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FAMILIAR: I would not wish to be.
CONTESSA: No, I am not bold — nor safe here, as I know. It is fear that drives me to these grim chambers. They have told you of the naked man who struck me. Has he been taken?
INQUISITOR: He has not been brought before me.
CONTESSA: Scarcely a watch ago some soldiers found me moaning in the garden, where my maid sought to comfort me. Because I feared to be outside by dark, they carried me to my own suite by way of that gallery called the Road of Air. Do you know it?
INQUISITOR: Well.
CONTESSA: Then you know too that it is everywhere overhung with windows, so that all the chambers and corridors that abut on it may receive the benefit. As we passed by, I saw in one the figure of a man, tall and clean-limbed, wide of shoulder and slender of waist.
INQUISITOR: There are many such men.
CONTESSA: So I thought. But in a little time, the same figure appeared in another window — and another. Then I appealed to the soldiers who carried me to fire upon it. They thought me mad and would not, but the party they sent to take that man returned with empty hands. Still he looked at me through the windows, and appeared to sway.
INQUISITOR: And you believe this man you saw to be the man who struck you?
CONTESSA: Worse. I fear it was not he, though it resembled him. Besides, he would be kind to me, I am sure, if only I treated his madness with respect. No, on this strange night, when we, who are the winter-killed stalks of man’s old sprouting, find ourselves so mixed with next year’s seed, I fear that he is something more we do not know.
INQUISITOR: That may be so, but you will not find him here, nor the man who struck you. (To his FAMILIAR:) Bring in the witch-woman, Brother.
FAMILIAR: Such are they all — though some are worse than others.
He exits and returns leading MESCHIANE by a chain.
INQUISITOR: It is alleged against you that you so charmed seven of the soldiers of our sovereign the Autarch that they betrayed their oath and turned their weapons upon their comrades and their officers. (He rises, and lights a large candle at one side of his desk.) I now most solemnly adjure you to confess this sin, and if you have so si
MESCHIANE: The soldiers only saw I meant no harm, and were afraid for me. I—
FAMILIAR: Silence!
INQUISITOR: No weight is given to the protestations of the accused unless they are made under duress. My familiar will prepare you.
FAMILIAR seizes MESCHIANE and straps her into one of the contrivances.
CONTESSA: With so little time left to the world, I shall not waste it in watching this. Are you a friend to the naked man of the garden? I am going to seek him, and I will tell him what has become of you.
MESCHIANE: Oh, do! I hope that he will come before it is too late.
CONTESSA: And I hope he will accept me, in your stead. No doubt both hopes are equally forlorn, and we shall soon be sisters in despair.
Exit the CONTESSA.
INQUISITOR: I go too, to speak to those that were her rescuers. Prepare the subject, for I shall return shortly.
FAMILIAR: There is another, Inquisitor. Of similar crimes, but less, perhaps, in potency.
INQUISITOR: Why did you not tell me? I might have instructed both together. Bring her in.
FAMILIAR exits and returns leading JAHI. The INQUISITOR searches among the papers on his desk.
INQUISITOR: It is alleged against you that you so charmed seven of the soldiers of our sovereign the Autarch that they betrayed their oath and turned their weapons upon their comrades and their officers. I now most solemnly adjure you to confess this sin, and if you have so si
JAHI: (Proudly.) I have done all you accuse me of and more than you know. The power I dare not name lest this upholstered rat-hole be blasted to bits. Who taught me? Who teaches a child to call upon her father?
FAMILIAR: Her mother?
INQUISITOR: I would not know. Prepare her. I shall return soon.
Exit the INQUISITOR.
MESCHIANE: They fought for you too? How sad that so many had to die!
FAMILIAR: (Locking JAHI in a contrivance on the other side of the desk.) He had your paper again. I’ll point his error out to him diplomatically, you may be sure — when he comes back.
JAHI: You charmed the soldiers? Then charm this fool, and free us.
MESCHIANE: I have no chant of power, and I charmed but seven of fifty.
Enter NOD, bound, driven by FIRST SOLDIER with a pike.
FAMILIAR: What’s this?
FIRST SOLDIER: Why, such a prisoner as you’ve never had before. He’s killed a hundred men as we might puppies. Have you shackles big enough for him?
FAMILIAR: I’ll have to link several pairs together, but I’ll contrive something.
NOD: I am no man, but less and more — being born of the clay, of Mother Gea, whose pets are the beasts. If your dominion is over men, then you must let me go.
JAHI: We’re not men either. Let us go too!
FIRST SOLDIER: (Laughing.) We can see you’re not. I wasn’t in doubt for a moment.
MESCHIANE: She’s no woman. Don’t let her trick you.
FAMILIAR: (Snapping the last fetter on NOD.) She won’t. Believe me, the time of tricks is over.
FIRST SOLDIER: You’ll have some fun, won’t you, when I’m gone.
He reaches for JAHI, who spits like a cat.
FIRST SOLDIER: I don’t suppose you’d be a good fellow and turn your back for a moment?
FAMILIAR: (Preparing to torture MESCHIANE.) If I were such a good fellow as that, I’d find myself broken on my own wheel soon enough. But if you wait here until my master the Inquisitor returns, you may find yourself lying beside her as you wish.
FIRST SOLDIER hesitates, then realizes what is meant, and hurries out.
NOD: That woman will be the mother of my son-in-law. Do not harm her. (He strains at his chains.)
JAHI: (Stifling a yawn.) I’ve been up all night, and though the spirit is as willing as ever, this flesh is ready for rest. Can’t you hurry with her and get to me?
FAMILIAR: (Not looking.) There is no rest here.
JAHI: So? Well, it’s not quite as homelike as I would expect.
JAHI yawns again, and when she moves a hand to cover her mouth, the shackle falls away.
MESCHIANE: You have to hold her — don’t you understand? The soil has no part in her, so iron has no power over her.
FAMILIAR: (Still looking at MESCHIANE, whom he is to flaring.) She is held, never fear.
MESCHIANE: Giant! Can you free yourself? The world depends on it!
NOD: strains at his bonds, but ca
JAHI: (Walking out of her shackles.) Yes! It is I who answer, because in the world of reality I am far larger than any of you. (She walks around the desk and leans over the FAMILIAR’S shoulder.) How interesting! Crude, but interesting.
The FAMILIAR turns and gapes at her, and she flees, laughing. He runs clumsily after her, and a moment later returns crestfallen.
FAMILIAR: (Panting.) She’s gone.
NOD: Yes. Free.
MESCHIANE: Free to pursue Meschia and ruin everything, as she did before.
FAMILIAR: You don’t realize what this means. My master will return soon, and I am a dead man.
NOD: The world is dead. So she has told you.
MESCHIANE: Torturer, you have one chance yet — listen to me. You must free the giant as well.
FAMILIAR: And he will kill me and release you. I will consider it. At least it will be a quick death.
MESCHIANE: He hates Jahi, and though he isn’t clever he knows her ways, and he is very strong. What’s more, I can tell you an oath that he will never break. Give him the key to his shackles, then stand by me with your sword at my neck. Make him swear to find Jahi, return her; and bind himself again.