PART FOUR – The first bit
The Fungus Grove outside of Airdome's North Gate. Enter Titanweb and Brato, with Titanweb's attendant ratskins. Overhang follows them, unseen.
Titanweb: Come, sit upon this lovely bed. I will caress your cheeks, adorn your head with blooms, and kiss your beautiful, giant ears.
Brato: Where's Pipedreamer?
Pipedreamer: Here.
Brato: Scratch my head, Pipedreamer. Where's Webrunner?
Webrunner: Ready.
Brato: Ahh, Webrunner. Take your weapons, and hunt down a red-hipped hive drone for me. Then bring me its sweet goo-sack. Don't go to too much trouble, but make sure you don't break the goo-sack. I would hate for you to be swamped by a goo-sack. Where's Sporemoss?
Sporemoss: Ready.
Brato: Let's shake hands, Sporemoss. (Sporemoss bows) Now really, there's no need to curtsy, good Sporemoss.
Sporemoss: What can I do for you?
Brato: Nothing at all, except help Pipedreamer scratch. (He feels his chin) I think I must go to a barber. I do believe that my face is a bit hairier than usual.
Titanweb: Would you like to hear some music, my sweet?
Brato: I'm a great fan of fine music. Let's hear something that uses triangles and spoons!
Titanweb: Or...err…maybe you would prefer something to eat?
Brato: I could really go for some cheese. Something nice and smelly. I really have a yearning for something to gnaw on…maybe a nice, sweet stalk of stiff mushroom.
Titanweb: I have a scout who can search out some fresh hiveberries.
Brato: I'd prefer a cheekful or two of dried peas. But what I would really like is to be undisturbed. I'm feeling very tired.
Titanweb: Then sleep, and I will hold you in my arms. Ratskins, to your duties.
(The ratskins leave)
This is how the tangle-vine wraps the girders of the hive. Oh how I love you. I will do anything for you.
(They sleep. Rusty enters, and goes to Overhang)
Overhang: Welcome, Rusty. Do you see this vision of loveliness? I believe I actually feel sorry for her. I met her not long ago in this grove, as she was looking for blooms to make into garlands for this repulsive idiot. We argued because she had put a crown of fresh blossoms on his hairy head, and the blossoms were weeping in sadness for their new home. So I made fun of her love, and when she asked me to stop, I asked for the little hiver boy. She gave him up right away, and he is currently on his way back to my camp. Now that I've got what I want, I'll remove this spell that so warps her vision. And, Rusty, you must remove the rat's head from this Airdome simpleton. When he wakes up beside his fellows, they can all return to Airdome, thinking that all the strangeness of this time was only a fantastic dream. But first, I'll release my queen.
(He touches Titanweb's eyelids with the potion from the phial)
Be you as you always were
See not through the love-blooms blur
Reality will win a heart
Better than young Qufus' dart.
Now, Titanweb, awake my queen!
Titanweb: My Overhang! What strange things I have seen! I thought I was in love with a dirty rat!
Overhang: There is the love from your dreams…
Titanweb: How did this happen? Spirits, he is repulsive!
Overhang: I'll explain in just a moment. Rusty, remove this rat's head. Titanweb, summon musicians. We must put these five into a deathlike sleep, deeper than dreams.
Titanweb: Come quickly now, play the music that bewitches sleep.
(Soft music begins to play)
Rusty: (Removing Brato's rat head) Now, when you awake, see with your own foolish eyes.
Overhang: Let the music play. Come my queen, take my hand and we shall dance upon the ground where the sleepers lie.
(Overhang and Titanweb dance)
Now that we have made amends, we will dance in full dress at the manor of Duke Thevus, and bless it with prosperity. These pairs of lovers shall be married there with Thevus, and there will be much festivity.
Rusty: Ratskin King, take note and hark
I can hear the lights-on spark.
Overhang: Now, my queen, let's slip away
In silence: Light will soon hold sway.
Round the hive we'll swiftly fly
Faster than the eye may spy
Titanweb: Come my lord, and tell me true
How this night's events ensued
And how it was that I was found
Sleeping near hivers upon the ground.
(The ratskins depart. Brato and the four lovers are left sleeping. Loud voices are heard. Thevus, Hollin, Ignaus and the Duke's guards and aides enter)
Thevus: One of you, go and find the gamekeeper. We've celebrated a fine morning, and since it's early yet, my love shall hear the barking of my hounds. Set the dogs loose! Hurry, I tell you. Find the gamekeeper.
(The aide leaves)
My love, wait until you hear the sounds of their baying as it echoes around the domes.
Hollin: I was with some of my sisters once, in another fungus grove, when they were hunting giant spore-rats with Spacer hounds. I have never heard such a ruckus. Not only the grove, but the entire dome seemed to reverberate with their howls. I've never heard an animal make such a thunderous, magnificent noise.
Thevus: My hounds are also Spacer-breed. Hanging jowls, light brown coats. Long ears that trail the ground, low-slung and powerful builds. They're slow runners, but their howls harmonize beautifully. Judge for yourself when you hear them. What is this? Who are these young ladies?
Ignaus: My Duke! This is my daughter sleeping here; and here is Zander, and Domos, and there is Elaynia – Elder Raden's daughter. I am shocked that they are here like this.
Thevus: No doubt they rose early to celebrate this day, and hearing about our plans, came here to join in the festivities. But tell me, Ignaus. Isn't this the day that Hermione must make her choice?
Ignaus: It is, my lord.
Thevus: Then we shall wake them. Watchmen, sound your horns.
(Two of the watchmen sound their airhorns. The lovers are shocked out of their sleep.)
Good morning, my friends. It's long past Qufus' Pairing Days. Are you late to join the festivities?
Zander: Your pardon, Duke Thevus.
(The lovers kneel)
Thevus: Please, stand. I know that you two are rivals. What has brought peace between you? Surely something has happened, for those who hate each other do not sleep side-by-side, unafraid of attacks from their rival.
Zander: My lord, I'm not sure I can explain it. I'm still half-asleep. I'm not really sure how I got here. I think (he pauses, unsure) – I want to get this right. Now I remember! I came here with Hermione. Our intention was to flee from Airdome, so that we may be together beyond the long arm of the law…
Ignaus: That's enough! I've heard enough! My Duke, I beg the law –the law! –upon his head! They were trying to run away! They would've gone, Domos! They would've cheated both of us: you of your wife, and me of my consent for her to be your wife!
Domos: My lord, Elaynia told me of their flight from Airdome. I followed them here in anger, and Elaynia followed me out of love. But my lord, I don't know how –surely some power was involved –but my love for Hermione has evaporated. It seems like some sort of childhood memory. Every part of my being, my soul, my heart, is entirely for Elaynia. I was engaged to her, my lord, before I met Hermione. I'm not sure how I strayed from the right path, but now I'm back where I should be. I desire Elaynia, wish to be with her, to love her and will be faithful to her forever more.
Thevus: Well, it appears that our meeting here is indeed fortunate. We'll hear more of this wondrous story later. Ignaus, I will overrule your wishes. In the Emperor's Temple, these couples shall be married. They shall be married with us, in a grand ceremony. And because time has flown by us, we shall cancel today's hunt. Let us all return to Airdome. We'll have a feast to celebrate our three couples. Come, Hollin.
(Everyone leaves but the lovers and the sleeping Brato)
Domos: Everything seems hazy, like I'm looking through a steamy fog.
Hermione: I think my eyes are out of focus. It's like I'm seeing double.
Elaynia: Me too. Domos is like a jewel I've found, he's mine, but what if someone should come to claim him?
Domos: Are you sure we're awake? It sure feels like we're still dreaming. Was the Duke really here? Didn't he say to follow him?
Hermione: He was, and my father was here as well.
Elaynia: And Hollin.
Zander: Yes, and he told us to follow him to the temple.
Domos: Well, I guess we're awake! Let's hurry after the Duke, and we can share our strange dreams on the way.
(The lovers leave)
Brato: When my cue comes, call me and I'll perform. My next one is "Most fair Pyrius." (yawns) What is this? Pol Quin? Flexo the mechanic? Squin the handyman? Sato? Emperor's Throne! They've snuck off and left me sleeping here! I had the most wondrous dream. I don't think I could put it in words. I thought I was…I don't know what. I thought I was, and I thought I had….Gah! I don't have the words to describe what I thought I had. No one has ever seen, tasted, heard or even dreamt what I just dreamed. I'll have to get Pol Quin to turn it into a ballad. We'll call it "Brato's Dream", and I'll sing it at the end of our play for the Duke. Oh! Maybe I'll sing it when Therese dies!
(He leaves)
PART FOUR -The Second Bit
A plaza in Airdome. Enter Quin, Flexo, Squin and Sato.
Quin: Have you gone by Brato's pad? Has he come home yet?
Sato: Nobody's seen him. It's like he's vanished.
Flexo: If he doesn't show, then our play is ruined. We'll have to cancel, won't we?
Quin: Most definitely. There isn't another man in Airdome capable of playing Pyrius like he can.
Flexo: Too true. He's got more talent than any other worker in Airdome.
Quin: Yes, and the best physique too. And he's got a great voice too, a real paramour.
Flexo: I think you mean "paragon". A paramour is, Emperor watch over us, a naughty type of guy.
(Skib enters)
Skib: The Duke has just left the temple, and two or three more lords and ladies have been married as well. If we'd been able to put on our play, we'd have been famous.
Flexo: Poor Brato! He's lost a sixty credit-a-day pension for the rest of his life! There's no way he would've gotten less. If the Duke wouldn't give him sixty credits-a-day for playing Pyrius, I'd kill myself. He would've deserved it. There was an easy sixty credits-a-day in the part of Pyrius, no doubt.
(Brato enters)
Brato: Here you are! My friends, where have you been?
Quin: Brato! Thank the Emperor! You're finally here!
Brato: Lads, I've got an amazing story to tell you all. But don't ask me what it is, because if I tell you, then I'm no true Airdome citizen. I'll tell you everything just like it happened.
Quin: Out with it, then, Brato!
Brato: Nope, can't. All I'll say is that the Duke has had dinner. Let's get our costumes on. Make sure the beards have new strings and there are new laces on your boots. Then meet at the manor as soon as possible. Everyone must know his part, because, get this, our play has been chosen! No matter what, Therese's costume must be clean. Don't let the Lion player cut their nails, because they'll need to use them as claws. And, whatever you do, don't eat anything spicy! We've got to have sweet breath, so that they'll say we've put on a sweet comedy! Now hurry! Hurry!
(They go)
