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Scene Fourteen:
No More Secrets!
What's
Behind that Curtain?
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LIGHTS up in the new Royal Palace of Byblos, where a
huge curtain masks a construction area from which work sounds
can be heard. ASTARTE enters quickly, MELKARTH and their attendants
following.
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ASTARTE:
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And not a moment too soon.
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MELKARTH:
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Please wait, my love.
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ASTARTE:
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No more, Melka. This secrecy has got to stop. I want
to know what is in there, and what that fragrance is. I
want to know now.
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MELKARTH:
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(To WORKMEN:) Are we ready?
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WORKMAN:
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(Within.) Almost!
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ASTARTE:
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There's no love in too much suspense.
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Two SERVANT Women have entered, excited, trying to catch
the Queen's eye.
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MELKARTH:
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Please, my love, it is as I told you. I will hold a feast
in your honor tonight, and what is in there is my gift to you.
It is worth the wait.
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ASTARTE nods and exhales, and MELKARTH goes within. ASTARTE beckons the
SERVANTS, and they approach.
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ASTARTE:
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You look flown with something. What is it?
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SERVANT 1:
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My lady, we have just met in the garden the most wonderful
woman. She is so beautiful and graceful and knows many arts. And
the children love her.
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SERVANT 2:
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It's true. The children want to hug her, and they pull her arms down so they can speak to her, and ask her to kiss them.
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ASTARTE:
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Is she outside?
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SERVANTS:
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Yes.
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ASTARTE:
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Bring her here, please.
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SERVANT 1:
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(Exiting.) She knows herbs along the river that we haven't
even found yet.
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SERVANTS exit, then re-enter with ISIS. She is still
striking to look at, but now more simply dressed, more subtly
fragrant.
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ASTARTE:
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(To SERVANTS:) You're excused from all other work today. You'll want to look your best for this evening. Maybe this lady can help you. (SERVANTS exit. To ISIS:) Please, come in. Sit down. Were you caught up in that great wave of people who all descended on us yesterday?
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ISIS:
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I was, your majesty. But I had no idea what everyone was so
excited about. I only thought that in this great city, there must
be some place to work.
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ASTARTE:
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Hyssop and rue? (ISIS smiles and nods, ASTARTE prepares the
tea.) What's your name?
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ISIS:
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I'm Hathor, your Majesty. I was a temple servant in the Black
Land.
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ASTARTE:
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My girls tell me you know where the herbs grow.
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ISIS:
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I've been picking herbs along the river since I was born,
my lady.
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ASTARTE:
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And caring for children too? (To SERVANT:) Fashi!
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ISIS:
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I love children.
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ASTARTE:
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Do you have children of your own?
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ISIS:
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Not yet, my lady.
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ASTARTE:
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A woman as attractive as you? What do they use for eyes in
the Black Land?
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ISIS:
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Men can be unobservant, my lady. (Both laugh. Enter FASHI.)
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ASTARTE:
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Please prepare a room for your new colleague Hathor. And tell
the musicians to come. (FASHI exits. To ISIS:) You will at least
stay the night with us? And come to tonight's feast? Then perhaps
tomorrow you'll consider being my son's nurse and teacher. (Serves
tea.)
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ISIS:
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I'm honored, my lady. Thank you.
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ASTARTE:
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Do you see anything interesting about this thing of such thrilling fragrance inside the curtain here, and you, a woman with an equally exciting aroma, arriving here on the same day?
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ISIS:
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No idea, my lady. I'm just happy that you can use me.
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ASTARTE:
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And what have we here?
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MUSICIANS enter and set up. ISIS is surprised at their appearance.
None recognize her.
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ISIS:
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Egyptian musicians?
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ASTARTE:
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We prefer the best. They say that travelling inside
that giant circle some where was a woman whom they had to
keep at a distance from the soldiers, because she was so
beautiful.
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I heard something about that. |
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ASTARTE:
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Perhaps she was even beautiful enough to divert attention
from you.
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ISIS:
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Oh, my lady.
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ASTARTE:
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Who are you? Really?
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ISIS:
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Hathor, my lady. Just a woman. I'm good at medicines
and oils. And teas.
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ASTARTE:
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Such as this one? Tell me about this one.
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MUSIC: Hyssop and Rue melody
begins.
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