PART TWO – The First Bit
The next day after lights-out in the Fungus Grove outside North Gate. Two Ratskins enter. Greyash from one side, Rusty from the other.
Rusty: Hello, kinfolk. Where are you off to?
Greyash: Over pipe, over wire, through grove, through dome,
Through vent, through tunnel, by hab-block I roam.
I am a scout for the ratskin Queen
Keeping a watch on things unseen.
Her guardians are ratskins tall,
Around the queen they form a wall.
Masters of weapons, hand and shot,
All do well to avoid that lot.
I must seek some hivers here,
For the Queen approaches near.
Farewell Rusty, I must away
Our Queen and court come here to play.
Rusty: The King is coming here tonight,
Make sure the Queen stays out of sight!
For Overhang is in a towering rage,
Since the Queen has taken on a page
A pretty boy, taken from green hivers
A plaything for a great conniver.
Jealous Overhang would wish the child
To be his page in hab-domes wild;
But she, through power, keeps the boy
Dresses him rich and makes him her toy.
So now each must avoid the other
Or there arises such a bother
That both their courts keep out of sight
For their quarrels are such a fright.
Greyash: By the spirits, if I'm not mistaken
You must be that famous ratskin
Only known as Rusty. Haven't you made
The hivers of the nearby domes afraid?
Stole their stash, meddled with their water-still?
Made it so its yield did spill?
Drove the blind snakes out of sight,
Misled travelers, laughed at their fright?
"Hobgoblin" they name you, and "Bad Luck"
When at times you run amuck.
Are you not him?
Rusty: You've guessed my name.
I am the secret player of those games.
I'm Overhang's prankster. I make him laugh.
I trick the slave train (Guilders and staff)
By calling out like Ripperjacks.
I sneak inside the warehouse stacks
Switch the markers far and near.
I make their fortune tellers fear
For when they sit inside their stall
I tip their chairs so that they fall.
And then the hivers gathered 'round
Do laugh and make a merry sound.
But to one side, here comes Overhang!
Greyash: And there is my Queen – if only Overhang weren't here!
(Overhang, the Ratskin King, enters the fungus grove with his troupe. Titanweb the Queen enters from the opposite side of the grove with her attendants.)
Overhang: What misfortune brings you here at this time, proud Titanweb?
Titanweb: Gah! Jealous Overhang! Let's go from here. I want nothing to do with him.
Overhang: Not so fast, Titanweb! Are you not my wife?
Titanweb: Then you must be my husband – but I know that you slip away from the homeland and pretend to be the rat herder Korin, playing the pipes all day long and writing love letters to that hive woman Thylis. And what has brought you here, at this time? Oh, maybe it is because your heartthrob Esher warrior-woman, the she-devil in synth-leather, is due to marry Thevus and you want to wish them well on their wedding day?
Overhang: Come now, Titanweb! How can you make snide comments about Hollin, when you know that I know of our desire for Thevus? Didn't you guide him safely during the last zombie incursion? And didn't you trick him into fighting Agrian and abandoning those voluptuous raven-haired twins, Alyson and Antia?
Titanweb: Lies, created by your jealousy! It's been a nearly full turning that we've been unable to Dance for the Hive Spirits, either in dome or grove, archeotech site or hidden zone, or by the shores of a floe, without you screwing everything up with your foul behavior! You've been so foul that the Hive Spirits think we have forgotten them. Sump spills flood the lower tunnels, foul vapors fill the upper vents and the fungus fields dry up or drown their crop. Ripperjacks feast on the corpses of Herd Rats and safe paths are lost to minor hive quakes. Power flows blow junction boxes, air conditioning runs hot and heating units blow cold. All of this caused of our quarrels. The hive spirits are punishing us for our transgressions.
Overhang: Fix it then. Put things right. Why do you go against your husband's wishes? I'm only asking for the little hiver boy, to be my page.
Titanweb: You can forget about that, Overhang. I'm not selling the boy. His mother was a dear friend of mine, who would tell me tales of hiver life and sit with me in hidden pipes, watching the slave trains walk their cargo through the underhive. We would laugh as the bloated Guilders bellowed and turned unnatural colors in their rage. Even while pregnant with the boy, she would fetch me treats and trinkets, grossly imitating the Guilder pack trains. But she was just a hiver, not in touch with the hive spirits, and died giving birth. For her sake, I'm raising the boy, and I will never part with him.
Overhang: How long are you going to stay in this grove?
Titanweb: Perhaps until after Thevus' wedding day. If you'll be reasonable, and dance the sacred dances with us and watch the celebrations that come after the wedding, then join us. If you won't, then stay away from us and I'll stay far away from where you are.
Overhang: Give me the boy, and I'll join you.
Titanweb: Not for all the archeotech sites in your Kingdom. Let us leave here. If I stay near him much longer, things will get very nasty.
(Titanweb leaves with her attendants)
Overhang: Off with you then! But you won't leave this fungus grove until you've suffered for this insult. Rusty! Do you remember the time I sat upon a slag heap, and heard the hive spirits singing a sweet song that calmed a raging sea of millasaurs, while power taps in the ceiling sparked out with joy at the sound?
Rusty: I remember.
Overhang: At that time, I saw Qufus (though you didn't see him) pass through the heights of the dome. He blew a kiss at a Guilder's daughter, but a flare from a sparking power tap spoiled his aim, and the young maiden passed on, unaware that the hive spirit of love had had her in his sights. I saw where Qufus' kiss landed. Upon a delicate yellow mushroom, now with a crown stained purple by Qufus' kiss. Hive maidens call it "Love-in-waiting" due to the heart-shaped mark. Fetch me one. When its juice is placed upon the eyelids of a sleeping person, they fall madly in love with the next creature they see. Fetch me one, and return here before a sump mare can swim three leagues.
Rusty: I'll climb the spire in 40 minutes!
(Rusty departs)
Overhang: Once I've got the juice, I'll put a drop upon Titanweb's eyes while she sleeps. The next thing she sees when she wakes – whether it's a millasaur, a ripperjack, a dust bat, or a lash worm, a herd rat or a feral rat – she'll follow it around as her true love. Then I'll make her surrender the boy to me, before I remove the spell with another herb. Ahh! Someone approaches. Scatter! I will remain invisible, and see what they are doing here.
(Overhang's attendants vanish into the grove. Domos enters, followed by Elaynia.)
Domos: I don't love you! Stop following me around! Where are Zander and Hermione? I'll kill that Zander! Hermione will be the death of me! You said they were hiding in this fungus grove. I'm out of my mind with worry, since I cannot find my Hermione! Go away! I said stop following me!
Elaynia: I can't help it. You're like a magnet for my heart. Lose your magnetism, and I'll stop following you.
Domos: I don't encourage you! I'm not even nice to you! How many times do I have to tell you that I do not love you, and I never could?
Elaynia: I love you all the more for your truth. I'm your slave. Spurn me, strike me, ignore me, lose me. Just let me follow you, even though I am unworthy. To me it's a place of pride, following behind you like your slave.
Domos: Just stop it! Looking at you makes me sick!
Elaynia: But it makes me sick to not look at you.
Domos: What will the people say about you? You have left the safety of Airdome; put yourself in a risky position, alone, with someone who doesn't love you. We are all alone in a darkened grove, where I may take you against your will.
Elaynia: Your virtue protects me, and when I'm with you, it is never dark. As far as I can see, you are everything in the world, and so we are never alone.
Domos: I'll abandon you, hide among the mushrooms and leave you to the mercy of the hive beasts!
Elaynia: The beasts don't have a heart like yours. Run if you must. We'll reverse the roles of the old love stories, Dafne pursues Apotto, the child chases the millasaur, and the ripperjack flees the timid dust bat. It's silly when the cowards chase the brave.
Domos: I refuse to keep discussing this! Go away! If you insist on following me, I swear I'll do something to make your regret it.
Elaynia: You make me regret it when I'm at the Emperor's Shrine, in the town, or wandering the gardens. You're making this go all wrong, Domos. Women don't fight for love, we're wooed. You shouldn't make me woo you! (Domos runs into the fungus grove) I'll follow you anywhere, and find happiness in misery, even if you do me harm! (Elaynia follows him)
Overhang: Fare well, young woman. Before you two leave this grove, you'll be running away from him. I'll make sure he'll be seeking your love. (Rusty returns). Welcome back. Have you brought the mushroom I seek?
Rusty: Yes my King. Here it is.
Overhang: Give it to me, please. I know a space here in the grove where the mushroom stalks form a kind of bower. Titanweb likes to sleep there after the Spirit Dances and the celebrations that follow. The blindsnakes shed their skins in that place, which are often large enough to use as blankets. I will place the juice of this (Overhang holds the mushroom aloft) upon her eyelids, and whisper dirty thoughts into her ear. (To Rusty) You take some of the juice and go hunting through the grove. A sweet Airdome lady pursues a youth who rejects her love. Anoint his eyes, but make sure that the next thing he sees is the lady. You'll know the man, for he is also from Airdome. Be generous, so that he is more in love with her than she is with him. We will meet before their lights-on begins.
Rusty: Don't worry, my King. I will obey.
(They depart)
PART TWO - The Second Bit
Titanweb's sleeping area in the grove. She enters with her followers.
Titanweb: Now is the time. We shall dance in a ring and sing to the hive spirits. Then you shall depart: some will hunt the feral rat here in the grove, some the blindsnake to make pouches for our brethren, and the rest to drive off the ripperjacks so they do not disturb our slumber. Sing me to sleep, then be off about your duties so I may rest.
Ratskin Brave: (sings)
Sacred blindsnakes with two-pronged tongues
And spikey hiverats – don't be seen!
Spores and lashworms – do no wrong!
Don't come near our ratskin queen!
All the Ratskins
Whispertrill, with melody
Join in our sweet lullaby
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby
No Harm, nor spell, nor charm
Come upon our lady nigh
So goodnight with sweet lullaby
Ratskin Maiden:
Wolfen Spiders, don't come here!
Away, you long-legged hunters! Hence!
Dung beetles, don't come near!
Slugs and snails – give no offense!
All: Whispertrill, with melody
Join in our sweet lullaby
Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby
No Harm, nor spell, nor charm
Come upon our lady nigh
So goodnight with sweet lullaby
Ratskin Brave: Let's get started. All looks well. You, stay on guard here.
(All the ratskins depart but the guard. Overhang enters, still invisible)
Overhang: (squeezing the juice on Titanweb's eyelids, Overhang performs his spell)
What you see when you awake
Shall you love, all else forsake
No matter what their form shall take.
Be it rat, ripperjack or spawn
Esher maid or Goliath brawn
Whatever before your eyes appears
When you wake up, your sight endears.
Awake when something vile is near!
(Overhang leaves)
(Zander and Hermione enter)
Zander: I know you are tired from wandering through this grove, my love. I fear I am lost. We'll rest here awhile. Maybe when lights-on arrives, we'll be able to find our way.
Hermione: Okay, Zander. Find someplace to sleep. I'll sleep here, by this fallen trunk.
Zander: It would be best if we slept together. Our hearts are one, our bed should be one.
Hermione: No, Zander. Please, for my sake. Lie farther away. It's not proper for us to lie too close together.
Zander: No no, my love. I think you misunderstand. I meant nothing naughty. I only meant that since we have sworn our love, our hearts are bound together, and that I should sleep next to you, not sleep with you.
Hermione: You play with words very nicely. I'm sorry if I thought you were suggesting something else. But, in the name of love, you must not lie next to me. It's not proper for a single girl and boy. (She indicates a good spot) This far apart. Good night, my love. May our love never change as long as we live.
Zander: Amen to that. I'd never harm your honor, or I'd deserve to die. I'll sleep here. Sweet dreams.
Hermione: And you as well.
(They fall asleep)
(Rusty enters)
Rusty: Through this grove I have been,
But no Airdome man I've seen
On whose eyes to try the spell
This mushroom's juice does tell.
Dark and quiet. Who lies there?
Airdome's clothing he does wear.
This is the one my king has said
The Airdome maiden wants to wed.
And here's the maiden, sleeping sound
Upon the damp and dirty ground.
Lovely girl, she longs to stretch
Toward this bad man; loveless wretch!
Hive scum! Upon your lids I place
The magic that these plants embrace.
(He squeezes a few drops upon Zander's eyelids)
When you awake, sweet love denies
That you can ever close your eyes.
Awaken with the lights-on clang
For now I go to Overhang.
(Rusty leaves)
(Domos and Elaynia enter, running)
Elaynia: Please stop, even if it's to kill me, Domos!
Domos: Stop following me like this!
Elaynia: Will you really leave me here in the dark? Please don't!
Domos: I warned you, so you're on your own!
(Domos rushes off)
Elaynia: I'm so exhausted from all this silly running around. The more I try, the less I get. How happy Hermione must be, wherever she is. Her eyes sparkle with love, mine sparkle with tears. I am just hideous, even the underhive beasts run from me. No wonder Domos runs away like I'm some scavvy mutant. How could I ever compare with Hermione? (She notices Zander sleeping on the ground) What is this? Why is Zander lying on the ground? Is he dead, or just sleeping? I can't see any blood or wounds. (She shakes him) Zander –please be alive, wake up!
Zander: (wakes up, face to face with Elaynia) I would run through fire for you, sweet Elaynia. I see with new eyes, and know the loving heart that lies within your chest. Where is Domos? He is fit only to die on my sword!
Elaynia: Don't say that, Zander! Don't! (mistaking his reasons) So what if he loves Hermione? It doesn't matter! Hermione love you. You should be happy.
Zander: Happy with Hermione? No! I regret all the boring hours I've wasted in her company. I love Elaynia, not Hermione. Who wouldn't gladly trade a ripperjack for a crystaldove? A man's mind may be changed by truth. And the facts say, you are the better woman. Stingermoss doesn't ripen until it's ready. Before this, I was young; I wasn't ready to see the truth. Now that I'm older and wiser, I see you for the true love that you are.
Elaynia: Why do you say these things? Was I born to be mocked? Isn't it bad enough that Domos has never paid any attention to me, and now you pull this? It isn't funny that you pretend to woo me in such a false manner! Goodbye! I thought you were more of a gentleman. Why must I be rejected by Domos and then abused by you?
(She runs off in distress)
Zander: She didn't notice Hermione. Sleep where you are, and never come near me again! Just like Redemptionists hate their former lives, may you, my false love, now be hated! My entire being I now dedicate to loving Elaynia and Elaynia only.
(He follows after Elaynia)
Hermione: (waking from a nightmare) Help! Help me Zander! Get this blindsnake off me! By the Emperor, what a foul dream I just had! Zander, see how much my hands are shaking? I thought a serpent was eating my heart, while you sat there, smiling, as he devoured me! Zander? Where are you? Zander? Can you hear me? Where has he gone? I can't hear him, there's no sounds. Where are you? Answer me! In the name of love, answer me! I'm so scared! Nothing. He must be lost. I'll go and find him, or my death.
(She goes, leaving Titanweb alone and asleep)
