|
|
|
Let's Make a Deal:
What
the Harpist Said
|
|
|
|
|
ISIS beside the desert road as before, talking with the blind
harpist AGIR, with SOLDIERS in the distance pulling the TREE toward
Byblos.
|
|
AGIR:
|
Lady, what the Army asks of you, and please pardon me if this sounds ridiculous, is -- will you please walk far enough away from the Army, and far enough downwind, that the soldiers will not be so inflamed from looking at you and oh! smelling you?
|
|
ISIS:
|
What? (Both Laugh.)
|
|
AGIR:
|
That's their message, my lady.
|
|
ISIS:
|
I am not a lady, sir. Only a servant.
|
|
AGIR:
|
As you wish.
|
|
ISIS:
|
Is this really true, that these men all find me so desirable?
I am happily astounded. The men of this country must get everywhere
with women.
|
| AGIR: |
We do what we can in a dry country. I will
keep your secret. You're traveling toward the palace of King
Melkarth and Queen Astarte. You're a servant with knowledge
of birthing, herbs and ah, undoubtedly, fragrances. You can
succeed as long as the Queen is not ugly, so you have come
to the best place. |
|
ISIS:
|
I wouldn't know.
|
|
AGIR:
|
Royal Lady of Egypt, I will do what I can to assist
you. Your cover is safe with me. I'd be happy to escort
you, unless, that is, you'd like to fly. I haven't heard
the swallow for hours.
|
| ISIS: |
Thank you, sir. What is your name? |
|
AGIR:
|
Agir, madam.
|
| ISIS: |
I appreciate your discretion, Agir. What will you tell the
King? |
|
|
|
AGIR:
|
A servant woman is, ah, looking for work, and she has, I
believe, skills that are highly prized by your majesties. That
should do it, correct?
|
|
ISIS:
|
All blessings flow to you. (Pause.) Why should you help me?
|
|
AGIR:
|
You're a carrier of beauty, so you need help and protection. And . . . you are alarming to these people. It's delightful. I can't see how they're dressed, but from the sound of their walking, I think someone has invented a kind of metal skirt?
|
|
ISIS:
|
It is true.
|
|
AGIR:
|
Then there you are. If I have a choice between a skirt of linen and a skirt of tin, let's unload the linen right here, please. Can you imagine inventing a metal skirt? Are we agreed, and it is time to be the swallow now?
|
|
ISIS embraces AGIR and exits, and the SWALLOW KHU appears.
Have You See Osiris? MUSIC modulates
into a work song as the SOLDIERS pull the TREE on toward the Royal
palace. AGIR crosses back toward END'AAN, and they both look up
at the SWALLOW.
|
|
END'AAN:
|
What did she say?
|
|
AGIR:
|
She's sorry that she's made your work more difficult. She
says she had no idea anyone would find her so exciting to look
at.
|
|
END'AAN:
|
Not to be believed. Did she say who she is?
|
|
AGIR:
|
No.
|
|
END'AAN:
|
And of course, she's never heard of the Swallow who's been flying over -- and here she is. (Waves. To SWALLOW:) Nice to see you again. (To AGIR:) Now we have a trio act. The Old Woman, the Swallow, and the Beauty.
|
|
AGIR:
|
I believe we will not see the Old Woman again for a while. The Beauty is back. She's completely innocent of her power, sir. She has no idea how exciting she is.
|
|
END'AAN:
|
Thank you, Agir. (To SOLDIERS:) Give this man all comfort. (AGIR exits. To OFFICERS:) Draw up a daily route map showing every landmark on the road ahead, and spread the word that the first man to spot the caves wins a prize, and the hill that looks like a tortoise, another prize, and whatever else you find. Make it exciting. Anything to keep their eyes fixed ahead. Special rations for every day we cover more ground than we did the day before.
|
|
OFFICER :
|
Permission to ask a question, sir?
|
|
END'AAN:
|
Go.
|
|
OFFICER :
|
Wouldn't it be simpler to send her ahead in a chariot, and
rest here for a day?
|
|
END'AAN:
|
Sure it would. But she's not going to leave the Tree. Wherever a woman or a bird can see the Tree from, that's where she'll be. The best we can do is keep her downwind. Let's go.
|
|
Drum beats and shouts quicken as the column accelerates,
and pulls the TREE out. Exeunt.
|
|
