the tribe, let it be delivered. Observe not the rule of the elders, but speak at once. (_A moment, during which black looks are cast at_ SIMWA.) Will no one speak? PADAHOON Chief and tribesmen, once I gave counsel and you despised it-- CHIEF No more of that. Give counsel now. PADAHOON It is the same counsel, but time has not mended the occasion. Penned here on the edge of the precipice we can but starve. We must break through our enemies and strike at their women and their stores. TAVWOTS Every trail is watched. Not so much as a weasel can go in and out from Toorape and they not know it. PADAHOON With so many watchers, then, they cannot have much of a fighting force at any point. In an hour it will be dark; we shall go down by Deer Leap with the women and children, and stay not for fighting, but, fleeing for our lives, break through to their villages-- CHOCO But if they move on us to-night? If the vultures have already betrayed us--even now they may be within earshot? TAVWOTS If they come up with us before we reach Deer Leap it is to run into the wolf's mouth. PADAHOON I have thought of that. To-night they expect us to mourn our dead and go before our gods-- CHIEF So should we. PADAHOON That they may think so, leave one behind to sound the medicine drum throughout the night. So they shall fear to attack and expect an easier victory in the morning when we are exhausted with dancing to the gods. TAVWOTS But he that stays, what shall become of him-- CHIEF He shall die as becomes him (_rising_)--as becomes a chief of his people. (_Murmurs of consternation and then silence._) PADAHOON But another--whose counsels we prize less-- CHIEF It is the tribal use. None else too blind for the trail and too feeble for the sortie (_with grim humor_)--but I can drum. (_Solemn grunts of approval._) PADAHOON If we win through Deer Leap, we can make terms for you. Tribesmen, what say you? (_A pause._) TAVWOTS What I say is for myself only; but I go not out against the Tecuyas again unless the Chisera has blessed the going. THE COUNCIL Good counsel; good counsel! He has it! SIMWA There are two or three things to the making of fighting men, Tavwots, beside the blessing of women. TAVWOTS Two or three things, Simwa, that I think you have not: honor to win advantage and wit to keep what you have got. PADAHOON As for me, I am with Tavwots; but (_he looks at_ SIMWA)--the gods have no favors for unbelievers. TAVWOTS Nor have we, by the Bear! INDIANS (_Springing up._) Nor have we! No; by the Bear! Out with him! (_They hustle_ SIMWA. _One snatches off the war-bonnet, another the collar of bears' claws. Even the women strike dust upon him with their feet in an excess of contempt._) CHIEF Peace, tribesmen! TAVWOTS Perhaps we shall have peace when we have a leader against whom neither the gods nor women have a spite. Tribesmen, who shall lead the going out but he who planned it? INDIANS Hi! Hi! Padahoon! Padahoon! (_They fling the collar about his neck._ TAVWOTS _hands him the bonnet._) Hi! Hi! The Sparrow Hawk. PADAHOON Do not count on me too much with the Chisera; all this time I have kept in camp with my wound I have reasoned with her, but still she refuses me. CHIEF There shall be an end to that-- PADAHOON How then--? CHIEF Who denies service to the tribe in extremity must be dealt with as an enemy. (_Consternation._) CHOCO But a friend of the gods-- TAVWOTS Let the gods save her-- CHIEF There are times when the gods must be content to stand still and see what men will do. Who serves not us, serves our enemies. It is the law. PADAHOON (_Reluctantly._) It is the law-- CHIEF Death or good medicine--Speak, tribesmen! (_Above the silence of the Council is heard the deep, excited breathing of the women._) THE COUNCIL (_One after another._) Death. Death. Death or good medicine. It is the law. CHIEF (_To_ PADAHOON.) Bid her come. PADAHOON (_At the hut._) Chisera, come to Council! THE CHISERA (_Issuing, wrapped in her blanket._) Who sends for me? CHIEF Death is hot upon our trail. Stay him with your spells. MEN AND WOMEN Good medicine, Chisera, good medicine! THE CHISERA Have you not a war leader-- (_She stops, noticing the bonnet on_ PADAHOON--_looks from him to_ SIMWA.) PADAHOON Who invites your blessing, Chisera! CHIEF Make spells for thy people! THE CHISERA What have my people done for me that I should weary myself to make medicine for them? CHIEF Are you not respected above all women of the campody? Even in war-time-- THE CHISERA Ah--respect! What have I to do with respect? Am I not as other women that men should desire me? Are my breasts less fair that there should never be milk in them? CHIEF We honor you after the use of medicine men. What more would you have? THE CHISERA The dole of women. Love and sorrow and housekeeping; a husband to give me children, even though he beat me. CHIEF Love you have given, and sorrow you have got. Shame and defeat are your children. So it is always when power falls upon women. The word has passed in Council, Chisera; will you repair this damage, or will you die for it? THE CHISERA (_As her eye travels the circle of the camp._) I do not find the taste of life so sweet that I should turn it twice upon my tongue; but--(_Her gaze halts on_ SIMWA, _and all the attention of the camp seems to hang a moment in suspense as_ SIMWA _ignores her._) Do I die, then? PADAHOON Let Simwa die! INDIANS Ah--ah--! SIMWA What, old fox, are you out of cover at last? PADAHOON By whom trouble came into the camp, let it depart. Who prevented the wisdom of the gods at the throwing of the sacred sticks? By whose counsel were our allies of Castac destroyed? Who hardened the Chisera's heart so that she kept not our foes from us? INDIANS Simwa! Simwa! PADAHOON Sons of the Bear, do you think to win favor of the gods when you have one who mocks them in your midst? Would you see the backs of the Tecuyas? Would you win to your homes again? Let Simwa die! INDIANS Aye, aye. Let Simwa die! A judgment! A judgment! SIMWA (_Aside to his wife._) My quiver, hand me my quiver! CHIEF Simwa, as thou art a son to me, I fear the charge is just. But do you entreat the Chisera to go before the gods for us, then will this evil pass. SIMWA (_Rising._) And if I choose to have it said that when the tribesmen of Sagharawite took a woman to Council, only Simwa stood out against it? CHIEF Then must I give judgment. BRIGHT WATER Simwa! SIMWA (_Folding his arms._) It shall not be said of me that I have borne to take my life of a woman. THE CHISERA Whether you can bear it or not, it shall be said of you, for though I am unhappy, I am still the Chisera, and I declare unto you that neither the life nor the death of a broken man can avail to turn the gods. But you, Chief Rain Wind, and you tribesmen of Sagharawite,--if you must visit the loss of my power, let it be on your own heads, for you only are blameworthy. CHIEF This is no time for riddles, Chisera. THE CHISERA I mean none. What did Simwa other to me than the occasion allowed him? Was it his fault that he found me alone and love-hungry? Was it he who ordered that I should live apart where no woman could see how my heart went and give me counsel? Was it any fault but yours--you that kept me far from your huts lest I should see and carry word to the gods how unworthy you were! You that feared yourselves lessened when I walked among you with my power--Ai! Ai! Did you think at all what became of the woman so long as you had my medicine to help you? TIAWA (_Creeping forward._) So I said, so I said from the beginning. She was taught to be a Chisera, but she was born a woman! (_Excitement among the women._) CHIEF Your words are sharp, Chisera. THE CHISERA The fact is sharper. It has eaten through my bosom. CHIEF We meant the best--we judged you companioned by the gods. THE CHISERA Did ever a woman serve them the less because she had dealt with a man? Nay, all the power of woman comes from loving and being loved, and now the bitterest of all my loss is to know that I have never had it. (_She draws up her blanket._) BRIGHT WATER And not you only-- THE CHISERA You--? (_She turns away confounded._) SIMWA Wife--wife--if she finds the gods again, they will surely kill me. BRIGHT WATER Let them. Though I am your wife, I am the Chief's daughter, and the tribe is still something to me. I will save them if I can. Chisera-- (_The_ CHISERA _listens and turns slowly._) CHIEF Is that my daughter? TAVWOTS Hush! Perhaps she will move her! BRIGHT WATER Do you think yourself aggrieved so much, Chisera? Come, I will match sorrow with you, I and all these (_the women surge forward_), and the stakes shall be the people. Here is my pride that I throw down, in my bride year to know my husband an impostor. Have you any sorrow to match with that? WACOBA Since you wish a man so much, Chisera, here is mine whom the vultures seek. (_The women part to show the dead man stark in his blanket._) HAIWAI Would you have a child at your breast, Chisera, here is mine, for my milk is dried with hunger. (_She holds up her swaddled child which_ BRIGHT WATER _takes and holds toward the_ CHISERA, _who stands confused, for the first time acutely aware of their misery._) BRIGHT WATER (_Measuring the effect of her words._) Chisera, my breast is as fruitless as yours--but you ... you have ... good medicine. TIAWA Lay hold on the gods, Chisera, these are ills from which man cannot save us! (_The_ CHISERA _throws out her hands to signify the loss of her power, her blanket slips to the ground and she covers her face with her hands._) THE CHISERA Gone--gone! It is gone from me! BRIGHT WATER (_Signing to the women to hide the blanket._) By dancing you shall bring it back again--for the sake of the women and children--dance, Chisera! (_Her voice has a kindling sound, and the women echo it with a breath._) THE CHISERA Oh, I have danced until the earth under me is beaten to dust, and my heart is as dry as the dust, and all my songs have fallen to the ground. (_She begins to walk up and down excitedly._) With what cry shall I call on the gods, now my songs are departed? (_She begins to chant._) And my heart is emptied of all (_The women watch her breathlessly; as she gradually swings into the dance, they seem to urge her with the stress of their anxiety._) All the anguish of women, (_As she falters the tribe surges forward._) TRIBE Dance, Chisera, dance! (_She tries again and no strength comes--the men hold up their hands, palms outward, in the sign of prayer. The drum begins hollowly._) Come, O my power, (_Drums and rattles are brought out, at first cautiously, lest she take alarm and be turned from her purpose, but as the fervor of her dancing increases, with increased confidence._ SIMWA _remains seated at one side, watching her, his foot touching his quiver._ PADAHOON, _who has moved over near him, observes him narrowly in the interval of dancing._ CHISERA _sings._) Nay, I shall mate with the gods, (SIMWA _is seen to strip the magic arrow from his quiver._) BRIGHT WATER Simwa, Simwa, what do you do? SIMWA No more than the gods will do to me if they hear her. THE CHISERA This is my song that I make, (_As she rises on the last movement of the dance toward ecstasy, the excitement rises with her, expressing itself in short, irrepressible yelps, at the highest point of which a scream from_ BRIGHT WATER _arrests the dancers._) BRIGHT WATER Chisera, the arrow, the black arrow! (SIMWA _shoots._) THE CHISERA (_Dying._) Ah, Simwa! (_Dies._) (_In the distance is heard the shout of the approaching Tecuyas._) [CURTAIN] _ |
||