SELECTED WORKS

Plan de Evasion (Plan of Escape), a novel by Adolfo Bioy Casares

El Adefesio (The Freak), a three-act play by Rafael Alberti
Selections from Cantico ( C a n t i c l e ) , poetry by Jorge Guillen
"Otofio" ("Autumn"), a poem by Alfonso Canales
Los Excelentes Varones (The Perfect Gentlemen), a one-act play
by Max Aub

Translated from the Spanish

by
MEREDYTH SAVAGE
B . A . , University of C a l i f o r n i a , I r v i n e , 1969

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF ARTS

in the Department
of
Creative Writing

We accept this thesis as conforming to the

required standard

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

April, 1972
In p r e s e n t i n g t h i s thesis in p a r t i a l f u l f i l m e n t o f the requirements for

an advanced degree at the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia, I agree that

the L i b r a r y s h a l l make i t f r e e l y a v a i l a b l e f o r r e f e r e n c e and study.

I f u r t h e r agree t h a t p e r m i s s i o n f o r e x t e n s i v e copying o f this thesis

f o r s c h o l a r l y purposes may be g r a n t e d by the Head of my Department or

by his representatives. It i s understood that copying or publication

of this t h e s i s f o r f i n a n c i a l g a i n s h a l l not be allowed without my

written permission.

Department o f Creative Writing

The U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h Columbia
Vancouver 8, Canada

D a t e
April ?8, 197?
 i

ABSTRACT

T h i s t h e s i s i s composed o f the t r a n s l a t i o n o f p r e v i o u s l y

u n t r a n s l a t e d works o f important modern Spanish authors from

S p a i n , A r g e n t i n a and Mexico:

A d o l f o Bioy Casares ( A r g e n t i n e n o v e l i s t and f r e q u e n t

c o l l a b o r a t o r w i t h Jorge L u i s B o r g e s ) : PLAN DE EVASION, 1945.

The e n t i r e novel i s s t r u c t u r e d on a " f a n t a s t i c a l " formula o f

p h y s i o l o g i c a l - p h i l o s o p h i c a l i d e a s - - r o o t e d i n the p s y c h o l o g i c a l

t h e o r i e s o f W i l l i a m James and encompassing even the borders o f

the c u r r e n t t h r e s h o l d o f b i o l o g i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g . This "formula"

i s presented near the end o f the novel and s e r v e s as the key t o

the r e a l i t y o f the novel i t s e l f : t o the manner o f i t s a r c h i t e c -

t u r e , i t s mental and emotional p e r c e p t i o n s and i t s u l t i m a t e

" r e s o l u t i o n " which turns t h e c o n c l u s i o n back on i t s p a r t s ,

f o r c i n g the r e a d e r t o make a reassessment o f the p e r p l e x i n g com-

ponents o f r e a l i t y i n the novel a n d , p e r h a p s , even t o r e -

examine the q u e s t i o n s o f the nature o f r e a l i t y itself. In a

fully fictional and h i g h l y symmetrical manner, t h e novel e x p l o r e s

the q u e s t i o n o f r e a l i t y , b u i l d i n g i t s own s t r u c t u r e o f a network

 ii

o f m u l t i p l e and c o n f l i c t i n g r e a l i t i e s which are each developed

to be c o n s i s t e n t with themselves but which c o n f l i c t insolubly

at t h e i r u l t i m a t e j u n c t u r e s with each o t h e r .

Rafael A l b e r t i (poet and d r a m a t i s t o f the famous "Generation

o f 1927" i n S p a i n ) : EL ADEFESIO, 1944. T h i s work, o f t e n compared

with G a r a a Lorca's "House o f Bernarda A l b a " , i s c o n s i d e r e d by

the c r i t i c s to be h i s f i n e s t p l a y , and i n Spain h i s work i s more

h i g h l y regarded than t h a t o f L o r c a . L i k e L o r c a , i n El A d e f e s i o

A l b e r t i u t i l i z e s common Spanish f o l k l o r e , but u n l i k e L o r c a he

uses i t o n l y as a s p r i n g b o a r d to l a r g e r and more complex e n d s .

In the play he interweaves Spanish f o l k l o r e w i t h Greek mythology

and C h r i s t i a n l e g e n d , employing a n a k e d , f l u i d symbolism i n a

way t h a t i s a t moments s t r i k i n g l y modern and e x i s t e n t i a l . In

the p l a y he achieves a s t a r t l i n g p o e t i c c o u n t e r p o i n t between the

c l a s s i c a l , l y r i c a l r i t u a l o f t r a d i t i o n , with i t s elevated emotion,

and a d i s s o n a n t r i t u a l o f g r o t e s q u e r i e s s u g g e s t i v e o f the modern

t h e a t r e o f the a b s u r d — r e s u l t i n g i n a p o e t i c u n i t y t h a t i s both

r i c h and complex.

Jorge G u i l l e n (an i m a g i s t p o e t , a l s o o f the "Generation of

1927" i n S p a i n ) : CANTICO, 1928. His s e l f - p r o f e s s e d aims i n

 iii

Cantico (a "poetry o f a f f i r m a t i o n " ) are t o express h i s concept

o f the b a s i c u n i t y , harmony and abundance o f l i f e and o f t h e

i n t i m a t e r e l a t e d n e s s o f a l l t h i n g s i n time and s p a c e . In the

poems o f C a n t i c o G u i l l e n pursues t h i s a f f i r m a t i o n through

p u r i t y , i n t e n s i t y o f v i s i o n and e x c l u s i o n , h i s v e r s e s c h a r a c -

t e r i z e d by a r e f i n e d , j o y f u l c l a s s i c i s m and b r i l l i a n t metaphor.

A l f o n s o Canales (an important member o f t h e school o f modern

Spanish p o e t s , whose works date from 1950 t o the p r e s e n t ) :

A/
0T0N0, 1956. T h i s poem i s from h i s book o f p o e t r y E l Candado.

Max Aub (major modern p l a y w r i g h t and f e r v e n t a n t i - f a s c i s t , s e l f -

e x i l e d from Spain and now r e s i d i n g i n Mexico s i n c e 1942): LOS

EXCELENTES VARONES, 1946. Although h i s work i s no l o n g e r recog-

n i z e d i n S p a i n , Aub i s g e n e r a l l y regarded by c r i t i c s as one o f

the f i n e s t l i v i n g Spanish p l a y w r i g h t s . The concerns which have

dominated Aub's p o s t - S p a i n w r i t i n g s a r e those o f w a r , f a s c i s m ,

e x i l e , humanism and t h e d i g n i t y o f man under p r e s s u r e i n r e l a -

t i o n t o moral v a l u e s . Although Los E x c e l e n t e s V a r o n e s , by Aub's

own c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , belongs t o the genre o f h i s work which he

calls " p o l i c e t h e a t r e " , i t i s much more than t h a t , b e i n g a l s o a

p i e r c i n g b l a c k f a r c e s a t i r i z i n g the r e c u r r e n t and ominous impulse

o f s o c i e t y — p a s t , p r e s e n t and p o s s i b l y f u t u r e — t o w a r d the p o l i c e

state.
 iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Plan o f E s c a p e , A d o l f o Bioy Casares 01

The F r e a k , Rafael A l b e r t i 172

Selections from C a n t i c l e , J o r g e G u i l l e n 271

"Autumn", A l f o n s o Canales 277

The P e r f e c t Gentleman, Max Aub 278

P L A N OF E S C A P E

by

ADOLFO BIOY CASARES

(Buenos A i r e s , A r g e n t i n a - 1945)

T r a n s l a t e d from t h e Spanish by

MEREDYTH SAVAGE
 My first afternoon on these i s l a n d s hasn't y e t ended and already

I have seen something o f so grave a n a t u r e t h a t I must ask f o r your

help d i r e c t l y , without h e s i t a t i o n . I w i l l t r y to e x p l a i n myself i n

due order.

T h i s i s the f i r s t paragraph o f the f i r s t l e t t e r from my

nephew, naval l i e u t e n a n t Henri Nevers. Among f r i e n d s and relatives

t h e r e w i l l always be someone who w i l l say t h a t h i s most e x t r a -

o r d i n a r y and t e r r i b l e adventures would seem t o j u s t i f y t h i s tone of

a l a r m , but t h a t t h e y , h i s " i n t i m a t e s " , know t h a t the r e a l justifi-

cation l i e s i n h i s timorous n a t u r e . I m y s e l f f i n d i n t h a t paragraph

the p r o p o r t i o n o f t r u t h and e r r o r to which the b e s t prophets a s p i r e ;

f u r t h e r m o r e , I do not b e l i e v e t h a t i t would be r i g h t to d e f i n e

Nevers as a coward. I t i s t r u e t h a t he h i m s e l f has realized that

he was a hero t o t a l l y inadequate t o the c a t a s t r o p h e s t h a t took

place. We must not f o r g e t what h i s r e a l p r e o c c u p a t i o n s were, nor,

at the same t i m e , the e x t r a o r d i n a r y nature o f those catastrophes.

S i n c e the day I left Saint-Martin until today, uncontrollably,

as i n a d e l i r i u m , I have thought o f I r e n e , Nevers says with h i s

customary l a c k o f decorum, and he continues:

I have a l s o thought o f my f r i e n d s , those n i g h t s we talked

1
 2

t o g e t h e r i n some c a f e on the rue Vauban, among dark m i r r o r s , on

the i l l u s o r y border o f m e t a p h y s i c s . I t h i n k o f the l i f e I have

l e f t and I do not know whom I d e s p i s e most, P i e r r e o r m y s e l f .

P i e r r e i s my o l d e r b r o t h e r ; as t h e head o f t h e f a m i l y he

d e c i d e d on Henry's e x i l e ; t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f a l l s on him.

On the 27th o f J a n u a r y , 1913, my nephew boarded t h e N i c o l a s

Baudin and s e t s a i l f o r Cayenne. He spent the b e s t moments o f the

j o u r n e y with the books o f J u l e s V e r n e , o r with a book o f m e d i c i n e ,

T r o p i c a l Diseases F o r Everyone o r w r i t i n g h i s Addenda t o t h e

Monograph on t h e R o l l s o f Q l e r o n ; the most r i d i c u l o u s moments were

spent f l e e i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n s on p o l i t i c s o r the next w a r , conver-

s a t i o n s he l a t e r r e g r e t t e d n o t having h e a r d . Some f o r t y deportees

were t r a v e l l i n g i n the h o l d . By h i s own a d m i s s i o n , Nevers used t o

imagine a t n i g h t ( f i r s t as a k i n d o f s t o r y he t o l d h i m s e l f t o

f o r g e t h i s awful appointment, l a t e r as an i n v o l u n t a r y thing,

r e c u r r i n g with almost i r r i t a t i n g p e r s i s t e n c e ) t h a t he went down t o

the h o l d and urged them t o mutiny. In the c o l o n y t h e r e i s no

danger o f r e l a p s i n g i n t o those i m a g i n i n g s , he d e c l a r e s . Confused

by the dread o f l i v i n g i n a p r i s o n he made no d i s t i n c t i o n s : the

guards, the c o n v i c t s , the e x i l e s : they a l l r e p e l l e d him.

On the 18th o f February he disembarked i n Cayenne. He was

r e c e i v e d by the a d j u t a n t L e g r a i n , a shabby man, a s o r t o f c o u n t r y

b a r b e r w i t h k i n k y b l o n d h a i r and azure e y e s . Nevers asked f o r the

governor.
 3

"He's out on t h e i s l a n d s . "

" L e t ' s go see him."

"Very w e l l , " L e g r a i n s a i d s o f t l y . "There's time f o r us t o

reach t h e governor's mansion, have something t o d r i n k and r e s t a

bit. We can't go u n t i l t h e S c h e l c h e r pulls out."

"When does she l e a v e ? "

"The 22nd."

That was f o u r days away.

They e n t e r e d a s a g g i n g , dark c a r r i a g e , worn with age. Nevers

s t u d i e d the c i t y l a b o r i o u s l y . I t s c i t i z e n s were b l a c k , o r y e l l o w -

i s h w h i t e , with e x c e s s i v e l y f u l l s h i r t s and wide hats made o f s t r a w . '

Or t h e r e were t h e p r i s o n e r s , i n r e d and white s t r i p e s . The houses

were wood h u t s , o f an ocherous c o l o r , o r p i n k , o r b o t t l e green o r

cerulean b l u e . The s t r e e t s were n o t paved; from time t o time a

sparse r e d d i s h dust enveloped them. Nevers w r i t e s : The modest

governor's palace owes i t s fame t o i t s e l e v a t e d f l o o r and t o i t s

use o f the country's lumber, as durable as r o c k s , which the J e s u i t s

used i n c o n s t r u c t i o n . The p e n e t r a t i n g i n s e c t s and the h u m i d i t y

are b e g i n n i n g t o r o t the p l a c e .

Those days t h a t he spent i n t h e c a p i t a l o f t h e p e n i t e n t i a r y

seemed t o him a season i n hellJ He cursed h i s own weakness, he

cursed t h a t moment i n which he had consented t o go t o Cayenne,

Une s a i s o n en e n f e r
 4

to d i s t a n c e h i m s e l f f o r one y e a r from h i s f i a n c e e . He f e a r e d

everything: from i l l n e s s , an a c c i d e n t , the i n c o m p l e t i o n of his

p u r p o s e s , a d e l a y o r o b s t a c l e t o h i s r e t u r n t o , e v e n , an i n c o n -

c e i v a b l e b e t r a y a l by I r e n e . He imagined t h a t he was condemned t o

these c a l a m i t i e s by having p e r m i t t e d , without r e s i s t a n c e , t h e i r

disposal o f his destiny. Among c o n v i c t s , p a r o l e e s and j a i l e r s he

considered himself a convict.

The night before l e a v i n g f o r the i s l a n d s , a Mr. and Mrs. Frin-

z i n e i n v i t e d him t o d i n n e r . He asked L e g r a i n i f he c o u l d make

excuses. L e g r a i n r e p l i e d t h a t they were "very s o l i d " persons and

i t would not be a d v i s a b l e t o make enemies o f them. He added:

"Besides, they're a l r e a d y on your s i d e . The governor has

offended a l l t h e r i g h t s o c i e t y o f Cayenne. He i s an a n a r c h i s t . "

I looked f o r a b r i l l i a n t , d i s d a i n f u l r e p l y , Nevers w r i t e s . As

I couldn't f i n d one r i g h t away, I had t o thank him f o r h i s a d v i c e ,

I had t o e n t e r i n t o t h a t f e l o n i o u s c i v i l i t y and be r e c e i v e d a t nine

sharp by Mr. and Mrs. Frinzine.

He began t o g e t ready long b e f o r e t i m e . S e i z e d by a f e a r t h a t

they would i n t e r r o g a t e him, o r perhaps because o f a d i a b o l i c

relish f o r s y m m e t r i e s , he s t u d i e d t h e a r t i c l e on p r i s o n s i n the

Larousse.

I t must have been twenty t o n i n e when he went down the perron

steps o f the government p a l a c e . He c r o s s e d the square with the

palm t r e e s , stopped t o contemplate the d i s a g r e e a b l e monument t o

 5

V i c t o r Hugues, condescended t o l e t a shoeblack g i v e him a b i t of a

s h i n e , and, d e t o u r i n g round the B o t a n i c a l Gardens, he a r r i v e d i n

f r o n t o f the F r i n z i n e household. I t was v a s t and green,

with wide adobe w a l l s .

A ceremonious c o n c i e r g e conducted him along lengthy corridors,

through the s e c r e t d i s t i l l e r y , and a t the v e s t i b u l e o f a p u r p l e -

c a r p e t e d s a l o n w i t h g o l d i n c r u s t a t i o n s on the w a l l s , she called out

his name. There were twenty p e o p l e . Nevers remembered v e r y few of

them: the owners o f the h o u s e — P h i l i p F r i n z i n e , the nameless w i f e ,

and C h a r l o t t e , t h e i r twelve or t h i r t e e n - y e a r - o l d d a u g h t e r — a l l

hugely o b e s e , s h o r t , p o l i s h e d , p i n k ; a Mr. Lambert, who cornered

him a g a i n s t a mountain o f p a s t r i e s and asked him i f he d i d n ' t t h i n k

t h a t the most important element i n man was d i g n i t y (Nevers realized

w i t h alarm t h a t Mr Lambert expected an answer, but another guest

intervened: "You're r i g h t , the a t t i t u d e o f the governor..."

Nevers moved away. He wanted to d i s c o v e r the "mystery" about the

governor but he d i d n ' t want the c o m p l i c a t i o n s o f i n t r i g u e s . He

r e p e a t e d the sentence o f the unknown g u e s t , he r e p e a t e d Lambert's

s e n t e n c e , he s a i d t o h i m s e l f "anything i s the symbol o f anything"

and he f e l t v a i n l y s a t i s f i e d . ) He a l s o remembered a Mrs. Wernaer:

she hovered l a n g u i d l y around them and he went over t o speak to her.

He immediately l e a r n e d o f the e v o l u t i o n o f F r i n z i n e , king o f the

colony's g o l d m i n e s , y e s t e r d a y , dishwasher i n a back-street

tavern. He a l s o l e a r n e d t h a t Lambert was commander of the islands,

 6

t h a t P e t e r C a s t e l , the g o v e r n o r , had e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f on the

i s l a n d s and t h a t he had s e n t the commander to Cayenne. This was

objectionable: Cayenne had always been the s e a t o f government.

But C a s t e l was a s u b v e r s i v e , he wanted t o be alone with the p r i s o n -

ers... The woman a l s o accused C a s t e l o f having written—and

p u b l i s h e d i n p r e s t i g i o u s g u i l d n e w s p a p e r s — s m a l l poems i n prose.

They went i n t o the d i n i n g room. To Nevers' r i g h t s a t

Mrs. F r i n z i n e and on h i s l e f t the w i f e o f the p r e s i d e n t o f the Bank

o f Guiana; a c r o s s from him, beyond f o u r c a r n a t i o n s t h a t arched over

a tall vase of b l u e g l a s s , C h a r l o t t e , the daughter o f h i s h o s t s .

A t f i r s t t h e r e was l a u g h t e r and g r e a t a n i m a t i o n . Nevers n o t i c e d

t h a t immediately around him the c o n v e r s a t i o n s l a c k e n e d . B u t , he

c o n f e s s e s , when he was spoken t o he d i d not answer: he t r i e d to

r e c a l l what he had prepared t h a t a f t e r n o o n i n the Larousse.

F i n a l l y he overcame h i s amnesia; the sudden i l l u m i n a t i o n b u r s t into

words, and w i t h h o r r i b l e enthusiasm he spoke o f the urbane Bentham,

author o f The Defense o f Usury and i n v e n t o r o f h e d o n i s t i c compu-

t a t i o n and p a n o p t i c p r i s o n s ; he a l s o evoked the penal system o f

u s e l e s s l a b o r and d e b i l i t a t i o n , o f Auburn. He thought he noticed

t h a t some o f the guests took advantage o f h i s pauses to t r y to

change the s u b j e c t ; long afterwards i t o c c u r r e d t o him that

speaking o f p r i s o n s was perhaps not a p p r o p r i a t e f o r such a reunion.

He was c o n f u s e d , not h e a r i n g the few words s t i l l being s a i d , u n t i l

suddenly he heard from the l i p s o f Mrs. Frinzine (as a t n i g h t when

 7

we hear our own o u t c r y t h a t wakes us) a name: Rene'Ghill. Nevers

"explains": I, even u n c o n s c i o u s l y , c o u l d remember the p o e t ; t h a t

Mrs. F r i n z i n e s h o u l d evoke him was inconceivable. He asked imper-

tinently:

"You knew G h i l l ? "

"I know him very w e l l . You don't know the times he h e l d me

on h i s knee, i n my father's restaurant in Marseilles. I was a

l i t t l e girl...a child then."

With a sudden worship Nevers asked her what she remembered o f

the poet's verses.

"I don't remember a n y t h i n g but my daughter can r e c i t e some

marvelous l i n e s f o r us."

T h i s c a l l e d f o r a c t i o n and Nevers spoke immediately o f the

R o l l s o f O l e r o n , t h a t g r e a t c o u t u m i e r , who f i x e d the r i g h t s o f way

o f the o c e a n . He t r i e d t o i n f l a m e h i s t a b l e companions a g a i n s t the

renegades o r f o r e i g n e r s who pretended t h a t R i c h a r d the Lion-Hearted

was the author o f the R o l l s ; he a l s o warned them a g a i n s t the

c a n d i d a c y — m o r e romantic but q u i t e f a l l a c i o u s — o f E l e a n o r o f

Guyena. "No," he t o l d them, "these j e w e l s ( l i k e the immortal poems

o f the b l i n d bard) were not the work o f a s i n g l e g e n i u s ; they were

the product o f the c i t i z e n s o f our i s l a n d s , each d i s t i n c t and

e f f e c t i v e as each p a r t i c l e o f an a l l u v i u m . " He recalled at l a s t

the f l i g h t y Pardessus and he implored those present not t o l e t

themselves be swayed by h i s h e r e s y , which was b r i l l i a n t and perverse.

 8

Once more I had supposed t h a t my themes must be o f i n t e r e s t t o

o t h e r m i n o r i t i e s , he c o n f e s s e s , but he f e l t compassion f o r those

l i s t e n i n g t o him and he asked:

"Would the governor be w i l l i n g t o h e l p me i n my investigations

o f the R o l l s ? "

The q u e s t i o n was a b s u r d , but I hoped t o t o s s them sweetmeats,

the word " g o v e r n o r " , t o make them happy. They argued over the

degree o f C a s t e l ' s c u l t u r e ; they agreed on h i s "personal charm";

Lambert attempted t o compare him w i t h the wise man o f a book he

had r e a d : a weak, a i l i n g o l d man w i t h plans t o blow up the Comic

Opera. The c o n v e r s a t i o n detoured t o the c o s t s o f the Comic Opera

and t o the q u e s t i o n o f which were the g r e a t e s t t h e a t r e s , those o f

Europe or those o f A m e r i c a .

Mrs. F r i n z i n e s a i d t h a t the poor guards went hungry because

o f the governor's zoo.

" I f they d i d n ' t have t h e i r p r i v a t e c h i c k e n coops..." she

i n s i s t e d , s h o u t i n g t o be h e a r d .

Through the c a r n a t i o n s he looked a t C h a r l o t t e . She remained

s i l e n t , with her eyes c i r c u m s p e c t f u l l y c a s t on her plate.

At midnight he went out on the t e r r a c e . R e s t i n g on the

b a l u s t r a d e , vaguely c o n t e m p l a t i n g the t r e e s o f the B o t a n i c a l

G a r d e n s , dark and m e r c u r i a l i n the r a d i a n c e o f the moonlight he

r e c i t e d some poems o f G h i l l . He i n t e r r u p t e d h i m s e l f ; he thought he

 9

heard a s l i g h t murmur; he s a i d to h i m s e l f : i t i s the murmur o f

the American j u n g l e ; i t seemed, more l i k e l y , a murmuring o f s q u i r -

r e l s o r o f monkeys; then he saw a woman making s i g n s to him from

the g a r d e n s ; he t r i e d to contemplate the t r e e s and t o r e c i t e the

poems o f G h i l l ; he heard a woman's l a u g h t e r .

Before he l e f t he saw Charlotte again. She was i n the room

where the hats o f the guests were s t a c k e d . Charlotte stretched

out a s h o r t arm w i t h her hand c l o s e d ; she opened i t . Confusedly,

Nevers saw a r a d i a n c e , then a golden mermaid.

"I g i v e i t to you," the g i r l s a i d , with simplicity.

At t h a t moment some men walked i n . C h a r l o t t e shut her hand.

He d i d n ' t s l e e p t h a t n i g h t . He thought about I r e n e , and

C h a r l o t t e a p p e a r e d , p r o p h e t i c and obscene. He promised h i m s e l f

t h a t he would never go to the l i e s du S a l u t , t h a t he would r e t u r n

to Re on the f i r s t boat.

On the 22nd he boarded the r u s t y S c h e l c h e r . In among b l a c k ,

p a l e and s e a - s i c k women and huge cages o f c h i c k e n s , s t i l l sick

from the p r e v i o u s n i g h t ' s d i n n e r , he made the t r i p to the islands.

He asked a s a i l o r i f t h e r e were no o t h e r means o f communication

between the i s l a n d s and Cayenne.

"One Sunday the S c h e l c h e r , the next the Rimbaud. But the

administrators got n o t h i n g to complain a b o u t , what with their

motor launch..."
 10

E v e r y t h i n g had been ominous s i n c e I l e f t Re, he w r i t e s , but

when I saw the i s l a n d s I f e l t a sudden a f f l i c t i o n . Many times he

had imagined t h e a r r i v a l . As he a r r i v e d he f e l t t h a t a l l hope was

lost: now t h e r e would be no m i r a c l e , now t h e r e would be no c a l a -

mity t o keep him from h i s post i n t h e p r i s o n . He l a t e r r e c a l l s

t h a t the appearance o f t h e i s l a n d s i s not u n p l e a s a n t . Further s t i l l :

with t h e i r t a l l palm t r e e s and t h e i r r o c k s , they were the image o f

the i s l a n d s t h a t he had always dreamed o f , with I r e n e . Still,

i r r e s i s t a b l y , they r e p e l l e d h i m , and our m i s e r a b l e v i l l a g e o f

S a i n t - M a r t i n was as i f i l l u m i n a t e d i n h i s memory.

At t h r e e i n the a f t e r n o o n he a r r i v e d a t Royal I s l a n d . He

notes: On the p i e r a dark Jew was w a i t i n g f o r me, Dreyfus by name.

Nevers g r e e t s him r i g h t o f f as "Mr. Governor". A guard whispers

in h i s ear:

"That's n o t the g o v e r n o r . That's D r e y f u s , the p a r o l e e . "

Dreyfus c o u l d n ' t have h e a r d , because he s a i d the governor was

away. He took Nevers t o h i s q u a r t e r s i n the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; i t

l a c k e d t h e romantic (but decayed) s p l e n d o r o f t h e p a l a c e a t Cayenne;

i t was h a b i t a b l e .

"I am a t y o u r command," Dreyfus s t a t e d as he opened t h e

luggage. "My d u t i e s are t o a t t e n d the governor and y o u r s e l f . l i e u -

tenant. You may o r d e r whatever you wish."

He was a man o f medium h e i g h t , o f a g r e e n i s h c o m p l e x i o n , with

 11

tiny b r i l l i a n t eyes. He t a l k e d without moving, with a t o t a l

suavity. When he l i s t e n e d he h a l f - c l o s e d h i s eyes and s l i g h t l y

pursed h i s l i p s : i n h i s e x p r e s s i o n t h e r e i s an e v i d e n t s a r c a s m ,

a repressed s a g a c i t y .

"Where i s t h e governor?"

"He's on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d . "

"We'll go t h e r e . "

" I m p o s s i b l e , s i r . The governor has p r o h i b i t e d a l l e n t r y t o

the island."

"And you w i l l n o t allow me t o go out f o r a walk?" The q u e s t i o n

was weak. But Nevers went o u t slamming t h e door s h a r p l y . Immedi-

a t e l y Dreyfus appeared a t h i s s i d e . He asked i f he c o u l d j o i n him

and he s m i l e d with a r e p u l s i v e sweetness. Nevers d i d n ' t r e p l y ;

they walked t o g e t h e r . The i s l a n d i s not a c o n g e n i a l place:

everywhere, the h o r r o r o f s e e i n g c o n v i c t s , the h o r r o r o f d i s p l a y i n g

o n e s e l f f r e e among convicts.

"The governor a n x i o u s l y awaits you," Dreyfus said. "I'm s u r e

he w i l l v i s i t you t h i s very n i g h t . "

Nevers thought he p e r c e i v e d a c e r t a i n i r o n y . He asks h i m s e l f :

i s t h i s s i m p l y a manner o f s p e a k i n g , o r d i d h i s Jewish perspicacity

cause him t o d i v i n e t h a t I cursed the governor? Dreyfus eulogized

the g o v e r n o r , he c o n g r a t u l a t e d Nevers on h i s good f o r t u n e ( t o spend

some y e a r s o f h i s youth i n the shadow o f such a wise and c o r d i a l

 12

l e a d e r ) and h i m s e l f f o r h i s own good f o r t u n e .

"I hope i t won't be y e a r s , " Nevers s t a t e d b o l d l y , and

corrected himself: "I hope I won't have t o go on w a l k i n g with you

for years."

He a r r i v e d at a group o f huge rocks on the c o a s t . He looked

out at the I s l a n d o f S t . Joseph s t r a i g h t ahead, D e v i l ' s I s l a n d o f f

i n the waves, f u r t h e r o u t . He thought he was alone. Suddenly,

Dreyfus spoke t o him in his quietest voice. Nevers f e l t d i z z y and

was a f r a i d of f a l l i n g i n the sea.

"It's just me."

Dreyfus continued:

"I'm going now, lieutenant. But be c a r e f u l . I t ' s easy to

slip on the moss on the r o c k s , and under the water the sharks are

watching you."

He c o n t i n u e d to study the i s l a n d s (more c a r e f u l now, pretending

not to be more c a r e f u l ) .

T h e n , when he was a l o n e , he made the a t r o c i o u s d i s c o v e r y . He

thought he saw enormous s e r p e n t s among the v e g e t a t i o n on Devil's

I s l a n d , but f o r g e t t i n g the danger t h a t w a i t e d i n the s e a , he moved

forward a couple o f s t e p s and saw in f u l l d a y l i g h t (as Cawley on

t h a t a s t r o l o g i c a l n i g h t on Lough Neagh, or l i k e the r e d s k i n on

the Lago de Horcones) a g r e e n i s h antediluvian animal. Engrossed,

he walked t o o t h e r r o c k s . The portentous t r u t h r e v e a l e d itself:

 13

Devil's I s l a n d was camouflaged. A house, a cement p a t i o , some

r o c k s , a small p a v i l l i o n , were camouflaged.

What does t h i s mean? Nevers w r i t e s . That the governor i s a

p e r s e c u t e d man? A madman? Or does i t mean war? He b e l i e v e d i n

the h y p o t h e s i s o f war: he would ask t o be t r a n s f e r r e d t o a s h i p .

Or w i l l I spend a l l the time o f the war h e r e , f a r from Irene? Or

will I be a d e s e r t e r ? He adds i n a p o s t s c r i p t : E i g h t hours have

passed s i n c e I a r r i v e d . I still have not seen C a s t e l , I c o u l d n ' t

appeal t o him about t h e s e c a m o u f l a g e s , I c o u l d n ' t hear h i s l i e s .

II

February 23

Nevers t r a v e r s e d Royal and S t . Joseph I s l a n d s (in his l e t t e r

o f the 23rd he t e l l s me: I haven't y e t found an excuse f o r making

an appearance on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d ) .

Royal I s l a n d and S t . Joseph I s l a n d a r e n ' t l a r g e r than three

square k i l o m e t e r s each; Devil's Island i s a l i t t l e smaller.

According t o D r e y f u s , t h e r e were, a l t o g e t h e r , some seven hundred

and f i f t y i n h a b i t a n t s : f i v e on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d ( t h e g o v e r n o r , t h e

governor's s e c r e t a r y and t h r e e p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s ) , f o u r hundred

on Royal I s l a n d , something more than t h r e e hundred and f o r t y on

 14

St. Joseph. The main c o n s t r u c t i o n s a r e on Royal I s l a n d : the

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , the l i g h t h o u s e , the h o s p i t a l , t h e workshops and

warehouses, and t h e " r e d compound", t h e former s l a v e q u a r t e r s . On

St. Joseph I s l a n d t h e r e i s an encampment surrounded by a w a l l , and

a b u i l d i n g — " t h e castle"—composed o f three p a v i l i o n s : two f o r

those condemned t o s o l i t a r y confinement and one f o r the i n s a n e . On

Devil's Island there i s a b u i l d i n g with f l a t r o o f s , t h a t looks t o

be new, some s t r a w - t h r a t c h e d huts and a d e c r e p i t tower.

The c o n v i c t s a r e not o b l i g a t e d t o perform any t a s k s ; most o f

the day they wander about f r e e l y over t h e i s l a n d s (with the

exception o f those c o n f i n e d i n the " c a s t l e " , who never l e a v e i t ) .

He saw t h e p r i s o n e r s i n confinement: i n minute, wet, s o l i t a r y

c e l l s , with a bench and a b i t o f c l o t h , h e a r i n g the sound o f t h e

sea and the i n c e s s a n t s h o u t i n g o f the i n s a n e , e x h a u s t i n g themselves

to w r i t e a name, a number, with t h e i r f i n g e r n a i l s on t h e w a l l s , a l -

ready i m b e c i l e . He saw t h e i n s a n e : naked, among l e f t o v e r v e g e t a b l e s ,

howling.

He r e t u r n e d t o Royal I s l a n d ; he i n s p e c t e d t h e red compound.

I t had the r e p u t a t i o n o f being t h e most s t i n k i n g , b l o o d i e s t p l a c e

in the c o l o n y . The guards and c o n v i c t s expected h i s v i s i t . Every-

t h i n g was i n o r d e r , i n a f i l t h and misery t h a t a r e u n f o r g e t t a b l e ,

Nevers comments w i t h outrageous s e n t i m e n t a l i t y .

He trembled as he e n t e r e d t h e h o s p i t a l . I t was an almost

 15

pleasant place. He saw fewer s i c k men t h e r e than i n the " c a s t l e "

and t h e r e d compound. He asked f o r t h e d o c t o r .

"Doctor? We haven't had one f o r a long time," s a i d a g u a r d .

"The governor and t h e s e c r e t a r y a t t e n d the s i c k . "

Even i f I o n l y g a i n the enmity o f t h e g o v e r n o r , he w r i t e s , I_

w i l l t r y t o a s s i s t the c o n v i c t s . He then presents this obscure

r e f l e c t i o n : i f I do s o , I w i l l make m y s e l f an accomplice t o t h e

existence o f prisons. He adds t h a t he w i l l a v o i d anything that

c o u l d i n any way postpone h i s r e t u r n t o F r a n c e .

Ill

The governor remained on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , o c c u p i e d i n myster-

ious a f f a i r s , o f whose nature Dreyfus was i g n o r a n t o r s a i d he was

ignorant. Nevers r e s o l v e d t o d i s c o v e r i f these a f f a i r s concealed

some danger. He would have t o move w i t h extreme c a u t i o n ; t o go

to the i s l a n d under the p r e t e x t o f t a k i n g food o r correspondence

wouldn't do. I t was t r u e t h a t t h e r e was a motor launch and more

than one d i n g h y , but t h e r e was a l s o a c a b l e tramway, and an order

f o r using i t . Dreyfus s a i d t h a t they used t h i s d e v i c e (that

c o u l d n ' t h o l d a man) because the s e a was u s u a l l y rough around

Devil's Island. They looked a t t h e ocean: i t was c a l m . Then

Dreyfus asked Nevers i f he had thought t h e tramway had been

 16

i n s t a l l e d at C a s t e l ' s orders.

"The d e v i c e was a l r e a d y s e t up .when I came here," Dreyfus

added. " U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h a t was many y e a r s b e f o r e Mr. Castel was

a p p o i n t e d governor."

"And who l i v e s on the i s l a n d ? " asked Nevers (absent-mindedly:

Dreyfus had t o l d him t h i s on the 23rd).

"The g o v e r n o r , Mr. De Brinon and three p o l i t i c a l prisoners.

There used t o be one o t h e r , but the governor moved him to the red

compound."

This ( p l a c i n g a p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r among the common p r i s o n e r s )

must have caused a v e r y f r a n k and general i n d i g n a t i o n , so general

t h a t Nevers d i s c o v e r e d i t even i n the words o f t h a t fanatic

f o l l o w e r o f the g o v e r n o r . Nevers h i m s e l f was c o n f u s e d , avowing

t h a t he would not t o l e r a t e such infamy. Later i t crossed his

mind t h a t t h a t a c t o f C a s t e l ' s f u r n i s h e d him with the l e a s t danger-

ous opportunity o f v e r i f y i n g what was going on on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d ;

he thought the p r i s o n e r would have no o b j e c t i o n to t a l k i n g (and i f

he d i d , i t would s u f f i c e f o r Nevers to s i m u l a t e an a v e r s i o n to

Castel). He asked Dreyfus what the p r i s o n e r ' s name was.

" F e r r e o l Bernheim."

He added a number. Nevers took out a small notebook and

e n t e r e d these p o i n t s i n f u l l view o f D r e y f u s ; then he asked him

who De Brinon was.

 17

"A m a r v e l , an A p o l l o , " Dreyfus s a i d w i t h s i n c e r e enthusiasm.

"He i s a young male n u r s e , o f noble f a m i l y . The governor's

secretary."

"Why i s t h e r e no d o c t o r on the islands?"

"There always was a d o c t o r , but now the governor and Mr. De

Brinon take care o f the s i c k men themselves."

N e i t h e r o f the two were d o c t o r s . I t can be a l l e g e d t h a t

n e i t h e r was P a s t e u r , Nevers comments p e t u l a n t l y . I do not know i f

i t would be wise t o a n t a g o n i z e the h e a l e r s . In the c a s t l e and i n

the red compound he saw a l l manner o f s i c k men, from anemics t o

lepers. He condemned C a s t e ! , he f e l t t h a t C a s t e l should remove the

s i c k from the i s l a n d s , send them t o a h o s p i t a l . He finally

d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h i s p a s s i o n a t e d i s a p p r o v a l was not f a r from being

a p u e r i l e f e a r o f c o n t a m i n a t i n g h i m s e l f , o f never a g a i n s e e i n g

I r e n e , o f remaining on the i s l a n d s a few months, u n t i l death.

IV

March 3

Today I have committed an i n d i s c r e t i o n , he says i n h i s l e t t e r

of March 3. He had spoken w i t h Bernheim. In the a f t e r n o o n he had

gone t o the red compound and s e n t f o r the p r i s o n e r . He was a

 18

l i t t l e man with a shaven f a c e the c o l o r o f an o l d r u b b e r b a l l , with

d a r k , v e r y deep eyes and a canine g a z e , t h a t came from f a r o f f , from

b e l o w , humbly. He snapped t o a t t e n t i o n l i k e a German s o l d i e r and

t r i e d to stand t a l l ; he managed t o s t a r e a t Nevers i n an oblique

manner.

"What do you want?" The v o i c e was l o f t y , his glance,

wretched. "Authority i s everything to me. But with the present

authorities I don't want any more t r u c k than..."

Nevers made a g e s t u r e of astonishment. He said, offended:

"I am not r e s p o n s i b l e f o r what happened b e f o r e my arrival."

"You're r i g h t , " Bernheim conceded, d e f e a t e d .

"What happened, then?"

"Nothing," he r e p l i e d . "Nothing: t h a t r a t who is a discredit

to a u t h o r i t y yanks me out of D e v i l ' s I s l a n d and puts me in with

the common p r i s o n e r s . "

"You must have committed some o f f e n s e . "

"That's c l e a r enough," he s a i d almost s h o u t i n g . "I asked

myself t h a t very q u e s t i o n . But you know what my d u t i e s were:

1) To g a t h e r c o c o n u t s . 2) To r e t u r n promptly to the h u t . I swear

to you: t h e r e was never a man born who c o u l d beat me in punctual-

ity."

"I w i l l t r y t o get you returned to your i s l a n d . "

"Don't i n t e r v e n e , l i e u t e n a n t . I don't want to owe anything

 19

to the g o v e r n o r . I am a thorn i n the c o n s c i e n c e o f France."

A b s u r d l y , Nevers w r i t e s : Bernheim seemed f a s c i n a t e d ; he

admired my scar. People assume t h a t the cut I bear i s the souvenir

of a f i g h t . I t would be advantageous i f the c o n v i c t s were t o t h i n k

it i s a sign of aggression.

He s h o u l d not a l l u d e so l i g h t l y to a mark t h a t , except i n the

eyes o f women (I s u s p e c t i t a t t r a c t s them!), o f f e n d s the human

race. Nevers knows i t i s not a s i g n o f a g g r e s s i o n . He must know

t h a t i t i s the s i g n o f an i d i o s y n c r a c y t h a t d i s t i n g u i s h e s him,

p e r h a p s , i n the h i s t o r y o f morbid p s y c h o l o g y . Here l i e s the origin

of that blemish: Nevers was twelve or t h i r t e e n y e a r s old. He used

to study i n a g a r d e n , near a dark a r b o r o f l a u r e l s . One afternoon

he saw a girl come out o f the a r b o r w i t h her h a i r d i s h e v e l e d , a

girl c r y i n g and bleeding. He saw her go away; a phantasmal horror

kept him from h e l p i n g h e r . He wanted t o i n s p e c t the a r b o r ; he

didn't dare. He wanted to f l e e ; h i s c u r i o s i t y h e l d him back. The

girl d i d n ' t l i v e f a r away; her b r o t h e r s , t h r e e boys a l i t t l e older

than N e v e r s , appeared v e r y s h o r t l y . They went i n t o the a r b o r ; they

came out immediately. They asked him i f he hadn't seen a man

wandering a b o u t . He s a i d no. The boys went away. He experienced

a d e s p e r a t e c u r i o s i t y , and he shouted t o them: "I d i d n ' t see

anyone because I was i n the a r b o r a l l a f t e r n o o n . " He t o l d me that

he must have shouted l i k e a madman, because i f he h a d n ' t , the boys

 20

wouldn't have b e l i e v e d him. They b e l i e v e d him and they l e f t him

f o r dead.

I r e t u r n to the account o f t h a t 3rd o f March, on the islands.

Nevers and Bernheim went out f o r a walk. They had been t a l k i n g

f o r some time when Nevers suddenly thought t h a t h i s conduct was

imprudent. The impulsive frankness o f Bernheim had captured him.

He found h i m s e l f a g r e e i n g w i t h , o r t o l e r a t i n g w i t h o u t refutation,

well-aimed i n v e c t i v e s a g a i n s t the governor and against French

justice. He remembered t h a t he wasn't t h e r e t o share the indigna-

t i o n o f t h i s man, nor t o defend him a g a i n s t i n j u s t i c e ; he was

t h e r e , s i m p l y , to i n t e r r o g a t e him, s i n c e he f e a r e d t h a t i n the

mystery o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d t h e r e might be something t h a t could

delay his r e t u r n . He managed to reason t h i s out w h i l e Bernheim

b e s i e g e d him w i t h e l o q u e n c e , s u f f e r i n g h i s c a l a m i t i e s anew and

r e p e a t i n g t h a t C a s t e l was the worst d i s g r a c e i n our h i s t o r y . Nevers

d e c i d e d to i n t e r r u p t him:

"And now t h a t the governor has f i n i s h e d the c a m o u f l a g e s , what

i s he doing?"

"He i s camouflaging the i n s i d e o f the house." And he added:

"But we w i l l see what h i s camouflages are good f o r when..."

Nevers d i d n ' t hear him. I f C a s t e l had camouflaged the interior

o f the h o u s e , he was i n s a n e ; i f he was i n s a n e , Nevers c o u l d forget

his f e a r s .
 21

He was s a t i s f i e d with the i n t e r v i e w ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , he thought,

the governor must not know about t h i s ; I must be on guard against

h i s s i c k cunning and suspicions.

When he r e t u r n e d t o the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n he saw, at a d i s t a n c e ,

a man w a l k i n g among the rocks and palm t r e e s on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d . A

f l o c k o f heterogeneous animals was f o l l o w i n g him. A guard t o l d him

t h a t t h a t man was the governor.

On the 5 t h he w r i t e s : Even though he a n x i o u s l y awaits me, the

governor s t i l l hasn't come. My urgency t o see t h i s gentleman has

its limits: f o r example, I want to know i f h i s l o s s o f reason i s

absolute o r n o t , i f I ought t o l o c k him up or i f h i s d i s o r d e r i s

c o n f i n e d t o a mania. He wanted t o c l a r i f y o t h e r p o i n t s : What

d i d De Brinon do? Did he take care o f the s i c k man? Did he mis-

t r e a t him?

I f the governor was not t o t a l l y mad, Nevers would c o n s u l t him

about the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . At present t h e r e was no administration

whatsoever. What would t h a t suggest? Madness? Disinterest? In

t h a t case the governor would not be abject. But who would not

have doubts about a man whose v o c a t i o n i t i s t o govern a p r i s o n ?

N e v e r t h e l e s s , he r e f l e c t e d , I am here; i s i t a vocation that has

 22

brought me?

In C a s t e l ' s l i b r a r y t h e r e were books on m e d i c i n e , psychology

and s e v e r a l novels o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ; t h e r e were very few

of the c l a s s i c s . Nevers was n o t a medical s c h o l a r . The o n l y fruit

he had gleaned from T r o p i c a l Diseases For Everyone was a p l e a s a n t

but t r a n s i e n t p r e s t i g e among t h e s e r v a n t s o f h i s house: at least

t h a t was what he b e l i e v e d on March 5.

In h i s l e t t e r o f t h a t date he thanks me f o r s e v e r a l books t h a t

I s e n t him, and he t e l l s me t h a t h i s c o u s i n X a v i e r B r i s s a c was t h e

o n l y member o f t h e f a m i l y who b i d him goodbye. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , he

w r i t e s , t h e name o f t h e boat was 'Nicolas Baudin"; X a v i e r took

advantage o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y and remembered what a l l t h e r e s i d e n t s

o f Oleron and Re i n a l l t h e p o s s i b l e combinations around t h e t a b l e s

at t h e "Cafe du Mirage" have r e p e a t e d : N i c o l a s Baudin was t h e

author o f t h e d i s c o v e r i e s which the E n g l i s h have a t t r i b u t e d t o

Flinders. X a v i e r had added f i n a l l y t h a t as a r e s u l t o f Nevers'

s t a y on those i s l a n d s so p r o p i t i o u s t o both t h e e n t o m o l o g i s t and

the i n s e c t , he hoped--for t h e g l o r y o f F r a n c e — f o r works as s o l i d

as those o f Baudin. But not e n t o m o l o g i c a l works: works more

appropriate t o t h e nature o f Nevers.

Nevers l a t e r speaks o f Dreyfus: I must admit t h a t he i s l e s s

overbearing i n h i s a r c h i p e l a g o than i n our l i t e r a t u r e . I have

h a r d l y seen him, I b a r e l y hear him, but e v e r y t h i n g has been

 23

punctual and c o r r e c t , with the e x c e p t i o n o f the c o f f e e : excellent.

Immediately he asks h i m s e l f i f t h i s r e c o n c i l i a t i o n may n o t be

p r o p h e t i c , i f t h i s i s n ' t the b e g i n n i n g o f a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n with

d e s t i n y , and he adds: In some moment o f insomnia I have known t h i s

fear: the l a x i t y brought on by the t r o p i c s , r e a c h i n g t h e s t a t e o f

no l o n g e r d e s i r i n g the r e t u r n . But why a l l u d e t o such dangers? It

i s an i l l u s i o n t o f e a r them. I t i s t h e l o n g i n g t o dream t h a t t h e

c l i m a t e , the i n s e c t s , the i n c r e d i b l e p r i s o n , the unspeakable

absence o f Irene do not e x i s t .

Concerning t h e p r i s o n , the i n s e c t s and even t h e absence o f

Irene I w i l l r a i s e no o b j e c t i o n s . With r e g a r d t o the c l i m a t e , I

b e l i e v e he e x a g g e r a t e s . The events which took p l a c e o c c u r r e d i n

F e b r u a r y , March and A p r i l , i n w i n t e r . It i s true that there a

March summer i s i n the h a b i t o f i n t r o d u c i n g i t s e l f ; i t i s t r u e that

w i n t e r i n the Guianas i s as s u l t r y as summer i n P a r i s . . . , but

N e v e r s , a g a i n s t t h e w i l l o f h i s e l d e r s , has spent more than one

v a c a t i o n i n P a r i s and has never complained.

He c o n t i n u e d t o look f o r an e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h e governor's

conduct; a t times he was a f r a i d he had accepted the h y p o t h e s i s o f

madness t o o e a s i l y . He r e s o l v e d not t o f o r g e t t h a t i t was a hypo-

thesis: i t was based e x c l u s i v e l y on the words o f Bernheim. Perhaps

i n a casual manner o f s p e a k i n g , perhaps Bernheim had s a i d "he i s

camouflaging t h e i n t e r i o r " t o mean t h a t he was p a i n t i n g i t i n some

 24

extravagant f a s h i o n . Or maybe t h i s h y p o t h e s i s was based on an

e r r o r o f o b s e r v a t i o n , o r some d e f i c i e n c y i n t h e o b s e r v e r . I f the

marks t h a t C a s t e l i s p a i n t i n g on the i n s i d e o f the house a r e the

same as those on the o u t s i d e , he t h o u g h t , would i t not be f i t t i n g

to deduce t h a t n e i t h e r o f the two i n s t a n c e s have a n y t h i n g t o do

with "camouflages"? Perhaps i t c o u l d be an e x p e r i m e n t , something

t h a t n e i t h e r Bernheim n o r I u n d e r s t a n d . A t any r a t e , he says with

p a t h e t i c h o p e f u l n e s s , t h e r e e x i s t s the p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t these

p a i n t i n g s a r e not t h e omens o f an approaching war.

VI

One n i g h t , on the t e r r a c e , w h i l e Dreyfus was s e r v i n g coffee,

they had a t a l k . Because I d e t e s t e v e r y t h i n g i n t h i s c o l o n y , I

have been u n j u s t t o t h i s poor Jew, Nevers w r i t e s . Dreyfus was a

man o f some r e a d i n g — h e knew the t i t l e s o f almost a l l the volumes

in the l i b r a r y - - , v e r s e d i n h i s t o r y , n a t u r a l l y endowed with a g i f t

for speaking French and Spanish with s e n t e n t i o u s e l e g a n c e , with

the slightest irony, effectively. H i s use o f some a r c h a i c t u r n s

of phrase c o u l d suggest t h a t h i s manner o f speaking may have been

studied. Nevers suspected a l e s s f a n t a s t i c e x p l a n a t i o n : Dreyfus

must be a Spanish Jew , one o f those whom he had seen i n C a i r o

and i n S a l o n i c a : surrounded by people o f o t h e r t o n g u e s , they

 25

c o n t i n u e d t o speak the Spanish they had spoken i n Spain when they

were e x p e l l e d , f o u r hundred y e a r s ago. Perhaps t h e i r a n c e s t o r s

were merchants or seamen and knew F r e n c h , and perhaps from the mouth

of Dreyfus he was h e a r i n g languages from the Middle Ages.

He thought t h a t D r e y f u s ' l i t e r a r y t a s t e was not exquisite.

In v a i n Nevers t r i e d t o e x a c t h i s promise (which would have c o s t

him n o t h i n g and would have soothed my conscience) t o read someday

the works o f T h e o c r i t u s , Mosco, Bion o r , a t l e a s t , M a r i n e t t i . In

v a i n he t r i e d t o a v o i d Dreyfus r e l a t i n g t o him The Mystery o f the

Yellow Room.

A c c o r d i n g t o N e v e r s , the h i s t o r i c works o f h i s o r d e r l y were

not c o n f i n e d t o s e d e n t a r y r e a d i n g ; Dreyfus had made s e v e r a l

personal i n v e s t i g a t i o n s with r e g a r d t o the c o l o n y ' s p a s t ; he

promised t o show Nevers some t h i n g s o f i n t e r e s t ; Nevers d i d n ' t t e l l

him t h a t h i s i n t e r e s t l a y p r e c i s e l y i n i g n o r i n g both the p r e s e n t

and the h i s t o r y o f t h i s u n f o r t u n a t e r e g i o n .

L a t e r he asked Dreyfus why t h e r e were so many insane on the

islands.

"The c l i m a t e , d e p r i v a t i o n , c o n t a g i o u s d i s e a s e , " Dreyfus

answered. "Don't get the i d e a t h a t they were a l l as sane as you

when they a r r i v e d . T h i s q u e s t i o n i s the source o f f a v o r i t e

slander: they w i l l t e l l you t h a t i f a governor wants t o get r i d o f

such and such an a s s i s t a n t , he c l a i m s him t o be mad and locks him

 26

up."

To change the c o n v e r s a t i o n , Nevers asked what t h e governor

d i d with the a n i m a l s . Dreyfus covered h i s f a c e ; he spoke i n slow

and t r e m b l i n g t o n e s .

"Yes, i t ' s h o r r i b l e . You want me t o acknowledge... But he

i s a g r e a t man."

Nevers says t h a t D r e y f u s ' c o n t a i n e d a g i t a t i o n i n c r e a s e d , and

t h a t he h i m s e l f f e l t n e r v o u s , as i f an a t r o c i o u s r e v e l a t i o n were

about t o emerge. Dreyfus c o n t i n u e d :

"I know: t h e r e are t h i n g s one doesn't r e f e r t o . Best t o

f o r g e t them, f o r g e t . "

Nevers d i d not dare t o i n s i s t . He comments: "A dog can be

t o l e r a t e d l i k e the v a i n appendix o f t a n t e B r i s s a c . But how can

you deal w i t h , what are the l i m i t s o f l o a t h i n g i n d e a l i n g with a

man who surrounds h i m s e l f w i t h f l o c k s o f f o u l - s m e l l i n g animals?

F r i e n d s h i p w i t h an animal i s i m p o s s i b l e ; t o l i v e t o g e t h e r , mon-

s t r o u s , my nephew c o n t i n u e s , s e e k i n g a f e e b l e o r i g i n a l i t y . The

sensory processes o f the animals a r e d i f f e r e n t from our own. We

can't imagine t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s . Master and dog never l i v e i n the

same w o r l d .

The presence o f t h e animals and D r e y f u s ' h o r r o r suggest some-

t h i n g , my c o u s i n p r o p h e t i c a l l y e x p l a i n s , t h a t i s not l i k e reality.

But C a s t e l wasn't a misunderstood o r s i n i s t e r g e n i u s ; he was a

 27

madman, or a s o r d i d c o l l e c t o r who used up the p r i s o n e r s ' food i n

his zoo.

However, Nevers s t a t e s ; I won't w r i t e to the newspapers; I

w i l l not expose C a s t e ! for,"the moment. That a governor might have

his enemy d e c l a r e d insane c o u l d be an anonymous b i t o f s l a n d e r , or

a moment o f t r e a s o n on the p a r t o f D r e y f u s . But he might perhaps

f i n d i t unwise to make an enemy o f the governor o f a p r i s o n ,

e s p e c i a l l y i f the p r i s o n was an i s l a n d i n the middle o f the sea.

He would sometime r e t u r n t o F r a n c e , and i f he f e l t like proceeding

with the exposure... But he would be with I r e n e , he would be

happy, and the impassioned i n t e n t i o n s he now f e l t would become p a r t

o f the dream o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , awful and past-tense. He felt as

i f he had j u s t awakened i n the middle o f the n i g h t : he knew he

would go back to s l e e p and t h a t f o r some hours he would go on

dreaming, but he t o l d h i m s e l f not t o take t h i n g s very s e r i o u s l y ,

to m a i n t a i n the most f l e x i b l e i n d i f f e r e n c e ( i f he s h o u l d f o r g e t

t h a t he was dreaming).

He f e l t r e l i e v e d , c e r t a i n he would not engage i n f u r t h e r f o o l -

hardiness.

VII

He says t h a t on the n i g h t o f March 9 he was so t i r e d he hadn't

 28

the s t r e n g t h t o break o f f h i s r e a d i n g o f P l u t a r c h ' s T r e a t i s e on

I s i s and O s i r i s and go t o bed.

He remembered t h a t f i r s t v i s i t o f the governor's as the

fragment o f a dream. He had heard f o o t s t e p s , below, i n the c o u r t -

y a r d ; he went t o the window; he saw no one. With the n a t u r a l

cunning o f a s u b o r d i n a t e , he h i d the book and began l e a f i n g through

a portfolio. The governor e n t e r e d . He was an o l d man with a

s m i l i n g f a c e , a white beard and clouded blue e y e s . Nevers felt

he s h o u l d defend h i m s e l f a g a i n s t the easy i n c l i n a t i o n t o c o n s i d e r

him demented. The governor spread h i s arms and c r i e d out i n a

v o i c e l i k e t h a t o f a mouse, o r a Japanese:

"At l a s t , my f r i e n d , a t l a s t . How I have looked forward t o

y o u r coming! That good f e l l o w , P i e r r e B r i s s a c , has spoken t o me

about you i n a long l e t t e r . I have long awaited your c o l l a b o r a t i o n . "

He shouted as he embraced Nevers-,- he shouted as he c l a p p e d

him on the b a c k , he shouted as he embraced him a g a i n . He spoke a t

extremely c l o s e q u a r t e r s . Nevers t r i e d t o a v o i d t h a t immediate

f a c e , that palpable breath.

The governor i s p r o f e s s i o n a l l y j o v i a l , Nevers s a y s , but he

c o n f e s s e s t h a t , from the f i r s t moment, he regarded the governor

with h o s t i l i t y . T h i s harshness i s a new f a c u l t y i n my nephew;

perhaps the e r r o r o f s e n d i n g him to the Guianas has not been so

great a f t e r all.
 29

The governor p l a c e d him i n charge o f Royal I s l a n d and S a i n t

Joseph's I s l a n d . He gave him the keys t o the a r c h i v e s and t h e

armory.

"My l i b r a r y i s at your d i s p o s a l . What i s l e f t o f my library:

the volumes the guards haven't r e n t e d out y e t . "

He i s a d i s a g r e e a b l e o l d man, Nevers w r i t e s . With h i s eyes

wide-open, as though he were i n a s t a t e o f wonderment, he always

hunted out my eyes t o s t a r e at me f a c e t o f a c e . He must be an

i m b e c i l e , or a h y p o c r i t e .

Nevers managed t o t e l l him t h a t he had seen the "camouflages".

The governor d i d n ' t understand o r pretended t h a t he d i d n ' t .

Nevers asked:

"Are they experiments?"

He r e g r e t t e d having v o l u n t e e r e d the e x p l a n a t i o n .

"Yes, e x p e r i m e n t s . But not a word more. You seem tired.

E x p e r i m e n t s , my friend."

He was extremely t i r e d . H a l f - d r e a m i n g , he thought t h a t t h e

governor—in o r d e r not t o speak o f the " c a m o u f l a g e s " — h a d inflicted

t h a t t e r r i b l e weariness on him.

The governor looked a t the p o r t f o l i o and s a i d :

"Working a t t h i s hour o f the n i g h t . There i s no doubt:

work i s i n t o x i c a t i n g . "

"Each t o h i s own t a s t e . . . , " answered Nevers.

 30

The r e p l y was weak--not u s e l e s s ; i t saved him from s i m u l a t i n g

(out o f c o w a r d i c e , mere cowardice) an infamous c o n c u r r e n c e .

However, he wasn't c e r t a i n t h a t h i s tone was disdainful.

"Perhaps I spoke h a s t i l y , " the governor d e c l a r e d .

"Perhaps," Nevers s t a t e d , now set in his h o s t i l i t y .

The governor regarded him w i t h h i s moist b l u e e y e s . My

nephew a l s o looked back: he s t u d i e d h i s wide f o r e h e a d , h i s p i n k ,

p u e r i l e cheeks, h i s shocking w h i t e , s p i t t l e - c o v e r e d beard. It

seemed t o him t h a t the governor was undecided as t o whether t o go

out slamming the doors or whether t o a t t e m p t , once more, an

explanation. He d e c i d e d t h a t the p r o f i t he would d e r i v e from me

m e r i t e d another e x p l a n a t i o n , or e l s e i t was his horrible sweetness

that prevailed.

"There i s one p o i n t , my f r i e n d , on which we w i l l both a g r e e .

I t w i l l be the b a s i s o f a l l our o p e r a t i o n s . Do you note i n me a

c e r t a i n a n x i e t y t o a r r i v e a t an agreement w i t h you?"

He had n o t i c e d i t ; i t i r r i t a t e d him. C a s t e ! went on:

"I w i l l be f r a n k : I have p l a c e d a l l my hopes i n y o u . I have

needed what i t i s most d i f f i c u l t t o get ahold o f around h e r e : an

enlightened collaborator. Your a r r i v a l b r i n g s an end t o my prob-

l e m s , o t h e r than those o f the work i t s e l f . That i s why I have

g r e e t e d you w i t h an enthusiasm t h a t may perhaps seem t o you

extravagant. Don't ask me to e x p l a i n m y s e l f ; as we get t o know

 31

one another b e t t e r , we w i l l e x p l a i n o u r s e l v e s t o each o t h e r

imperceptibly."

Nevers d i d not answer. Castel continued, saying:

"I w i l l r e t u r n t o what we have taken as the b a s i s o f our

agreement. For the g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f m e n — f o r the p o o r , the sick,

the i m p r i s o n e d - - ! i f e i s t e r r i b l e . There i s another p o i n t on which

we can agree: i t i s the duty o f a l l o f us to t r y t o b e t t e r those

lives."

Nevers n o t e s : I had suspected t h a t a t the bottom o f the o l d

man's a n x i e t y t h e r e l a y a p o l i t i c a l argument. Now he discovered

a new horror: i n accordance with h i s answer they c o u l d speak e i t h e r

o f p o l i t i c s o r concern themselves with p r i s o n systems. He d i d not

reply.

"We have the o p p o r t u n i t y , the d i f f i c u l t o p p o r t u n i t y , o f

a c t i n g on the l i v e s o f a group o f men. Look a t i t : we are

p r a c t i c a l l y free of c o n t r o l s . I t doesn't matter t h a t the group

i s s m a l l , t h a t i t may be l o s t among 'those i n f i n i t e i n number and

in misery'. As an example our work w i l l be world-wide. Our

o b l i g a t i o n i s to save the f l o c k t h a t we t e n d , save i t from i t s own

destiny."

C a s t e l had made more than one ambiguous and alarming a f f i r m a t i o n ;

a l l t h a t my nephew p e r c e i v e d was the word " f l o c k " . He s t a t e s t h a t

t h a t word so enraged him t h a t he awoke from h i s stupor.

 32

The governor s a i d :

"That i s why I b e l i e v e t h a t our f u n c t i o n as j a i l e r s can be

very g r a t i f y i n g . "

"All j a i l e r s s h o u l d t h i n k as you do," Nevers murmured pru-

d e n t l y ; immediately he r a i s e d h i s v o i c e : " I f something c o u l d be

done..."

"I b e l i e v e i t can b e . What about y o u ? '

Nevers d i d not honor him w i t h an answer.

A moment l a t e r he remembered h i s i n t e n t i o n o f r e q u e s t i n g

permission t o v i s i t Devil's I s l a n d ; t h e governor had l e f t .

VIII

March 2 1 , a f t e r n o o n

Nevers walked along t h e c o a s t f a c i n g D e v i l ' s I s l a n d . His

p r e t e x t was t o s t u d y p o s s i b l e mooring s i t e s f o r a f u r t i v e (and

improbable) l a n d i n g . Less dangerous (and more i m p r a c t i c a l ) would

be t o openly v i s i t Castel.

He was l o s t i n thought when Bernheim appeared from behind as

outcrop o f r o c k s . Nevers wasn't i n the l e a s t s t a r t l e d : there

hung b e f o r e him t h a t look o f a hunted dog. Bernheim asked him t o

hide among the r o c k s ; he committed the imprudence o f obeying him.

 33

"My i n t u i t i o n i s never wrong," Bernheim shouted: "I know

when I can t r u s t a man."

Nevers wasn't l i s t e n i n g . He made a modest d i s c o v e r y : he

p e r c e i v e d the unpleasant i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y between the haughty tone

and the a b j e c t look o f Bernheim. However, he h e a r d ;

"Are you a pawn o f C a s t e l ' s ? "

He answered n e g a t i v e l y .

"I knew i t , " Bernheim e x c l a i m e d , "I knew i t . I h a r d l y know

y o u , but I w i l l r e v e a l something t o you t h a t puts my f a t e i n your

hands."

On top o f some h i g h e r rocks Dreyfus appeared. He seemed not

to have seen them; he moved away s t a r i n g f i x e d l y a t some p o i n t on

the unending s e a . Nevers wanted t o r i d h i m s e l f o f t h e madman b e s i d e

him; he s a i d :

"There's D r e y f u s , " and he climbed up on the r o c k s .

When he saw h i m , Dreyfus showed no s u r p r i s e ; a f t e r w a l k i n g

t o g e t h e r a w h i l e , Dreyfus asked him:

"Do you see t h a t tower?"

The tower was on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d ; i t was c o n s t r u c t e d o f wood

p a i n t e d w h i t e , i t was about t w e n t y - f i v e f e e t high and t e r m i n a t e d i n

a platform. Nevers asked what i t was f o r .

"Nothing," Dreyfus a s s u r e d him. " I t ' s t h e r e t o remind some o f

us o f h i s t o r y and t o provoke o t h e r s t o s n e e r . The governor Daniel

 34

built i t , i n 1896 o r 97. He p l a c e d a r e s e r v e guard on top and a

H o t c h k i s machine-gun, and i f the c a p t a i n wanted t o e s c a p e : fire!"

"Captain Dreyfus?"

"Yes, Dreyfus. I would l i k e you t o go up sometime: from

t h e r e the a r c h i p e l a g o looks minute."

Nevers asked him i f he was r e l a t e d t o D r e y f u s .

"I don't have t h a t honor," he r e p l i e d .

"There are many Dreyfuses."

"I d i d n ' t know t h a t , " he answered w i t h i n t e r e s t . "My name i s

Bordenave. I am c a l l e d Dreyfus because they say I'm always t a l k -

ing about C a p t a i n Dreyfus."

"Our l i t e r a t u r e reproduces him."

"Really?" Dreyfus opened h i s eyes wide and s m i l e d s t r a n g e l y .

" I f you would l i k e t o see a small museum d e d i c a t e d t o the c a p t a i n . . . "

Nevers f o l l o w e d him. He asked him i f he was born i n F r a n c e .

He had been born i n South A m e r i c a . Then they looked a t the

Dreyfus Museum. I t c o n s i s t s o f y e l l o w mail b a g , made o f f i l a m e n t ,

and i t c o n t a i n s the envelope o f a l e t t e r from Mrs. L u c i a Dreyfus

to D a n i e l , governor o f the p r i s o n , the handle o f a p e n k n i f e w i t h

initials J.D. (Jacques D r e y f u s ? ) , some f r a n c s from M a r t i n i q u e , and

a book: Shakespeare e t a i t - i l M. Bacon, ou v i c e versa? p a r Novus

O v i d i u s , a u t e u r des Metamorphoses S e n s o r i e l l e s , membre de l'Academie

des M e d a i l l e s e t d ' I n s c r i p t i o n s .
 35

Nevers wanted t o l e a v e . Dreyfus looked him i n the e y e ; he

stopped him; he asked him:

"Don't you t h i n k t h a t V i c t o r Hugo and Z o l a were the greatest

men in France?"

Nevers w r i t e s : Zola i s understandable: he wrote J'Accuse

and Dreyfus i s a f a n a t i c on the s u b j e c t o f D r e y f u s . But V i c t o r Hugo

... T h i s man who s e l e c t s from the h i s t o r y o f F r a n c e — r i c h e r i n

generals than the most i n s i g n i f i c a n t South American republic—two

w r i t e r s as h i s most ardent i d o l s m e r i t s the b r i e f homage o f our

consciences.

IX

On the n i g h t o f the 22nd he c o u l d n ' t s l e e p . Insomnious, he

a t t r i b u t e d importance t o the r e v e l a t i o n he hadn't wanted t o hear

from Bernheim. He vaguely f e a r e d h i s censure f o r not having heard

it. With l a s s i t u d e and e x a l t a t i o n he planned an immediate visit

to the red compound. With an e f f o r t o f w i l l , he postponed the

visit to daybreak. He b u s i e d h i m s e l f with the p a r t i c u l a r s o f t h a t

incredible v i s i t : how to assure, a f t e r a sleepless n i g h t , his

early a r i s a l , how to begin speaking to Bernheim, how to r e f e r to

t h e i r previous encounter. In the e a r l y hours he f e l l a s l e e p ; he

dreamed. In h i s dream he l e f t once again from S a i n t - M a r t i n , once

 36

again he f e l t the pain o f l e a v i n g I r e n e , and he wrote o f t h a t p a i n ,

in another l e t t e r . He r e c a l l e d the f i r s t s e n t e n c e : I have given

i n , I am l e a v i n g I r e n e ; those persons who can keep me... Of the

r e s t o f the p a r a g r a p h , he o n l y remembered i t s general sense;

a p p r o x i m a t e l y i t was as f o l l o w s : those persons who c o u l d keep him

from r e t u r n i n g had assured him they wouldn't do s o . He d i d not

f o r g e t the f i n a l sentence (he says t h a t i n h i s dream i t was

i r r e f u t a b l e ; I s u s p e c t t h a t i t was merely a s i d e - e f f e c t o f h i s

worrisome v i g i l ) : even though t h e r e are no reasons t o d i s b e l i e v e

them I s t i l l f e a r the p o s s i b i l i t y o f not r e t u r n i n g , o f never again

seeing Irene.

On the f o l l o w i n g morning, Dreyfus brought him two letters:

one from I r e n e , the o t h e r from X a v i e r B r i s s a c .

His c o u s i n gave him a b i t o f news t h a t Nevers regarded as

marvellous: on the 27th o f A p r i l he would be r e p l a c e d . That

meant t h a t Nevers c o u l d be i n France by the middle o f May. Xavier's

l e t t e r a l s o announced a f o r t h c o m i n g message from I r e n e . Nevers

a f f i r m s t h a t he f e l t no c u r i o s i t y as t o what i t was. I t couldn't

be unpleasant or i m p o r t a n t . Irene's l e t t e r bore a more r e c e n t date

1
than X a v i e r s and d i d not a l l u d e t o such news.

He was happy; he f e l t s e r e n e . He endeavored t o j u s t i f y Pierre

(he conceded t h a t he had been r i g h t : no man was worthy o f I r e n e ,

and h e , p a l e c o n v e r s a t i o n a l i s t o f c o f f e e h o u s e s , l e s s than others).

 37

Let us r e c a l l the antecedents t o t h i s e x i l e i n the Guianas:

the event t h a t everyone knows about o c c u r r e d (some papers important

to the f a m i l y ' s honor and t o t h e i r s a l t marshes a r e l o s t ; a l l

appearances implicate Nevers); Pierre believed i n h i s g u i l t ; he

t r i e d t o save I r e n e . . . Nevers spoke with him, and--he a s s e r t s — h e

was believed. Some f i f t e e n days o f p e r f e c t happiness f o l l o w e d :

e v e r y t h i n g had been s e t t l e d . Then P i e r r e c a l l e d him, he spoke t o

him v i o l e n t l y ( h i d i n g , p e r h a p s , an uneasy c o n s c i e n c e ) , and he

o r d e r e d him t o go away t o the Guianas. He even l e t s l i p , as i f

ashamed, a t h r e a t of'blackmail': he would t e l l e v e r y t h i n g t o Irene

i f he was not obeyed. He added: "In one y e a r you w i l l r e t u r n and

you can marry I r e n e ; at l e a s t you w i l l have my consent." Accord-

ing t o N e v e r s , t h i s proved t h a t P i e r r e admitted h i s i n n o c e n c e .

How does he e x p l a i n , t h e n , P i e r r e ' s sending him t o the Guianas?

With c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n f u s i o n . He makes use o f every s o r t o f

argument: the contaminations l e f t by a c c u s a t i o n s , and he alleges

to C a p t a i n Dreyfus (many who d i d not c o n s i d e r him g u i l t y n e v e r t h e -

l e s s r e f u s e d t o r e g a r d him as f r e e o f a l l b l a m e ) , the hope t h a t the

t r i p and the r i g o r o u s l i f e i n the Guianas would break o f f h i s

d i s a g r e e a b l e p e r s o n a l i t y as a n i g h t t i m e a d d i c t o f the c o f f e e houses,

the hope t h a t Irene would cease t o l o v e him.

Nor does he w e l l e x p l a i n h i s s t r a n g e conduct with Irene (he

never s a i d a word t o her about the shady a f f a i r i n which he was

 38

involved). I t was t h a t conduct which p e r m i t t e d P i e r r e ' s move.

I have here h i s e x a c t words: I f I have convinced y o u , i f I

have convinced P i e r r e , who p r e f e r r e d not t o b e l i e v e me, what

d i f f i c u l t y c o u l d I have w i t h I r e n e , who l o v e s me? (I w r i t e t h i s

with s u p e r s t i t i o u s , w i t h h u m i l i a t i n g c o w a r d i c e ) . . . The o n l y excuse

f o r my p e r v e r s i t y w i t h Irene i s my s t u p i d i t y and my perversity

with myself.

I t seems t h a t Nevers had s e n t Irene t h i s v e r s e :

C h e r e , pour peu que t u ne bouges,

R e n a i s s e n t tous mes dlsespoirs.

Je c r a i n s t o u j o u r s , --ce qu'est d ' a t t e n d r e ! - -

Quelque f u i t e a t r o c e de vous.

Irene reproaches him ( r i g h t f u l l y ) f o r sending her t h a t v e r s e ,

as i t was he who l e f t her. She a l s o asks i f he means t o imply

t h a t the d i s t a n c i n g between them i s not merely geographic ( i n the

1
first l i n e he uses " t u " , i n the f o u r t h he c a l l s her " v o u s " ) ; but

t h a t was o n l y a j o k e (perhaps s l i g h t l y p e d a n t i c ) : the l e t t e r i s

as l u c i d and t e n d e r as i t s a u t h o r .

1
The v e r s e i s not Henry Nevers'; i t i s Paul V e r l a i n e ' s .
( P u b l i s h e r ' s Note)
 39

He was happy; w i t h i n a month h i s w o r r i e s would be gone.

Xavier's l e t t e r , however, bothered him. Why d i d Irene send him a

message with t h a t i m b e c i l e ? Maybe the use o f such rudimentary

means of communication i s e x p l a i n e d by Irene's d e s i r e not t o l o s e

a s i n g l e o p p o r t u n i t y to cheer me up, t o repeat t o me t h a t she i s

w a i t i n g f o r me, t h a t she loves me.

That was the message. That was the important message i n a l l

Irene's letters. N e v e r t h e l e s s , he c o n f e s s e s , a t moments o f absurd

sensitivity ( a n d - - p o s s i b l y due to the atmosphere, o r the climate

--such moments are not i n f r e q u e n t h e r e ) , I g i v e i n to shameful

fears. I should not mention these insignificant feelings: I do

mention them so they w i l l put me t o shame, so they w i l l disappear.

On the 23rd o f March Nevers went over a l l o f Royal I s l a n d and

the red compound—not i n search of Bernheim, not i n search of the

promised r e v e l a t i o n (he f e e l s i t necessary to c l a r i f y this)—in

the performance o f h i s r o u t i n e .

That a f t e r n o o n the r a d i a n c e was painful. Everything glittered:

the y e l l o w w a l l s o f the b u i l d i n g s , a p a r t i c l e o f sand on the black

bark of a coconut t r e e , the red and white s t r i p e s o f the p r i s o n e r s .

Nevers remembered the i n c r e d i b l e darkness o f h i s room and he ran,

 40

u n c e r t a i n , a c r o s s the b r i l l i a n t courtyard.

He saw a shadow. He saw a shaded spot under a s t a i r c a s e ; he

took s h e l t e r . There was Bernheim, s e a t e d on an i n v e r t e d bucket,

reading. Nevers g r e e t e d him with e x c e s s i v e h e a r t i n e s s .

"You can't imagine," Bernheim answered him, a n x i o u s l y s e e k i n g

his w o r d s , "my p r o g r e s s s i n c e the f i r s t time we met. I am most

enthusiastic."

The glow i n h i s eyes was l a c h r y m o s e , h i s countenance d i s m a l .

"In what way have you progressed?"

"In e v e r y t h i n g . I a s s u r e you i t i s something b i g . . . vital...

I t i s the u l t i m a t e , a communion w i t h n a t u r e , God knows what..."

"Having t o do w i t h what?"

"Espionage."

"Espionage?"

"Yes, I am on g u a r d . I must speak t o y o u . Can you guess t o

whom I owe this revival?"

"I don't know."

"To Castel."

"Have you had a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n ? "

"Never." A f t e r a s i l e n c e , he d e c l a r e d : "One must s e r v e the

cause."

He seemed t o w a i t , f o r Never's r e p l y ; he i n s i s t e d s l o w l y :

"The cause over a l l . "

 41

Nevers d i d not want t o humor him. He asked him:

"What were you r e a d i n g ? "

"The Theory o f C o l o r s , by Goethe. A book nobody asks f o r .

Dreyfus r e n t s i t out at a r e a s o n a b l e price."

" T e l l me, you were on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , what was C a s t e l doing

with the animals?"

For the f i r s t t i m e , Nevers a f f i r m s , a t r a c e , a "shadow" o f

c o l o r animated Bernheim's f a c e . I t was atrocious. I thought the

man was going t o v o m i t . When he had composed h i m s e l f a l i t t l e , he

spoke:

"You know my creed. V i o l e n c e i s our b r e a d . But not w i t h

animals..."

Nevers thought he c o u l d not stand t o see Bernheim d i s i n t e g r a t e

i n h i s presence. He changed the s u b j e c t .

"You s a i d we had t o t a l k . . . "

"Yes, we must t a l k . Not h e r e ; f o l l o w me."

They walked t o the l a t r i n e . Bernheim p o i n t e d t o the ivory,

and he s a i d , t r e m b l i n g :

"I swear t o y o u , I swear by the blood o f a l l the men murdered

here: t h e r e w i l l be a r e v o l u t i o n . "

"A revolution?"

Nevers s c a r c e l y heard him. He thought t h a t i t was not easy

to determine i f a man was insane.

 42

"The r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s are preparing something b i g . You c o u l d

stop i t . "

"I?" asked N e v e r s , out o f c o u r t e s y .

"Yes, y o u . But I w i l l c l a r i f y my s i t u a t i o n . I am n o t a c t i n g

in favor o f the present government... I am a c t i n g out o f pure

self-interest. You w i l l t e l l the t r u t h : that I discovered the

plot. But perhaps you t h i n k me mad. Maybe you w i l l go l o o k i n g

f o r D r e y f u s , maybe you w i l l leave h e r e . . . Someday you w i l l b e l i e v e

me. Maybe n o t t o d a y , but you w i l l b e l i e v e me. I t was you put me

on t h e r i g h t track."

"I put you on t h e r i g h t track?"

"When you spoke t o me about the "camouflages". There you have

it: me, always t h i n k i n g o f w a r , and I hadn't even d i s c o v e r e d that

i t was a q u e s t i o n o f "camouflages". From then on I have respected

you. You w i l l say t h a t t h a t d i s c o v e r y i s n o n s e n s i c a l . A l l great

d i s c o v e r i e s appear t o be nonsense. But everyone knows t h a t Peter

Castel i s a revolutionary."

Nevers said:

"I have a g r e a t deal o f work t o do."

"I was prepared f o r t h a t . I f my words come t o p a s s , you w i l l

b e l i e v e me. C a s t e l w i l l take the P r i e s t t o D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , today

or tomorrow. He i s a common p r i s o n e r ; t h i n k about i t . Castel

removed me from t h e i s l a n d ; he i s t a k i n g t h e P r i e s t t h e r e . He needs

 43

people he can t r u s t : outlaws. He w i l l send you t o Cayenne. There

are two reasons: to r i d h i m s e l f o f the o n l y o b s e r v e r who could

d i s t u r b him; t o b r i n g dynamite."

"Who w i l l bring i t ? "

"You w i l l , and you won't be the f i r s t . Your p r e d e c e s s o r made

some ten t r i p s to Cayenne. There are enough r e s e r v e s to blow the

a r c h i p e l a g o sky high."

Nevers p a t t e d him on the s h o u l d e r and t o l d him to leave things

in h i s hands. He c r o s s e d the c o u r t y a r d , went i n t o the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

b u i l d i n g , climbed s t a i r w a y s and walked down c o r r i d o r s , a r r i v e d a t

his room. Immediately he f e l t a g r e a t relief.

XI

He d i d n ' t know i f what Dreyfus had s a i d might not be a

t e r r i b l e p i e c e of e v i d e n c e . He wanted to ask a d v i c e , but o f whom?

He h i m s e l f , s t i l l h o r r i f i e d a t l i v i n g i n a p r i s o n , was not reason-

ing p r o p e r l y ( b e s i d e s , he had suffered a s l i g h t sunstroke). Maybe

when he got used to t h i s l i f e , he t h o u g h t , he would r e c a l l that

moment when t h a t b i t o f news had seemed awful with the r e l i e f of

having gotten through i t , of having passed through the danger o f

going mad. B u t , even though he hadn't grown accustomed to living

in a p r i s o n ( a n d , i n c r e d i b l e as i t may seem, he c e l e b r a t e d t h a t
 44

f a c t ) , he was i n c l i n e d t o g i v e importance t o the news Dreyfus had

brought him.

During the t h r e e days p r i o r t o the announcement, n o t h i n g

memorable had taken p l a c e : Dreyfus had seemed d e j e c t e d , unhappy

(I decided not t o t r o u b l e him w i t h q u e s t i o n s , says Nevers; l i f e on

these i s l a n d s j u s t i f i e s a l l d e s p a i r ) . C a s t e l had ordered him t o send

for some books (Marie G a e l l ' s work on the resonance o f touch and

the topography o f the o c t o p u s , a book by the E n g l i s h p h i l o s o p h e r ,

B a i n , on the senses and the i n t e l l e c t , a book o f Marinesco's on

s y n e s t h e s i a , and f i n a l l y — d a y b r e a k a f t e r so much s h a d o w — a Spanish

classic: Suarez de Mendoza). Dreyfus s e n t them by the c a b l e tram-

way.

On the n i g h t o f the 2 5 t h , i t seemed t o Nevers t h a t Dreyfus

was more a b j e c t than e v e r ; he served d i n n e r i n s i l e n c e . This was

oppressive: f o r both o f them, t a l k i n g t o g e t h e r a t mealtime had

become a modest and p l e a s a n t t r a d i t i o n . Nevers asked h i m s e l f i f

r e s p e c t i n g the melancholy o f h i s o r d e r l y d i d n ' t s e r v e t o i n c r e a s e

i t , d i d n ' t seem t o imply t h a t he was d i s p l e a s e d with him. He

proposed the s u b j e c t he would most have wanted t o a v o i d .

"What i s Bernheim accused o f ? "

"Treason."

"Then i t i s h e , and not y o u , who should be c a l l e d Dreyfus;" he

was a t t e m p t i n g t o suggest the s u b j e c t o f nicknames, a s a f e r a r e a

 45

than t h a t o f Bernheim.

"Don't speak about Captain Dreyfus l i k e t h a t , " s a i d Dreyfus,

offended.

"What o t h e r nicknames are used here?"

"Other nicknames... l e t ' s s e e : t h e r e i s the P r i e s t . "

"Who i s the P r i e s t ? " Nevers asked r e s o l u t e l y .

" M a r s i l l a c , one o f the p r i s o n e r s from S t . Joseph's I s l a n d . I

named him the P r i e s t because he i s p r e s b y o p i c : he can o n l y see

a t a d i s t a n c e ; c l o s e up he sees a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g i f he's not

wearing s p e c t a c l e s . He can't see h i s own body."

And he remembered the l i n e s from The Mystery o f the Y e l l o w Room:

The p r e s b y t e r y d i d not l o s e i t s charm

Nor has the garden l o s t i t s s p l e n d o r .

Nevers c o n g r a t u l a t e d him on h i s memory; Dreyfus seemed s t r i c k e n

with g r i e f . F i n a l l y he c o n f e s s e d :

"Look, I spoke about the P r i e s t , and i t was p r e c i s e l y the

P r i e s t I d i d n ' t want t o t a l k about. For days I've been p e r t u r b e d

about t h i s . Tomorrow you w i l l know about i t ; maybe i t w i l l be b e s t

if I am the one t o t e l l y o u . P l e a s e , do not condemn Mr. Castel;

t h a t g r e a t man must have some motive f o r doing t h i s t h i n g . He

has o r d e r e d t h a t tomorrow, a t d a y b r e a k , we are t o t r a n s f e r the

 46

P r i e s t to D e v i l ' s I s l a n d . "

XII

March 27

The governor s t a r t l e d him. He entered the study unnoticed.

Nevers h e a r d , very c l o s e , on the back o f h i s n e c k , h i s high-pitched

o u t c r i e s , and he had the f r i g h t f u l s e n s a t i o n , founded on some

d i s t a n t r e c o l l e c t i o n , o f f i n d i n g h i m s e l f suddenly f a c e to f a c e

w i t h a masked man.

"What are you reading?"

"Plutarch," i t would be u s e l e s s t o pretend otherwise.

"Why waste your time? Culture shouldn't be a commerce with

rudimentary men," pronounced the puppet v o i c e . "Students o f

philosophy still c u l t i v a t e the d i a l o g u e s o f P l a t o , and the most

e x a c t i n g readers t u r n t o M o l i e r e t o laugh a t h i s jokes about d o c t o r s .

The future i s black."

" B l a c k , 'camouflaged'," Nevers s a i d craftily.

There was a silence. Out o f weakness, Nevers continued:

"This book i n t e r e s t s me. I t has to do with symbols."

"Symbols? Perhaps. But don't you t h i n k t h a t i n one thousand

e i g h t hundred y e a r s the s u b j e c t should have e n r i c h e d itself?"

 47

E v i d e n t l y , Nevers d e c l a r e s , C a s t e l hadn't come t o speak o f

such m a t t e r s . He was t a l k i n g t o develop a c o n v e r s a t i o n . He s t o o d

a w h i l e thumbing a b s t r a c t e d l y v t h r o u g h the T r e a t i s e on I s i s and

Osiris. F i n a l l y he asked:

"What have you thought about our l a s t c o n v e r s a t i o n ? "

"Hardly a n y t h i n g . "

" I f you haven't g i v e n i t any t h o u g h t , i t ' s because you d i s l i k e

the p r i s o n i n t e n s e l y , " C a s t e l s a i d q u i c k l y . " I f you d i s l i k e the

p r i s o n , then my thoughts on t h e s u b j e c t can't be o b j e c t i o n a b l e t o

you."

"I don't know," he had no d e s i r e t o a r g u e . "Your thoughts

may a l l be w e l l and g o o d , but t o busy y o u r s e l f with these matters

seems t o me, i n a c e r t a i n s e n s e , t o make you an a c c o m p l i c e . I

p r e f e r t o c a r r y out my d u t i e s a u t o m a t i c a l l y . "

"Automatically? Is t h i s the m i s s i o n o f a young man? Where

i s y o u r youth?"

Nevers d i d n ' t know how t o answer. The o t h e r man went on:

"Youth i s r e v o l u t i o n a r y . Even I, who am an o l d man, b e l i e v e

in action."

"Are you an a n a r c h i s t ? "

C a s t e l kept s t a r i n g i n t o h i s e y e s , a f f a b l y , almost tearfully,

u n t i l Nevers looked away. Without a doubt the governor r e a l i z e d

he had gone q u i t e f a r , but he c o n t i n u e d i n h i s s h r i l l , imperturbable

 48

v o i ce:

"I don't know. I've never gotten i n v o l v e d with politics. I

never had t i m e . I b e l i e v e i n the d i v i s i o n o f l a b o r . Politicians

b e l i e v e i n the r e f o r m a t i o n o f s o c i e t y . . . I b e l i e v e i n the r e f o r -

mation o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l . "

"What does t h a t c o n s i s t o f ? " asked Nevers with simulated

interest. He f e l t t h e governor was i n v e s t i g a t i n g .

"Education, f i r s t of a l l . The t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s t h a t can be

achieved are i n f i n i t e . "

The governor assured him t h a t h e , N e v e r s , d i d not even suspect

the p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f pedagogy: i t c o u l d save t h e s i c k and t h e

imprisoned. Immediately he c o n f i d e d t h a t he needed a c o l l a b o r a t o r :

"What we would do i s i n c r e d i b l e . Understand my t r a g e d y : I

am surrounded by s u b o r d i n a t e s , persons who would f a l s e l y interpret

my p l a n s . Penal l e g i s l a t i o n itself i s unintelligible; seclusion,

as a punishment o f the o f f e n d e r , s t i l l p r e v a i l s i n Europe. Now,

not o n l y do we waddle about l i k e geese; we t a l k with the mouths o f

geese; we r e p e a t : Punishment i s the r i g h t o f the o f f e n d e r .

Needless t o s a y , my aims run c o u n t e r t o t h a t t r a n s - R h e n i s h doctrine."

Nevers f e l t t h a t the moment t o take h i s revenge had a r r i v e d .

He d e c l a r e d i n a t r e m b l i n g v o i c e :

"I am not i n t e r e s t e d i n c o l l a b o r a t i n g with you."

C a s t e l d i d n ' t answer. He gazed s e r e n e l y o f f i n t o t h e d i s t a n c e ,

 49

as i f the w a l l s were not t h e r e . He seemed t i r e d ; the c o l o r o f h i s

f a c e was leaden. Had he a l r e a d y been l i k e t h a t when he came i n o r

1
was a l l t h a t the e f f e c t o f Nevers reply? He d i d not appear to be

the same man who had spoken with Nevers on the 9th o f March.

I have heard t h a t such changes o c c u r i n persons who take opium,

or morphine. Nevers acknowledges t h a t t h i s man, whom he wanted t o

f i n d a b h o r r e n t , seemed t o him very o l d and almost d i g n i f i e d ; he

was ready t o b e l i e v e t h a t the r e v o l u t i o n would be b e n e v o l e n t , t o

offer his assistance. Then he remembered I r e n e , h i s d e c i s i o n to do

nothing that could delay h i s r e t u r n .

C a s t e l remained as he was f o r a few painful minutes, feigning

an i n t e r e s t i n P l u t a r c h . Perhaps he d i d n ' t want to go o f f a b r u p t l y

and appear o f f e n d e d . F i n a l l y he made a g e s t u r e of discouragement,

o r o f f a r e w e l l ; he s m i l e d and left. Nevers f e l t no pity.

XIII

Some o f the governor's remarks allowed f o r two interpretations:

a c c o r d i n g t o o n e , the r e v o l u t i o n would be p e d a g o g i c a l . Nevers,

now in f u l l a b e r r a t i o n , does not h e s i t a t e t o d e c l a r e h i s p r e f e r r e n c e

f o r the second p o s s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n : the r e b e l l i o n o f the

prisoners.

But the governor had not spoken t o him o f the t r i p to Cayenne.

 50

To an un-biased o b s e r v e r , t h e r e had b e e n , p e r h a p s , no confirmation

o f Bernheim's prophecies.

B e s i d e s , how to i n t e g r a t e the "camouflages" i n t o the plan of

insurrection? I t would be madness t o unleash the insurrection

and remain on the i s l a n d s . However, Nevers c o n s i d e r e d , t h a t i s

what the "camouflage" i n d i c a t e s : a defense. In t h a t case he

shouldn't get alarmed: C a s t e l was insane.

There was another p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n . The "camouflages"

were a defense a g a i n s t an a t t a c k d u r i n g the u p r i s i n g ( i f t h i n g s were

not r e s o l v e d with due dispatch). T h i s seemed confirmed by the fact

t h a t the governor hadn't "camouflaged" the o t h e r i s l a n d s . I f he

had the absurd i n t e n t i o n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g h i m s e l f on the islands

and founding a communist r e p u b l i c he would have "camouflaged"

the whole territory.

C a s t e l seemed to be i g n o r a n t o f Nevers' approaching departure.

I f n o t , why had he spoken to him o f h i s s e c r e t plans? Doubtless

these plans concerned him so much t h a t he d i d n ' t even read the

mail ( i f the replacement f o r Nevers was on the way, the governor

would have r e c e i v e d w o r d ) . Another e x p l a n a t i o n c o u l d be t h a t the

governor was p r e p a r i n g the a t t a c k f o r a date p r i o r t o X a v i e r ' s arri-

val .
 51

XIV

April 3

From under the eaves o f the s u p p l y s h e d , Nevers looked absent-

mindedly out at the p r i s o n e r s who appeared and d i s a p p e a r e d i n the

m i s t with t h e i r huge straw hats and red and white s t r i p e d shirts.

There was a c l e a r i n g , and he saw, f a r o f f , a man w a l k i n g towards him,

and then the vapours r e t u r n e d , and then the man emerged a t h i s

side. I t was Dreyfus.

"Take c a r e , l i e u t e n a n t . "

"Do you t h i n k t h e y ' l l t r y to take advantage o f these m i s t s ? "

"No. I wasn't t h i n k i n g o f the p r i s o n e r s , " s a i d Dreyfus,

w i t h o u t astonishment. "I was t h i n k i n g o f the m i s t s : the European

s h r o u d s , we c a l l them, because t h e y ' r e killers."

He p a u s e s , as i f i n o r d e r not t o l o s e the e f f e c t o f h i s words;

then he went on:

"I've come from D e v i l ' s I s l a n d ; the governor gave me this

note f o r you."

He handed him an e n v e l o p e . Nevers c o n t i n u e d t o s t a r e a t

D r e y f u s , the envelope f o r g o t t e n i n h i s hand, undetermined as t o

whether he s h o u l d ask him what news t h e r e was from the island.

Dreyfus was a l s o watching him, on the s l y . Nevers assumed he was

 52

c u r i o u s t o know what the note s a i d . T h i s persuaded him not t o

ask q u e s t i o n s , not t o s a t i s f y D r e y f u s ' c u r i o s i t y . But he c o u l d n ' t

c o n t a i n h i s own. He read the n o t e . He c o n f i n e d h i m s e l f t o

t u r n i n g suddenly about t o s u r p r i s e Dreyfus s t a r i n g a t h i m , t o

confound him. L a t e r he s a i d with i n d i f f e r e n c e :

" I t seems I ' l l be going t o Cayenne."

"To get p r o v i s i o n s ? "

Nevers d i d n ' t answer.

"I guessed," Dreyfus announced.

He d i d n ' t ask him how he had guessed. He began t o s u s p e c t

t h a t Bernheim's words were, a t l e a s t i n p a r t , t r u e .

"How a r e the governor's p a i n t i n g s coming along?"

"He's f i n i s h e d them. The c e l l s look j u s t fine."

"He's painted the c e l l s ? "

"Yes, mottled."

"What e l s e i s new on the i s l a n d ? "

"The poor P r i e s t had a c h o l e r a a t t a c k . J u s t when they were

making l i f e b e t t e r f o r him... I found him f r o t h i n g a t t h e mouth

with h i s eyes s t a r t i n g out o f h i s head."

" W i l l he d i e ? "

"I don't know. Today he was u n c o n s c i o u s , but as r e d - f a c e d

and robust as e v e r . The governor and Mr. De Brinon b e l i e v e they

can save him. I t would be b e t t e r i f he d i e d . "

 53

Nevers asked him why he s a i d t h a t . Dreyfus t o l d him the

s t o r y o f the Priest:

The P r i e s t had been second mate on the Grampus, which was

shipwrecked i n the P a c i f i c . There were seventeen men on board.

The c a p t a i n , a l o n g w i t h f i v e o f the men, escaped in a lifeboat;

the f i r s t mate and f i v e o t h e r s , i n another b o a t ; the P r i e s t and

the f o u r remaining men i n another. The l i f e b o a t s were t o t r y to

keep i n s i g h t o f each o t h e r . On the t h i r d n i g h t , the P r i e s t lost

s i g h t o f the o t h e r two boats. A f t e r a week, the c a p t a i n and the

f i r s t mate w i t h t h e i r crews reached the c o a s t o f C h i l e , near dead

of t h i r s t and almost i n s a n e . A f t e r f o u r t e e n d a y s , an English

s h i p - - t h e T o o w i t - - p i c k e d up the P r i e s t : he was on an island

covered w i t h guano, i n the r u i n s o f an abandoned l i g h t h o u s e , a l o n e ,

waving a k n i f e , f u r i o u s l y a s s a i l e d by s e a g u l l s . He t r i e d t o a t t a c k

the Englishmen. In the s h i p ' s i n f i r m a r y he f e l l into delirium: he

saw monsters and s e a g u l l s , w h i t e , f e r o c i o u s , continuous seagulls.

On the blade o f the k n i f e t h e r e was dried blood. I t was analyzed:

i t was the b l o o d o f b i r d s and men. The P r i e s t had no recollection

of h i s a r r i v a l a t the i s l a n d nor o f the days he had spent on the

island. There was no o t h e r p r o o f a g a i n s t him than t h a t o f the

d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f h i s companions and the d r i e d b l o o d . I f the Priest

had k i l l e d them, M a i t r e Casneau had a l l e g e d , he had k i l l e d them i n

a f i t o f madness. But a precedent i n the p o l i c e r e c o r d s — t h e

 54

famous b a t t l e o f 1905, among the dancers a t the Casino de Tours--

and the z e a l o f a p u b l i c p r o s e c u t o r i n the b e g i n n i n g s o f a promis-

i n g c a r e e r condemned him.

'What were the monsters?" asked Nevers.

"Hallucinations."

"And the s e a g u l l s ? "

"Real. I f i t hadn't been f o r t h a t fragment o f a l i g h t h o u s e they

would have eaten him a l i v e . "

Nevers went t o t h e s t u d y . Three hours of r e a d i n g d e l i v e r e d

him o f a l l a n x i e t y . Within a few days he would l e a v e f o r Cayenne.

I f he was c a r e f u l , he would be f r e e o f any involvement in Castel's

hypothetical r e b e l l i o n . X a v i e r was the a p p r o p r i a t e man to replace

him: he would f i g h t , he would p u n i s h , he would command. He

reflected: i f he d i d not f o r g e t t h a t h i s o n l y purpose was t o

l e a v e t h i s a c c u r s e d e p i s o d e o f the G u i a n a s , he would r e t u r n very

s h o r t l y to France, to Irene.

Then he r e c a l l e d the news Dreyfus had g i v e n him. I f the

P r i e s t had had a c h o l e r a a t t a c k , t h e r e was plague on the i s l a n d s .

He understood this in a l l i t s horror.

 55

XV

April 5

I t has nothing to do w i t h keeping me o f f Devil's I s l a n d , with

keeping me from s u s p e c t i n g what's going on t h e r e ; i t has to do

(Nevers b e l i e v e d he had i r r e f u t a b l e p r o o f ) with d e c e i v i n g me, with

provoking v i s i o n s and fallacious fears. He no l o n g e r remembered

the d i s e a s e . There were no c h o l e r a v i c t i m s h e r e . There was no

plague. The danger was the i n s u r r e c t i o n .

He r e v e a l s how he a r r i v e d at t h i s d i s c o v e r y : i n order to

f o r g e t about the c h o l e r a , he superimposed p l e a s a n t images: a

parkway i n F o n t a i n e b l e a u , i n Autumn, the f a c e o f I r e n e . They were

t r a n s l u c e n t , as i f r e f l e c t e d i n w a t e r ; i f I d i s t u r b e d the surface

I succeeded i n t e m p o r a r i l y deforming the e v e r l a s t i n g monster t h a t

l a y a t the bottom. L a t e r he r e f l e c t e d : s i n c e he must t h i n k about

the d i s e a s e , i t would be best t o study i t , to prevent i t . He

looked f o r the book on t r o p i c a l d i s e a s e s ; i n v a i n he ran through

the i n d e x : the word " c h o l e r a " d i d not appear. Then he realized

t h a t i n a book such as h i s , d i s e a s e s are r e g i s t e r e d by t h e i r pop-

u l a r names; he remembered t h a t c h o l e r a , i n the words o f laymen

such as h i m s e l f , was c a l l e d "black v o m i t " . Without d i f f i c u l t y he

found the c h a p t e r . He read i t . He remembered t h a t he had already

 56

read i t on b o a r d . Then he made the d i s c o v e r y : the symptoms

a t t r i b u t e d t o the P r i e s t were not the symptoms o f c h o l e r a . The

f a c t t h a t h i s eyes bulged out o f t h e i r s o c k e t s was not natural,

his foaming at the mouth was not p r o b a b l e , h i s being r e d - f a c e d and

r o b u s t was i m p o s s i b l e .

When he saw Dreyfus he asked him:

"Who t o l d you t h a t the P r i e s t had a c h o l e r a attack?"

Dreyfus d i d not h e s i t a t e :

"Mr. Castel."

Nevers thought o f t e l l i n g him o f h i s d i s c o v e r y . He restrained

himself. Every day Dreyfus esteemed him more h i g h l y , but C a s t e l

was still his i d o l . B e s i d e s , Dreyfus was quite ignorant: he

d i d n ' t know what C a p t a i n Dreyfus had been accused o f ; he admired

V i c t o r Hugo because he confused him w i t h V i c t o r Hugues, a buccaneer

who had once been governor o f the c o l o n y . . . Nevers adds: Never

have I b e l i e v e d i n h i s i r o n y . I t i s f a c i a l , l i k e t h a t o f many o f

the peasants. I t c o u l d be a t t r i b u t a b l e t o a s l i g h t , a c o n t i n u o u s

p o i s o n i n g from b u t t e r c u p l e a v e s .

But he was calm. The r e b e l l i o n would take p l a c e i n h i s absence.

Dreyfus had brought him the l i s t of a r t i c l e s t o be purchased i n

Cayenne: t h e r e was no dynamite nor a n y t h i n g t h a t c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y

be t r a n s l a t e d as dynamite. C a s t e l wants t o get me away from here

so as t o have n e i t h e r w i t n e s s e s nor o p p o s e r s . He s h a l l have n e i t h e r ,

 57

he a f f i r m s . He has ordered me t o l e a v e on t h e 8 t h . I regret not

leaving today. I am n o t the hero f o r these c a t a s t r o p h e s . . .

He produces some " r e f l e c t i o n s " ( h i s language i s , by n a t u r e ,

i m p r e c i s e , m e t a p h o r i c a l ) which I h e s i t a t e t o t r a n s c r i b e . But i f I

tone down t h e f i d e l i t y o f t h i s r e p o r t , I w i l l a t the same time

weaken i t s e f f e c t i v e n e s s a g a i n s t s l a n d e r e r s and o t h e r s o f i l l - i n t e n t .

F u r t h e r m o r e , I t r u s t t h a t t h i s w i l l not f a l l i n t o the hands o f

Nevers' enemies. He s a y s , i n e f f e c t : In my thoughts I a p p l a u d ,

I support any and a l l r e b e l l i o n o f p r i s o n e r s . But i n t h e urgency

of r e a l i t y . . . o n e must be born f o r a c t i o n , know how, i n t h e midst

of b l o o d and b u l l e t s , t o make the r i g h t d e c i s i o n . He was not

ignorant o f h i s d u t i e s : t o i n v e s t i g a t e i f C a s t e l was p r e p a r i n g a

r e b e l l i o n , t o e x t i n g u i s h i t , t o accuse C a s t e l . B u t , we must

c o n f e s s , he was n o t made o f t h e metal o f a good p u b l i c o f f i c i a l .

Every man must be ready t o d i e f o r many c a u s e s , a t any moment, as

a gentleman, he w r i t e s . But not f o r a l l c a u s e s . Do not ask me

to suddenly take an i n t e r e s t i n t h i s , t o i m p l i c a t e m y s e l f and d i e

in a rebellion i n the Guianas. He waited i m p a t i e n t l y f o r t h e day

of h i s departure.
 58

XVI

April 7

The incredible possibility of f l i g h t : t h a t was what

p r e o c c u p i e d him. He had renounced f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s . He d i d

not want t o become i n v o l v e d . H i s impatience f o r the a r r i v a l o f the

!
8th increased continuously ; y e s t e r d a y , above a l l t o d a y , i t was an

intolerable obsession. Now e v e r y t h i n g has changed.

When he awoke from h i s a f t e r n o o n n a p , next t o t h e b e d ,

e x c e s s i v e l y c l o s e ( s i n c e he was emerging from a remote and imperson-

a l l e t h a r g y ) , stood D r e y f u s . Dreyfus s a i d t o him:

"I have two l e t t e r s f o r y o u ; t h e governor sends them t o you."

One was addressed t o h i m , t h e o t h e r t o a Mr. L e i t a o , i n

Cayenne. He opened the f i r s t one. I t contained a b r i e f note,

asking him t o b r i n g back a p a i r o f s p e c t a c l e s , a c c o r d i n g t o the

attached p r e s c r i p t i o n .

"Who a r e the s p e c t a c l e s f o r ? " he a s k e d .

"For the P r i e s t , " Dreyfus answered.

That meant they were w a i t i n g f o r him, that the h o r r i b l e f a t e ,

from which he had thought h i m s e l f s a v e d , t h r e a t e n e d him.

Dreyfus spoke t o him i n h i s calmest v o i c e :

"Doyou know the news? I w i l l be l e a v i n g you."

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"Leaving me?"

"The governor has ordered my t r a n s f e r to Devil's Island. At

5:00 I w i l l take my belongings."

I t was two hours u n t i l Dreyfus would be l e a v i n g . Nevers was

a f r a i d of reasoning l i k e a man i n d e l i r i u m ; he suspected t h a t even

persons o f D r e y f u s ' m e d i o c r i t y c o u l d take a p a r t a l l h i s p r o o f s , h i s

i n v i n c i b l e p r o o f s t h a t a r e b e l l i o n was gestating. But to c o n s u l t

him, wouldn't t h a t be madness?

Meanwhile, Dreyfus confessed the i d e a l of h i s l i f e : t o go to

Buenos A i r e s . A c o u p l e of B r a z i l i a n smugglers had advised him

t h a t f o r a few c e n t i m e s , i n Buenos A i r e s a man can go about i n a

t r o l l e y c a r , throughout the e n t i r e city.

He d i d n ' t know what t o d e c i d e , and t h e r e was little time till

Dreyfus' departure.

XVII

I w i l l i n t e r p o l a t e a t t h i s p o i n t a document which w i l l perhaps

c l a r i f y some p o i n t s o f my n a r r a t i v e ; i t i s a l e t t e r s e n t to me by

my c o u s i n X a v i e r B r i s s a c (who r e p l a c e d Henri Nevers on the

S a l v a t i o n I s l a n d s ) ; i t i s dated A p r i l 8 , 1913, on board the

f r e i g h t e r U l a r i u s , en r o u t e t o the G u i a n a s .

Without e v i l i n t e n t , guided by your e m o t i o n s , n o , guided by

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others who looked at everything emotionally, through hate, you

have judged your brother Pierre and me, you have slandered us.

What happened? You wanted Henri, your protege, to be able to

leave the Guianas and you thought that his anguished correspondence

would perhaps move P i e r r e . It did not move him. Even so, he

c a l l s for me; he asks me i f I would accept the charge; I accept,

and, just as in his youth, at eighty f i v e years of age, Pierre,

the glorious mariner, goes into battle against p o l i t i c i a n s and

bureaucrats, without a tremor; he manages to have me appointed,

and I leave, in r e l i e f of Henri, your f a v o r i t e , for H e l l . And how

do you show us your thanks? You slander Pierre in j e s t , and me,

seriously.

Though what you said about me is extremely serious indeed, I

w i l l begin by refuting what you said about P i e r r e , because he is

the head of the family and because I am not a l i t t e r a t e u r , a

congenial Bohemian, but the captain of the f r i g a t e Xavier Brissac

—who was a f u l l naval lieutenant and who hopes to become a f u l l

naval captain—, a man of his Country, of his Family, an ordained

man.

Respectfully, but f i r m l y , I declare that my voyage does not

prove "that perverse mania of P i e r r e ' s : the sending of nephews to

D e v i l ' s Island". It does prove

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A f t e r r e a d i n g a l l the c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , P i e r r e showed s i g n s of

being t i r e d , not a s i g n of being moved. Do not suppose t h a t these

l e t t e r s must have caused him alarm as t o Henri's s t a t e o f mind; he

comments: "Should I a l a r m m y s e l f now and especially because of

these letters? I t has been some long time now that h i s s t a t e of

mind has had me alarmed and I begin to grow accustomed t o t h a t

state." But he knows t h a t i f Henri r e t u r n s you w i l l experience

g r e a t s a t i s f a c t i o n ; immediately P i e r r e undertakes the campaign,

the t h a n k l e s s campaign, t o secure his r e l i e f . I t does not matter

t h a t he knows t h a t the f r u i t of these l a b o r s w i l l be the s e r i o u s

r e d u c t i o n o f a punishment which he h i m s e l f imposed. He also

b e l i e v e s t h a t h i s e f f o r t s w i l l b r i n g about a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , your

r e t u r n t o the house i n S a i n t - M a r t i n and y o u r d e f i n i t i v e abandonment

o f what he c a l l s " t h a t absurd e x i l e i n the r u i n e d s a l t marshes o f

Saint-Pierre."

Why has he d e c i d e d t h a t i t should be me who i s to relieve

Henri? Don't d e c e i v e y o u r s e l f ; i t i s not h i s "mania"...; he

supposes t h a t i n the shadow o f t h a t n o t a b l e governor o f the colony,

I t i s now the a p p r o p r i a t e moment t o r e f u t e the second p i e c e

of slander. I t i s a l i e t h a t I am the i n v e n t o r o f the promise t h a t

Irene made to marry me; i t i s art a t r o c i o u s l i e t h a t I am going to

 62

Devil's Island to t o r t u r e Henri. Imagine my situation: I must

s u p p o r t t h i s s l a n d e r w i t h o u t even e x c l a i m i n g : ask Irene! I swore

t o Irene I would not t a l k u n t i l Henri's'return,'until"she'can

e x p l a i n e v e r y t h i n g t o him, p e r s o n a l l y . She f e a r s t h a t the news,

d e l i v e r e d by someone e l s e , would wound him too d e e p l y . I f you

were t o speak t o h e r - - w i t h o u t my being t h e r e to defend m y s e l f - - s h e

would t h i n k t h a t her s c r u p u l o u s n e s s does not matter t o me. However,

t h i s extreme concern of Irene's has come t o be my concern to the

extent that i n attempting to c o r r e s p o n d p e r f e c t l y , I have thought,

a t times o f not keeping a l i t e r a l f i d e l i t y to my oath. In effect,

i f our i n t e n t i s to keep Henri from s u f f e r i n g too much, ought we

to permit h i m — b l i n d , dreaming o f the happiness o f r e t u r n i n g to h i s

beloved—to depart thus f o r d i s i l l u s i o n ?

You have s a i d t h a t I am going to t o r t u r e H e n r i . My noble

sentiments are a p r e t e x t ; the t r u t h i s the p l e a s u r e I derive in

going o f f t o s t r i k e a f a l l e n man. Have no hopes t h a t I w i l l pardon

the author of t h a t a b o m i n a t i o n . I know t h a t i t wasn't y o u . I

know t h a t you o n l y r e p e a t e d what you were t o l d . I a l s o know t h a t

I w i l l f i n d out who s a i d i t : t h e r e weren't many who heard me speak.

We know them a l l . They were from our f a m i l y . That's why I

thought I c o u l d t r u s t them. I had f o r g o t t e n i t was because o f t h a t

I couldn't speak to them. There are no more f r e e s p i r i t s in our

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f a m i l y any l o n g e r ; t h e r e are instruments o f P i e r r e and instruments

o f A n t o i n e and instruments of h a t e . I had f o r g o t t e n . I cannot

grow accustomed t o l i v i n g a t continuous war.

Why am I going?

Because P i e r r e commands i t , because you want Henri t o r e t u r n ,

because Henri wants t o r e t u r n . (I d i s a p p r o v e , i n H e n r i , o f h i s

thoughts and deeds. I do not hate him h i m s e l f , as you suggest.)

I f I do not g o , e v e r y t h i n g w i l l be d e l a y e d ; we are a d i f f i c u l t

m i n o r i t y , we v o l u n t e e r s f o r the t r o p i c s , f o r p r i s o n , c h o l e r a . I

do not have i n mind any m i s e r a b l e v i c t o r i e s , nor do I leave

blindly. I am not i g n o r a n t of my sacrifice (which y o u — I say

i t b i t t e r l y — c h o o s e to ignore). That which was a t o r t u r e f o r him

who b e l i e v e d h i m s e l f l o v e d , what h o r r o r s w i l l i t not a f f o r d t o him

who i s loved? I have one consolation: f o r me, everything l i e s in

w a i t i n g ; f o r him, n o t h i n g .

As I t o l d y o u , i t w i l l be on the 2 8 t h , and not the 2 7 t h , t h a t

I w i l l a r r i v e i n Cayenne. I should l i k e t o l i b e r a t e you both

before then: him from h i s j u s t e x i l e , you from your u n j u s t

correspondence. But we have l o s t t h r e e days a t anchorage; I hope

t h e r e w i l l be no f u r t h e r d e l a y s .

I have j u s t r e - r e a d t h i s l e t t e r . In o r d e r t o t o l e r a t e i t you

w i l l require great indulgence. I who am such a b e l i e v e r i n h i e r -

a r c h y , e x h o r t i n g you t o s e t a s i d e your c o n v i c t i o n s , t o f o l l o w my
 64

advice. I, the worst o f your nephews, a s k i n g t h a t i n a l l our actions

r e g a r d i n g the r e l i e f of H e n r i , you may see a r i g h t e o u s intent. I

don't know i f you can see t h i s . I don't know i f i t i s r i g h t to

ask a man not t o look a t t h i n g s through h i s own emotion.

In a l l t h a t P i e r r e d o e s — I speak w i t h b i t t e r n e s s - - y o u are

i n c l i n e d t o see e v i l i n t e n t i o n s ; i n e v e r y t h i n g I d o — I speak w i t h o u t

b i t t e r n e s s — y o u a r e i n c l i n e d t o see h i s e v i l i n t e n t . However, I

invoke our f a m i l y , i t s m u l t i p l e p a i n . Leave the s a l t marshes o f

Oleron forever. I say t h i s w i t h o u t s e l f i s h m o t i v e : they are a

bad business. As P i e r r e s a y s , you have sought asylum i n a s h i p -

wreck. Come t o our prosperous s a l t marshes i n Re. For me, for

whom the p r i v a t i o n s o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d l i e i n w a i t , the privation

t h a t concerns me now i s t h a t o f being d e p r i v e d o f the muddied s a l t

o f our home.

A h , my dear A n t o i n e , how very sad i t i s to have a d i s c o r d i n

the f a m i l y . For the good of a l l o f u s , f o r the good o f t h a t t i n y

flame t h a t our g e n e r a t i o n s must tend and t r a n s m i t , because S a i n t -

M a r t i n , c h e f de c a n t o n , i s watching over us and requires i t for his

peace o f m i n d , l e t us put an end t o t h i s mutual d i s t r u s t . As an

o f f i c e r o f F r a n c e , as a nephew i n our v e n e r a b l e family...

Etcetera.
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XVIII

April 8

The meal t h a t D r e y f u s ' replacement served him was p o o r , the

coffee, miserable. But Nevers was calm. The innuendos which had

been haunting him were f u t i l e . He a t t r i b u t e d these o b s e s s i o n s t o

the c l i m a t e , t o the p e s t i l e n t i a l m i s t s and t o the d e l i r i o u s effect

of the s u n , and a l s o t o Bernheim, t h a t r i d i c u l o u s lunatic.

Not o n l y was he calm; he was bored. To escape h i s boredom he

wanted t o t a l k with Bernheim. I t was t r u e t h a t some o f h i s

p r e d i c t i o n s had been r e a l i z e d ; s t i l l , not the most important one,

w h i c h , t o g e t h e r w i t h C a s t e l ' s r e s e r v e d and s u s p i c i o u s attitude,

would have i n d i c a t e d the p o s s i b i l i t y o f t e r r o r i s m : t h e r e had been

no o r d e r f o r dynamite: and i f i t doesn't come t o d a y , i t w i l l never

come, because the governor t h i n k s t h a t I am leaving t h i s afternoon

for Cayenne. He planned t o remain i n Cayenne u n t i l t h e 14th or

the 15th. The reason f o r t h i s was t h a t i t was not long now until

the 27th and Nevers wanted h i s r e t u r n t o the i s l a n d s t o c o i n c i d e

with the a r r i v a l o f X a v i e r B r i s s a c . He c l a r i f i e s this: I f the

governor h a s , i n f a c t , r e a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n t e n t i o n s , i t would be

b e s t t h a t matters be p l a c e d i n my c o u s i n ' s hands. He f e l t he had

nothing to f e a r . S t i l l , he would keep watch.

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XIX

A p r i l 11

He went ashore a t 8:00 i n Cayenne. He w r i t e s : This city,

where t h e r e a r e few p r i s o n e r s , many p a r o l e e s and even f r e e men, i s

p a r a d i s e on e a r t h . In f r o n t o f t h e market he ran i n t o Mrs. Frinzine''

and h e r d a u g h t e r , they i n v i t e d him t o l u n c h . He a c c e p t e d , but he

says t h a t he was s c a r c e l y amiable and he t r i e s t o j u s t i f y himself

by i n v o k i n g h i s urgent need t o take a bath and change c l o t h e s . This

would be admissable i f he had made a j o u r n e y by l a n d ; a f t e r a s e a

voyage, i t i s m e a n i n g l e s s .

He a r r i v e d a t t h e p a l a c e and ordered L e g r a i n t o prepare t h e

bath. L e g r a i n answered i n a l l n a t u r a l n e s s t h a t t h e water had been

shut o f f and t h a t he c o u l d n ' t bathe u n t i l 11:00.

He was so d i s c o u r a g e d he c o u l d n ' t attend t o any a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

m a t t e r s ; nor c o u l d he r e a d , because h i s books were i n the s u i t c a s e s

and he had f o r g o t t e n t o ask L e g r a i n t o open them and he d i d n ' t f e e l

up t o opening them h i m s e l f o r t o c a l l i n g him back.

At 11:30 L e g r a i n entered and t o l d him t h e r e was w a t e r . Nevers

gave him the keys t o open t h e s u i t c a s e s and remove h i s c l o t h e s . He

n o t i c e d t h a t he had o n l y one key r i n g : those t o the a r c h i v e s and

the armory were m i s s i n g . P o s s i b l y t h e new o r d e r l y had put them i n

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his bags. He c o u l d n ' t look f o r them. He had t o bathe and shave:

the F r i n z i n e s lunched a t twelve sharp.

He admits t h a t the reunion with the F r i n z i n e s was pleasant.

C h a r l o t t e r e c i t e d poems o f G h i l l . Nevers r e c a l l e d the lines:

Autour des i l e s les poissons-volants

s'ils s a u t e n t , ont l u i du s e l de l a mer:

He!as! l e s souvenirs s o r t i s du temps

ont du temps qui l e s p r i t l e gout amer...

A f t e r w a r d s , accompanied by the F r i n z i n e ' s , under an invariable

s u n , he made the rounds o f a l l the shops i n Cayenne. He bought

almost e v e r y t h i n g f o r which he had been commissioned; t o j u s t i f y

the d e l a y o f h i s r e t u r n , he f o r g o t some o f the items (among t h e s e ,

the P r i e s t ' s spectacles).

I suspect I have been r e a s o n i n g e r r o n e o u s l y i n supposing that

the m y s t e r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s t h a t o c c u r on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d are political

and r e v o l u t i o n a r y , he w r i t e s . Maybe C a s t e l was a k i n d o f D r . Moreau.

I t was hard f o r him t o b e l i e v e , however, t h a t r e a l i t y could

resemble a f a n t a s t i c n o v e l . Perhaps the c a u t i o n t h a t a d v i s e s me to

remain here u n t i l the 27th i s a b s u r d .

Overwhelmed with the h e a t , i n the beginnings of a sunstroke,

at f i v e o ' c l o c k he managed t o s l i p away from Mr. Frinzine''. He went

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t o the B o t a n i c a l Gardens and s a t r e s t i n g under the t r e e s . Long

a f t e r d a r k , he r e t u r n e d t o the p a l a c e . P a i n f u l l y , he thought of

Irene.

XX

Night o f the 10th t o the

11th o f A p r i l ; A p r i l 11

He n o t e s : Impossible t o s l e e p . He reproached himself f o r

having c o n s i d e r e d so s u p e r f i c i a l l y the f o r g e t t i n g o f the k e y s . If

the p r i s o n e r s s h o u l d d i s c o v e r them: burnings, r e b e l l i o n , t r i b u n a l ,

g u i l l o t i n e , or the i s l a n d s u n t i l d e a t h . He d i d n ' t t h i n k o f t h e :

means o f a v e r t i n g these c a l a m i t i e s : a n x i o u s l y he saw himself

r e f u t i n g , w i t h g r e a t e f f o r t , with f u t i l i t y , the a c c u s a t i o n s b e f o r e

a court martial.

To calm h i m s e l f he thought o f sending a t e l e g r a m . What would

they say about a p r i s o n o f f i c i a l who f o r g e t s the keys and then

r e l a y s h i s o v e r s i g h t by w i r e ? He thought o f sending a letter.

L a b o r i o u s l y , I c a l c u l a t e d t h a t the Rimbaud would not l e a v e f o r f i v e

days. F u r t h e r m o r e , he had a l r e a d y won the governor's enmity.

Would i t be wise t o w r i t e him such a l e t t e r ? He thought of w r i t i n g

Dreyfus. B u t , what i f Dreyfus should d e c i d e t o f i g h t h i s way clear

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with the guns and f l e e ? I t would be a more n a t u r a l procedure than

t h a t o f s e c r e t l y l o c k i n g the armory ( d e p r i v i n g h i m s e l f o f any

credit)...

In the morning he was calmer. He d e c i d e d t o spend another day

i n Cayenne, r e s t i n g . R e t u r n i n g t o t h e i s l a n d s would be like

r e l a p s i n g i n an i l l n e s s . Perhaps t h e r e were s i t u a t i o n s a w a i t i n g him

t h e r e t h a t would a l t e r , t h a t would r u i n h i s l i f e .

I f they hadn't found the keys by t h i s t i m e , why s h o u l d they

f i n d them p r e c i s e l y today? U n d o u b t e d l y , the keys were i n one o f

h i s desk drawers; the t r i p would be u s e l e s s . At any r a t e , he

would go back the f o l l o w i n g day.

As t o what he d i d on the 11th we have no news a t a l l . We do

know t h a t a t n i g h t f a l l he r e s t e d under the t r e e s i n the Botanical

Gardens.

XXI

Night o f A p r i l .11

He spent the n i g h t w a i t i n g f o r d a y b r e a k , when he would l e a v e .

His conduct seemed i n c o n c e i v a b l e t o him. Or d i d i t seem i n c o n c e i v a -

ble (he asked h i m s e l f , r e p r o a c h f u l l y ) merely because he couldn't

sleep? And h i s not s l e e p i n g — w a s t h i s due t o h i s conduct o r due

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to h i s f e a r o f insomnia? I f t h e r e was even a minimal p r o b a b i l i t y

t h a t these d e l a y s might j e o p a r d i z e Irene ( h i s f u t u r e with Irene),

his s t a y i n g was unforgivable. He longed f o r a v i v i d consciousness

o f the s i t u a t i o n ; he had the c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f an a c t o r who recites

his part.

He d e c i d e d t o get up: he would seek out the launch—the

B e l l e r o p h o n — a n d he would go t o the i s l a n d s , i n the middle o f the

night. He would a r r i v e u n e x p e c t e d l y ; maybe he c o u l d f r u s t r a t e the

rebellion. I f the i s l a n d s were now i n the hands o f the r e b e l s , the

n i g h t would be more c o n v e n i e n t . He s t a r t e d t o get up. He antici-

pated d i f f i c u l t i e s i n l e a v i n g the p a l a c e ; the doors were l o c k e d ;

he would have t o c a l l f o r someone. Would he e x p l a i n h i s reason

for leaving? How c o u l d he a v o i d t h e i r t a l k i n g , c o n j e c t u r i n g on the

f o l l o w i n g day about h i s unecpected d e p a r t u r e ? I t wasn't p o s s i b l e

to l e a v e by the window: t h e r e e x i s t e d the danger o f h i s being

s u r p r i s e d i n the a c t and recognized or o f not being r e c o g n i z e d and

shot a t . He a l s o a n t i c i p a t e d d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h the port

a u t h o r i t i e s when he went t o take out the Bellerophon.

He asked h i m s e l f i f the i s l a n d s might not be i n t h e i r h o r r i b l e

calm as a l w a y s , and i f the u p r i s i n g , perhaps even a s h o t , might

not be provoked by h i s a r r i v a l ; he imagined the e x p l a n a t i o n s , the

inevitable confession to C a s t e l . But he was r e s o l v e d to go: he

wanted t o plan h i s a c t i o n s and know the e x p l a n a t i o n s he would g i v e

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on each o c c a s i o n . U n c o n t r o l l a b l y , he l o s t h i m s e l f i n imaginings:

he saw himself warring on t h e i s l a n d s ; he was touched by Dreyfus'

l o y a l t y or he reproached him, o r a t o r i c a l l y , f o r h i s t r e a s o n ; or

Bernheim, C a s t e l and Charlotte Frinzine" repeated, laughing, that

t h a t absurd t r i p had d i s c r e d i t e d h i m , f i n i s h e d him o f f , or he

thought o f Irene and he exhausted h i m s e l f w i t h interminable

d e c l a r a t i o n s o f l o v e and contrition.

He heard a d i s t a n t o u t c r y . I t was the p a r o l e e s , w i t h their

enormous c a r t s and t h e i r o x e n , c o l l e c t i n g the garbage. He felt

cold: i t was, very v a g u e l y , daybreak. I f he w a i t e d a l i t t l e , h i s

departure would s t a r t l e no one.

XXII

April 12

He awoke at n i n e . He was t i r e d , but he had recovered his

lucidity: the t r i p would be u s e l e s s , the p r o b a b i l i t y o f c a l a m i t i e s

taking p l a c e , i n s i g n i f i c a n t . The keys were i n h i s o f f i c e ; not a

s i n g l e p r i s o n e r and very few guards went i n t h e r e , and i t wasn't

i m p o s s i b l e t h a t the keys were i n one o f the desk drawers. The

drawers i n h i s desk were l o c k e d ; anyone who found the keys would

a l s o have t o f i n d out t h a t they belonged t o the a r c h i v e s and the

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armory: t h a t would be d i f f i c u l t i n a p r i s o n , where t h e r e are so

many k e y s , so many t h i n g s l o c k e d up w i t h k e y s . To think of a

r e b e l l i o n was a b s u r d ; the p r i s o n e r s were numbed by the r i g o r o f

p r i s o n r o u t i n e , and Castel's i n t e r e s t i n s o c i a l and penal q u e s t i o n s

was strictly sadistic. I must be s i c k , he w r i t e s , t o b e l i e v e i n

Bernheim's ravings.

Living in a j a i l c o u l d make him ill. Conscience and jails are

incompatible, I heard him say one n i g h t when he f e l t i n s p i r e d .

Those poor d e v i l s are l i v i n g j u s t a few y a r d s from here (he was

r e f e r r i n g t o the s a l t deposits at S a i n t - M a r t i n ) . The very idea

should devastate us. The i n s t i g a t o r o f t h i s madness was his father.

I f he was out w a l k i n g w i t h h i s c h i l d r e n when the cage o f the prison

van passed b y , he took them by the hand and h u r r i e d them away,

f r a n t i c a l l y , as i f he wished t o d e l i v e r them from an obscene and

mortal v i s i o n . U n d o u b t e d l y , i n h i s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o send Henri to

the G u i a n a s , P i e r r e r e v e a l e d h i s f i r m n e s s , but a l s o h i s marksman-

ship.

He opened the window t h a t f a c e d the courtyard and he c a l l e d

out. A f t e r a few minutes the o r d e r l y answered. The man appeared

a f t e r a q u a r t e r o f an h o u r . He asked:

"What can I do f o r y o u , lieutenant?"

He didn't know. That i n q u i s i t i v e f a c e annoyed him; he

answered:
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"My bags."

"What was t h a t ? "

"Yes, s u i t c a s e s , b r i e f c a s e s , luggage. I'm leaving."

XXIII

He ran i n t o t h e F r i n z i n e ' f a m i l y near t h e Market.

" W e l l , here we a r e , " s a i d F r i n z i n e , w i t h some e x c i t e m e n t .

"Out f o r a walk. A l l together: i t ' s safer. And y o u , where a r e

you going w i t h a l l t h a t ? " (He had f i n a l l y n o t i c e d t h e s u i t c a s e s . )

"I'm l e a v i n g . "

"You're l e a v i n g us?"

Nevers a s s u r e d them he might p o s s i b l y r e t u r n t h a t might.

That made them f e e l much b e t t e r , t h e Frinzine's reiterated.

Mrs. F r i n z i n e ' added:

"We'll go w i t h you down t o t h e docks."

He t r i e d to resist. C h a r l o t t e was h i s o n l y a l l y ; she wanted

to go home, but they d i d n ' t l i s t e n t o h e r . In the urgent cordial-

i t y o f the F r i n z i n e ' s , Nevers h a l f - s e n s e d the d e s i r e t o conceal

something o r , p e r h a p s , t o g e t him away from somewhere. He looked

at t h e c i t y w i t h n o s t a l g i a , as i f he had a' presentiment o f not

coming back. Ashamed, he found h i m s e l f w a l k i n g on t h e p a r t s o f

the s t r e e t where t h e r e was t h e most d u s t , so t h a t he might take

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away w i t h him a l i t t l e o f the r e d d i s h dust o f Cayenne. Absent-

1
mindedly he d i s c o v e r e d the cause o f the F r i n z i n e s nervousness:

he had s u r p r i s e d them i n the v i c i n i t y o f t h e Market. But the words

they spoke t o him were c o r d i a l and t h e i r nervousness reminded him

of other f a r e w e l l s . His eyes grew m o i s t .

XXIV

Before mooring the l a u n c h , he rounded D e v i l ' s Island. There

was n o t h i n g new. He saw no one. The animals were wandering about

l o o s e , as always. He docked a t Royal I s l a n d . Immediately he

went t o the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; t h e r e , i n h i s d e s k , was the r i n g o f

keys. He asked the o r d e r l y who r e p l a c e d Dreyfus i f t h e r e was any

news. There was no news.

In the a f t e r n o o n Dreyfus appeared. They embraced l i k e friends

who have been s e p a r a t e d a long t i m e . Dreyfus d i d not seem i r o n i c a l ;

he was smiling, delighted. At l a s t he spoke:

"The governor i s w a i t i n g f o r you."

"Can I go t o D e v i l ' s Island?'

"Impossible, l i e u t e n a n t . . . Did you b r i n g the merchandise

requested i n the letter?"

"What l e t t e r ? "

"The l e t t e r you took on the governor's b e h a l f . I gave i t t o

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you w i t h the r e s t o f the o r d e r s . "

He t h r u s t h i s hand i n h i s p o c k e t ; t h e r e was the l e t t e r . He

improvised:

"The man t o l d me he wouldn't have a n y t h i n g a v a i l a b l e b e f o r e

the 26th."

"Before the 26th!" Dreyfus r e p e a t e d .

"Not b e f o r e the 2 6 t h . I brought what I c o u l d . I will return."

"What an upset f o r the g o v e r n o r . And what a time t o upset him."

"What's the matter w i t h him?"

" I f you see him you won't r e c o g n i z e him. Do you remember when

he was here the f i r s t time? He has been transformed."

"Transformed?"

"He had an a t t a c k , but t h i s one was s t r o n g e r than e v e r . He

i s g r e y , l i k e ashes. You s h o u l d see him move about; he's like a

sleepwalker."

Nevers f e l t pangs o f remorse. He said:

" I f he wants me t o , I ' l l go back t h i s very a f t e r n o o n . I ' l l

t r y t o get t h a t f e l l o w t o d e l i v e r me the goods..."

Dreyfus asked him:

"Did you get the s p e c t a c l e s f o r the P r i e s t ? "

"No," Nevers answered.

"The man c a n ' t see w e l l a t all."

"Is he critical?"
 76

"The governor says he's g e t t i n g b e t t e r ; h i s i l l n e s s was a

bad one. During t h e day we keep him i n the d a r k , a t n i g h t t i m e ,

wide-awake. But he doesn't see what i s c l o s e t o him; he can't see

h i s own body; he o n l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s o b j e c t s t h a t a r e more than two

y a r d s away from h i s e y e s . E v e r y t h i n g must be done f o r him: we

must bathe him f e e d him. He e a t s i n t h e d a y t i m e , as he s l e e p s . "

"While he s l e e p s ? "

"Yes; when he's awake, he's t o o n e r v o u s ; he has t o be l e f t

alone. He s t i l l raves and sees a p p a r i t i o n s . "

Nevers was r e p e n t a n t . Then he r e f l e c t e d t h a t t h e s p e c t a c l e s

wouldn't have kept the P r i e s t from having v i s i o n s . To change the

s u b j e c t , he asked:

"And what o t h e r news i s t h e r e from t h e i s l a n d ? "

"None. L i f e i s very d i s t r e s s i n g . Always t a k i n g c a r e o f the

sick."

"The s i c k . There a r e more than one?"

"Yes. The P r i e s t and one o f t h e p r i s o n e r s - - J u l i e n , by name.

Yesterday he had an a t t a c k . "

" F i r s t the P r i e s t , then C a s t e l , then..."

" I t ' s not t h e same t h i n g . What a i l s the governor i s t h e

i l l n e s s he has always had: headaches. I t i s an honor t o work f o r

Mr. C a s t e l . S i c k as he i s , he doesn't l e a v e J u l i e n ' s s i d e f o r an

instant. And Mr. De B r i n o n , t h e same: s a c r i f i c i n g himself a l l

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d a y , as i f he weren't a nobleman. Blood t e l l s , l i e u t e n a n t , i t ' s

their blood."

" C a s t e l doesn't go out?"

"Hardly e v e r . A l i t t l e w h i l e , a t n i g h t , t o see the P r i e s t or

t o t a l k with the o t h e r p r i s o n e r s . "

"Which p r i s o n e r s ? "

Dreyfus r e f u s e d t o look a t him. Then he explained:

"The r e s t , the ones who are h e a l t h y . They v i s i t him at the

pavilion."

" T h e y ' l l c a t c h the d i s e a s e . "

"No; even I can't go i n t o the room, Mr. De Brinon takes h i s

meals t o him."

"De Brinon and the governor e a t i n the s i c k man's room?"

"They s l e e p t h e r e too."

"How o f t e n has the governor come to t h i s i s l a n d and t o S t .

Joseph's I s l a n d ? "

" S i n c e you l e f t , not once."

"And De Brinon?"

"The same."

"And you?"

"I d i d n ' t come. There i s work t o d o , I assure you."

He asked h i m s e l f i f no one had n o t i c e d t h a t the j a i l was

without a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . He thought i t would be wise t o make an

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i n s p e c t i o n and not t o f o r g e t to look over the a r c h i v e s and the

armory.

XXV

He t r a v e r s e d Royal and S t . Joseph's I s l a n d s . The punishments,

the m i s e r i e s went on... P o s s i b l y the abuses o f the j a i l e r s had

i n c r e a s e d ; i f s o , i t wasn't n o t i c e a b l e . Without d i r e c t o r s , the

most h o r r i b l e o f p r i s o n s f u n c t i o n s p e r f e c t l y . The convicts could

o n l y s t e a l a boat and shipwreck i n s i g h t o f the i s l a n d s or dash t h e i r

b r a i n s out i n the l a t r i n e . A l l r e b e l l i o n was useless. He had had

an o b s e s s i o n , a h u m i l i a t i n g madness.

At t h a t moment someone tapped him on the s h o u l d e r . He turned

h a l f about and looked i n t o the eyes o f an o l d p r i s o n e r , P o r d e l a n n e ,

by name. Pordelanne s l o w l y began t o r a i s e h i s r i g h t arm; Nevers

stepped back and he c o u l d see t h a t the man h e l d i n h i s hand a

miniature doghouse.

"I'll sell i t to you," he s a i d i n a f l u t e l i k e v o i c e . "What

w i l l you g i v e me for i t ? "

Pordelanne r o l l e d up h i s pants a b i t and he kneeled carefully.

He p l a c e d the t i n y doghouse on the g r o u n d , he drew h i s f a c e near

the door and shouted: "Constantine!" Immediately, out o f the

house leaped a wooden dog. Again he p l a c e d i t i n s i d e , c l a p p e d h i s

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hands and the dog came out once more.

"You made i t ? " Nevers a s k e d .

"Yes. The dog comes out because o f the e f f e c t s o f sound.

When the b a t t e r i e s wear o u t , they can be changed. What w i l l you

give me?"

"Five francs."

He gave him f i f t e e n and c o n t i n u e d h i s p a t r o l , u n c o m f o r t a b l e ,

c e r t a i n t h a t t h a t t o y would b r i n g about h i s d i s c r e d i t .

He noted some changes i n the l i s t o f p r i s o n e r s i n the r e d

compound. Deloge and Favre had been t r a n s f e r r e d t o D e v i l ' s Island;

Roday and Z u r l i n g e r , from D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , r e p l a c e d them. Nevers

r e c a l l e d the nervousness t h a t Dreyfus had showed when they spoke o f

the p r i s o n e r s ; he asked h i m s e l f i f C a s t e l had waited f o r him t o go

to Cayenne t o arrange the exchange. He d i d n ' t become indignant;

he thought t h a t perhaps the governor had not been u n j u s t ; on D e v i l ' s

I s l a n d the p r i s o n e r s r e c e i v e d b e t t e r t r e a t m e n t ; i t was possible

t h a t among the seven hundred and f i f t y p r i s o n e r s on Royal and

S t . Joseph's I s l a n d s one o f them might deserve i t , and t h a t three

o f the p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d were i n c u r a b l e

bastards. In p r i n c i p l e , however, he was opposed t o mixing the

common p r i s o n e r s w i t h t h e p o l i t i c a l s .

He r e t u r n e d t o the governor's mansion; he went t o the a r c h i v e s .

Books, s h e l v e s , cobwebs: a l l was intact. He went t o the armory:

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n o t h i n g was missing. At the r e a r , as a l w a y s , were the Schneider

machine guns; t o the r i g h t , on the f l o o r , the boxes o f ammunition,

well-locked, f u l l (he t r i e d t o l i f t them); t o the l e f t , the

b a r r e l o f sewing machine o i l , which was used f o r the guns; a l s o

to the l e f t , on the s h e l v e s , the r i f l e s . However, the yellow

c u r t a i n t h a t was drawn o v e r the s h e l v e s of r i f l e s was o p e n , and

in his recollection i t had been c l o s e d . He undertook a new

inspection. He came up with the same r e s u l t s : except f o r the

c u r t a i n , e v e r y t h i n g was in-order. Maybe, he t h o u g h t , maybe some

poor d e v i l found the keys and a f t e r checking out the armory he

chose t o imagine t h a t he hadn't prepared h i m s e l f a d e q u a t e l y , t h a t

the moment was not opportune and t h a t he l a c k e d an accomplice,

t h a t i t would be b e t t e r t o l e a v e the keys and come back by night

(when he would have a p l a n , a n d , above a l l , a boat w i t h p r o v i s i o n s ) .

Nevers c o n f e s s e s t h a t as he l o c k e d the door and put the keys away,

he r e g r e t t e d f r u s t r a t i n g the plans o f t h a t unknown man.

He went i n t o h i s room, l e f t the t o y on t h e b u r e a u , c l o s e d the

Venetian b l i n d s and l a y down. Dreyfus had made an i m p r e s s i o n on

him: maybe C a s t e l wasn't a b a s t a r d after a l l . A good d i r e c t o r

does not u t t e r l y i g n o r e h i s p r i s o n , he doesn't a l l o w i t to f u n c t i o n

all on i t s own. A l l good l e a d e r s b e l i e v e i n the n e c e s s i t y o f

o r g a n i z i n g , o f d i s t u r b i n g the s t a t u s quo... Perhaps C a s t e l was an

excellent man.
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The f a c t t h a t the P r i e s t ' s symptoms d i d not correspond t o

those o f c h o l e r a proved n o t h i n g a g a i n s t the g o v e r n o r ; maybe the

P r i e s t had an i l l n e s s r e s e m b l i n g c h o l e r a and the governor had s a i d

c h o l e r a f o r the sake o f s i m p l i f i c a t i o n , so t h a t Dreyfus would

u n d e r s t a n d ; o r maybe Dreyfus had m i s u n d e r s t o o d , o r he had e x p l a i n e d

himself poorly.

His f e a r s were r i d i c u l o u s . I t d i s t u r b e d him t h a t he was, a t

moments, a m a n i a c , a madman. But he a l s o f e l t r e l i e v e d : he would

have t o w a i t u n t i l X a v i e r ' s a r r i v a l , but he would w a i t i n a normal

w o r l d , w i t h a normal mind. Then he remembered the p r o h i b i t i o n o f

his going t o D e v i l ' s Island. A l l the same, he t h o u g h t , t h e r e i s

some mystery here.

XXVI

The mystery o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d does not concern me, even i f i t

does e x i s t . The time i t took my nephew t o a r r i v e a t t h i s conclu-

sion i s extraordinary. As f o r o u r s e l v e s , who c a n d i d l y b e l i e v e i n

d u t y , t h a t mystery would not be i n d i f f e r e n t to u s .

That wasn't the case w i t h Nevers. Once a g a i n I remembered

t h a t my s t a y i n the Guianas was an e p i s o d e i n my l i f e . . . Time

would e r a s e i t l i k e o t h e r dreams.

He passed from one o b s e s s i o n t o a n o t h e r . He f e l t h i m s e l f t o

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blame f o r t h e P r i e s t ' s b l i n d n e s s and f o r the shortage o f m e d i c i n e

for the s i c k . He d e c i d e d t o go immediately t o Cayenne, t o look

for the s u p p l i e s he hadn't b r o u g h t . He c a l l e d t h e o r d e r l y . No one

answered. He packed h i s s u i t c a s e and c a r r i e d i t h i m s e l f t o the

Bellerophon.

Before l e a v i n g , he ran t h e launch along t h e c o a s t o f D e v i l ' s

Island, slowly. He saw a p r i s o n e r f i s h i n g on t h e c l i f f s at the

extreme southwest. Surrounded by c l i f f s a n d , f u r t h e r u p , by

f o r e s t s o f s q u a l i d palm t r e e s , the spot was out o f s i g h t o f the

i n h a b i t a n t s o f Royal and S t . Joseph I s l a n d s , and even ( i f they

weren't p u r p o s e l y l o o k i n g a t t h e area) o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f

Devil's Island. He f e l t a sudden i n s p i r a t i o n , and he determined

to speak w i t h the man. There was h a r d l y any danger o f b e i n g caught

in the a c t , and i f I am, t h e consequences w i l l come too l a t e .

He t i e d up; he made an extremely c o m p l i c a t e d knot that

excluded a l l p o s s i b i l i t y o f a h a s t y r e t r e a t .

The p r i s o n e r was immensely f a t . He glanced a b o u t , as i f t o

assure h i m s e l f t h a t t h e r e was no one nearby. To Nevers i t seemed

t h a t t h a t g e s t u r e corresponded t o h i m , not t o the p r i s o n e r ;

immediately he admitted t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t the man might be

p l o t t i n g some a t t a c k . With t h i s man f o r an a s s a i l a n t , he t h o u g h t ,

a f i g h t would be not dangerous. But then everyone would know o f

his v i s i t to Devil's Island. I t was t o o l a t e t o go back.

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"How's t h e f i s h i n g ? " he a s k e d .

"Fine. F i n e f o r n o t g e t t i n g bored," t h e p r i s o n e r s m i l e d

nervously.

"Is i t b e t t e r here than i n t h e r e d compound?"

With r e p r e s s e d a g i t a t i o n he heard f o o t s t e p s approaching up

above; he took r e f u g e behind a t h o r n y s h r u b . Nearby, somewhere, t h e

man was s m i l i n g , s a y i n g :

"This i s marvelous. I can never thank t h e governor enough

for what he has done f o r me."

"Are you Favre o r Deloge?"

"Favre," s a i d t h e man, s t r i k i n g h i s c h e s t . "Favre."

"Where do you l i v e ? " Nevers asked.

"Over t h e r e . " Favre p o i n t e d towards t h e top o f t h e c l i f f .

"In a hut. Deloge l i v e s i n another o n e , f u r t h e r on."

Again t h e r e was t h e sound o f f o o t s t e p s . Since h i s a r r i v a l i n

the G u i a n a s , he was c o n t i n u o u s l y h e a r i n g s e n t i n e l s ; never had he

heard them walk w i t h such resounding and numerous f o o t s t e p s .

"Who's t h e r e ? " he asked.

"The horse," Favre answered. "Haven't you seen him? Go on up

the cliff and have a look."

He d i d n ' t know what t o do; he d i d n ' t want t o upset t h e

p r i s o n e r , and he was a f r a i d o f c l i m b i n g on up and a l l o w i n g t h e man

to take advantage o f t h a t moment t o run t o t h e launch and take o f f .

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He climbed w i t h s i l e n t p r e c a u t i o n s (so as not t o be seen from a b o v e ,

so as not t o l o s e s i g h t o f the man who was below). A horse on the

l o o s e — w h i t e and o l d — w a s running about i n continuous circles.

The p r i s o n e r hadn't moved.

"What's the matter w i t h him?" Nevers asked.

"You don't know? When we t u r n him l o o s e , he s t a r t s running

i n c i r c l e s , l i k e he was demented. He makes me laugh: he doesn't

even r e c o g n i z e the g r a s s . You have t o put i t i n h i s mouth so he

won't d i e o f hunger. On t h i s i s l a n d a l l the animals are c r a z y . "

"An epidemic?"

"No. The governor i s a r e a l p h i l a n t h r o p i s t : he b r i n g s c r a z y

animals here and he takes c a r e o f them. But now, w i t h the s i c k men,

he c a n ' t tend the animals."

He d i d n ' t want the c o n v e r s a t i o n t o break o f f ; he s a i d , absent-

ly:

"Then you a r e n ' t bored here?"

"You know the c o n d i t i o n s . I t ' s not so bad now t h a t we spend

the n i g h t s t a l k i n g w i t h the governor."

He r e f r a i n e d from a s k i n g what they t a l k e d about. In t h a t

f i r s t d i a l o g u e he s h o u l d s e t t l e f o r some d a t a on the p a i n t i n g s the

governor had had done i n the c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n . To approach this

s u b j e c t i n d i r e c t l y , he asked:

"The c o n d i t i o n s , what c o n d i t i o n s ? "

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The man s t o o d up a n d , d r a m a t i c a l l y , he l e t h i s f i s h i n g rod f a l l :

"Did t h e governor send you t o t a l k w i t h me?"

"No," said Nevers, perplexed.

"Don't l i e , " the man s h o u t e d , and Nevers asked h i m s e l f i f the

n o i s e o f the sea would s i l e n c e those s h o u t s . "Don't l i e . You

haven't caught me doing a n y t h i n g wrong. I f I have f a i l e d t o keep

my w o r d , i t was by m i s t a k e . How was I t o know t h a t you had been s e n t

to test me?"

"To t e s t you?"

"When I saw your w i l l i n g n e s s , I thought we could t a l k . This

very n i g h t I w i l l e x p l a i n e v e r y t h i n g t o the governor."

Nevers s e i z e d him by the arms and shook him.

"I g i v e you my word t h a t the governor has not s e n t me, either

t o t e s t y o u , o r t o spy on y o u , o r a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t . Can't you

speak t o anyone?"

"To Deloge."

"You owe the governor a g r e a t f a v o r , and now you want t o sadden

him by t e l l i n g him t h a t you haven't c a r r i e d out h i s o r d e r s . That

isn't gratitude."

"He says he's d o i n g i t f o r our own good," the p r i s o n e r

groaned. "He says he's going t o save u s , and t h a t i f we talk..."

" I f you t a l k y o u ' l l h u r t y o u r chances," Nevers interrupted

him, guided by h i s i n v i n c i b l e i n s t i n c t f o r l o s i n g opportunities.

 85

"I w i l l h e l p you a l s o . I won't say a n y t h i n g about t h i s , and we

w i l l spare t h e governor d i s p l e a s u r e . You won't say a n y t h i n g about

i t either. Can I count on y o u r word?"

The man, overcome by a s e r i e s o f tenuous s i g h s , o f f e r e d him

a wet hand. Nevers saw i t s h i n e i n t h e t w i l i g h t , and he shook i t

with enthusiasm.

L a t e r he r e t u r n e d t o Royal I s l a n d . He maintained h i s i n t e n t i o n

of going t o Cayenne; he would l e a v e the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g , s i n c e

he p r e f e r r e d not t o t r a v e l by n i g h t .

XXVI

"What a r e you proposing t o do?" i n q u i r e d D r e y f u s . I t was t e n

i n t h e morning. Nevers was d r e s s i n g .

"I'm going t o Cayenne."

"The governor asks you not t o bother," Dreyfus answered. " I f

the man won't have a n y t h i n g u n t i l t h e 2 6 t h , i t would be u s e l e s s

f o r you t o g o . The governor wishes t o v i s i t you."

Dreyfus withdrew. Nevers f e l t remorseful over h i s p r e v i o u s

conduct. N e v e r t h e l e s s he asked h i m s e l f how he would manage t o t a l k

w i t h Favre a g a i n . A f t e r t h a t noble exchange o f promises and agree-

ment o f common i n t e r e s t s ( t o a v o i d annoying C a s t e l , to avoid

d i s o b e y i n g C a s t e l ) , another c o n v e r s a t i o n was not seemly.

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I t was almost n i g h t when he went down t o the dock. On the

way he ran i n t o the o r d e r l y . The man asked him:

"Are you going t o Cayenne?"

"No. I'm going t o check out the B e l l e r o p h o n . She's not

running properly."

I t was a m i s e r a b l e excuse. Motors are o f i n t e r e s t t o the

human genre: he f e a r e d the o r d e r l y might f o l l o w him, or t h a t (by

the sound o f the motor) he would d i s c o v e r the l i e . He walked

q u i c k l y away. He boarded the l a u n c h , s t a r t e d her up and went out

i n the open s e a . He n a v i g a t e d i n one d i r e c t i o n and then another,

as i f he were t e s t i n g the motor. Then he s e t o f f f o r D e v i l ' s

Island.

Favre waved h i s arm. He was i n the same p l a c e , f i s h i n g with

another p r i s o n e r . Nevers saw no one else.

Favre g r e e t e d him c h e e r f u l l y and i n t r o d u c e d him t o h i s

companion, D e l o g e , t o whom he said:

"Don't w o r r y . The gentleman i s a f r i e n d . He won't say

anything t o the governor."

Deloge was distrustful. He was s h o r t , o r at l e a s t so he

seemed b e s i d e F a v r e ; he had red h a i r , a vaguely s t r a n g e gaze and

a s h a r p , anxious e x p r e s s i o n . With p o o r l y hidden c u r i o s i t y , he

scrutinized Nevers.

"Don't be a f r a i d , " Favre i n s i s t e d . "The gentleman wants t o

 87

help us. We can t a l k w i t h him and know what's happening i n the

world."

Nevers f e l t he p e r c e i v e d t h a t a s o r t o f c o m p l i c i t y had been

e s t a b l i s h e d between Favre and h i m s e l f ; he wanted t o take advantage

of i t , and he s p o k e , w i t h o u t prudence or m o d e r a t i o n , o f h i s

r e s o l u t i o n t o l e a v e the i s l a n d s as soon as p o s s i b l e . He asked Favre:

"And y o u , i f you c o u l d l e a v e h e r e , where would you choose t o

live?"

Deloge s t a r t e d l i k e a f r i g h t e n e d a n i m a l . T h i s seemed t o

s t i m u l a t e F a v r e , who said:

"I would go t o a s o l i t a r y island."

U n t i l he had come t o the i s l a n d s , Nevers had dreamed o f the

solitary island. I t made him i n d i g n a n t t h a t t h a t dream c o u l d

b e g u i l e a r e c l u s e on D e v i l ' s Island.

"But wouldn't you r a t h e r r e t u r n t o F r a n c e , t o P a r i s ? Maybe

t o America?"

"No," he r e p l i e d . " I t i s not p o s s i b l e t o f i n d happiness i n

big c i t i e s . (Nevers thought: t h i s i s a phrase he has heard

somewhere or read i n a book.)

"Besides," Deloge submitted i n a deep v o i c e , "the governor has

e x p l a i n e d t o us t h a t sooner o r l a t e r , we would be found out."

"Even i f we were pardoned," Favre hastened t o say "everyone

would look a t us w i t h d i s t r u s t . Even our own families."

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"We would be marked men," Deloge a f f i r m e d w i t h a sudden

gaiety. He r e p e a t e d : "Marked men."

"Deloge," s a i d F a v r e , p o i n t i n g t o him, "wanted t o go t o

Manoa, i n the Dorado r e g i o n . "

"The Dorado?" Nevers asked.

" Y e s , t h e r e the mud huts have golden r o o f s . But I c a n ' t swear

to t h a t , because I haven't seen a n y t h i n g m y s e l f . C a s t e l s e t us

right. He says t h a t g o l d i s worth the same as straw t h e r e . But

I understand h i s r e a s o n s : Manoa i s i n the i n t e r i o r o f the Guianas.

How c o u l d we get through the guarded zone?..." Favre stopped

t a l k i n g s u d d e n l y ; then he s a i d n e r v o u s l y :

" I t would be b e s t i f you l e f t now. I f Dreyfus s h o u l d show up,

or i f the governor f i n d s out..."

"Dreyfus never goes out a t n i g h t , " grunted Deloge.

"It's l a t e f o r me as w e l l , " Nevers a s s u r e d them. He didn't

want t o upset F a v r e ; he d i d n ' t know what t o say t o calm him down.

He g r i p p e d h i s hand f i r m l y , h a l f - c l o s e d h i s eyes and t i l t e d h i s

head t o one s i d e : i t was an e f f u s i v e language, adequately i m p r e c i s e .

Was C a s t e l p r e p a r i n g them f o r an escape? Perhaps the illnesses

of J u l i e n and the P r i e s t f r u s t r a t e d h i s p l a n s . . . He was thinking

of t a k i n g them t o an i s l a n d . Nevers asked h i m s e l f what i s l a n d s

t h e r e were i n the A t l a n t i c t h a t would be adequate. He c o u l d n ' t

take them t o the P a c i f i c . Unless he were t o take them through a

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tunnel... T h i s i s not my a f f a i r . . . Above a l l , i f I am a b s e n t .

But he d i d n ' t understand C a s t e l ' s p l a n s . As long as he

remained on t h e i s l a n d s he would t r y t o i n v e s t i g a t e w i t h o u t run-

n i n g any r i s k s . Perhaps he f e l t he had an o b l i g a t i o n t o me. He

had c o n f i d e d so many n o n s e n s i c a l s u p p o s i t i o n s t o me t h a t now, i n

the f a c e o f something c r e d i b l e , he wanted t o c l e a r t h i n g s up.

XXVII

There w i l l be those who w i l l p r o c l a i m my r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n

the d e l i r i o u s plan t h a t a f f o r d e d Nevers h i s ambiguous d i s c o v e r i e s

and his enigmatic death. I do not shun r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , but I w i l l

not bear t h a t which I do not d e s e r v e . In the p r e v i o u s chapter I

have s a i d : "Perhaps he f e l t he had an o b l i g a t i o n t o me. He had

c o n f i d e d so many n o n s e n s i c a l s u p p o s i t i o n s t o me t h a t now, i n t h e

f a c e o f something c r e d i b l e , he wanted t o c l e a r t h i n g s up." I repeat

this. I acknowledge t h i s . Nothing more.

Dreyfus announced t o Nevers t h e governor's f o r t h c o m i n g visit

that night. Nevers was p r e o c c u p i e d ; a t about 10:00 t h a t n i g h t he

c o n c e i v e d the plan and immediately he t o s s e d o f f a few g l a s s e s

to muster enough courage t o c a r r y i t o u t . Up t o 11:00 he b e l i e v e d

t h a t the governor would v i s i t him: a f t e r t h a t he was i n d o u b t ,

and l a t e r he f e l t t h a t i t was absurd t o have w a i t e d f o r him. With

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t h a t c o n v i c t i o n , the a l c o h o l and the f i r s t volume o f Montaigne's

E s s a y s , he f e l l a s l e e p a t h i s desk. He was wakened by the governor.

To accuse me o f a d i r e c t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y would be unjust:

Nevers c o n c e i v e d the plan a t 10:00, he c a r r i e d i t out a t m i d n i g h t ,

and I was i n France and he was i n the S a l v a t i o n I s l a n d s . As for

a general r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r not having discouraged him from such

i r r e g u l a r a c t i v i t i e s , I a l s o deny t h i s . I f some day my letters

to Nevers are r e c o v e r e d , i t w i l l be seen t h a t they are very few

and t h a t i f I d i s p l a y any interest in his "investigation" i t is

merely the i n t e r e s t t h a t c o u r t e s y r e q u i r e s . . . P o s s i b l y someone

may ask how, w i t h o u t anyone encouraging him, t h i s man who was not

i r r e p r e s s i b l y b o l d c o u l d have i n v e n t e d those infamous l i e s , which

endangered h i s l i f e , or h i s f r e e d o m , or the r e t u r n t h a t he so

i n s i s t e n t l y d e s i r e d , how he had dared t o u t t e r them, how he had

the d e c i s i v e n e s s and a b i l i t y t o put on such an a c t b e f o r e the

g o v e r n o r , and t o succeed i n c o n v i n c i n g him.

Above a l l , Nevers was not t i m i d ; he wasn't v e r b a l l y t i m i d .

He d i d n ' t l a c k the courage t o speak; he d i d l a c k courage to f a c e

the consequences of what he s a i d . He declared himself disinter-

ested i n r e a l i t y . Complications i n t e r e s t e d him. His c o m p l i c i t y

( a p p a r e n t l y w i t h o u t doubt) i n the a f f a i r t h a t made i t n e c e s s a r y f o r

him t o l e a v e France can c o r r o b o r a t e me. His a t t i t u d e i n the p r i s o n

(from the v e r y f i r s t moment, i n an e n t i r e l y i r r e g u l a r manner, he

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q u e s t i o n e d the conduct o f h i s s u p e r i o r ) can c o r r o b o r a t e me. A

woman i n S a i n t - M a r t i n can c o r r o b o r a t e me.

F u r t h e r m o r e , though i t i s t r u e t h a t no one encouraged h i m , i t

would be i n a c c u r a t e t o say t h a t nothing encouraged him: he had

been d r i n k i n g . The s p e c t a c l e o f t h e governor encouraged him a l s o .

Nevers awoke because he f e l t a p r e s s u r e on h i s s h o u l d e r . It

was the governor's hand. The governor was not l o o k i n g a t him; he

began t o move about; he walked around t h e d e s k , s a t down f a c i n g

Nevers. He d r i f t e d a l i t t l e o f f c o u r s e ; he walked out o f l i n e ; he

passed t h e c h a i r by a y a r d o r two; he turned back and s a t down,

lifeless. H i s gaze was d i f f u s e , h i s eyes h a l f - c l o s e d and sunken.

His c o l o r was t h a t o f a c o r p s e , l i k e t h a t o f t h e f a c e s o f bad

a c t o r s when they p l a y t h e p a r t o f o l d men. Perhaps t h a t bad a c t o r ' s

l i k e n e s s reminded Nevers o f h i s i n t e n t i o n t o a c t h i s p a r t .

The governor seemed i l l . Nevers r e c a l l e d the headaches and

the " a t t a c k s " t h a t Dreyfus had spoken o f ; he remembered D r e y f u s '

ridiculous expression: "he's l i k e a s l e e p w a l k e r " . He thought t h a t

C a s t e l ' s c r i t i c a l f a c u l t i e s must be d i m i n i s h e d . . . I f t h e governor

were t o d i s c o v e r some weak p o i n t i n h i s e x p o s i t i o n , he would l e t

it pass b y , so as not t o t i r e h i m s e l f . He r e s o l v e d t o attempt h i s

superfluous and d e s p e r a t e move, a n d , s o l e m n l y , he stood up.

"Do you know why I am here?"

He spoke almost s h o u t i n g , so as t o i n f l i c t a r e a l torment on

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Castel. Indeed, the governor c l o s e d h i s eyes and h e l d h i s head

i n h i s hands.

"I am here because I have been accused o f s t e a l i n g documents."

That n i g h t he l i e d , c a r r i e d away by the same i m p u l s e , the

same d e s p e r a t e c u r i o s i t y t h a t had made him l i e y e a r s b e f o r e on the

o c c a s i o n c a l l e d t o mind by h i s a b i d i n g s c a r . He went on i n a

lowered v o i c e (so t h a t he might be h e a r d ) :

"I have been accused o f having s o l d those documents t o a

f o r e i g n power. I am here because o f b l a c k m a i l . The person who

d i s c o v e r e d the t h e f t knows t h a t I am i n n o c e n t , but he a l s o knows

t h a t a l l appearances p o i n t t o me and t h a t no one w i l l b e l i e v e i n

my innocence. He s a i d t h a t i f I went away from France f o r one y e a r ,

he wouldn't t u r n me in: I a c c e p t e d , as i f I were g u i l t y . Now,

n a t u r a l l y , he has b e t r a y e d me. On the 27th my c o u s i n , X a v i e r

B r i s s a c , w i l l a r r i v e , w i t h the p a i n f u l duty o f r e p l a c i n g me and o f

d e l i v e r i n g t o you the o r d e r f o r my arrest."

F i n a l l y the governor asked him:

"Are you t e l l i n g me the t r u t h ? "

Nevers nodded.

"How can I determine i f you are i n n o c e n t ? " asked the g o v e r n o r ,

exasperated, spent. At the bottom o f t h a t w e a r i n e s s , Nevers

d i v i n e d the f i r m n e s s o f a man who has the means t o r e s o l v e the

situation.
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"Antoine B r i s s a c , " Nevers answered s l o w l y , "ask my u n c l e

A n t o i n e ; o r i f not h i m , ask P i e r r e h i m s e l f . You know them both."

L i f e among t h e p r i s o n e r s had begun t o undermine my nephew's

character. H i s i n v o c a t i o n o f P i e r r e w i l l perhaps stand as a

mischievous b i t o f vengeance, but h i s abuse o f my f r i e n d s h i p i s not

r i g h t . B e s i d e s , we were i n F r a n c e , a n f i f Nevers' s t o r y had been

t r u e , how c o u l d C a s t e l immediately o b t a i n our testimony?

"Are you c e r t a i n t h a t you have been c o n v i c t e d ? "

"Quite c e r t a i n , " Nevers answered.

He was i n t e r r o g a t e d , he was b e l i e v e d .

The governor, i n a f l a t and t r e m b l i n g v o i c e , again asked him

i f he was s u r e ; Nevers s a i d t h a t he was. The governor exclaimed

with a c e r t a i n vivacity:

"I am g l a d . "

Then he c l o s e d h i s eyes and h i d h i s f a c e i n h i s hands. He

l e f t , p r o t e s t i n g weakly as Nevers s t a r t e d t o accompany him.

XXVIII

He u n h o l s t e r e d h i s gun.

He was p a r a l y z e d . He was t h i n k i n g r a p i d l y , as i f i n d e l i r i u m ,

w i t h images. He wanted t o u n d e r s t a n d , t o r e s o l v e . He c o u l d n ' t .

S l o w l y , d e t e r m i n e d , he c r o s s e d the room; he opened t h e d o o r ,

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f o l l o w e d the i n t e r m i n a b l e h a l l w a y s , climbed the s p i r a l staircase

and went i n t o h i s room, i n the d a r k . He l o c k e d the d o o r . He

t u r n e d on the light.

He had the i m p r e s s i o n o f having moved l i k e a s l e e p w a l k e r , l i k e

a phantom. He f e l t no d e s i r e t o s l e e p , no w e a r i n e s s , no p a i n ; he

d i d n ' t f e e l h i s own body; he was w a i t n g . He took the p i s t o l i n

his l e f t hand and extended h i s r i g h t . He saw that i t trembled.

At t h a t moment—or was i t much l a t e r ? — t h e r e was a knock on

the door.

That was what he had been w a i t i n g f o r . A f t e r a n i g h t m a r e ,

t h a t knock awakened him. In the knocking he r e c o g n i z e d r e a l i t y ,

joyfully. N e v e r s , l i k e so many men, d i e d not knowing t h a t h i s

r e a l i t y was dramatic.

He l e f t the p i s t o l on the t a b l e and went t o open the door.

Kahn, the g u a r d , came i n . He had seen l i g h t i n the room, and he

had "come i n t o t a l k " .

Kahn r e s p e c t f u l l y remained s t a n d i n g , next t o the t a b l e .

Nevers p i c k e d up the gun and when he t o l d Kahn t h a t he had t o t a k e

i t a p a r t and c l e a n i t , a b u l l e t escaped from the chamber.

I s u s p e c t t h a t a f t e r h i s b r i e f , a n d , p e r h a p s , h e r o i c presen-

t a t i o n b e f o r e C a s t e l he foresaw p o s s i b l e consequences. His nerves

couldn't hold out.

 95

XXIX

Nevers' p l a n had c o n s i s t e d of p r e s e n t i n g the matter o f the

s a l t marshes, which d i v i d e d our f a m i l y and took him away from

F r a n c e , as a p u b l i c m a t t e r ; a c o a r s e p a r a l l e l i s m w i t h the Dreyfus

a f f a i r might be i n o p e r a t i o n h e r e , and I don't t h i n k i t e s s e n t i a l

to dwell upon t h i s f r i v o l o u s h a n d l i n g o f a matter t h a t any one of

u s , i n the same c i r c u m s t a n c e s , would have viewed w i t h reverence

and w i t h terror.

Stimulated by the a l c o h o l , he t h o u g h t , p e r h a p s , t h a t the

dangerous s i t u a t i o n , the i n d e f e n s i b l e s i t u a t i o n i n which he had

p l a c e d h i m s e l f , would have no consequences. The last conversation

w i t h Favre and Deloge had c o n v i n c e d him t h a t the governor was

preparing the break f o r very soon; the exchange o f p r i s o n e r s

between D e v i l ' s I s l a n d and S t . Joseph and Royal I s l a n d s was of

unquestionable significance: the c o n c e n t r a t i o n on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d

o f the p r i s o n e r s whose sentences were u n j u s t . The consequences o f

my f a l s e c o n f e s s i o n may be: t h a t the governor w i l l take me to the

i s l a n d and r e v e a l h i s plans t o me, o r t h a t he w i l l take me there,

not r e v e a l h i s plans, but w i l l make me p a r t i c i p a t e i n the break (I

w i l l f i r s t t r y t o i n v e s t i g a t e , t h e n , t o withdraw from the escape),

or, a g a i n , because o f a j u s t i f i a b l e g r u d g e , he might not take me

to the i s l a n d , might not t e l l me anything and might not want me to

 96

p a r t i c i p a t e i n the break a t a l l . My " c o n f e s s i o n " w i l l have no

f u r t h e r consequences, even i f X a v i e r a r r i v e s b e f o r e the revolt.

The governor i s not i n a p o s i t i o n t o look f o r c o m p l i c a t i o n s ; he

w i l l not accuse me. Nor w i l l he w a i t f o r X a v i e r ' s a r r i v a l . All

t h i s was an absurd manner o f r e a s o n i n g : i f C a s t e l had wanted some

o f the p r i s o n e r s t o break o u t , Nevers would not have t o break out

(he c o u l d go whenever he wanted; he was not a p r i s o n e r ) .

Four days passed and Nevers had heard no word from the

governor. T h i s s i l e n c e d i d not d i s t u r b him; i t gave him the

i n c r e d i b l e hope t h a t h i s words would have no consequences. On

the f o u r t h day he r e c e i v e d a n o t e , an o r d e r t o p r e s e n t himself

on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d on the 2 4 t h , a t nightfall.

XXX

April 16

At twelve o ' c l o c k , as on the p r e v i o u s n i g h t s , he opened the

door o f h i s room; he l i s t e n e d ; he walked along the dark c o r r i d o r .

He went down the c r e a k i n g s t a i r c a s e , t r y i n g not to make a s o u n d ,

not t o be h e a r d . He passed through the o f f i c e , through the

enormous v e s t i b u l e t h a t s m e l l e d o f c r e o s o t e . He opened the d o o r :

he was o u t s i d e i n a heavy l o w e r i n g n i g h t , covered w i t h clouds.

 97

He walked i n a s t r a i g h t l i n e , then he t u r n e d t o t h e l e f t and

stopped a t a palm t r e e . He s i g h e d d e e p l y ; t r e m u l u o u s , he t r i e d to

hear i f someone had heard h i s s i g h i n g . He walked s i l e n t l y ; he

paused a t another t r e e ; he s t a r t e d w a l k i n g a g a i n ; he reached a

t r e e w i t h low b r a n c h e s , extended out o v e r the water; among the

branches he saw the form o f a rowboat, a n d , s u r r o u n d i n g i t ,

s p e c t r a l foam t h a t d i s s o l v e d and reformed i n the glittering

b l a c k n e s s o f the s e a . He thought t h a t the s t r o k e s o f the oars

might be h e a r d , but t h a t he s h o u l d row i m m e d i a t e l y , t h a t he musn't

g i v e the c u r r e n t a chance t o c a r r y him o f f down the c o a s t . He

climbed i n the boat and rowed frantically.

He s t e e r e d towards Devil's I s l a n d , t o the p l a c e he had been

w i t h Favre and Deloge. The c r o s s i n g was a little l o n g , but the

l a n d i n g s i t e seemed r e l a t i v e l y secure. Knockings as i f from

spongy v a u l t s shook the h u l l o f the rowboat, and s u r f a c e s o f a

d e a t h l y p a l l o r s l i d passed him. He had thought (days b e f o r e , i n

the f i r s t c r o s s i n g ) t h a t those ephemeral white patches must be

waves i l l u m i n e d by the s p a r s e beams o f the moon t h a t passed

through openings i n the c l o u d s ; then he remembered t h a t prisoners

who d i e d on the i s l a n d s were taken out by n i g h t i n t h a t rowboat

and thrown i n t o the s e a ; he had been t o l d t h a t s h a r k s p l a y e d

about the boat l i k e i m p a t i e n t dogs. His l o a t h i n g o f t o u c h i n g a

shark urged him t o land anywhere, but he c o n t i n u e d t o t h e s i t e he

 98

he had planned on. He d i d n ' t know whether t o admire h i s courage

o r t o d e s p i s e h i m s e l f f o r the f e a r t h a t he was feeling.

He t i e d up the boat and climbed the c l i f f a t the extreme

southwest o f the i s l a n d . The c l i f f seemed s h o r t e r t o him; right

away he found h i m s e l f i n the f o r e s t o f palm t r e e s . For the f o u r t h

n i g h t now he had reached those t r e e s . On the f i r s t n i g h t , he

felt he c l e a r l y understood the dangers t o which he was exposing

h i m s e l f , and he d e c i d e d t o go back. On the second n i g h t he went

round Favre's h u t . On the t i i r d n i g h t , he went around the c e n t r a l

pavilion.

He was l e a v i n g a clump o f t r e e s , moving i n the d i r e c t i o n of

Favre's h u t , when he saw two shadows approaching him. He drew

b a c k , moving from one palm t r e e t o a n o t h e r . He threw h i m s e l f t o

the ground; he l a y down on a s o i l c h i r p i n g and c r a w l i n g w i t h insects.

The shadows e n t e r e d the h u t . As the hut was d a r k , he thought i t

must be Favre and D e l o g e , come back from t h e i r t a l k w i t h the

g o v e r n o r ; he d e c i d e d t o v i s i t them.

But they d i d n ' t l i g h t the l a n t e r n ; i t might be b e t t e r t o go

to the window and have a l o o k . At t h a t i n s t a n t one o f the two

men came o u t , s t a g g e r i n g . Then another appeared. One walked

ahead o f the o t h e r and they were c a r r y i n g something, l i k e a s t r e t -

cher. Nevers watched a t t e n t i v e l y . They were c a r r y i n g a man.

Immobile, s e p u l c h r e d among i n s e c t s , he w a i t e d f o r them t o

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go away. Then he ran t o t h e boat and f l e d t h e i s l a n d . The

f o l l o w i n g d a y , when he wrote me, he complained o f having been a t

such a d i s t a n c e , o f n o t having seen the men's f a c e s .

The day a f t e r t h a t he d i d not go t o t a l k w i t h Favre and

Deloge. Nor d i d he go t h a t n i g h t . He d i d n ' t go t h e next d a y .

He d i d n ' t go on t h e 18th. He would never go a g a i n . He would go

on the 26th t o Cayenne. On the 27th X a v i e r would a r r i v e , and h e ,

i n c r e d i b l y , would r e t u r n t o F r a n c e . He was f r e e o f t h e abominable

dream o f the S a l v a t i o n I s l a n d s and i t seemed t o him absurd t o

i n t e r f e r e i n matters t h a t had a l r e a d y taken,place.

XXXI

There would be no consequences i f the guards o f Royal I s l a n d

s u r p r i s e d h i m ( i t i s c l e a r t h a t i f they d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e him, or

i f they pretended not t o r e c o g n i z e h i m , t h e consequence would be

a shot). But i f he were s u r p r i s e d on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d i t would have

been d i s a s t r o u s . . Possibly everything c o u l d be reduced t o an

i m p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n , but i f t h e m y s t e r i e s o f t h e i s l a n d were

truly atrocious—as t h e adventure o f t h e 16th seemed t o i n d i c a t e — ,

i t would not be absurd t o suppose t h a t i n h i s v i s i t s to the islands

he was r i s k i n g h i s l i f e . Who was t h e man who had been taken from

Favre's hut? What had happened? Was he i l l ? Had he been murdered?

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On the n i g h t o f the 19th the temptation overpowered him and

he got up to go to the i s l a n d . At the door o f the administration

b u i l d i n g two guards were t a l k i n g h a r s h l y ; he r e t u r n e d t o h i s room

and t o l d h i m s e l f t h a t f a t e had placed those two guards t h e r e to

d i s s u a d e him. But on the 20th he went; he remained on the island

a few minutes and r e t u r n e d w i t h the i m p r e s s i o n o f having saved

h i m s e l f from c o n s i d e r a b l e danger. On the 21st he went again.

Deloge's hut was l i t up. Without f u r t h e r p r e c a u t i o n s he walked t o

the window; he looked i n : D e l o g e , with h i s red h a i r , r e d d e r than

e v e r , was preparing c o f f e e ; he was s e r i o u s , w h i s t l i n g , and with

h i s r i g h t hand, and at times w i t h both h a n d s , he was directing an

imaginary o r c h e s t r a . Nevers f e l t an urge t o go i n and ask him

what had happened t o F a v r e . But h i s aim was t o f i n d . o u t what was

going on i n the c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n ; he was r e s o l v e d t h a t t h i s would

be h i s l a s t i n c u r s i o n i n the island.

He walked to the c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n , from one t r e e to another.

S u d d e n l y , he stopped: two men were advancing toward him. Nevers

ducked behind a palm t r e e . He f o l l o w e d them at a d i s t a n c e , l o s i n g

time t a k i n g r e f u g e behind the t r e e s . The men went i n t o Deloge's

hut. To move i n c l o s e and spy on them would be dangerous: he

would have t o pass i n f r o n t o f the door or c i r c l e the hut a t too

great a d i s t a n c e . He preferred to wait. He knew what he was

waiting f o r . One o f the men appeared i n the doorway: he staggered,

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as i f he were dragging something. Then the o t h e r appeared. They

were c a r r y i n g a man. Nevers remained a w h i l e among the trees.

Then he e n t e r e d the h u t . I t seemed t h a t e v e r y t h i n g was in disorder,

as i n the photographs o f the room where a murder has taken p l a c e .

He remembered t h a t the d i s o r d e r was the same t h a t he had seen from

the window, when Deloge was making c o f f e e . The cup o f c o f f e e was

on top o f the l i t t l e stove. In the room t h e r e hung a vague odor

of sickness. Nevers r e t u r n e d t o Royal Island.

XXXII

The date o f h i s r e t u r n was drawing n e a r , and Nevers was

l o s i n g i n t e r e s t i n the m y s t e r i e s o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , he felt

anxious t o l e a v e , t o once and f o r a l l be r i d o f the o b s e s s i o n o f

those m y s t e r i e s . He was determined t o l e a v e on the same s h i p i n

which X a v i e r would a r r i v e ; on the 26th he would be i n Cayenne; on

the 29th he would go t o F r a n c e . But b e f o r e t h e n , the n i g h t o f

the 24th would o c c u r , the h i g h t he was supposed t o spend on

Devil's Island.

He p l o t t e d p r e c a u t i o n s f o r t h a t i n e v i t a b l e n i g h t : he would

t i e the rowboat t o the B e l l e r o p h o n , he would take i t i n tow t o the

t r e e where he had always l a n d e d , and then he would go i n the

launch to the i s l a n d wharf. I f i t s h o u l d be n e c e s s a r y t o flee,

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he would have the rowboat ready i n a s a f e p l a c e . He changed h i s

plan: i t would be b e s t t o l e a v e t h e B e l l e r o p h o n i n the s e c r e t

p l a c e and go t o t h e wharf i n t h e rowboat. For a f a s t getaway, t h e

launch would be more u s e f u l .

On t h e 2 4 t h , a t 7:30 i n t h e a f t e r n o o n , he took the B e l l e r o p h o n

and landed underneath t h e t r e e . He climbed the c l i f f , c r o s s e d t h e

small f o r e s t o f palm t r e e s and walked t o t h e c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n . He

knocked; no one answered; he t r i e d t o go i n ; the door was locked.

He was r e t u r n i n g when he ran i n t o D r e y f u s , who seemed t o be coming

from the wharf.

"Where d i d you land?" asked D r e y f u s . "I've been w a i t i n g f o r

you s i n c e s i x . I thought you weren't coming."

"I've been knocking on t h e door f o r some t i m e . I almost f e e l

like leaving."

"Everyone's v e r y busy h e r e . The governor w a i t e d f o r you up

u n t i l a l i t t l e w h i l e ago. Where d i d you dock?"

Nevers waved h i s hand i n the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e w h a r f .

"What has he c a l l e d me f o r ? " he a s k e d .

"I don't know. The governor asks you t o s l e e p i n Favre's

hut tonight. Tomorrow I w i l l prepare a room f o r you i n t h e c e n t r a l

pavilion."

"Favre i s i l l ? "

"Yes."
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"The P r i e s t , J u l i e n and Deloge are ill?"

"How d i d you know t h a t Deloge i s s i c k ? "

"How I know i s not i m p o r t a n t . What does matter i s t h a t I am

brought here t o be contaminated. That I am made to s l e e p i n t h a t

h u t , so t h a t I cannot escape the d i s e a s e . "

They went t o the h u t . E v e r y t h i n g was very c l e a n , very well

prepared. Nevers thought t h a t i t was d i f f i c u l t t o get ahold o f

good s e r v a n t s and t h a t he ought t o t r y t o take Dreyfus t o F r a n c e .

Dreyfus s a i d t o him:

" S i n c e I was w a i t i n g f o r y o u , I c o u l d n ' t prepare y o u r m e a l .

I w i l l bring dinner at nine. Please f o r g i v e me."

Nevers had taken along a book o f B a u d e l a i r e . Among the poems

t h a t he r e a d , he mentions "Correspondences".

From 9:00 t o 9:30 he was almost t r a n q u i l , almost happy.

Dinner was e x c e l l e n t and the presence o f Dreyfus comforted him.

Once he was a l o n e , he r e t u r n e d t o h i s r e a d i n g . Shortly before

11:00 he t u r n e d out the l a n t e r n and went t o stand by the window.

He s t o o d t h e r e a long t i m e . He f e l t t i r e d and s l e e p y . He thought

t h a t so much time had passed he c o u l d c o n s i d e r h i m s e l f f r e e f o r

t h a t n i g h t and t h a t he c o u l d go t o bed. F i r s t he looked at the

time. He lit a match. Fourteen minutes had p a s s e d . He leaned

a g a i n s t the doorway. He stood l i k e t h i s a v e r y long t i m e . He

a f f i r m s t h a t h i s eyes were c l o s i n g .
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He opened h i s e y e s : still a t some d i s t a n c e , two men were

w a l k i n g towards him. He went i n s i d e and immediately thought

t h a t he would have t o go out and h i d e among the t r e e s . But the

men would see him l e a v i n g . He was trapped. Then he attempted

and succeeded i n l e a v i n g by the window (with d i f f i c u l t y ; i t was

very s m a l l ) . He stood t h e r e s t a r i n g , not out o f c u r i o s i t y : he

was so f r i g h t e n e d t h a t he c o u l d n ' t move.

The men e n t e r e d the h u t . The s h o r t e s t man leaned over the

bed. Nevers heard an e x c l a m a t i o n o f r a g e .

"What i s i t ? " asked a s t r a n g e l y odd voice.

" L i g h t a match," s a i d the v o i c e t h a t he r e c o g n i z e d .

Nevers f l e d t o the l a u n c h .

XXXIII

E a r l y on the morning o f the 25th Nevers docked i n Cayenne.

Immediately he went t o the governor's p a l a c e . He l a y down, but he

wasn't a b l e t o s l e e p . He was nervous a n d , t o calm h i m s e l f and

compose h i s i d e a s , he wrote me these l i n e s :

I am i n open war w i t h Mr. C a s t e l . At any moment the o r d e r

f o r my a r r e s t w i l l a r r i v e from t h e i s l a n d s . I t i s true that i t

i s not c o n v e n i e n t f o r him t o make a move; i f he f o r c e s me t o defend

m y s e l f , he w i l l end up losing.
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I must warn X a v i e r . I f the governor convinces h i m , Who knows

what l i e s i n s t o r e f o r me. But i f I c o n v i n c e h i m , the problem

w i l l be t o keep X a v i e r from i n i t i a t i n g proceedings a g a i n s t C a s t e l ,

from c o m p e l l i n g me t o t e s t i f y and postpone my return.

He remembered the o r d e r c o n t a i n e d i n the l e t t e r . He took the

l e t t e r from h i s p o c k e t , and he r e a d :

"M. A l t i n o Leitao

18 b i s rue des B e l l e s - F e u i l i e s ,

Cayenne."

He went t o the l i t t l e stove t h a t was used f o r p r e p a r i n g

b r e a k f a s t and he heated w a t e r . Then he moistened h i s f i n g e r s and

ran them a l o n g the s e a l o f the e n v e l o p e . He managed t o open i t ,

w i t h apparent ease ( a t f i r s t ) , w i t h impatience (moments later).

He t o r e the paper; he r e a d :

"Dear f r i e n d Leitao:

I would a p p r e c i a t e y o u r d e l i v e r i n g

t o the b e a r e r o f t h i s note a double supply

o f y o u r a c c r e d i t e d dynamite. We have urgent

and h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t work h e r e .
 106

I remain y o u r f a i t h f u l and a t t e n t i v e

client.

Signed: Peter C a s t e l .

A p r i l 6 , 1914."

Once the s u r p r i s e o f t h e f i r s t moment had p a s s e d - - t h a t t h e

governor had not r e f e r r e d t o h i m , N e v e r s , i r o n i c a l l y - - h e t r i e d t o

seal the envelope. Anyone c o u l d see t h a t i t had been opened. On

another envelope he t r i e d t o i m i t a t e C a s t e l ' s hand. He f a i l e d .

At 8:00 L e g r a i n e n t e r e d , v e r y s o i l e d and w i t h an enormous

crown o f h a i r . Nevers asked him when X a v i e r ' s s h i p would a r r i v e .

" I t a r r i v e s tomorrow, a t t h e i s l a n d s . "

"And when does i t come here?"

" I t doesn't come here."

He d e c i d e d t o r e t u r n t o t h e i s l a n d s t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , w i t h

the dynamite. I f C a s t e l s a i d n o t h i n g t o X a v i e r , he would say

n o t h i n g and C a s t e l w i l l be convinced o f my i n t e n t i o n not t o t a l k .

I f C a s t e l accuses me, I have the dynamite, as p r o o f .

" T e l l me, L e g r a i n , who i s a Mr. L e i t a o ? "

"Leitao? The p r e s i d e n t o f a company o f B r a z i l i a n smugglers.

The most powerful company. I f some f u g i t i v e lands on one o f h i s

s h i p s — e v e n though they promise t o take him t o T r i n i d a d , even

though they charge him f o r t h e t r i p , b e l i e v e me--they end up

 107

c u t t i n g him open i n s e a r c h o f s u p p o s i t o r i e s w i t h money i n s i d e . On

l a n d he i s n ' t dangerous."

Nevers thought t h a t the b e s t weapon a g a i n s t C a s t e l was that

letter. He s h o u l d keep i t ; i t was more c o n v i n c i n g than the

explosives themselves. F u r t h e r m o r e , i n o r d e r t o keep the letter,

i t was e s s e n t i a l t h a t he not v i s i t the smuggler. He w r i t e s me:

But i f I o f f e r the l e t t e r i n e v i d e n c e , not o n l y w i l l I demonstrate

the c e n s u r a b l e f r i e n d s h i p o f C a s t e l w i t h the smuggler; I w i l l show

t h a t I have tampered w i t h the m a i l . I doubt t h a t he l e t h i m s e l f

be d e c e i v e d by t h a t f a l l a c y ; I suppose, more l i k e l y , he f e a r e d

r e t u r n i n g t o the i s l a n d s w i t h o u t f u l f i l l i n g Castel's orders.

A t any r a t e , he thought i t would not be a good t h i n g f o r

L e i t a o t o d i s c o v e r t h a t the l e t t e r had been opened. After a

l e n g t h y m e d i t a t i o n b e f o r e the t y p e w r i t e r , he found the s o l u t i o n .

On a b l u e e n v e l o p e , w i t h o u t l e t t e r h e a d , he typed L e i t a o ' s name and

address.

At 9:00 he s t o o d i n the rue des B e l l e s - F e u i l l e s . A half-naked

negress opened the d o o r ; she took him t o a small study f i l l e d with

books and t o l d him she would a d v i s e the man o f the house o f h i s

presence.

S h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s , an immense man, sweating p r o f u s e l y and

wearing grey and red s t r i p e d pyjamas, came i n t o the room. He was

o l i v e - s k i n n e d , with s h o r t , d i s h e v e l e d h a i r and a few days' b e a r d .

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His hands were t i n y and w h i t e , p u e r i l e .

"What can I do f o r you?" he breathed h e a v i l y , and he s i g h e d .

Nevers handed him the l e t t e r and t r i e d t o d i s c o v e r i f L e i t a o

looked a t i t with s u s p i c i o n . L e i t a o was l o o k i n g f o r something;

i n e x p r e s s i v e , s l o w l y , he opened and shut one o f the desk drawers.

F i n a l l y , he took out a l e t t e r - o p e n e r . He d e l i c a t e l y opened the

e n v e l o p e , removed the l e t t e r and spread i t out on the t a b l e . He

s i g h e d and t h r u s t h i s hands c a l m l y i n t o h i s pyjama pockets until

he found a h a n d k e r c h i e f ; then he looked f o r h i s e y e g l a s s e s . He

c l e a n e d them, put them on and read the l e t t e r . He p l a c e d h i s

g l a s s e s on the d e s k , passed h i s hand o v e r h i s f a c e and emerged

sighing.

"How i s the governor?" he asked w i t h a s m i l e t h a t t o Nevers

seemed f o r c e d .

"He's not v e r y w e l l , " Nevers answered.

L e i t a o s i g h e d and said:

"A g r e a t man, the g o v e r n o r , a g r e a t man. But he doesn't

believe in science. He doesn't b e l i e v e i n d o c t o r s . A real

shame." He got up, heavy and huge, p i c k e d up the l e t t e r and left.

H a l f an hour l a t e r Nevers was still a l o n e , t i m i d l y planning

h i s getaway, r e s o l u t e l y f e a r i n g an ambush. Leitao entered; i n

h i s snowy, a b j e c t f i n g e r s he h e l d up an impeccable package.

"Here i t I s , " he s a i d , g i v i n g the package t o Nevers. "Give

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my r e s p e c t s t o the governor."

He passed h i s hands over h i s f a c e , s i g h e d , and bowed s o l e m n l y .

Nevers stammered a s a l u t a t i o n and moved back through the room,

and back through the h a l l , t i l l he reached the s t r e e t .

I f e l t a compassion, he w r i t e s , f o r t h a t s l i p p e r y smuggler

d o m i c i l e d i n Cayenne. I f e l t a compassion f o r e v e r y person and

for e v e r y t h i n g t h a t I saw. There they w e r e — l i k e the people t h a t

you see from the c a r r i a g e window on the s i d e w a l k s o f c o u n t r y towns:

my unmerited happiness l a y i n l e a v i n g .

XXXIV

27th, afternoon

I t wasn't y e t n i g h t when Nevers reached the i s l a n d s . Someone

was s i g n a l l i n g t o him from D e v i l ' s I s l a n d . He d i d n ' t answer: the

sea was t o s s e d and Nevers d i d n ' t dare l e t go o f the t i l l e r . Immedi-

a t e l y he thought t h a t i n r e f u s i n g t o acknowledge the s a l u t a t i o n

he would c o n f i r m h i s fame as a s t r a t e g i s t . He l e t the waves c a r r y

the B e l l e r o p h o n s l i g h t l y towards Devil's Island: the man was

Dreyfus. A f t e r the i n s c r u t a b l e adventure i n Deloge's h u t , Nevers

m i s t r u s t e d e v e r y o n e , even D r e y f u s . N e v e r t h e l e s s he f e l t a g r e a t

r e l i e f as he r e c o g n i z e d h i m , and he g r e e t e d him i m p u l s i v e l y , waving

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his arm. That g e s t u r e (he b e l i e v e d ) committed him t o mooring on

Devil's Island. Dreyfus was on the c l i f f s a t the southwest, where

Nevers had always l a n d e d , and w i t h r e p e a t e d g e s t u r e s Dreyfus

p o i n t e d i n the d i r e c t i o n o f the wharf; Nevers however, moored beneath

the cliffs, next to the t r e e t h a t s t r e t c h e s out over the s e a .

Dreyfus came forward s p r e a d i n g h i s arms.

Nevers thought the r e c e p t i o n a u s p i c i o u s , t h a t he had not made

a mistake i n r e t u r n i n g t o the i s l a n d s , and, f i n a l l y , t h a t he had

l o s t h i s s e c r e t moorage.

"How good t h a t you're here," shouted D r e y f u s , "you've no

i d e a how I've been w a i t i n g f o r you."

"Thank you," s a i d N e v e r s , moved; then he thought he heard a

note i n D r e y f u s ' v o i c e t h a t suggested a new i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f the

reception. He asked:

"Is something the matter?"

"What we were a f r a i d o f , " Dreyfus s i g h e d . He looked around

him and c o n t i n u e d : "We must be c a r e f u l when we talk."

"Is the governor i l l ? " Nevers a s k e d , as i f I s t i l l believed

in the a t t a c k s , as i f the i r r e f u t a b l e e p i s o d e i n Deloge's hut had

never happened.

"He i s i l l , " said Dreyfus, incredibly.

Nevers had a p i c t u r e o f Dreyfus managing e v e r y t h i n g , organ-

i z i n g everyone's a n n i h i l a t i o n . But he musn't get d i s t r a c t e d

 Ill

by f a n t a s t i c i m a g i n i n g s ; i t was p o s s i b l e he might have t o f a c e them.

The wind had calmed down. He flattered himself, affirming

t h a t the s a f e t y and firmness o f the e a r t h were v i r t u e s t h a t only

we, the m a r i n e r s , a p p r e c i a t e . They walked u p h i l l , t o the little

f o r e s t o f palm t r e e s . He s t o p p e d ; he f e l t no urgency t o reach

the c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n , t o reach a l l the troublesome s i t u a t i o n s I

would have t o r e s o l v e . But he asked w i t h o u t a n x i e t y .

"Has Captain Xavier B r i s s a c arrived?"

"Who?"

"Captain Xavier Brissac."

"No. No one has a r r i v e d here."

"You're not e x p e c t i n g anyone e i t h e r ? "

"I don't know..."

There was no reason why he s h o u l d , Nevers t h o u g h t . Neverthe-

less (he w r i t e s ) I b a r e l y r e p r e s s e d t h i s insane thought: Dreyfus

knew n o t h i n g about X a v i e r ' s forthcoming a r r i v a l , because X a v i e r ' s

forthcoming a r r i v a l would never take p l a c e . I had invented

e v e r y t h i n g m y s e l f , i n my desperation to leave. But i t was bad

enough t h a t X a v i e r ' s s h i p was delayed...

"And you t h i n k t h i s c a p t a i n w i l l come?"

"I'm certain of i t . "

" I t would be a good t h i n g . There are very few of us."

"Few? For what?"

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"You are not ignorant of the s i t u a t i o n i n the i s l a n d s . The

governor f e l l i l l some days ago. We a r e e n t i r e l y without author-

ity."

"Do you f e a r something?"

"I wouldn't go as f a r as t h a t , no. But i t may be t h a t y o u r

captain w i l l a r r i v e too l a t e . "

XXXV

Nevers asked h i m s e l f i f Dreyfus would be a g a i n s t o r i n f a v o r

of the conspiracy. Dreyfus declared nobly:

" I t may be a g r e a t d i s a s t e r . I was a f r a i d t h a t t r o u b l e would

break out w i t h me a l o n e , w i t h the s i c k and Mr. De Brinon."

Nevers t o l d h i m s e l f t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n looked extremely

s e r i o u s and t h a t m a i n t a i n i n g h i s p r e s t i g e i n f r o n t o f Dreyfus was

not i m p o r t a n t , t h a t he wouldn't t h i n k now about h i s p r e s t i g e b u t

of the s i t u a t i o n . He repeated t h a t purpose t o h i m s e l f , f o u r o r

five times.

They e n t e r e d t h e c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n ; t h e r e was a smell o f

disinfectants and a smell o f f o o d ; the smell o f a h o s p i t a l , Nevers

thought. C o n f u s e d l y , he saw on the w a l l s s p l o t c h e s o f r e d and

b l u e and y e l l o w . I t was t h e famous i n t e r i o r "camouflage"; he

looked a t i t w i t h o u t c u r i o s i t y , w i t h t h e urge t o be gone from

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there. He asked:

"Where i s the governor?"

"In a c e l l . In one o f the f o u r c e l l s here i n t h e p a v i l i o n . . . "

"You've l o c k e d him i n a c e l l ? " Nevers shouted.

Dreyfus seemed u n c o m f o r t a b l e . He excused h i m s e l f :

"It's not my f a u l t . I c a r r y out the o r d e r s t h a t I'm g i v e n . "

"Given by whom?"

"The governor. I f i t were up t o me, I wouldn't have done i t .

I c a r r y out o r d e r s . The governor s a i d we were t o c l o s e him up i n

a cell."

"Take me t o him; I want t o speak with t h e governor immediately."

Dreyfus looked a t him, amazed. He r e p e a t e d :

"Speak w i t h t h e governor?"

"Didn't you hear me?" asked Nevers.

"The governor won't hear y o u . He doesn't r e c o g n i z e anyone."

"I want t o t a l k t o him."

"Whatever you say," s a i d D r e y f u s . "But he knows t h a t i t ' s

night. The o r d e r i s t h a t t h e s i c k men a r e not t o be d i s t u r b e d a t

night."

"Are you s u g g e s t i n g t h a t I s h o u l d w a i t u n t i l tomorrow t o see

him?"

"To see h i m , no. You w i l l see him from above. But I beg o f

y o u , don't make any n o i s e because he i s awake."

"If he's awake, why c a n ' t I t a l k t o him?"

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He r e g r e t t e d having g o t t e n i n t o a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h D r e y f u s .

"To t a l k t o him, you w i l l have t o w a i t u n t i l tomorrow, when

he i s a s l e e p . "

Nevers thought t h a t he was a l r e a d y f a c i n g t h e r e b e l l i o n , and

t h a t D r e y f u s ' i r o n y was n o t merely f a c i a l : i t was c o a r s e as w e l l .

But Dreyfus was s e r i o u s . Weakly, Nevers t o l d him t h a t he d i d n ' t

understand.

"Do you t h i n k I understand?" asked Dreyfus a n g r i l y . "It i s

an o r d e r from t h e g o v e r n o r . H e r e , e v e r y t h i n g i s backwards and we

w i l l a l l end up i n s a n e . But I am here t o c a r r y o u t o r d e r s . "

"The o r d e r i s t o t a l k w i t h t h e s i c k men w h i l e they a r e a s l e e p ? "

"Exactly. I f you t a l k t o them a t n i g h t , they c a n ' t hear y o u ,

o r they pretend not t o hear y o u . I bathe and f e e d them i n t h e

daytime."

My nephew b e l i e v e d he u n d e r s t o o d . He asked:

"When they a r e awake?"

"No, when t h e y ' r e s l e e p i n g . When they a r e awake they a r e n o t

to be d i s t u r b e d . Mr. C a s t e l l e f t y o u some w r i t t e n instructions."

"Give them t o me."

"Mr. De Brinon has them. He's on Royal I s l a n d . We c o u l d go

i n your l a u n c h , o r i n t h e rowboat."

"We w i l l g o . But f i r s t I w i l l speak w i t h Mr. C a s t e l . "

Dreyfus looked a t him as i f i n a s t u p o r . Nevers d i d not

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yield. He was not t o be g o t t e n away from t h e r e b e f o r e he had

spoken with t h e g o v e r n o r .

XXXVI

" I f you want t o see them, go on i n . "

Dreyfus opened a door and motioned Nevers t o e n t e r f i r s t ;

Nevers s a i d : " I ' l l f o l l o w you," and, with cunning, conscious o f

h i s weakness and t h e a t r i c a l i t y , he c l u t c h e d h i s gun. They c r o s s e d

a l a r g e o f f i c e , w i t h o l d l e a t h e r c h a i r s and a t a b l e heaped with

books and papers i n impeccable o r d e r . Dreyfus stopped.

"Do you r e a l l y t h i n k i t wise t o see Mr. C a s t e l now? The

s i t u a t i o n on the i s l a n d i s deadly s e r i o u s . I wouldn't waste the

time."

"Obey me," Nevers shouted.

Dreyfus made a courteous g e s t u r e f o r him t o go ahead; he

c o n s e n t e d ; he r e g r e t t e d having c o n s e n t e d . He climbed a s t a i r w a y ,

and, a t t h e t o p , he stopped i n f r o n t o f a door; he opened i t ; they

emerged onto a f l a t r o o f t o p under a remote and s t a r - c o v e r e d s k y .

Toward the c e n t e r o f t h e r o o f t h e r e was a s m a l l , y e l l o w i s h electric

light bulb.

"Don't make a sound," Dreyfus a d v i s e d . "We'll see them now."

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XXXVII

In o r d e r t o a f f o r d a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the incredible

events t h a t I am about t o n a r r a t e , and t o enable the r e a d e r t o

c l e a r l y imagine the f i r s t and a l r e a d y f a n t a s t i c v i s i o n t h a t Nevers

had o f the " s i c k men", I w i l l d e s c r i b e the p a r t of the pavilion

which they o c c u p i e d . In the c e n t e r , on the ground f l o o r , t h e r e

i s an open c o u r t y a r d ; i n the c e n t e r o f the c o u r t y a r d , .a quadran-

g u l a r c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t f o r m e r l y had contained f o u r equal cells.

Dreyfus informs me t h a t the governor had the i n t e r i o r w a l l s of

t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n t o r n down, Nevers w r i t e s . He then o r d e r e d them

r a i s e d as they a r e now: they d e f i n e d f o u r unequal c e l l s , o f

scandalously abnormal shapes. What the governor i n t e n d e d w i t h

these changes i s a mystery which I have not ascertained.

The c u r i o u s t h i n g i s t h a t he d i d f i n d o u t . . Does, t h i s incon-

s i s t e n c y , b e t r a y an i n c a p a c i t y t o see h i s thoughts synthetically?

O r , more l i k e l y , t h a t Nevers never r e - r e a d t h a t l a s t letter?

C a s t e l ' s c a p r i c i o u s design was (as the r e a d e r can appreciate from

the plan I have a t t a c h e d t o t h i s c h a p t e r ) t h a t each o f the four

cells have one a d j a c e n t w a l l with the o t h e r t h r e e .

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simple walls

w a l l covered

with mirrors

The cells have no r o o f ; they a r e guarded from above. Previ-

o u s l y t h e catwalks o r g a l l e r i e s t h a t l e a d from t h e t e r r a c e and

form a network o v e r t h e e n t i r e c o u r t y a r d c r o s s e d o v e r the c e l l s .

C a s t e l c u t o f f t h e p a r t o f the catwalks t h a t p r o j e c t e d o v e r t h e

c e l l s , and he extended t h e upper edge o f the w a l l s , so t h a t i t

c o u l d serve as a walkway f o r t h e j a i l e r s . Nevers o b s e r v e d : there

a r e n ' t any r a i l i n g s , and t h e w a l l s a r e v e r y h i g h ; t h e former c a t -

walks must have been more secure.

R o l l s o f canvas make i t p o s s i b l e f o r the c e l l s and the e n t i r e

c o u r t y a r d t o be c o v e r e d ; a t C a s t e l ' s o r d e r s t h e canvases were

spread when i t r a i n e d .

One o f the c e l l s i s internal. I f I had t o lock m y s e l f up i n

one o f them, Nevers w r i t e s , I would choose t h a t one. At least I

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would be f r e e o f the burning h o r r o r o f those m i r r o r s . He i s

r e f e r r i n g , w i t h h i s customary d r a m a t i c s , t o the huge, cheap m i r r o r s

i n the o t h e r c e l l s . They c o v e r , on the i n s i d e , a l l the w a l l s that

overlook the courtyard.

XXXVIII

He walked t o the b a n i s t e r and looked down: the roofless

pavilion i n the c e n t e r , the c o u r t y a r d and the w a l l s that

surrounded the c o u r t y a r d , were covered w i t h i n t e n s e r e d , y e l l o w

and blue s p l o t c h e s . D e l i r i u m t r e m e n s , thought Nevers. He adds:

I t seemed as i f some person o f abhorrent t a s t e had d e c o r a t e d the

c o u r t y a r d f o r a c e l e b r a t i o n , and he remembered " H e l l " , a melancholy

dance h a l l i n B r u s s e l s where we had met an i n t e r e s t i n g group o f

young p a i n t e r s .

He walked along the c a t w a l k ; a t the edge o f the roofless

p a v i l i o n he s t o p p e d ; a f t e r a moment of h e s i t a t i o n he moved f o r w a r d

along the b o r d e r o f the w a l l . C r o s s i n g from one catwalk t o a n o t h e r

( f o l l o w i n g the rim o f the w a l l , on the top o f the p a v i l i o n ) was not

difficult. He thought he ought to walk w i t h o u t s t o p p i n g , u n t i l

he reached the o t h e r s i d e ; he s t o p p e d . He f o r g o t h i m s e l f , a t last.

In the f i r s t moments o f t h a t abominable v i s i o n he must have felt

something a k i n t o v e r t i g o , o r nausea (but i t was not the l a c k o f

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a railing t h a t gave o r i g i n t o those s e n s a t i o n s ) . The c e l l s were

p l a s t e r e d w i t h p a i n t ; they had no o t h e r opening than t h a t o f the

r o o f ; the doors were l o s t i n the s p l o t c h e s on the w a l l s ; i n each

c e l l t h e r e stood a " s i c k man"; the f o u r s i c k men with t h e i r painted

f a c e s , l i k e white K a f i r s , with y e l l o w p a i n t on t h e i r l i p s , i n

i d e n t i c a l r e d pyjamas with y e l l o w and b l u e s t i p e s , stood s t i l l , but

i n a t t i t u d e s o f m o t i o n , and Nevers had the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t those

a t t i t u d e s were m u t u a l l y dependent, t h a t they formed a w h o l e , o r

what i n the Music H a l l s they c a l l a t a b l e a u v i v a n t (but he h i m s e l f

adds: t h e r e was no opening through which they c o u l d see each

o t h e r from one c e l l t o the n e x t ) . He suspected they must be

a c t i n g , t h a t a l l t h i s must be an i m p e n e t r a b l e j o k e t o confuse o r

d i s t r a c t him, w i t h p e r v e r s e d e s i g n s . He decided t o c o n f r o n t

Castel immediately. In a v o i c e t h a t he c o u l d n ' t c o n t r o l , he

shouted:

"What does t h i s mean?"

C a s t e l d i d n ' t answer; not even the s l i g h t e s t c o n t r a c t i o n o f

h i s f a c e b e t r a y e d h i s having heard him. He shouted a g a i n . Castel

remained i m p e r t u r b a b l e ; a l l o f the s i c k men remained the same.

He n o t i c e d t h a t they had changed p o s t u r e s ; f o r a few seconds

he thought they had changed t h e i r p o s i t i o n s a b r u p t l y , when he was

l o o k i n g a t the g o v e r n o r ; then he d i s c o v e r e d t h a t they were moving,

but i n a manner t h a t was almost i m p e r c e p t i b l e , with the s l u g g i s h n e s s

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of a minute hand.

"It's u s e l e s s t o shout," Dreyfus a d v i s e d him. "They c a n ' t

h e a r , or they don't want to hear."

"They don't want t o hear?" asked Nevers w i t h c a r e f u l emphasis.

"You s a i d they were p r e t e n d i n g . Are they s i c k or not?"

"Absolutely. But I have t a l k e d w i t h them, and w i t h o u t

s h o u t i n g — p l e a s e take n o t e — , w i t h o u t r a i s i n g my voice. And

suddenly they d i d n ' t hear me, as i f I were t a l k i n g i n T u r k i s h . It

was totally u s e l e s s f o r me to shout. I got mad: I thought they

were making fun o f me. I even reached the p o i n t o f i m a g i n i n g t h a t

i t was me who had l o s t my v o i c e , w h i l e my s h o u t i n g made me deaf."

"Are they insane?"

"You know how a person changes when he i s wasted w i t h illness

and fever."

I t seemed i n c r e d i b l e t o be i n f u l l c o n t r o l o f h i s senses and

to be s e e i n g those men, l i k e f o u r wax f i g u r e s forming a living

t a b l e a u from f o u r i s o l a t e d c e l l s . I t seemed i n c r e d i b l e t h a t the

governor c o u l d have been i n h i s senses and have p a i n t e d the cells

with that chaotic p r o f u s i o n . Then Nevers r e c a l l e d t h a t i n t h e

sanatoriums f o r mental p a t i e n t s t h e r e were green rooms t o calm

the s i c k , and red rooms t o e x c i t e them. He looked a t the p a i n t i n g s .

Three c o l o r s predominated: r e d , y e l l o w and b l u e ; t h e r e were com-

b i n a t i o n s o f t h e i r v a r i a n t s as w e l l . He looked a t the men.

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The g o v e r n o r , w i t h a p e n c i l i n h i s hand, r e p e a t e d words t h a t were

almost u n i n t e l l i g i b l e and he passed s l o w l y from p e r p l e x i t y t o

d e s p a i r and from d e s p a i r t o j o y . F a v r e , f a t t e r than e v e r , wept

w i t h o u t moving h i s f a c e , w i t h t h e d i s t i n c t u g l i n e s s o f grotesque

statues. The P r i e s t a c t e d the p a r t o f a c o r r a l l e d b e a s t : with

h i s head lowered and dread i n h i s e y e s , he seemed i n the a c t o f

marauding, but he was m o t i o n l e s s . Deloge s m i l e d v a i n l y , as i f

he were i n heaven and a b l e s s e d man ( v i l e and r e d - h a i r e d ) . Nevers

f e l t the vaguest presence o f a r e c o l l e c t i o n and a pronounced

m a l a i s e ; then he beheld t h a t r e c o l l e c t i o n : a f r i g h t f u l v i s i t to

the G r e v i n Museum, when he was e i g h t y e a r s o l d .

There were no beds i n the c e l l s , nor c h a i r s , nor o t h e r f u r n i -

ture. He asked Dreyfus:

"I assume t h a t beds are put i n f o r them t o s l e e p on."

"Not a t a l l , " Dreyfus answered i m p l a c a b l y . " I t ' s the

governor's o r d e r s . Nothing i s s e t near them. When I go i n t o t h e

cells I put on a p a i r o f pyjamas l i k e theirs."

Nevers wasn't listening.

"That t o o must be the governor's o r d e r , " he murmured. "Not

the o r d e r o f a human b e i n g . I am not prepared t o r e s p e c t i t . "

He pronounced v e r y c l e a r l y the l a s t two o r t h r e e words.

"They s l e e p on those q u i l t s , " Dreyfus e x p l a i n e d .

Dreyfus hadn't n o t i c e d them. They were o v e r l a i d on t h e f l o o r

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and p a i n t e d i n such a way t h a t they v a n i s h e d i n t h e s p l o t c h e s o f

paint.

He f e l t l o a t h i n g , not f e a r . Those f o u r men seemed i n o f f e n s i v e

enough. In the g r i p s o f what he h i m s e l f c a l l s a f l e e t i n g madness,

he imagined they were under the i n f l u e n c e o f some a l k a l o i d and

t h a t Dreyfus was the o r g a n i z e r o f e v e r y t h i n g . The ends t h a t

Dreyfus was p u r s u i n g , and what he was e x p e c t i n g o f N e v e r s , were

not r e v e l a t i o n s o f t h a t madness.

XXXIX

Or c o u l d i t be t h e governor who was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l t h i s ?

I t d i d n ' t seem p o s s i b l e : he was one o f t h e " s i c k men". Neverthe-

l e s s , Nevers c o n t i n u e s , t h e r e a r e those who o p e r a t e on t h e m s e l v e s ;

those who commit s u i c i d e . Maybe he has put them t o s l e e p , and

put h i m s e l f t o s l e e p , f o r a long t i m e , p o s s i b l y f o r y e a r s ,

possibly u n t i l death. Without a doubt Dreyfus (consciously or

u n c o n s c i o u s l y ) g i v e s them some d r u g . Maybe, he t h o u g h t , a l r e a d y i n

full c o n j e c t u r a l f u r o r , t h a t drug produces two a l t e r n a t e types o f

s l e e p , t h a t correspond t o our s l e e p and t o our w a k e f u l n e s s . One

t y p e , o f r e p o s e , which these p a t i e n t s e x p e r i e n c e d u r i n g t h e d a y ,

another o f a c t i v i t y : t h i s they e x p e r i e n c e a t n i g h t , which i s

emptier than t h e d a y t i m e , l e s s r i c h i n events c a p a b l e o f

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interrupting their sleep. The p a t i e n t s move l i k e s l e e p w a l k e r s ,

and t h e i r d e s t i n y — s i n c e i t i s dreamed--need be no more f r i g h t e n -

ing, o r more i n c a l c u l a b l e , than t h a t o f men awake; maybe i t i s

more p r e d i c t a b l e (though no l e s s c o m p l e x ) , as i t depends on t h e

personal h i s t o r y and the w i l l o f the s u b j e c t . From these poor

mental l a b o u r s , Nevers passes t o I know not what m e t a p h y s i c a l

f a n t a s i e s ; he evokes Schopenhauer, a n d , pompously, n a r r a t e s a

dream: he has been s u b j e c t e d t o an examination and he awaits

the examiners' v e r d i c t . He awaits i t g r e e d i l y and w i t h terror,

because i t i s on t h a t v e r d i c t t h a t h i s l i f e depends. Nevers

sagaciously observes: however, I w i l l g i v e the v e r d i c t m y s e l f ,

s i n c e the e x a m i n e r s , l i k e a l l dreams, are dependent on my will.

He concludes i l l i c i t l y : Perhaps a l l d e s t i n y ( s i c k n e s s , h a p p i n e s s ,

our p h y s i c a l appearance, m i s f o r t u n e ) i s dependent on our will.

While he was t h i n k i n g t h i s , the presence and e x p e c t a t i o n s o f

Dreyfus made him uneasy. He must d e c i d e on h i s manner o f conduct

i m m e d i a t e l y ; he s t a r t e d by g a i n i n g time f o r h i m s e l f .

" L e t ' s go t o the study," he s a i d i n a v o i c e t h a t t r i e d t o be

a u t h o r i t a r i a n and came out thin.

They went down from the r o o f , c l o s e d the door and Nevers s a t

down i n the s w i v e l c h a i r f a c i n g the desk i n the governor's office.

With a solemn g e s t u r e , he motioned Dreyfus t o s i t down. Dreyfus,

v i s i b l y i m p r e s s e d , s a t on the edge o f h i s c h a i r . Nevers d i d n ' t know

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what they would t a l k a b o u t , but he had t o speak s e r i o u s l y i f he

i n t e n d e d t o take charge o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , and Dreyfus expected

t h i s o f him. He f e l t i n s p i r e d ; s c a r c e l y d i s g u i s i n g h i s enthusiasm,

he asked:

"The governor has l e f t i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r me?"

"Quite so," r e p l i e d D r e y f u s .

"Do you have them?"

"Mr. De Brinon has them."

"Where i s Mr. De Brinon?"

"On Royal Island."

T h i s was o n l y t h e semblance o f a d i a l o g u e , and Nevers' mind

wandered w h i l e Dreyfus answered him. He contemplated a v a s e , o r

Roman u r n , t h a t s t o o d on t h e desk. In t h e f r i e z e , a group o f

dancing g i r l s , o l d men and a youth were c e l e b r a t i n g a ceremony

per aes e t l i b r a m ; among them l a y a maiden, dead.

"How can I go t o Royal Island?"

"We have a d i n g h y . B e s i d e s , t h e r e i s your l a u n c h . "

Nevers was not ashamed o f h i s q u e s t i o n . T r a n q u i l l y , he

thought t h a t the maiden on the vase must have d i e d on h e r wedding

night. Undoubtedly t h a t urn had c o n t a i n e d h e r remains. Perhaps

they c o n t a i n e d them s t i l l . The urn was s e a l e d .

"But t o n i g h t I w i l l not move even a f i n g e r , l i e u t e n a n t . I

wouldn't go t i l l tomorrow."
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There was anxiety i n Dreyfus' v o i c e . Nevers asked h i m s e l f i f

i t was r e a l or a f f e c t e d .

"Why wouldn't you go today?"

Nevers wanted to know i f the vase c o n t a i n e d s o m e t h i n g , and

he got up to shake i t . Dreyfus a t t r i b u t e d Nevers' movement t o

the s o l e m n i t y o f what they were s a y i n g .

" T r u s t me, l i e u t e n a n t , " he e x c l a i m e d . "Leave the t r i p for

tomorrow, and t o n i g h t I w i l l t e l l you why you d i d the r i g h t t h i n g . "

Nevers d i d n ' t answer.

"I wouldn't get angry," Dreyfus c o n t i n u e d , with h i s most

i n s i n u a t i n g sweetness. " I f I were y o u , I would t a l k w i t h me and

we would draw up a plan and I would s e t about w a i t i n g f o r t h i s

c a p t a i n you say i s coming."

Nevers r e s o l v e d t o go t o Royal I s l a n d i m m e d i a t e l y . He was

a f r a i d t h a t he had been u n f a i r t o the governor and now he wanted

to a t l e a s t have the c o n s i d e r a t i o n to examine the i n s t r u c t i o n s

t h a t C a s t e l had l e f t him; his return—he a r g u e s — m i g h t produce a

convenient confusion among the mutineers.

"Are you s t a y i n g o r coming with me?" he asked.

I t was a useful question. Dreyfus no longer protested; his

passion l a y i n s t a y i n g w i t h the sick.

Nevers l e f t the p a v i l i o n and went down to the t r e e he used

for mooring. He boarded the l a u n c h ; he q u i c k l y a r r i v e d at Royal

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Island. He r e g r e t t e d not having docked more c a u t i o u s l y . No guard

was t h e r e to r e c e i v e him. He asked h i m s e l f i f h i s having

triumphed so e a s i l y with Dreyfus had not been a m i s f o r t u n e . The

i s l a n d was i n darkness ( f a r o f f , i n the h o s p i t a l and i n the Admin-

i s t r a t i o n , t h e r e were a few lights). He asked h i m s e l f where he

would begin l o o k i n g f o r De Brinon. He decided to s t a r t with the

hospital.

While he walked up the s l o p e he thought he saw two shadows

t h a t h i d themselves among the palm t r e e s . He thought i t would be

wise to walk s l o w l y . He walked very s l o w l y . Immediately he

understood the torment t h a t he had chosen... For an i n t e r v a l that

seemed very long to him, he passed between the naked t r u n k s of

the palm t r e e s , as i f i n an a t r o c i o u s dream. He reached the

h o s p i t a l at last.

There was De Brinon. Nevers d i d n ' t have a moment's doubt.

I t was the f i r s t time he had seen t h a t a t h l e t i c young man with

h i s f r a n k and open f a c e and i n t e l l i g e n t look who was leaning

absent-mindedly o v e r a p a t i e n t . The young man must be De Brinon.

Nevers f e l t a g r e a t r e l i e f . He asked (not because the answer

i n t e r e s t e d him, but t o s t a r t a c o n v e r s a t i o n ) :

"Are you De Brinon?"

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XL

From o u t s i d e he had heard a merry d i n . When he opened t h e

door he encountered an o p p r e s s i v e darkness where, i n the s i l e n c e

and the s t e n c h , t h r e e y e l l o w i s h candles trembled. Next t o one o f

the candles glowed t h e f a c e with t h e c o m f o r t i n g expression.

De Brinon r a i s e d h i s head; t h e r e was i n t e l l i g e n c e i n h i s g l a n c e ;

h i s s m i l e was f r a n k . He answered:

"What do you want?"

Nevers says t h a t he had the impression t h a t the d i s t a n c e

which s e p a r a t e d him from De Brinon had d i s a p p e a r e d and t h a t t h e

v o i c e which he heard sprang o u t — a t r o c i o u s l y — a t h i s s i d e . He

says t h a t he c a l l s t h i s sound a " v o i c e " b e c a u s e , a p p a r e n t l y ,

De Brinon i s a man, but he heard the b l e a t i n g o f a sheep. A

b l e a t i n g a s t o n i s h i n g l y a r t i c u l a t e f o r a sheep. He adds t h a t i t

resembled the v o i c e o f a v e n t r i l o q u i s t i m i t a t i n g a sheep and t h a t

De Brinon s c a r c e l y opened h i s mouth as he spoke.

"I am De Brinon," the strange v o i c e c o n t i n u e d , and Nevers

recognized it: i t was one o f the v o i c e s he had heard i n t h e hut

on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d , the n i g h t o f h i s e s c a p e . "What do you want?"

He c o u l d sense t h a t t h e v o i c e was a m i a b l e . A puerile gaiety

shone i n those c l e a r - s i g h t e d e y e s . Nevers suspected t h a t De Brinon

was m e n t a l l y retarded.
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He began t o see i n the darkness o f the room. There were f o u r

prisoners. There were no j a i l e r s . S i n c e h i s l a s t v i s i t , the

filth and d i s o r d e r had i n c r e a s e d . De Brinon was o p e r a t i n g on the

head o f a p a t i e n t , and h i s hands and s h i r t s l e e v e s were drenched

with blood.

Nevers t r i e d t o speak w i t h a f i r m v o i c e :

"I want the i n s t r u c t i o n s the governor left for me."

De Brinon frowned; he looked at him w i t h a f l u s h o f emotion,

he seemed t o s u f f o c a t e .

"I don't know a n y t h i n g about the i n s t r u c t i o n s the governor

l e f t me. I don't know a n y t h i n g . "

He began t o r e t r e a t l i k e a c o r r a l l e d a n i m a l . Nevers felt

courageous i n the f a c e o f t h i s enemy; f o r g e t t i n g the o t h e r men

who looked a t him from the shadows, he s a i d drily:

"Give me those i n s t r u c t i o n s or I ' l l shoot."

De Brinon c r i e d o u t , as i f the shot had a l r e a d y p i e r c e d him,

and he s t a r t e d t o c r y . The men f l e d i n a tumult. Nevers advanced

w i t h h i s hand o u t s t r e t c h e d . The o t h e r man p u l l e d an envelope out

o f h i s pocket and gave i t t o N e v e r s , h o w l i n g :

"I don't have a n y t h i n g . I don't have a n y t h i n g . "

At t h a t moment Dreyfus e n t e r e d . Nevers looked a t him i n a l a r m ,

but D r e y f u s ' f a c e was composed; w i t h o u t a l t e r i n g t h a t composure

h i s l i p s moved.
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"Hurry, lieutenant." Nevers heard the v o i c e t h a t came hushed

and sibilant. "Something t e r r i b l e has happened."

XL I

"Deloge i s dead," s a i d Dreyfus when they were o u t s i d e .

"Dead?" Nevers a s k e d .

U n t i l t h a t moment the f o u r s i c k men on D e v i l ' s I s l a n d had

seemed v i r t u a l l y dead to him. Now the i d e a t h a t Deloge was dead

seemed i n a d m i s s i b l e .

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I d i d n ' t see a t h i n g . Now I'm w o r r i e d about

the others..."

"The others?"

"I don't know. I want to be c l o s e by."

Again he passed through the f o r e s t o f palm t r e e s . He looked

i n s i s t e n t l y about him: he thought t h a t no one was there. Immedi-

a t e l y he heard a woman's l a u g h , and, d i m l y , he saw two shadows.

At f i r s t he had an unpleasant s e n s a t i o n , as i f the l a u g h t e r offended

him because Deloge had d i e d ; then he understood t h a t t h a t laughter

suggested the p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t Dreyfus was not i n s a n e . . . ( i f the

j a i l e r s were s t i l l c a r r y i n g out t h e i r j o b s , t h e i r wives would

have been more c a r e f u l o f t h e m s e l v e s ) .

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Dreyfus d i d n ' t take him t o the w h a r f . Nevers was so

p r e o c c u p i e d t h a t he o n l y n o t i c e d t h a t f a c t much l a t e r , when he went

over t h e events o f t h a t i n c r e d i b l e day. They climbed i n t o the

rowboat. Dreyfus rowed v i g o r o u s l y . They reached D e v i l ' s Island

w i t h o u t having spoken a s i n g l e word.

While he was t y i n g up t h e b o a t , Dreyfus l o s t h i s f o o t i n g and

fell i n the w a t e r . Nevers asked h i m s e l f i f Dreyfus hadn't t r i e d

to a t t a c k him. He r e f u s e d t o l e t him go t o change h i s c l o t h e s .

XLII

His f i r s t n o t i o n was t o d e l a y the moment o f s e e i n g Deloge,

the moment when t h a t corpse would e n t e r h i s memory, w i t h a l l t h e

atrocious d e t a i l s . He s a i d w i t h authority:

"Before a n y t h i n g e l s e , I want t o have an o v e r a l l look a t

things. L e t ' s go up."

He walked through the s t u d y ; as i n a dream he found h i m s e l f

g a z i n g a t those o l d p i e c e s o f f u r n i t u r e , t e l l i n g h i m s e l f t h a t the

t r a g e d y which t h e l i e s du S a l u t had r e s e r v e d f o r him had f i n a l l y

come t o p a s s , and t h a t he f e l t a g r e a t r e l i e f ; with no r e l i e f

whatsoever he t r e m b l e d , he c l i m b e d t h e s t a i r c a s e , he made h i s way

a l o n g the catwalks over the c o u r t y a r d and a r r i v e d a t t h e c e l l s .

He looked down.
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I t was as i f t h e r e were a t e l e p a t h i c understanding between

those men. As i f they knew t h a t something f r i g h t f u l had happened,

as i f they b e l i e v e d t h a t the same t h i n g would happen to each o f

them... T h e i r postures ( t h e i r i m p e r c e p t i b l e movements) were those

o f men who expect an a t t a c k ; s i l e n t , c r o u c h e d , they s t a l k e d like

marauding a n i m a l s , as i f i n a s l u g g i s h dance, as i f f e i n t i n g before

an enemy, an enemy t h a t was i n v i s i b l e t o Nevers. Once again he

extemporized the h y p o t h e s i s o f madness. He asked h i m s e l f i f men

who are s i c k w i t h the same madness had, s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , the same

visions.

Then he turned h i s a t t e n t i o n t o the dead man. Deloge was

l y i n g on the f l o o r , near one o f the w a l l s o f the c e l l , w i t h the

s h i r t o f h i s pyjamas t o r n t o p i e c e s and w i t h s i n i s t e r dark s t a i n s

on h i s neck.

He t u r n e d t o look a t the o t h e r men. Crouched as they were

i n w a r l i k e p o s t u r e s , they seemed p a t h e t i c a l l y d e f e n s e l e s s . Nevers

asked h i m s e l f what h a t r e d would j u s t i f y the p e r s e c u t i o n and murder

o f those invalids.

Dreyfus was watching him i n q u i r i n g l y ; he began t o walk towards

the r o o f top.

Nevers f o l l o w e d him. They went down the s t a i r s ; they passed

through the s t u d y , through the courtyard.

In t h a t t e r r i b l e moment he saw h i m s e l f as i f from t h e outside

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and he even allowed h i m s e l f a p r i v a t e j o k e : he a t t r i b u t e d — w i t h o u t

much o r i g i n a l i t y — t h e "camouflages" o f the c o u r t y a r d t o a Mr. Van

Gogh, a modernist p a i n t e r . He f e l t t h a t afterwards he, Nevers,

would remain e n c l o s e d i n h i s own memory as i n a h e l l , making imbe-

c i l i c jokes i n that p a i n t - p l a s t e r e d , nightmarish c o u r t y a r d as he

walked towards the h o r r o r . However, when they reached the door o f

the c e l l he was s u f f i c i e n t l y calm t o ask Dreyfus:

"Is the door l o c k e d ? "

D r e y f u s , t r e m b l i n g e i t h e r w i t h f e a r o r c o l d (the h u m i d i t y was

so g r e a t t h a t h i s c l o t h e s hadn't d r i e d ) , answered a f f i r m a t i v e l y .

"Was i t l o c k e d when Deloge d i e d ? "

Again Dreyfus answered t h a t i t was.

"Is t h e r e another key b e s i d e s yours?"

" Y e s , t h e r e i s ; i n the s t u d y , i n the s a f e . But the o n l y key

t o the s a f e has been i n my p o s s e s s i o n , e v e r s i n c e the governor got

sick."

"Alright. Open the door."

He was hoping t o draw on the energy o f h i s words. Maybe he

succeeded s l i g h t l y . He e n t e r e d the c e l l w i t h r e s o l u t i o n . The

p e r s p i r a t i o n i n the h a i r and on the f a c e o f the corpse was dry.

The t o r n s h i r t and the marks on h i s neck were, even t o someone as

i n e x p e r i e n c e d as h i m s e l f , e v i d e n t s i g n s o f a f i g h t .

He s t a t e d , not w i t h o u t a shade o f complacency:

 133

"Murder: without a doubt."

He r e g r e t t e d having s a i d i t . I s h o u l d hide t h a t i d e a from

Dreyfus. Besides—he t r i e s t o j u s t i f y h i m s e l f — f o r Deloge t h i s

m a t t e r i s no l o n g e r o f any importance...and I s h o u l d n ' t have l e t

this i n f i n i t e dream o f D e v i l ' s I s l a n d take h o l d o f me; I should

have c a r e f u l l y avoided any p o s s i b l e d a l a y s i n my returning to

S a i n t - M a r t i n , t o my d e s t i n y , to Irene. The i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f the

crime w i l l be e x t e n s i v e . . . Maybe i t i s a l r e a d y too late.

XLIII

He asked h i m s e l f what motives Dreyfus would have f o r k i l l i n g

Deloge. S t i l l , Dreyfus had asked him not t o go t o Royal Island.

Had he done so o n l y t o throw him o f f the t r a c k ? Or t o get him

to prevent the c r i m e , because Dreyfus was a maniac and k i l l e d when

he was alone? But up u n t i l today Dreyfus has been alone with the

s i c k men...

They l e f t the c e l l and l o c k e d i t . He kept the key. In the

s t u d y , Dreyfus opened the i r o n s a f e ; he took out a handful o f k e y s ;

he e x p l a i n e d w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n which key corresponded t o which

door. They were a l l t h e r e . Nevers kept them.

Wet and p i t e o u s , Dreyfus f o l l o w e d him w i t h the h u m i l i t y o f a

dog. Nevers d e c i d e d t h a t he was h a r m l e s s , but he d i d n ' t a l l o w him

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to go and change. He t o l d h i m s e l f t h a t he had a precise responsi-

bility and t h a t Dreyfus was still the o n l y suspect.

He found h i m s e l f f a c e d w i t h an i n c r e a s i n g c o l l e c t i o n of

mysteries. Were they a l l independent o f each o t h e r ? Or were they

bound t o g e t h e r , d i d they form a s y s t e m , perhaps s t i l l incomplete?

He wanted t o c o n s u l t the governor's i n s t r u c t i o n s . Dreyfus wanted

to go have a look at the s i c k men; they went t o see them. Nevers,

to j u s t i f y h i s accompanying D r e y f u s , a l l u d e s t o h i s f e a r t h a t

Dreyfus might run o f f o r k i l l someone.

Once again he adopted the h y p o t h e s i s t h a t Dreyfus had organ-

i z e d e v e r y t h i n g ; he c o n s i d e r e d the f o u n d a t i o n s of his suspicions

a g a i n s t him and found t h a t he was more c o n f i d e n t than e v e r o f

Dreyfus' innocence. He longed t o f r a t e r n i z e with him, t o confess

the s u s p i c i o n s he had had, so t h a t Dreyfus might f o r g i v e them, so

they c o u l d f a c e the m y s t e r i e s together. He put o f f t h a t l o n g i n g ;

he knew t h a t the prudent t h i n g would be t o keep h i s r e s e r v e t o the

end. The next day X a v i e r would a r r i v e , and he would make an

i m p a r t i a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f the f a c t s ; i f X a v i e r d i d n ' t a r r i v e , he

would leave i n the B e l l e r o p h o n and he would make a d e c l a r a t i o n

b e f o r e the a u t h o r i t i e s i n Cayenne. Then he remembered t h a t Dreyfus

had brought him o v e r i n the rowboat and t h a t the B e l l e r o p h o n was

on Royal I s l a n d .
 XLIV

I had t o break out o f t h a t i n d o l e n c e , he w r i t e s . To g a i n

time (I had no p l a n ) , I d e c i d e d t o check over the i s l a n d c o n c i e n -

tiously. When he s t a r t e d speaking t o D r e y f u s , he saw the dangers

o f h i s proposal and he changed the word " i s l a n d " t o the word

"building". Maybe i t wouldn't be wise t o go f a r from the cells;

s e p a r a t i n g from each o t h e r , at those hours o f the n i g h t , i n the

dark b r u s h , would be f o o l h a r d y .

They began w i t h C a s t e l ' s o f f i c e . Dreyfus looked under the

s o f a , behind the c u r t a i n s , i n a c l o t h e s c l o s e t . , I f the c r i m i n a l

had seen u s , Nevers comments, we would have l o s t h i s r e s p e c t . He

stood m o t i o n l e s s next t o the d o o r , d i r e c t i n g D r e y f u s ' movements,

keeping an eye on the c o u r t y a r d and the c e n t r a l p a v i l i o n . Then

they went t o the room which Dreyfus c a l l e d the " l a b o r a t o r y " . It

w a s . l a r g e , b a r r e n , d i r t y and d e v a s t a t e d ; i t reminded Nevers o f

the f o u l - s m e l l i n g room where M. Jaquimot used t o operate on the

dogs and c a t s o f the o l d maids o f S a i n t - M a r t i n . In one corner

t h e r e were s e v e r a l rugs and two o r t h r e e f o l d i n g s c r e e n s ; a l l

these o b j e c t s were p a i n t e d l i k e the c e l l s and the c o u r t y a r d .

Nevers compared them to a p a i n t e r ' s p a l e t t e and he made I know

not what vagrant pronouncements on the analogy between t h i n g s

(which o n l y e x i s t e d i n the b e h o l d e r ) and on symbols (which were

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the o n l y means t h a t men had f o r d e a l i n g w i t h r e a l i t y ) .

"What does t h a t mean?" he a s k e d , p o i n t i n g t o the f o l d i n g

screens.

He thought they might perhaps be used f o r experiments on the

s i c k men's v i s i o n (were they c o l o r - b l i n d ? ) . Dreyfus was t h i n k i n g

in a different vein:

"Mental s i c k n e s s , " he r e p e a t e d , s o r r o w f u l l y . "Do you know

what he does? What he's doing r i g h t now? Through the whole n i g h t

he never l e t s go o f a p e n c i l and a p i e c e o f paper."

"A b l u e p e n c i l and a s h e e t o f y e l l o w paper? I've seen t h a t .

What's u p s e t t i n g about t h a t ? "

Nevers asked h i m s e l f what was going on i n t h e c e l l s .

"Nothing i s as amusing as a l u n a t i c , " Dreyfus a g r e e d , s m i l i n g .

"Not even t h e b e s t clowns i n the c i r c u s . But the governor i s

pitiful. There he makes h i s n i g h t l y rounds r e c i t i n g , l i k e a man

who's l o s t h i s memory, I don't know what l u n a c i e s about q u i e t seas

and m o n s t e r s , t h a t suddenly t u r n i n t o a l p h a b e t s . Then h i s e n t h u s i -

asm r i s e s and he s t a r t s t o rub the paper w i t h h i s p e n c i l . I t looks

to me l i k e he imagines he's w r i t i n g . "

"This search i s u s e l e s s , " Nevers d e c l a r e d . "We're w a s t i n g

time."

He was going t o say t h a t they s h o u l d go have a look a t t h e

c e l l s ; he changed h i s mind. I n s t e a d , he would demonstrate t h a t

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he wasn't f r i g h t e n e d . He spoke i n a q u i e t voice:

"The murderer can f o l l o w our c o u r s e , e i t h e r ahead o f us o r

behind. We'll never f i n d him t h i s way. We s h o u l d s e p a r a t e and

each o f us go o v e r the area i n o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n s , u n t i l we meet."

Dreyfus was v i s i b l y impressed. Nevers c o n j e c t u r e d : he w i l l

keep s i l e n t o r he w i l l make some e x c u s e . He remained silent.

Nevers d i d n ' t i n s i s t . He f e l t a g r e a t a f f e c t i o n f o r D r e y f u s , a n d ,

w i t h genuine c o m p a s s i o n , he n o t i c e d again h i s wetness and h i s

trembling. Dreyfus must have sensed these s e n t i m e n t s .

"May I go and change?" he a s k e d . " I ' l l put on some dry

c l o t h e s and come back i n two minutes."

I f Dreyfus had d e c i d e d t o spend a few minutes a l o n e , Nevers

h i m s e l f a d m i t s , he must be f e e l i n g a w f u l l y p o o r .

But he wanted t o r e t u r n immediately t o the c e l l s .

"Is t h e r e any a l c o h o l t o d r i n k ? " he a s k e d .

Dreyfus answered affirmatively. Nevers made him take a g l a s s

of rum.

"Now l e t ' s go up and have a look a t the s i c k men."

They reached the walkways o v e r the c o u r t y a r d . Dreyfus went

ahead. Suddenly he s t o p p e d ; he was p a l e (with t h a t g r e y i s h pallor

o f m u l a t t o s ) , and almost w i t h o u t moving the muscles o f h i s f a c e he

said:

"Another dead man."

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XLV

Nevers looked down.

Immense, with h i s f a c e s w o l l e n and s t a r i n g h i d e o u s l y upwards,

Favre l a y on h i s back on the c e l l f l o o r , dead. In the o t h e r c e l l s

t h e r e was n o t h i n g new; the P r i e s t and t h e governor c o n t i n u e d i n

t h e i r alarming a t t i t u d e s o f c o r r a l l e d a n i m a l s , anxious t o f l e e o r

to attack.

Dreyfus and Nevers went down, they opened Favre's c e l l ( i t

was l o c k e d ) and went i n . T h e i r examination o f the corpse l e d them

to assume t h a t Favre had d i e d o f s t r a n g u l a t i o n , a f t e r a v i o l e n t

struggle.

Nevers was d e p r e s s e d . H i s presence had not d i s t u r b e d the

criminal. How c o u l d anyone oppose a man who s t r a n g l e d h i s v i c t i m s

through the w a l l s o f a c e l l ? Had t h e s e r i e s concluded w i t h Favre?

Or were the o t h e r s i c k men s t i l l t o go? He thought i t was not

i m p o s s i b l e t h a t , from some p o i n t , the eyes o f t h e a s s a s s i n were

watching him.

" L e t ' s go t o t h e o t h e r c e l l s , " he o r d e r e d with brusque ill-

humor. "You go i n t o t h e P r i e s t ' s c e l l and I ' l l go i n C a s t e l ' s . I

don't want them k i l l e d . "

He had a debt with the governor and now he must p r o t e c t him.

Dreyfus looked a t h i m , i n d e c i s i v e . Nevers unbuckled h i s b e l t w i t h

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the p i s t o l and gave i t t o D r e y f u s .

"Have a d r i n k , " he t o l d him. "Lock y o u r s e l f i n t h e P r i e s t ' s

c e l l and walk from one s i d e t o the o t h e r . With the movement and

the rum t h e c o l d w i l l p a s s . With t h e gun, y o u r f e a r w i l l pass as

well. I f I c a l l , run."

They shook hands and each one went t o t h e c e l l t h a t he was t o

watch.

XLVI

The governor's c e l l was l o c k e d . Nevers opened t h e door c a r e -

f u l l y and e n t e r e d on t i p t o e , t r y i n g n o t t o make a sound. The

governor's back was t o t h e d o o r ; he d i d n ' t t u r n a r o u n d . Nevers

f e l t he hadn't heard him come i n . He d i d n ' t know whether t o l o c k

the door o r n o t . F i n a l l y he d e c i d e d t o l o c k i t , leave t h e key i n

the l o c k and remain next t o the d o o r . The governor was standing

up, w i t h h i s back t o N e v e r s , h i s f a c e t o t h e w a l l t h a t o v e r l o o k e d

the P r i e s t ' s c e l l . He was t u r n i n g (Nevers v e r i f i e d t h i s in a

c a r e f u l s u r v e y ) t o the l e f t , w i t h extreme s l o w n e s s . Nevers could

move p r o g r e s s i v e l y o v e r t o t h e r i g h t and keep the governor from

s e e i n g him. I t wasn't o u t o f f e a r t h a t he would do t h i s , though

the governor's a t t i t u d e seemed t h r e a t e n i n g ; he wanted t o a v o i d

explanations about h i s d e l a y i n Cayenne; he f e a r e d the governor

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would demand the package t h a t L e i t a o had s e n t him.

Absent-mindedly and w i t h o u t a n x i e t y , he c o u l d f o l l o w the

governor's s l u g g i s h movements; he heard him murmur some words t h a t

he c o u l d n ' t understand; he took one s t e p t o the r i g h t and moved

c l o s e behind h i s back. The governor stopped mumbling. Nevers

stood m o t i o n l e s s , r i g i d ; to be s t a n d i n g up, w i t h o u t moving, was,

suddenly, a d i f f i c u l t task. The governor's murmurs began a g a i n .

He t r i e d t o h e a r ; he moved s t i l l c l o s e r to hear. The

governor was repeating several phrases. Nevers searched i n h i s

pockets f o r a paper t o w r i t e them down; he drew out the envelope

c o n t a i n i n g the i n s t r u c t i o n s . The governor s t a r t e d t o say something

and immediately broke o f f , p e r p l e x e d . C o l l e c t i n g fragments of

p h r a s e s , Nevers wrote on the envelope:

The m e d a l l i o n i s the p e n c i l and the spear i s the p a p e r , the

monsters are men and the s t i l l water i s cement,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,

j , k , l ,m,n,o,p,g.

The governor pronounced the l e t t e r s s l o w l y , as i f t r y i n g t o

f i x them i n h i s m i n d , as i f he were m e n t a l l y u n d e r t a k i n g difficult

sketches. On the paper he sketched " a " , "b", "c" with progressive

e x u l t a t i o n ; then he changed t o making down-strokes and cancellations.

He f o r g o t the p e n c i l and the paper he had i n h i s hands; he wept; he

chanted once again "The monsters are men..." and he repeated the

a l p h a b e t w i t h i n c i p i e n t h o p e f u l n e s s , w i t h the e x u l t a t i o n o f v i c t o r y .
 141

Nevers t o l d h i m s e l f t h a t he s h o u l d read the instructions.

But the governor's p r o g r e s s , though s l u g g i s h i n the e x t r e m e , f o r c e d

him to move from where he was s t a n d i n g . Accustomed to moving

s l o w l y , i t seemed to him t h a t he had moved dangerously f a r from the

door. Then he r e a l i z e d t h a t i n two leaps he would be next t o i t .

To suppose t h a t the s l u g g i s h n e s s o f C a s t e l ' s movements was simu-

l a t e d (he thought) would be i n s a n e . The governor had lost his

g r e y i s h p a l l o r ; small and p i n k , with h i s c h a l k - w h i t e b e a r d , he

resembled a c h i l d d i s a g r e e a b l y d i s g u i s e d as a gnome. His eyes

were extremely wide-open and he bore an e x p r e s s i o n of hapless

anxiety.

In s p i t e o f h i s i n t e n t i o n o f keeping h i m s e l f c o n t i n u a l l y on

the a l e r t , t h a t heavy, r e c i p r o c a l dance was t i r i n g him. He

thought i t wouldn't matter i f he l e t h i s mind wander a b i t , as

even a l a s t - m i n u t e movement would s u f f i c e t o put him out o f the

governor's range o f v i s i o n . Pursuing this languid occupation, he

f o r g o t , f o r s e v e r a l moments, t h a t h i s a t t e n t i o n should not be

d i r e c t e d so much towards the governor as towards the incredible

a s s a s s i n who, a t any moment, would i n t e r v e n e .

He then observed the s p l o t c h e s o f p a i n t on the w a l l s and floor

o f the c e l l . The w a l l s were p a i n t e d i n y e l l o w and b l u e patches,

w i t h red v e i n s . On the f l o o r , next to the w a l l s , t h e r e was a

b o r d e r p a i n t e d blue and y e l l o w ; on the r e s t o f the f l o o r t h e r e were

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combinations o f t h r e e c o l o r s and groupings o f t h e i r d e r i v a t i v e

colors. Nevers made note o f the f o l l o w i n g groups:

a) a n t i q u e - g o l d b) l i l a c c) s c a r l e t

celestial-blue lemon-yellow saffron-yellow

crimson, vermilion, marine-blue,

d) i n d i g o e) l i l y - w h i t e

canary-yellow gold

purple, fire-red.

The q u i l t , which was f a s t e n e d i n the c l e f t i n the f l o o r , was

i n d i g o , canary-yellow and p u r p l e . He remembered t h a t the e n t i r e

c o u r t y a r d was p a i n t e d ( l i k e the w a l l s ) i n y e l l o w and b l u e s p l o t c h e s ,

with red v e i n s . The frequency o f t h e r e d v e i n s was r e g u l a r .

T h i s p e c u l i a r r e g u l a r i t y suggested t o him t h a t behind a l l t h i s

tumult o f c o l o r s t h e r e l a y a d e s i g n . He asked h i m s e l f i f t h a t

design c o u l d have some c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the d e a t h s .

XLVI I

Nevers opened the envelope and he r e a d :

 143

"TO HENRI NEVERS"

"It w i l l make you i n d i g n a n t t o r e c e i v e t h i s letter;

n e v e r t h e l e s s , I must w r i t e i t . I r e a l i z e t h a t you have g i v e n me

c l e a r and r e p e a t e d p r o o f s o f not wanting t o have a n y t h i n g t o do

with me. You w i l l say t h a t t h i s l e t t e r i s another m a n i f e s t a t i o n

o f my i n c r e d i b l e i n s i s t e n c e , but you w i l l a l s o say t h a t i t i s a

posthumous m a n i f e s t a t i o n , as you w i l l c o n s i d e r me s c a r c e l y l e s s

dead than a dead man and much more l o s t than a dying one.

"You may r e s t assured t h a t I have l i t t l e time l e f t f o r

future i n s i s t e n c i e s . Hear me out w i t h the calm c e r t a i n t y t h a t

the P e t e r C a s t e l whom you have known and r e p u d i a t e d w i l l not come

back t o p e s t e r y o u .

"I w i l l s t a r t a t the b e g i n n i n g ; i n the b e g i n n i n g we have t h e

a t t i t u d e s o f each man t o the o t h e r . You a r r i v e d a t these i s l a n d s

with a b i a s which honors y o u , ready t o f i n d e v e r y t h i n g abhorrent.

I, f o r my p a r t , had made a d i s c o v e r y , and I needed a c o l l a b o r a t o r .

The pains t h a t a f f l i c t e d me i n these l a s t years had p r o g r e s s e d ,

and I understood t h a t I had l i t t l e time l e f t t o l i v e .

"I needed a person capable o f t r a n s m i t t i n g my d i s c o v e r i e s t o

society. I c o u l d have gone t o F r a n c e , but not w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s l y

p r e s e n t i n g my r e s i g n a t i o n and w a i t i n g f o r my r e s i g n a t i o n t o be

a c c e p t e d , w a i t i n g f o r a replacement t o a r r i v e . I d i d n ' t know i f

 144

I could wait that long. Then I found out t h a t you were coming to

the c o l o n y ; I found out t h a t I would have f o r an a s s i s t a n t the

a u t h o r o f The R o l l s o f GTeron. I beseech you t o imagine my relief,

my j o y , my impatience. I waited c o n f i d e n t l y ; I s a i d to m y s e l f :

he i s a c u l t u r e d man; s o l i t u d e and the i n v i n c i b l e i n t e r e s t that

lies i n my d i s c o v e r i e s w i l l u n i t e our spirits.

"Then I r e a l i z e d t h a t I c o u l d have d i f f i c u l t i e s . It was

e s s e n t i a l to c a r r y out experiments t h a t c a l l e d f o r an i n d i f f e r e n c e

to the laws o f men and even to the l i v e s o f c e r t a i n men, o r , at

the l e a s t , t h a t c a l l e d f o r a d e f i n i t i v e f a i t h i n the transcendence

o f my discoveries. I knew t h a t you were a c u l t u r e d man; I knew no

more. Would you consent to these experiments being made? Would

my life be enough t o c o n v i n c e you?

"I awaited y o u , t h e n , with a j u s t i f i a b l e a n x i e t y . T h i s anx-

i e t y , the concealments which were i n d i s p e n s a b l e and y o u r p r e j u d i c e

a g a i n s t e v e r y t h i n g on the i s l a n d s produced a j u s t i f i a b l e repugnance

on y o u r p a r t . In v a i n I t r i e d t o conquer i t . L e t me assure you

t h a t I now f e e l a very v i v i d a v e r s i o n towards y o u . Believe me,

t o o , t h a t i f I charge you with p u b l i s h i n g my d i s c o v e r y and if I

leave you p a r t o f my e s t a t e i t i s because I have no o t h e r s o l u t i o n

left.

"De Brinon i s not capable o f t r a n s m i t t i n g the i n v e n t i o n . He

has manual d e x t e r i t y ; I have taught him t o work; i t would be

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worthwhile u t i l i z i n g him i n the f i r s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s that are

made, but De Brinon i s a s i c k man. Let's consider Bordenave:

because o f h i s c o n d i t i o n as a p a r o l e e , Bordenave cannot l e a v e the

c o l o n y ; because o f h i s c o n d i t i o n as an o r d e r l y , he won't be

listened to. I c o u l d e n t r u s t the i n v e n t i o n to some f r i e n d s I have

in France. B u t , u n t i l the l e t t e r a r r i v e s i n F r a n c e , u n t i l they

take the e s s e n t i a l measures, what w i l l happen? What w i l l happen

t o the proofs o f the v a l i d i t y o f my a f f i r m a t i o n s , to my proofs of

f l e s h and blood? My invention i s transcendental--as you yourself

w i l l o b s e r v e — a n d t o ensure i t s not being l o s t , I have no other

a l t e r n a t i v e but to l e a v e i t to y o u ; I t r u s t t h a t you w i l l have no

o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e than t o a c c e p t a charge which has been made so

involuntarily.

"I thought I c o u l d count on a c e r t a i n l e n g t h o f t i m e ; I was

soon c o n v i n c e d t h a t I must make an immediate d e c i s i o n . The pains

were i n c r e a s i n g . I sent you to Cayenne to b r i n g , i n a d d i t i o n to

the p r o v i s i o n s and o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t were running low i n the

p r i s o n , a s e d a t i v e t h a t would l e t me f o r g e t my i l l n e s s and enable

me to work. E i t h e r Mr. L e i t a o r e a l l y d i d n ' t have the sedative--

which i s d i f f i c u l t to b e l i e v e - - o r you d i d n ' t choose t o b r i n g i t .

The spasms grew worse to the p o i n t o f being i n t o l e r a b l e ; I decided

t o take the step m y s e l f , the same s t e p w h i c h , f o r moral r e a s o n s ,

was taken w i t h the p r i s o n e r s M a r s i l l a c , Favre and D e l o g e , the step

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which f o r moral reasons founded on l i e s t h a t you t o l d me, I had

i n t e n d e d you t o t a k e . From now on I cease t o be a man of science,

to be c o n v e r t e d i n t o a s u b j e c t o f s c i e n c e ; from now on I shall feel

no p a i n , I w i l l hear ( f o r e v e r ) the b e g i n n i n g o f the f i r s t movement

of the Symphony i n E M i n o r , by Brahms.

"I am a t t a c h i n g t o t h i s l e t t e r the e x p l a n a t i o n o f my d i s c o v -

e r i e s , the methods o f a p p l i c a t i o n , and the d i s p o s a l o f my estate."

Nevers turned the page o v e r ; on the f o l l o w i n g page he r e a d :

DISPOSAL OF ESTATE

"On Devil's I s l a n d , 5 days p r i o r t o the month o f A p r i l , 1914...

I f the French Government consents t o e i t h e r o f the two petitions

(a and b) which I s e t f o r t h below, a t e n t h p a r t o f my e s t a t e should

be turned o v e r , as payment f o r s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d , t o the naval lieu-

tenant Henri Nevers.

"a) That I, governor o f the c o l o n y , and the p r i s o n e r s

M a r s i l l a c , Deloge and F a v r e , are t o remain q u a r t e r e d i n these cells,

c a r e d f o r by the p a r o l e e Bordenave, w h i l e he l i v e s , and, a f t e r w a r d s ,

by an a p p o i n t e d c a r e t a k e r , who i s t o observe the i n s t r u c t i o n s I

am l e a v i n g t o Bordenave.

"b) That I, governor o f the c o l o n y , and the p r i s o n e r s

M a r s i l l a c , Deloge and F a v r e , are t o be t r a n s p o r t e d by s h i p , i n f o u r

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cabins p a i n t e d as these c e l l s , t o F r a n c e , and t h a t t h e r e we a r e

t o be s i t u a t e d i n a house t h a t i s t o be b u i l t on my p r o p e r t y a t

S t . B r i e u x ; t h i s house w i l l have a c o u r t y a r d i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t o f

t h i s p a v i l i o n , and f o u r c e l l s i d e n t i c a l t o those which we now

inhabit.

" I f e i t h e r o f these p e t i t i o n s s h o u l d be a c c e p t e d , the c o s t s

are t o be p a i d w i t h the remaining n i n e - t e n t h s o f my e s t a t e , which

i s t o be d e p o s i t e d . . . "

He goes on t o g i v e the i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r the p a i n t i n g o f the

unobstructed c e i l i n g o f the c e l l s (I note: the c e l l s on the

i s l a n d have no r o o f ) , recommendations f o r the c a r e t a k e r , t h r e a t s

to the government ( i n the case o f i t s not c o n s e n t i n g t o e i t h e r o f

the p e t i t i o n s ; he says e m p h a t i c a l l y : " r e s p o n s i b l e i n the eyes o f

p o s t e r i t y . . . " ) , and a mysterious final clause: " I f a f t e r a l l our

deaths ( i n c l u d i n g B o r d e n a v e ' s ) , t h e r e s h o u l d be a remnant o f my

r e m a i n s , t h i s s h o u l d be d e l i v e r e d t o the R.P.A." The meaning o f

these i n i t i a l s i s an enigma which I have not r e s o l v e d ; I e n t r u s t

i t t o the i n q u i s i t i v e g e n e r o s i t y o f the r e a d e r .

XLVIII

Nevers d e c l a r e s t h a t a v a i n sense o f shame and ill-contained

repentance (because o f h i s conduct w i t h the governor) clouded h i s

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mind and t h a t he had to: make a g r e a t e f f o r t to understand those

a s t o n i s h i n g pages; he owns t h a t f o r a q u a r t e r o f an h o u r , more o r

l e s s , he had f o r g o t t e n to watch the governor; but he d e c l a r e s t h a t

his d i v e r s i o n was not so g r e a t as to a l l o w f o r the entrance and

e x i t o f a c r i m i n a l without h i s knowing i t , and I accept t h i s qual-

i f i c a t i o n , because the r e a d i n g i n which he was o c c u p i e d was not

p a s s i o n a t e l y e n g a g i n g , and b e c a u s e , o u t s i d e o f n o v e l s , these

a b s o l u t e d i s t r a c t i o n s are not customary. We are d i s p o s e d , t h e n ,

to share h i s o p i n i o n t h a t n o t h i n g capable o f overwhelmingly

i m p r e s s i n g the senses took p l a c e b e f o r e he f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g C a s t e l ' s

d i s p o s a l o f e s t a t e ; what happened afterwards e n t e r s the category

of events t h a t had a w i t n e s s ; whether the w i t n e s s lied, was

d e c e i v e d o r t o l d the t r u t h i s a q u e s t i o n t h a t can o n l y be r e s o l v e d

by a l o g i c a l study o f the e n t i r e t y o f h i s d e c l a r a t i o n s .

Nevers says t h a t he heard a s e r i e s o f smothered c r i e s , t h a t

t h e r e was a moment when he heard them almost u n c o n s c i o u s l y , and,

a n o t h e r when he began to a t t e n d them, t h a t t h i s s u c c e s s i o n , though

p r e c i s e i n h i s mind, was swift. When he r a i s e d h i s e y e s , the

governor was i n the same p o s i t i o n as when Nevers had e n t e r e d , but

with h i s arms s t r e t c h e d out b e f o r e him, s t a g g e r i n g . The first

t h i n g Nevers thought was, i n c r e d i b l y , t h a t he had given him time

to change p o s i t i o n s and see him, and he asked h i m s e l f i f the

governor's f a c e would be so l i v i d and b l u e from the h o r r o r o f

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s e e i n g him i n the c e l l ; he asked h i m s e l f t h i s , c o n f u s i n g C a s t e l ' s

s t a t e with somnambulism and r e c a l l i n g the a f f i r m a t i o n t h a t i t i s

dangerous to waken s l e e p w a l k e r s . He went t o a s s i s t the governor,

though s e c r e t l y r e s t r a i n e d by an i n e x c u s a b l e r e v u l s i o n a t t o u c h i n g

him ( t h i s r e v u l s i o n was not r e l a t e d t o the governor's appearance

but t o h i s c o n d i t i o n , o r , b e t t e r s a i d , to the a s t o n i s h i n g ignorance

which Nevers had about h i s c o n d i t i o n ) . At t h a t i n s t a n t he was

stopped by a number o f shouts from D r e y f u s , who called for help.

Nevers c o n f e s s e s t h a t he thought: he i s f i n i s h i n g o f f the Priest;

afterwards he w i l l say t h a t he d i e d , i n e x p l i c a b l y , b e f o r e h i s eyes.

In t h a t e x c e e d i n g l y s h o r t l a p s e o f time he a l s o asked h i m s e l f i f

the governor's s t a t e c o u l d be due t o an awareness o f the Priest's

s i t u a t i o n , and how t h a t mysterious communication between the sick

men c o u l d be produced. His i n d e c i s i o n l a s t e d s e v e r a l instants,

in those i n s t a n t s the governor c o l l a p s e d ; when Nevers asked him

what was the matter w i t h , him, he was already dying. Then t h e r e

was a knocking on the door; he opened i t . Dreyfus entered in a

t u r m o i l and asked Nevers t o go help him: the P r i e s t was i n contor-

t i o n s and moaned as i f he were d y i n g ; Dreyfus d i d n ' t know what t o

do...; a t l a s t he f e l l s i l e n t , because he saw the governor's corpse.

" B e l i e v e me," Dreyfus shouted a f t e r a p a u s e , as i f he had

reached a c o n c l u s i o n , " b e l i e v e me," he shouted a g a i n , with p a t h e t i c

g l e e , "the poor man knows, he knows what's happening."

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"There i s n o t h i n g more t o do here," s a i d N e v e r s , t a k i n g h o l d

of Dreyfus by the s h o u l d e r s and pushing him o u t s i d e ; he knew how

the governor's death must have impressed him. " L e t ' s save the

Priest."

Then, as Nevers went out pushing a Dreyfus suddenly s t r i p p e d

of h i s w i l l , t h e r e might have o c c u r r e d another d r e a d f u l l y wondrous

event. Nevers d e c l a r e s t h a t , from b e h i n d , a p a i r o f hands ( o r

what he f e l t t o be a p a i r o f h a n d s ) , s o f t l y , w i t h o u t any effort

at a l l , t i g h t e n e d about h i s neck. He turned around. In the cell

t h e r e was o n l y the c o r p s e .

XLIX

"We've got t o save the P r i e s t , " shouted D r e y f u s ; f o r the first

time i m p a t i e n c e glowed i n h i s f a c e .

Nevers was i n no h u r r y . He wasn't even t h i n k i n g about the

Priest. He was t h i n k i n g about the governor's l e t t e r , about the

i n s t r u c t i o n s the governor s a i d he had l e f t f o r him but which he

hadn't r e c e i v e d . He stopped D r e y f u s .

"Mr. C a s t e l says he's l e f t me the e x p l a n a t i o n o f some d i s c o v -

e r i e s t h a t he's made. I o n l y have a l e t t e r here and a d i s p o s a l o f

estate."

"And t h a t ' s what he c a l l s an e x p l a n a t i o n , " r e p l i e d Dreyfus i n

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a tone o f r e p r o a c h . "We've got t o h u r r y t o save the P r i e s t . "

"Let's go," Nevers a g r e e d . "But afterwards I'm going t o

Royal I s l a n d and c l e a r up t h i s matter w i t h De Brinon."

Now Dreyfus took him by the arm and f o r c e d him t o s t o p ; he

spoke with p a s s i o n a t e c o n v i c t i o n :

"Don't be r a s h . "

Nevers made him walk o n . They reached the P r i e s t ' s cell.

"See for yourself," Dreyfus s h o u t e d . "See i f what I'm s a y i n g

i s n ' t the t r u t h . He knows what's happened."

Nevers says t h a t , i n e f f e c t , the P r i e s t seemed a g i t a t e d : he

c o u l d s c a r c e l y breathe and h i s eyes seemed out o f t h e i r o r b i t s .

Nevers motioned Dreyfus not t o t a l k ; he e x p l a i n e d i n a low

voice:

"Yes, perhaps he does know. But i t would be b e s t not t o say

anything to him, j u s t i n case. I would l i k e t o take him t o the

study."

"To the study?" asked D r e y f u s , p e r p l e x e d . "But you know...

we're not supposed t o take them out o f the c e l l s . . . "

"The others didn't leave t h e i r cells..."

D r e y f u s ' f a c e once more expressed an e n i g m a t i c irony.

"I see," he d e c l a r e d , as i f he u n d e r s t o o d . "I s e e . You t h i n k

h e ' l l be s a f e r . "

Nevers turned t o the P r i e s t :

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"Mr. M a r s i l l a c , " he s a i d i n a c l e a r v o i c e , "I would l i k e you

to accompany us t o the study."

The P r i e s t seemed t o h e a r , n o t t h a t i n o f f e n s i v e sentence:

something f r i g h t f u l . The c o l o r o f h i s f a c e changed s u d d e n l y , he

was trembling ( s l u g g i s h l y ) .

" L e t ' s c a r r y him," Nevers o r d e r e d . "You take h o l d o f him

under the arms; I ' l l get h i s l e g s . "

The calm d e t e r m i n a t i o n with which these words were u t t e r e d

compelled Dreyfus t o obey. But when they c a r r i e d o u t the P r i e s t ,

Nevers h i m s e l f f e l t a rush o f t e r r o r . He stammered:

"He's dead."

He was r i g i d . Dreyfus confirmed:

"He i s . "

Then Nevers n o t i c e d t h a t t h e P r i e s t was moving o b s t i n a t e l y ,

slowly.

The e f f o r t the P r i e s t made t o f r e e h i m s e l f from them began

to t i r e them. Dreyfus looked around him, as i f he hoped t o f i n d

someone t h e r e who would save him. When they reached t h e c o u r t y a r d ,

the P r i e s t shouted:

"I'm drowning. I'm drowning."

He a r t i c u l a t e d s l o w l y , as i f s l o w l y c o u n t i n g t h e s y l l a b l e s o f

a line of poetry.

"Why a r e you drowning?" Nevers a s k e d , f o r g e t t i n g t h a t t h e

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P r i e s t was deaf.

"You won't l e t me swim," answered the P r i e s t .

They s e t him down.

He s a i d t o D r e y f u s :

" L e t ' s c a r r y him again."

The P r i e s t seemed t e r r i f i e d ; s p l i t t i n g the word i n t o s y l l a b l e s ,

he shouted:

"Monsters."

They l i f t e d him. He p r o t e s t e d , r i g i d , almost immobile. He

repeated:

"Monsters."

Nevers asked him:

"Why do you c a l l us monsters?"

"I'm drowning," shouted the P r i e s t . "I'm drowning."

They s e t him down. Again he undertook h i s slow pilgrimage

towards the cell.

" T e l l me why you are drowning," Nevers asked.

The P r i e s t d i d n ' t answer.

" L e t ' s take him t o the study," s a i d N e v e r s , w i t h f i r m resolution.

They c a r r i e d him. I t wasn't easy t o c a r r y t h a t r i g i d body.

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The P r i e s t shouted:

"I'm drowning. I'm drowning."

"I won't t u r n you l o o s e unless you t e l l me why you're

drowning," Nevers replied.

"The s t i l l waters," the P r i e s t stammered.

They took him to the r e a r o f the s t u d y , to the w a l l

f u r t h e s t from the c o u r t y a r d . Immediately the P r i e s t began to

walk towards the d o o r , s l o w l y . The t e r r o r never l e f t h i s f a c e .

Nevers was distracted. He was not d i s t u r b e d when he felt

on h i s neck the p r e s s u r e o f a p a i r o f weak h a n d s , l i k e a phantom.

There i n the study he had found a p o r t f o l i o w i t h the title:

E x p l a n a t i o n o f my experience; i n s t r u c t i o n s t o Henri Nevers.

I n s i d e t h e r e were a number o f l o o s e n o t e s , t h a t must have been

the f i r s t d r a f t o f the e x p l a n a t i o n . As he opened t h a t document,

he vaguely saw t h a t the P r i e s t was advancing, l i k e a s t a t u e ,

towards the door o f the courtyard.

LI

"Unless one t h i n g can symbolize a n o t h e r ,

s c i e n c e and everyday l i f e w i l l be impossible."

H. A l m a r , Transmutations ( T r . I, V, 7).
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Nevers read:

"1. -- L i f e and the w o r l d , i n the v i s i o n o f an o r d i n a r y man:

We l i v e upon stones and c l a y , among woods with green leaves,

d e v o u r i n g fragments o f the u n i v e r s e t h a t i n c l u d e s u s , among f l a m e s ,

among f l u i d s , combining r e s o n a n c e s , p r o t e c t i n g the past and the

f u t u r e , s u f f e r i n g , t h e r m a l , r i t u a l i s t i c , dreaming t h a t we dream,

i r r i t a t e d , s m e l l i n g , t o u c h i n g , among men, i n an i n s a t i a b l e garden

which our f a l l w i l l a b o l i s h .

"The v i s i o n of physics: An opaque and interminable extension

o f protons and e l e c t r o n s , r a d i a t i n g i n the v o i d ; o r , p e r h a p s ,

( u n i v e r s a l phantom) the aggregate o f r a d i a t i o n s from a body o f

matter which does not exist.

"As i n c r y p t o g r a p h y , i n the d i f f e r e n c e s i n atomic movements

man interprets: there: the t a s t e o f a drop o f s e a - w a t e r , t h e r e :

the wind on dark causeways, t h e r e : the hardness o f b u r n i s h e d

metal, there: the f r a g r a n c e o f c l o v e r i n the hecatomb o f summer,

here: your f a c e . I f t h e r e were a change i n the movements o f the

atoms t h i s l i l y would b e , p e r h a p s , the c r a s h o f water t h a t plunges

o v e r the dam, o r a handful o f g i r a f f e s , o r the g l o r y o f l a t e after-

noon. A change i n the adjustment o f my senses would make o f the

f o u r w a l l s o f t h i s c e l l perhaps the shadow o f the a p p l e t r e e o f

the f i r s t orchard.
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"How do you know t h a t the b i r d which c r o s s e s

the a i r i s not an immense w o r l d o f voluptuous-

ness , f o r b i d d e n t o y o u r f i v e senses?"

W i l l i a m Blake

"2. We admit the w o r l d as bur senses r e v e a l i t t o u s . I f we

were c o l o r - b l i n d , we would be i g n o r a n t o f some c o l o r . I f we had

been born b l i n d we would be i g n o r a n t o f c o l o r . There are ultra-

v i o l e t c o l o r s , which we do not p e r c e i v e . There are w h i s t l e s that

dogs h e a r , which are i n a u d i b l e t o man. I f dogs were t o t a l k , t h e i r

language would perhaps be poor i n v i s u a l i n d i c a t i o n s , but i t would

have terms t o denote shadings o f smell o f which we are i g n o r a n t .

A s p e c i a l sense n o t i f i e s the f i s h o f changes i n water p r e s s u r e and

o f the presence o f rocks or o t h e r g r e a t o b s t a c l e s , when they swim

at n i g h t . We do not understand the o r i e n t a t i o n o f m i g r a t o r y b i r d s ,

nor what sense a t t r a c t s b u t t e r f l i e s l e t loose at d i s t a n t points i n

a v a s t c i t y , and those which l o v e u n i t e s . A l l the animal species

which the w o r l d harbors l i v e i n d i s t i n c t w o r l d s . I f we look

through a m i c r o s c o p e , r e a l i t y changes: the known w o r l d d i s a p p e a r s

and t h i s fragment o f m a t t e r , which t o our eye i s one and m o t i o n l e s s ,

i s p l u r a l , i t moves. I t cannot be a f f i r m e d t h a t one image i s more

t r u e than the o t h e r ; both are i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f s i m i l a r machines,

d i f f e r e n t l y gauged. Our w o r l d i s a s y n t h e s i s f u r n i s h e d by the

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s e n s e s ; the microscope furnishes another. I f the senses should

change, the image would change. We can d e s c r i b e the w o r l d as a

mass o f symbols capable o f e x p r e s s i n g a n y t h i n g ; merely by altering

the gauges o f our s e n s e s , we may read another word i n t h i s n a t u r a l

alphabet.

"3. - - The nerve c e l l s i n man are d i v e r s e i n accordance with

the d i v e r s i t y o f the s e n s e s . But t h e r e are animals t h a t s e e , t h a t

s m e l l , that t o u c h , that hear with a s i n g l e organ. Everything

begins with the e v o l u t i o n o f a c e l l . A noir, E blanc, I rouge...

i s not an absurd a f f i r m a t i o n ; i t i s an i m p r o v i s e d r e s p o n s e . The

correspondence between sounds and c o l o r s e x i s t s . The essential

u n i t y o f the senses and images, r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o r d a t a , e x i s t s ,

and i t i s an alchemy capable o f c o n v e r t i n g pain i n t o p l e a s u r e and

the w a l l s o f a p r i s o n i n t o p l a i n s o f freedom.

"4. - - P r i s o n w a l l s i n t o p l a i n s o f freedom:

" T h i s p r i s o n i n which I w r i t e , these sheets o f p a p e r , are o n l y

p r i s o n and paper f o r a determinate sensory gauge ( t h a t o f man).

I f I change t h i s gauge, t h i s w i l l become a chaos wherein every-

t h i n g , i n accordance with c e r t a i n r u l e s , may be i m a g i n e d , o r c r e a t e d .

"Clarification:

"We see a t a d i s t a n c e a determinate r e c t a n g l e , and we believe

t h a t we see (and we know t h a t i t i s ) a c y l i n d r i c a l tower. William

James s t a t e s t h a t the w o r l d i s p r e s e n t e d t o us as an i n d e t e r m i n a t e
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f l u x , a s o r t o f compact c u r r e n t , a vast i n u n d a t i o n , where t h e r e

are n e i t h e r persons nor o b j e c t s , b u t , c o n f u s e d l y , s m e l l s , c o l o r s ,

sounds, c o n t a c t s , p a i n s , temperatures... The essence o f mental

a c t i v i t y c o n s i s t s o f r e s t r a i n i n g and s e p a r a t i n g t h a t which i s a

continuous whole and grouping i t , u s e f u l l y , into o b j e c t s , persons,

animals, vegetables... As l i t e r a l s u b j e c t s o f James, my patients

w i l l f a c e t h a t renovated mass, and i n i t they w i l l have t o remodel

the w o r l d . They w i l l g i v e meaning once again t o the aggregate o f

symbols. L i f e , p r e f e r e n c e s , my d i r e c t i o n , w i l l preside over t h i s

quest f o r l o s t o b j e c t s , f o r o b j e c t s which they themselves w i l l

invent i n chaos.

"5. - - I f the p a t i e n t s , once they are t r a n s f o r m e d , f a c e the

w o r l d f r e e l y , the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n they w i l l g i v e to each o b j e c t

would escape my forecast. There i s , p e r h a p s , an o r d e r i n the u n i -

v e r s e ; t h e r e i s , c e r t a i n l y , an o r d e r i n my operations... But I do

not know i f my life will l a s t long enough t o i n v e s t i g a t e the

criterion of interpretation.

"A primary p o i n t was, t h e n , to p r e s e n t the p a t i e n t s w i t h a

r e a l i t y which would not abound i n e l e m e n t s . Enumerate the elements

o f a common d w e l l i n g : c h a i r s , t a b l e s , b e d s , c u r t a i n s , r u g s , lamps...

At once the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f a c h a i r seemed to me an exhausting

problem.

"While I was t h i n k i n g about t h i s I commented: i t would be

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i r o n i c t o g i v e them back t h e i r freedom i n t h e i r own cells. I soon

became c o n v i n c e d t h a t I had found the s o l u t i o n t o my difficulties.

The c e l l s are bare chambers, and t o the transformed men they can

be gardens o f the most boundless freedom.

"I thought: t o the p a t i e n t s , the c e l l s s h o u l d be beautiful

and d e s i r a b l e p l a c e s . They can't be t h e i r houses o f b i r t h , because

my men w i l l not see the i n f i n i t y o f o b j e c t s t h a t were t h e r e i n

t h e i r homes; f o r the same r e a s o n , they cannot be a g r e a t c i t y .

They can be an i s l a n d . The f a b l e o f Robinson Crusoe i s one o f the

f i r s t myths o f human i l l u s i o n , and Works and Days has furthered

the t r a d i t i o n o f the I s l a n d s o f the B l e s s e d : so a n c i e n t are they

i n the dreams o f men.

"My problems were, t h e n : t o prepare the c e l l s i n such a way

t h a t the p a t i e n t s would p e r c e i v e them and l i v e i n them as islands;

to prepare the p a t i e n t s i n such a way t h a t they would d i s i n t e r an

i s l a n d from the tumultuous c o l l e c t i o n o f c o l o r s , forms and perspec-

t i v e s w h i c h , f o r them, would be the c e l l s . The l i f e o f each subject

c o u l d have an i n f l u e n c e i n these i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s . S i n c e i n each

o f them I would e f f e c t equal changes, and s i n c e I would p r e s e n t them

with equal r e a l i t i e s , i n o r d e r to a v o i d unpleasant s u r p r i s e s i n

the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s i t s u i t e d my purposes t o s e l e c t men whose l i v e s

were not t o o d i s s i m i l a r . But c i r c u m s t a n c e s and combinations are

so v a r i o u s t h a t l o o k i n g f o r l i v e s which are not too d i s s i m i l a r i s

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p o s s i b l y a v a i n i n q u i r y ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , the f a c t t h a t a l l the p a t i e n t s

had spent more than ten y e a r s , the l a s t o n e s , i n a common p r i s o n ,

seemed to me quite promising.

"I c o n s i d e r e d , t o o , t h a t i f I d e d i c a t e d the two o r t h r e e months

p r i o r t o the o p e r a t i o n t o p r e p a r i n g , to e d u c a t i n g the p a t i e n t s , the

r i s k o f unexpected i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s would d i m i n i s h . I awakened i n

my men the hope o f freedom; I r e p l a c e d the d e s i r e to r e t u r n home

and to c i t i e s with the a n c i e n t dream o f the s o l i t a r y i s l a n d . Like

c h i l d r e n , d a i l y they asked me t o r e p e a t the d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h a t

i s l a n d where they would be happy. They came t o imagine i t v i v i d l y ,

obsessively."

Nevers' n o t e : I spoke to Favre and Deloge d u r i n g t h a t prepara-

tory period. Undoubtedly he had o r d e r e d them not t o t a l k t o anyone

so they would keep the o b s e s s i o n p u r e , and t o a v o i d people on the

o u t s i d e from drawing s u s p i c i o u s and erroneous c o n c l u s i o n s (like my

own).

"6. - - Program: to operate on the b r a i n and along the nerves.

To operate on the t i s s u e s (epidermis, eye, e t c . ) . To operate on the

locomotive system.

"I reduced the v e l o c i t y o f t h e i r movements; they were more

laborious. In c r o s s i n g the c e l l they should make the e f f o r t of

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c r o s s i n g an i s l a n d . "

Nevers' n o t e : T h i s e x p l a i n s the P r i e s t ' s r i g i d i t y , when we

l i f t e d him t o take him t o the s t u d y .

To p r o t e c t them from n o i s e , which c o u l d communicate a c o n t r a -

dictory reality (our own), I combined t h e i r h e a r i n g w i t h their

sense o f t h o u c h . The person o r o b j e c t p r o d u c i n g sound must touch

the p a t i e n t i n o r d e r t o be heard."

Nevers' n o t e : That i s why C a s t e l d i d n ' t hear me; t h a t i s

why they heard Dreyfus a t t i m e s ; t h a t i s why t h e P r i e s t heard me

when we took him t o the s t u d y .

"These combinations o f senses a r e o f t e n produced i n p a t h o l o -

gical states and, even, i n states o f health. Those most frequent

are the syntheses o f a u d i t o r y s e n s a t i o n s and chromatic sensations

(once a g a i n : A n o i r , E b l a n c . . . ) o r o f a u d i t o r y o r chromatic

sensations and g u s t a t o r y sensations.

"I m o d i f i e d t h e i r v i s u a l system. They see as i f through f a r -

s i g h t e d l e n s e s , put on i n r e v e r s e . The s u r f a c e o f a p r i s o n cell

can seem t o them l i k e a small island.

"In o r d e r f o r the w a l l s o f the c e l l t o d i s a p p e a r (visually),

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i t was i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o change the dimensional system i n my men.

I copy a paragraph from the t r e a t i s e o f Dr. P e l c a r i : 'There are

p a r t s o f the membrane o f the eye e s p e c i a l l y s e n s i t i v e t o each color'

t h e r e are c e l l s which a n a l y z e c o l o r s ; o t h e r s combine the chromatic

and the luminous s e n s a t i o n s ; the neurons o f the c e n t e r o f the

r e t i n a permit the a p p r e c i a t i o n o f space; the chromatic system and

the dimensional system have t h e i r p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e i n the eye,

i n c e l l s o r i g i n a l l y i d e n t i c a l and l a t e r d i v e r s i f i e d . ' Concerning

t h i s p o i n t , see a l s o Suarez de Mendoza, M a r i n e s c o , Douney. I

r e s o l v e d the problem by combining the chromatic c e l l s w i t h the

spatial. In my p a t i e n t s , the c e l l s which are s e n s i t i v e t o c o l o r

percieve space. The t h r e e e s s e n t i a l c o l o r s gave t h r e e dimensions:

b l u e , width; y e l l o w , length; red,height."

1
Nevers note: Would a person who i s c o l o r - b l i n d be i n a two-

dimensional world? A p u r e l y c o l o r - b l i n d person--who sees one color

o n l y - - i n a one-dimensional world?

"A v e r t i c a l w a l l , p a i n t e d b l u e and y e l l o w , would appear as a

beach; w i t h s l i g h t r e d t o u c h e s , l i k e a sea (the r e d would g i v e the

h e i g h t o f the waves).

"With d i v e r s e combinations o f the t h r e e c o l o r s I organized,

i n the c e l l s , the topography o f the i s l a n d s . In a second p r e p a r a t o r y

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p e r i o d , immediately f o l l o w i n g the o p e r a t i o n , I c o n f r o n t e d the

p a t i e n t s with those c o m b i n a t i o n s . They were b o r n , once a g a i n ,

to the w o r l d . They had t o l e a r n t o i n t e r p r e t i t . I guided them

to see h e r e : a k n o l l , here: a s e a , here: an arm o f w a t e r , h e r e :

a beach, here: an o u t c r o p o f r o c k s , h e r e : a forest...

"My patients l o s t the f a c u l t y o f s e e i n g c o l o r s as colors.

"I combined s i g h t with h e a r i n g . Other men are a b l e t o h e a r ,

more o r l e s s w e l l , through a s o l i d body. The transformed men can

see through a body which i s s o l i d and opaque. I hereby perfected

the v i s u a l e x t i n c t i o n o f the l i m i t s o f the cell.

"The first o f my o p e r a t i o n s induced an unforeseen association

between t a c t i l e , v i s u a l and a u d i t o r y n e r v e s ; as a consequence, the

p a t i e n t c o u l d touch a t a d i s t a n c e (as we hear at a d i s t a n c e and

through s o l i d s , as we see a t a d i s t a n c e and through t r a n s p a r e n t

solids).

"Due to a l a c k o f time f o r comparison and r e s o l u t i o n I d i d not

i n t r o d u c e any changes i n my o p e r a t i o n s ; I always repeated the

first one: a l l my p a t i e n t s possess t h i s f a c u l t y (possibly benefi-

c i a l ) of touching at a distance."

Nevers' n o t e : 1) T h i s e x p l a i n s the tenuous p r e s s u r e s , as i f

from s o f t hands, on my neck. 2) When they touch through a w a l l ,

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do they f e e l the w a l l p a i n f u l l y , o r as we f e e l a gas o r a l i q u i d ,

o r don't they f e e l i t a t a l l ? Although they r e q u i r e t h e e x c i t a t i o n

of the t a c t i l e c e n t e r s i n o r d e r t o h e a r , I suppose t h a t they a r e

a n e s t h e t i z e d i n some way; i f they w e r e n ' t , t h e i r s i g h t and touch

would give them c o n t r a d i c t o r y information.

"7. — Panoramic v i s i o n o f t h e man who i s i n t h e c e n t r a l

i s l a n d , or c e l l : b o r d e r i n g t h e i s l a n d are the beaches ( y e l l o w and

blue f r i n g e , almost t o t a l l y l a c k i n g i n r e d ) ; then the arms o f t h e

sea ( t h e w a l l s ) ; t h e n , the o t h e r i s l a n d s , each with t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e

s e t t l e r , and t h e i r beaches; t h e n , on t o the h o r i z o n , i s l a n d s

surrounded by arms o f the sea ( t h e former i s l a n d s , r e f l e c t e d i n t h e

m i r r o r s on t h e s u r r o u n d i n g w a l l s ) .

" V i s i o n o f the i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g i s l a n d s : on

t h r e e s i d e s they see the o t h e r i s l a n d s ; i n the m i r r o r s , t h e i r own

i s l a n d , the o t h e r i s l a n d s and the i s l a n d s the m i r r o r s r e f l e c t from

the other islands."

Nevers' n o t e : The f l o o r o f the c o u r t y a r d i s p a i n t e d l i k e the

w a l l s o f the c e n t r a l c e l l . T h i s e x p l a i n s the f e a r o f drowning,

expressed by t h e P r i e s t . C a s t e l surrounded the i s l a n d s by t h i s

apparent s e a , so the transformed men would not undertake t r i p s t o

regions o f unforeseeable i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . The m i r r o r s o f the o u t e r

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cells propose known images, which keep the i n c o n c e i v a b l e recesses

o f the c o u r t y a r d at a d i s t a n c e .

"8. - - Another p o s s i b i l i t y : To change the emotions (as they

are changed by t o n i c s o r opium). The w o r l d thus a c h i e v e d would

have seemed l i k e a drunkenness, heaven o r l o v e : intensities

incompatible with intelligence.

"Another: To cure the i n s a n e : to change t h e i r perception

o f r e a l i t y , i n such a way as to a d j u s t i t t o t h e i r madness.

"Another ( f o r f u t u r e i n v e s t i g a t o r s ) : In men whose p e r s o n a l i t y

and memory are h o r r i b l e , t o t r a n s f o r m not o n l y t h e i r p e r c e p t i o n of

the w o r l d but a l s o t h a t o f the ego; t o a c h i e v e , through changes i n

the senses and through an adequate p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r e p a r a t i o n , the

i n t e r r u p t i o n o f the s e l f and the b i r t h o f a new individual within

the p r e v i o u s one. B u t , as the d e s i r e f o r i m m o r t a l i t y i s , almost

a l w a y s , f o r personal i m m o r t a l i t y , I d i d not attempt the experience.

"The world..."

(Here C a s t e l ' s notes break o f f ) .

1
NEVERS NOTES:

I suspect that to avoid unforeseeable i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , Castel

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d e c i d e d the transformed men s h o u l d be spoken t o , f e d and washed

w h i l e a s l e e p ( c a r r y i n g out o r d e r s and even h a v i n g b r i e f d i a l o g u e s

w i t h o u t waking i s a custom e a s i l y come b y , spontaneous i n many

a d u l t s and i n almost a l l c h i l d r e n ) .

A l t e r a t i o n o f the hours o f waking and those o f s l e e p : It

was c o n v e n i e n t t h a t the c e l l s had no r o o f ; i t was c o n v e n i e n t t h a t

the d i u r n a l l i g h t reached t h e transformed men. The i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

o f the sky would have been an arduous problem. The changing o f

the hours o b v i a t e s these difficulties.

The animals on D e v i l ' s Island: I r e c a l l the o l d h o r s e , that

Favre thought was c r a z y . He d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e the g r a s s . Undoubt-

e d l y he was one o f the f i r s t o f C a s t e l ' s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s ;

undoubtedly the animals t h a t C a s t e l had on D e v i l ' s Island—all mad,

according to F a v r e — s e r v e d f o r experiments.

C a s t e l ' s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . With no g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y he would

have seen the c e l l s as i s l a n d s and t h e b l o t c h e s o f p a i n t as b e a c h e s ,

seas o r k n o l l s : f o r months he thought o f some o f them as r e p r e s e n -

t a t i o n s o f the o t h e r s (when he c o n c e i v e d o f t h e p a i n t i n g o f t h e c e l l s ,

when he c a r r i e d i t o u t , when he prepared t h e transformed men).

In my o p i n i o n , the governor was c e r t a i n o f p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n

the dream o f the i s l a n d s , which he had i n s t i l l e d i n o t h e r s , b u t he

was a f r a i d o f l o s i n g f o r e v e r our v i s i o n o f r e a l i t y ; a t some moment

he was a f r a i d . That i s why he repeated the l e t t e r s o f the a l p h a b e t

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and wanted t o draw them o u t ; t h a t i s why he t r i e d t o remember t h a t

the s p e a r (a y e l l o w sheet o f p a p e r , t h a t i s t o s a y , a y e l l o w blob,

t h a t i s t o s a y , a l e n g t h ) was a l s o , a p i e c e o f p a p e r , t o remember

t h a t the m e d a l l i o n (a b l u e p e n c i l , t h a t i s t o s a y , a blob o f b l u e ,

t h a t i s t o s a y , a width) was, a l s o , a p e n c i l , t o remember t h a t t h e

f r i g h t f u l s t i l l waters t h a t surrounded him w e r e , a l s o , cement.

As f o r h i s e n i g m a t i c a s s e r t i o n t h a t he would no l o n g e r feel

p a i n , but t h a t he would h e a r , f o r e v e r , t h e beginnings o f the f i r s t

movement o f Brahms' Symphony i n E m i n o r , I see o n l y one p o s s i b l e

explanation: t h a t the governor had a c h i e v e d , o r a t t e m p t e d , the

transmutation o f t h e s e n s a t i o n s o f h i s pain i n t o a u d i t o r y sensations.

But s i n c e no pain always presents itself i n t h e same f o r m , we w i l l

never know what music C a s t e l i s h e a r i n g .

How do the t r a n s f o r m e d men see each o t h e r ? Maybe l i k e jumbled

and mobile p e r s p e c t i v e s , with no s i m i l a r i t y t o the human form; more

l i k e l y , as men (as they look a t t h e i r own bodies they encounter t h e

same p e r s p e c t i v e s which they see i n t h e o t h e r s ; i t i s not i m p o s s i b l e

t h a t those p e r s p e c t i v e s t a k e , f o r them, t h e human form--as others

took the form o f i s l a n d s , k n o l l s , s e a s , beaches--but n e i t h e r i s i t

i m p o s s i b l e t h a t those p e r s p e c t i v e s - - s e e n , m e r e l y , as such--may be

the o n l y human image which they now know).

The P r i e s t d i d n o t see men; he saw monsters. He found h i m s e l f

on an i s l a n d , and i t was on an i s l a n d , i n the P a c i f i c , where he

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had had h i s most v i v i d e x p e r i e n c e , the horrendous dream t h a t was

the key to h i s s o u l : i n the madness brought about by the sun and

hunger and t h i r s t , he had seen the s e a g u l l s t h a t relentlessly

pursued him and h i s companions i n agony as a s i n g l e monster, rami-

f i e d and f r a g m e n t a r y .

T h i s e x p l a i n s the l i v i n g t a b l e a u x , the s l u g g i s h b a l l e t , the

r e l a t i v e p o s t u r e s o f t h e t r a n s f o r m e d men. They saw each o t h e r

through the w a l l s . The P r i e s t l a y i n ambush. In t h e s e I s l a n d s o f

the B l e s s e d , the P r i e s t had found h i s ship-wrecked i s l a n d , he had

engaged i n h i s c e n t r a l d e l i r i u m , the h u n t i n g o f monsters.

They touched a t a d i s t a n c e and through the w a l l s . The Priest

s t r a n g l e d them. They saw themselves g i r d l e d by the P r i e s t ' s hands

a n d , through the a s s o c i a t i o n o f i d e a s , they s u f f e r e d s t r a n g u l a t i o n .

All f a n t a s y i s r e a l f o r him who believes in i t .

On my n e c k , the p r e s s u r e o f h i s hands was soft. My movements

were q u i c k f o r him; I d i d n ' t g i v e him t i m e . . .

Even i n Dreyfus and i n me (who weren't p a i n t e d ) he saw monsters.

I f he had seen h i m s e l f , maybe he wouldn't have i n t e r p r e t e d the r e s t

of us as monsters. But he was f a r - s i g h t e d , and w i t h o u t g l a s s e s

he c o u l d n ' t see h i s own body.

Why d i d C a s t e l r e p e a t the monsters are men? Because he had

r e p e a t e d i t t o the P r i e s t , t r y i n g t o c o n v i n c e him? Or because he

h i m s e l f had been a f r a i d , f o r the time when he would be i n ' h i s

 169

a r c h i p e l a g o , o f s e e i n g h i m s e l f surrounded by monsters?

Of J u l i e n , one o f the " s i c k men" on Devil's I s l a n d , I didn't

find a trace. Like a l l d i s c o v e r i e s , Castel's invention exacts, and

w i l l exact, victims. I t doesn't even matter where i t a l l comes t o .

What matters i s the e x a l t e d , p e a c e f u l , joyous work o f human

intelligence.

Day i s breaking. I j u s t heard (I t h i n k ) a s h o t . I ' l l have a

look. Then I w i l l come back...

LII

Fragments o f a l e t t e r from the naval l i e u t e n a n t X a v i e r B r i s s a c ,

dated i n the I s l e s du S a l u t , 3rd o f May.

P i e r r e has deluded I r e n e ; he accuses me o f the t h e f t o f the

documents, he s l a n d e r s me... I seem to r e c a l l i t was the same

a c c u s a t i o n which brought about Henri's exile. Nevertheless, Pierre

w i l l o r d e r my return. He i s not unaware t h a t the c o p i e s o f Henri's

correspondence f e l l i n t o my hands.

I am g l a d t h a t Henri's v a l o r demonstrated d u r i n g the revolt

has been rewarded w i t h t h i s posthumous d e c o r a t i o n . He deserved i t ,

a b s o l u t e l y , due to our f a m i l y ' s i n f l u e n c e and due to the account

s e n t to you by Bordenave, a l i a s Dreyfus.

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But I w i l l n o t t a l k now o f h i s eventual r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e

prisoners' conspiracy. I assure y o u , however, t h a t t h e i n v e s t i -

gation i s progressing. The keys t o the armory are i n h i s p o s s e s s i o n ;

the r e b e l s d i d not f o r c e the door i n o r d e r t o e n t e r . . .

Regarding Henri we s t i l l have c o n t r a d i c t i n g r e p o r t s . Some

p r i s o n e r s d e c l a r e t h a t he was k i l l e d by M a r s i l l a c , a l i a s t h e P r i e s t ;

o t h e r s , captured i n t h e G u i a n a s , s a i d he f l e d i n a rowboat, w i t h

the p r e t e x t o f p u r s u i n g De B r i n o n . I must confess t h a t I found a

Mr. Bernheim, a p r i s o n e r , t h e most determined and u s e f u l o f the

informants.

I am sending you some o b j e c t s t h a t belonged t o H e n r i . Among

them, a golden mermaid, m i r a c u l o u s l y saved from the greed o f the

prisoners.

The l a s t events a f f e c t e d Bordenave. At times I ask m y s e l f

( r e c a l l i n g the s e c r e t a r y ' s i d i o c y ) i f C a s t e l might not have

"transformed" him... At any r a t e , the man doesn't seem completely

normal... I i n s p i r e h a t r e d and t e r r o r i n him. I understand t h a t

these sentiments a r e due t o a l a c k o f e q u i l i b r i u m on the p a r t o f

Bordenave, t h a t my p a r t i n them i s m i n i m a l . I see them, however,

as s i g n s o f an adverse judgement.

I know t h a t he sent you an envelope with Henri's last letter.

I know t h a t because o f r e p o r t s from t h e p r i s o n e r s . Do n o t imagine

t h a t he c o n s u l t e d me...
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Now he has d i s a p p e a r e d . I have o r d e r e d t h a t he be apprehended:

he i s a dangerous c r i m i n a l . B e s i d e s , I hear rumors t h a t i t i s h i s

i n t e n t i o n t o accuse me, t o d e c l a r e t h a t I k i l l e d H e n r i . Pitifully,

I t h i n k t h a t t h a t absurd l i e c o u l d reach S a i n t - M a r t i n and be

employed by P i e r r e t o t o r t u r e my beloved I r e n e , t o reproach her

f o r her passion for me...

Etcetera.
 THE F R E A K

(FABLE OF LOVE

AND

THE OLD LADIES)

( M a d r i d , Spain 1944)

by

Rafael A l b e r t i

T r a n s l a t e d from the Spanish by

MEREDYTH SAVAGE
 CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ACT

A l t e r n a t e Names*

GORGO (Gohr-go)

UVA (Oo-vah) BITTERBERRY

AULAGA (Ah-oo-lah-gah) THISTLEBUSH

ALTEA (Ahl-tay-ah) MARSHMALLOW

BION (Bee-yone) BION

ANIMAS (Ah-nee-mahs) ..VESPER

* The a l t e r n a t e names are rough e q u i v a l e n t s o f t h e

Spanish names o f the c h a r a c t e r s ; i , e . , uva means grape,

and a l s o b e r r y (such as d o g b e r r y , g o o s e b e r r y , e t c . as

the case may be) - - always a f r u i t with n e g a t i v e

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . -- Translator's note.
 174

The f a b l e takes p l a c e i n any y e a r between 1874 and 1944

and i n one o f those f a n a t i c a l fallen towns among the s i e r r a s

o f Southern S p a i n , f u l l o f Moslem recollections.

 175

ACT ONE

Front room i n a wealthy house. Side doors. Two o l d women,

UVA and AULAGA are f u s s i n g o v e r BION, a redskinned b e g g a r , s t a n d i n g

on a t a l l s t o o l a t the c e n t e r o f the s t a g e . UVA, on h e r k n e e s , i s

mending one o f the l e g s o f h i s t r o u s e r s . AULAGA, from high up on

a c h a i r , i s combing and c u t t i n g h i s t h i c k b e a r d . It i s night.

Silence.

UVA: Aulaga

AULAGA: Uva.

UVA: C a r e f u l you don't f o r g e t what youre doing.

AULAGA: Why do you keep s a y i n g t h a t ?

UVA: I'm s a y i n g i t now because o f the b e a r d .

BION: You s t u c k me with the n e e d l e , you woodpecker!

UVA: Be q u i e t ! You hear?

( S i l e n c e , h a l t i n g t h e i r l a b o r s f o r an i n s t a n t . )
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UVA: Gorgo's t a k i n g a l o n g time g e t t i n g back.

AULAGA: She woke up y e l l o w i n t h e f a c e t h i s morning. All ofa

sudden.

UVA: And I might say t h a t h e r t e e t h were c h a t t e r i n g .

AULAGA: And t h a t a b o l t o f l i g h t n i n g was about t o b u r s t from one

of her eyes.

BION: An eyebrow must have gotten s t u c k .

UVA: I s a i d t o keep q u i e t , o r I ' l l baste your l e g t o your pants.

BION: An eyebrow, an eyebrow!

AULAGA ( c u t t i n g o f f h i s beard w i t h one g r e a t c l i p o f t h e s c i s s o r s . ) :

There! F o r b e i n g a busybody and a b a b b l e r y o u ' l l have t o do

without a b e a r d .

BION (furious): Dona Aulaga! But Dona A u l a g a !

AULAGA" Chsst! Q u i e t , q u i e t , she's coming back.

(There a r e heard t h e d r y taps o f a w a l k i n g cane on t h e f l o o r .

I l l u m i n a t e d by a small c a n d l e s t i c k , Dona GORGQ appears i n t h e

doorway a t the r e a r . She i s an o l d woman and i s wearing t h e

beard o f a man. Her countenance i s gloomy.)

UVA, AULAGA and Bl6N ( c r o s s i n g t h e m s e l v e s ) : Cross, c r o s s , cross!

GORGO (drawing h e r s e l f up): Roost f u l l o f falcons! Nest o f gnats!

Sheepskinners! L e t those o f t h i s house tremble from t h i s day!

Those o f you who know me and those who have never seen me!

Those who move about c l o s e b y , under the p o i n t o f t h i s stick,

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and those who a r e f a r away! Woe t o those who a r e f a r away!

Now I begin t o be Gorgo. (She e x t i n g u i s h e s t h e c a n d l e .

• ' '
Shouting) Animas. Animas. Animas!

BION ( f r i g h t e n e d , from the t o p o f t h e s t o o l ) : Gorgo, Gorgo,

Dona Gorgo!

AULAGA and UVA (terrified):

Holy cross,

c r o s s o f power,

I c a l l on y o u

for my death's hour!

BION: But how can i t be t h a t my m i s t r e s s appears with my beard?

GORGO ( r a i s i n g h e r c a n e ) : With y o u r b e a r d , Bion? With y o u r l i c e -

i n f e s t e d beard? Out, out o f h e r e , d i s t u r b e r o f v i r g i n s !

BION ( f a l l i n g from t h e s t o o l , s u p p l i c a n t ) :

Cry, pesky f l y ;

crickets f o r your feet

and a b r i d l e f o r y o u r t e e t h !

GORGO: Animas, Animas, Animas!

(ANIMAS e n t e r s , f a l l i n g t o h e r knees.)

ANIMAS: Dead r a t , dead c a t ,

d e l i v e r me God,

from the b o i l i n g v a t !
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GORGO: Throw t h a t rag with b r i s t l e s , t h a t i n d e c e n t t a t t e r i n t o t h e

garbage.

BION: But my b e a r d , Dona Gorgo, my b r i s t l e s . . . t h a t honored t h i s

f a c e and t h i s humble a p p a r e l !

GORGO: In t h e garbage, Animas! Out i n t o t h e s t r e e t ! Over t h e

balcony o r down t h e hollow o f the s t a i r c a s e ! Quickly! Enough

o f charms and i n c a n t a t i o n s - - y o u r m i s t r e s s commands i t .

BION: M/beard'. My beard! Bion w i l l n o t l e a v e a l i v e w i t h o u t h i s

beard! My m i s t l e t o e !

GORGO: O u t , o u t o f here! (Pushing him with ANIMAS towards t h e

s i d e door a t the l e f t . ) Nevermore w i l l t h e r e be i n t h i s house

a beard o t h e r than mine. (Throwing t h e beggar's beard out t h e

door with a g e s t u r e o f d i s g u s t . ) Oof! The men o f t h i s house

are done w i t h f o r e v e r ! (She slams t h e door shut.) dust like

that. (She s i t s , depressed.) God! God's God! Why d i d y o u

choose t o warn me? No, I d i d n ' t deserve i t . You have made me

a v i c t i m o f my own good f a i t h . 1,1 m y s e l f s t u c k t h i s bandage

over my e y e s . (While UVA weeps, s o f t l y , i n an a r m c h a i r ,

AULAGA stands absent-minded, l o s t i n c l o u d s , a t one extreme o f

the room.) You have punished my b l i n d n e s s , my good f a i t h , my

l a c k o f d o m i n a t i o n , o f energy. Because you thought me author-

i t a r i a n , h a r d , capable o f s t o p p i n g a b u l l w i t h a s i n g l e

s y l l a b l e , o f r a i s i n g a w a l l with o n l y a g l a n c e . But u n t i l
 179

today when you wounded me, when you s t r u c k me i n the p u p i l s o f

my e y e s , shook me l i k e an o l i v e t r e e , the whip o f command d i d

not c r a c k l e i n my b l o o d , n o r d i d t h e thunder o f power b u r s t

f o r t h on my tongue. God! God's God! ( P u l l i n g o f f the beard

and l o o k i n g a t i t . ) Thank you f o r t h i s s y m b o l , f o r t h i s emblem

o f a u t h o r i t y t h a t y o u have hung on my f a c e and t h a t I w i t h o u t

knowing i t s s p e c i a l g i f t have kept s i n c e so l o n g a g o .

UVA: (interrupting her sobbing): A y , h i s b e a r d , h i s was so

b e a u t i f u l , s o f t and supple as a w i l l o w t r e e !

GORGO: You're n o t s u g g e s t i n g t h a t mine i s l i k e t h e beard on t h e

ear o f a c o r n s t a l k .

UVA: But h i s beard was r e a d . Ay!

GORGO: And mine i s a s a i n t ' s . . . A r e l i c , Uva, a r e l i c . . . The

s o f t beard o f one who flew from t h i s w o r l d .

UVA (crying again): I want h i s , B i o n ' s .

GORGO: Quills l i k e t h a t hog's s p r o u t l i k e t h a t ! (Snaps h e r f i n g e r s . )

UVA: Quills? N e t t l e s , t h i s t l e s , needles o f a p r i c k l y p e a r , t h a t ' s

what the beard you're wearing looks like.

GORGO: Do n o t c r i t i c i z e o f f i n d f a u l t w i t h one who i s b e l o v e d and

dead...one who was y o u r friend.

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UVA: A f r i e n d o f mine, w i t h a beard? C l o s e up I have never seen

a beard o t h e r than B i o n ' s .

GORGO: A f r i e n d o f yours and A u l a g a ' s . Of the both o f y o u .

(She puts on the beard again and s t a r t s promenading about the

room.) W e l l , y o u , Aulaga. Look. But what i s the matter with

you? Come on! Are you so a f r a i d o f me? Do I t e r r i f y you so

much now? (Shouting at her.) Aulaga! Don't y o u hear me?

Wake up. God! God's God!

AULAGA ( f a r away, as i f a s l e e p ) : Gorgo, Gorgo, G o r g o j a . . . But i s

t h a t y o u , Gorgoja?

GORGO: No, no! Look a t me c a r e f u l l y . You're b l i n d . Open y o u r

eyes. (Shaking her.) That's i t , w i d e . L i k e a cow. (She

comes and goes i n f r o n t o f AULAGA, i n the manner o f a man.

I am no l o n g e r Gorgo now. Think, think. ( L i f t i n g UVA's f a c e . )

And you t o o , Uva. You have t o know h i m , you haven't forgotten

him. Look, l o o k . (She s i t s , s t i l l i n the s t y l e o f a man,)

c r o s s i n g h e r l e g s and i n a p e n s i v e manner.)

"The o l i v e grove, the o l i v e grove! Those m i s e r a b l e f o o l s a r e

robbing me. They're r u i n i n g , me. I can't take i t any more, I

can't! I'm going t o explode!" Who s u f f e r e d , who d e s p a i r e d

l i k e that? (She walks a b o u t , h e r hands on h e r s h o u l d e r s ,

hopping about and s a y i n g q u i c k l y ) "Saneta M a r i a , Saneta Dei

G e n i t r i x , Sancta V i r g o V i r g i n u m , Mater C h r i s t i , Mater D i v i n a e .

 181

Gratiae..." Uva, A u l a g a , remember.

AULAGA (with a s t o n i s h m e n t ) : Gorgo, Gorgo!

GORGO: More, more, more!

UVA: I see now, I s e e , Gorgo.

GORGO: T h i n k , my f r i e n d s . . . Look a t me c l o s e l y now... Now guess...

(Sitting and weakening h e r v o i c e . ) Daughter, l i t t l e daughter,

Altea... (As i f dying and g r o p i n g about f o r someone.) Come...

I'm going away... away... w i t h y o u r mother... But you have

Gorgo t h e r e . . . (Choking) Gorgo... (As she drops h e r head as

i f dead and l e t s go o f the cane) Obey h e r .

AULAGA and UVA: Don Dino! Don d i n o ! Don d i n o !

ANIMAS: But what i s t h i s ? Ay! What i s i t t h a t my eyes s e e ,

b l i n d f o o l t h a t I am? But—it i s my m a s t e r , my poor l o r d

Don D i n o , j u s t as he was when t h e angels took him away.'

( K n e e l i n g ) M a s t e r , m i s t r e s s , my l o r d , my l a d y !

(UVA and AULAGA, on e i t h e r s i d e o f h e r i n tones o f a responsory)

UVA: He was a f i r m s t a f f o f v i r t u e s .

AULAGA: A l e r t and w a t c h f u l e y e .

UVA: He was a s t e r n and c o n c e n t r a t e d frown.

AULAGA: J u s t and powerful arm.

UVA: Kindness.

AULAGA: Love

UVA: Laughter.
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AULAGA: Light.

ANIMAS: Don Dino! My b e n e f a c t o r ! F a t h e r o f my l i t t l e mistress!

I will run and b r i n g h e r , i t w i l l g i v e h e r g r e a t j o y t o k i s s

him! (She runs o u t , shouting) A l t e a ! Altea!

GORGO ( r e v i v i n g , with a m a l i c i o u s l i t t l e grunt.): Yes, y e s ,

Don D i n o , D i n , D i n i t o , my dead b r o t h e r . The very same,

exactly. How c l e a r l y you have r e c o g n i z e d him! Of c o u r s e !

It i s h i s very beard! Not a h a i r l e s s o r a h a i r more! As he

had i t on t h e morning o f h i s d e a t h . (She takes i t o f f . ) But

now I w i l l be y o u r Gorgo a g a i n . Don't be a f r a i d o f me, my

daughters. (Again w i t h a h a l f - m o c k i n g l i t t l e grunt) ...Your

Gorgo, y o u r G o r g o j a , y o u r G o r g o j i l l a , the o n l y f r i e n d y o u have

in t h e town,in t h i s e v i l - m i n d e d town o f l u s t f u l men...

v i o l a t o r s o f innocence ...drunkards! H a , ha!

UVA:(while GORGO b r i n g s a b o t t l e and t h r e e g l a s s e s ) : Violators?

L u s t f u l men? (With m a l i c i o u s i n t e n t ) You a r e n ' t s a y i n g t h a t

because o f t h a t poor f o o l o f a p i g . . . whom you a l s o protect.

GORGO: Come, Uva, my l i t t l e g r a p e , my l i t t l e c a t k i n , my sweet

little dogberry... A touch o f r a b i e s . . . ? A little glass o f

b r a n d y , and h o l y peace. Alright? I t ' s good f o r gas p a i n s .

( O f f e r i n g i t t o AULAGA) Aulaga?

AULAGE: No, G o r g o j i l l a , no. You know how i t makes my s k i n bristle

up, how I t u r n i n t o a p o r c u p i n e .
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UVA: W e l l , i f Aulaga i s n ' t d r i n k i n g , I won't either.

GORGO: Are y o u c a l l i n g me a d r u n k a r d , my f e l l o w godmothers? When

y o u r b l o o d c h i l l s you i n t h e n i g h t . . . Because I've suddenly

n o t i c e d t h a t i t ' s going c o l d i n my v e i n s . And I need fire,

daughters, flame... and smoke, smoke...

AULAGE: I ' l l d r i n k , Gorgoja.

UVA: W e l l , I won't r i g h t now.

GORGO ( f i l l i n g AULAGA's g l a s s from h e r own and s i t t i n g ) Thank y o u ,

Aulaga, (The two o f them d r i n k . )

AULAGA: I t ' s t h a t one's f a u l t t h a t b l a c k q u i l l s a r e s t a r t i n g t o

sprout from my p o r e s .

UVA: That one? I am n o t t h a t o n e .

GORGO: That one, t h a t one, t h a t one.

UVA: Uva.

GORGO: Uveal w a r t .

UVA: J e a l o u s women.

AULAGA and GORGO: Ha, ha!

UVA: She d i d i t p u r p o s e l y , she wanted t o .

AULAGA: What venom are you g a r g l i n g up?

UVA: ...because he was b u r s t i n g you open...

AULAGA: Me, me?

UVA: ...because he drove you w i l d with r a p t u r e , he swept you away,

the two o f y o u .
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GORGO: Me? That r a g - p i c k e r ? That f o u l piglet?

UVA: I don't know i f he swept you l i k e t h i s one h e r e .

AULAGA: T h i s one, t h i s one? My name i s A u l a g a .

UVA: This one.

GORGO: Uva.

UVA: . . . t h a t ' s why, p r e t e n d i n g t o be t h e absent-minded one, y o u

cut o f f h i s beard w i t h one s n i p o f the s c i s s o r s . . . ( t o GORGO)

and y o u threw him o u t o f the house.

GORGO ( t h r e a t e n i n g ) : Yes, y e s , And l e t him dare e v e r again t o

stamp h i s hoof i n t h a t doorway.' L e t him t r y !

UVA (tearfully): A y , so good, so u n f o r t u n a t e , so b e a u t i f u l !

GORGO (with f e i g n e d a f f e c t i o n ) : B u t , Uva, my poor l i t t l e goose-

g r a p e , my g o o s e b e r r y , my l i t t l e goat's g r a p e , what do y o u know

about t h a t ?

UVA: You're j e a l o u s . . . the two o f y o u . . . because he p r e f e r r e d

me. I won't say he l o v e d me more... But he p r e f e r r e d me,

t h a t he d i d .

AULAGA: P r e f e r r e d you? Loved you? Not y o u , n o t me, not Gorgo.

The t h r e e o f u s , t h e t h r e e o f us t h e same!

UVA: But I have been t h e most s e l f - d e n y i n g . Who dared t o delouse

him when we s t a r t e d p r o t e c t i n g him?

GORGO: Delouse him? W e l l , what about the f i n g e r n a i l s he had?

Who c l i p p e d them t o t h e q u i c k ?
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AULAGA: With a c h i s e l I had t o break o f f t h e c l a y from one o f h i s

ears. And, a f t e r w a r d s , I've always been h i s b a r b e r . A worthy

t a s k , y o u won't deny t h a t .

UVA: Y e s , but my s a c r i f i c e s , my s a c r i f i c e s . . . I f you knew! I

s u f f e r , I s u f f e r f o r him more than Gorgo and y o u .

GORGO ( t h e g l a s s t r e m b l i n g on h e r l i p s ) : More than Aulaga and I!

Look a t t h e s a i n t . The m a r t y r . The sublime one!

AULAGA: S o , you're s u f f e r i n g f o r Bion more than a l l o f us t o g e t h e r !

GORGO: That means, U v i t a , t h a t y o u . . . Why, t h a t y o u s a c r i f i c e

y o u r s e l f f o r him so much b e h i n d my back!

AULAGA: . . . t h a t you see him, t h a t you have seen him w i t h o u t Gorgo

or me knowing a n y t h i n g about i t .

GORGO: C o n f e s s , Uva. Speak.

AULAGA: Is t h e l i t t l e girl afraid?

GORGO: Answer. You have seen him. Now I am b e g i n n i n g t o

understand y o u r whimpering and t h a t madness about h i s h a i r .

AULAGA: Who would have g u e s s e d , Uva! ( G e t t i n g up) Who, who,who!

GORGO ( s h o u t i n g round about UVA): You've seen him. You've seen

him. You've seen him. (Stopping h e r s e l f , d r i l y . ) And what

e l s e , Uva? And what e l s e ?

AULAGA ( t u r n i n g about i n t h e o p p o s i t e way): She saw him! She

saw him!

GORGO: And where, where, where?

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AULAGA: Doggy dogberry!

GORGO: I t wasn't a t y o u r house because t h a t would have been too...

AULAGA: Greedy!

GORGO: In t h e d i n i n g room f o r the p o o r . . . No, no! I have t h e

key i n my p o c k e t . . . I'm the l a s t t o l e a v e . . . (More s l o w l y

and d i s c o u r a g e d ) In t h i s house... i n t h e garden... i n the

tower... (Pause) Ah! God! God's God! The coach house!

A u l a g a , the coach house! There, there! Through t h e f a l l e n

door t h a t opens i n t o the f i e l d s ! B a r k , Uva, c o n f e s s ! Howl,

y e s , go o n , howl t h a t i t ' s true!

UVA: No, no!

AULAGA: S p i l l out t h e t r u t h , s p u r t i t o u t .

UVA: Not even i n my t h o u g h t s . Never! I am a f l o w e r , a f l o w e r !

GORGO: Flower, flower! In t h e dung heaps on t h e s t a b l e floor!

UVA: Rose w i t h o u t s t a i n ! P u r e s t nard!

AULAGA: B e a s t , mountain w i l d c a t ! I'm going t o s c r a t c h y o u r eyes

out, l i a r ! Run! I'm going t o t w i s t y o u r h a i r o f f , p u l l i t

from i t s r o o t s .

(UVA f l e e s about t h e room, pursued by AULAGA and GORGO.)

UVA: I don't have a nephew, A u l a g a , A u l a g a !

GORGO ( r a i s i n g t h e s t i c k ) : Bring that face o f your over here.

Y o u ' l l see what sparks f l y from the bone.

UVA: I have no-one! Alone! I'm a l o n e !

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GORGO: Dogberry! Cattail!

AULAGA: Run!

UVA: Kill me! Kill me! Furies, furies! Harpies!

(ANIMAS e n t e r s , s t o p p i n g t h e t h r e e p a n t i n g o l d women.)

GORGO ( i n a s o f t v o i c e ) : What do you want, Animas? How i s A l t e a ?

ANIMAS: What, what do I want, madam? (Excited) You, y e s , y e s ,

y o u , y o u know... Who c o u l d know b e t t e r than you? You s h o u l d

have t o l d me.

GORGO: Why have y o u been gone so l o n g , Animas?

•

ANIMAS: Madam, oh my m i s t r e s s ! When one i s c r y i n g i n s i d e a

tower the weeping can't be heard i n t h e g a r d e n s .

GORGO: But he who seeks i n e a r n e s t does n o t o v e r l o o k a s i n g l e

corner.

ANIMAS: And so I d i d , my l a d y , u n t i l I found h e r . . . I mean,

until I heard h e r . . . because I o n l y heard h e r . . . A y , my poor

little child!

GORGO: You heard her? Is i t t r u e t h a t y o u heard her? D i d she

d a r e , p e r h a p s , t o speak t o you?

ANIMAS: Madam, o n l y you know what i s happening. But i f y o u a r e

good, compassionate, i f y o u don't have y o u r h e a r t sewn up w i t h

a thread o f s t e e l , see t o i t that your n i e c e , that that

p r e c i o u s c h i l d o f mine, does n o t l o s e such b e a u t i f u l e y e s .

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GORGO ( s a d l y , but l o o k i n g i n subdued mockery a t UVA and AULAGA):

Beautiful! Beautiful! T h i s i s t h e f i r s t time they have t r u l y

wept.

ANIMAS: They w i l l be l e f t w i t h o u t l i g h t , b l i n d , l o c k e d i n t h a t

dark tower.

(In a b r i e f pause on the p a r t o f ANIMAS, AULAGA and UVA s t a r e

a t one a n o t h e r o p e n l y . )

GORGO (her head b u r i e d ) : Blind... i n a tower..., b l i n d . . . ,

blind...

ANIMAS: I who brought h e r u p , I who s u s t a i n e d h e r i n h e r f i r s t

s t e p s , who p l a c e d t h e f i r s t f l o w e r i n h e r h a i r , who took h e r

to t h e mountain o f t h e C r o s s e s , who taught h e r how t o g r a f t

rose bushes and t o make t o o t h p i c k s from t h e stems o f j a s m i n e s .

... Out o f compassion, l a d y , l i f t t h i s penalty and f r e e h e r

from t h a t p r i s o n where y o u have l o c k e d h e r away from me, f o r

I swear t h a t Animas w i l l r e s t o r e h e r t o h e r l o v e , t o t h e

o b e d i e n c e , t h e r e s p e c t t h a t she owes y o u !

GORGO: Her l o v e . . . h e r l o v e . . .

ANIMAS: Only y o u r s w i l l open t h e d o o r .

GORGO: I had t h o u g h t , Animas... B u t , no... Here a r e t h e k e y s .

ANIMAS ( k i s s i n g h e r ) : Oh, madam!

(She s t a r t s to leave.)

GORGO: Release h e r and b r i n g h e r t o me i m m e d i a t e l y . I have some

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things to t a l k t o h e r about. (ANIMAS e x i t s . GORGO t u r n s

g r a v e l y , t o UVA and AULAGA, but suddenly she runs toward t h e

/ ' '
door, shouting) Animas! Animas! (ANIMAS r e a p p e a r s , fearful.)

Dress A l t e a i n h e r b e s t d r e s s , t h a t one we a l l embroidered

between us when she was queen o f t h e v i n t a g e .

ANIMAS: I will dress h e r , madam.

(She goes. UVA s i t s a g a i n , g r i e v o u s , with s i g n s o f w e e p i n g ,

and AULAGA s t a n d s as i f i n a t r a n c e a t one extreme o f t h e

stage.)

GORGO: L o v e , f o r me! Love! Did y o u h e a r , my g i r l s ? Come, UVA

don't c r y any more about t h a t . I t i s I who s h o u l d be d y i n g now.

Gorgojilla l o v e s you and f o r g i v e s y o u , and so does A u l a g a .

A u l a g a , Uva: come with me t o t h e c e n t e r o f t h e room. I need

you. What would I do i n t h i s time o f c r i s i s w i t h o u t my f e l l o w

godmothers? My n i e c e i s going t o come. Now you w i l l know

everything. God! God's God!

AULAGA: Gorgo. Gorgo. I am l i s t e n i n g . I'm w a i t i n g . . .

UVA: What d i d y o u say? What have y o u j u s t said?

GORGO: Men!

UVA: Don't s t a r t a g a i n , Gorgo. I know, I a l r e a d y know enough.

GORGO: Don't l e a v e me. Support me. Help me. I need t o be s t r o n g ,

to have the word and manner o f a man, t o be my dead b r o t h e r ,

uncle and f a t h e r a t once f o r t h i s h o r r i b l e cup t h a t awaits me.

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AULAGA: Men!

UVA: Love! Love!

GORGO: The m i r r o r . Run b r i n g i t h e r e . To t h e c e n t e r o f t h e

room. I want t o c a s t h e r i n i t s d e p t h s . I want h e r t o b i d

f a r e w e l l b e f o r e s i n k i n g h e r i n the memory o f t h i s moment.

(She draws b a c k , moving l i k e a s l e e p w a l k e r , and looks at her

r e f l e c t i o n , w h i l e AULAGA and UVA move s l o w l y around t h e m i r r o r . )

Who i s i t I see t h e r e within?

What do y o u give back t o me, g l a s s ?

Give me back what I've been.

What y e s t e r d a y y o u r g l a s s d i d spy

(what do you g i v e back t o me, g l a s s ? )

i n y o u r g l a s s i s now l o s t from my e y e .

Who i s i t I see t h e r e within,

dead t h e r e , g l a s s , i f n o t I?

And now, i n f r o n t , t h r e e c h a i r s . So. (Moving a few s t e p s . )

One, two, t h r e e , f o u r , f i v e . . . A t a good d i s t a n c e from the

m i r r o r , so we can see a l l o f h e r . L e t ' s s e e , s i t down, A u l a g a .

And y o u , Uva, t o my l e f t . (She s i t s between t h e two o f them.)

AULAGA: T h i s seems l i k e a h o l y t r i b u n a l , Gorgo.

GORGO: No more, no l e s s , my c h i l d . The day o f judgement. A dead

man has a p p o i n t e d me judge o f t h i s sad c a u s e , on which I wish

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to pass sentence w i t h y o u r h e l p . Look a t me. (She puts on

the beard.) W i l l I be able t o p l a y my p a r t w o r t h i l y ?

(Looking heavenward.) My b r o t h e r , I w i l l only make use o f

them i f I f e e l my energy f a i l i n g . (She disappears f o r an

i n s t a n t t o t h e r i g h t , r e t u r n i n g w i t h o u t t h e beard.) Ah,

Uva! Put t h a t l a r g e a r m c h a i r next t o the m i r r o r . And y o u ,

A u l a g a , draw up t h a t l i t t l e table. That's i t . A h , no!

(Going t o look.) The l i t t l e s i l v e r bell i s missing. Good,

there. S i t c l o s e t o me. Now, now we can c a l l h e r . (Ringing

the b e l l ) Animas!
s

(Accompanied by ANIMAS, ALTEA e n t e r s dressed i n a luxurious

n a t i v e costume and crowned w i t h v i n e b r a n c h e s . ANIMAS, n o t

d a r i n g t o advance, remains i n t h e doorway.)

ALTEA ( k n e e l i n g b e f o r e GORGO): F o r g i v e me, a u n t , f o r g i v e me i f

because o f my s h o r t y e a r s I have caused you some s u f f e r i n g ,

and have f a l l e n s h o r t o f the o b e d i e n c e , t h e l o v e , t h e r e s p e c t

I have always had f o r y o u .

GORGO ( s w e e t l y ) : R i s e , my c h i l d . An o l d woman has n o t h i n g t o

f o r g i v e t h e queen o f b e a u t y .

ALTEA: Thank y o u , aunt.

GORGO ( a f t e r motioning ANIMAS t o g o ) : You a r e b e a u t i f u l , A l t e a .

Have y o u l o o k e d a t y o u r s e l f i n the m i r r o r , have you seen

y o u r s e l f once again as t h e goddess o f the f i e l d s ?

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ALTEA (with emotion and bewilderment): Aunt!

GORGO: Come, look a t y o u r s e l f , c h i l d . We o l d women want t o enjoy

y o u r youth with y o u . T h i s g l a s s i s going t o r e c e i v e y o u

proudly.

ALTEA ( i n d e c i s i v e , c o n f u s e d ) : I o n l y want t o p l e a s e y o u . . .

GORGO: Uva, A u l a g a . . . Calm y o u r s e l f * A l t e a . . . Take h e r t o t h e

mirror f o r her recreation.

UVA ( t a k i n g h e r by t h e hand): Child!

AULAGA (by t h e s h o u l d e r s ) : What a woman a l r e a d y ! She's glorious.

UVA: You were so l i t t l e . . .

ALTEA: I know t h a t y o u l o v e me... almost as much as Aunt Gorgo.

UVA: You a r e f i r m , c h i l d

AULAGA: Round and f r e s h , l i k e a golden j a r .

(ALTEA s m i l e s sweetly.)

GORGO: Don't be humble, l i t t l e n i e c e , not w i t h t h a t look o f a

s t r o n g f r e s h t r e e about y o u . Be happy and take p r i d e as I do

in you. Laugh. ( G e t t i n g up and going t o her). No, you're n o t

sad. Enjoy y o u r s e l f , g l o r y i n y o u r b e a u t y , i n t h e f l o w e r o f

your y e a r s . (ALTEA laughs faintly.) More, more. Come, y o u

o f f e n d no one by d e l i g h t i n g i n y o u r b e a u t y . Look a t y o u r s e l f

c a r e f u l l y i n the mirror. See? Who i s more s u b m i s s i v e , more

p l e a s i n g , obedient? The m i r r o r adds n o t h i n g n o r does i t take

away. I t g i v e s you back o n l y what i s y o u r s . ( R a i s i n g ALTEA's

arms).
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Look a t t h e s e arms, c h i l d . Do y o u t h i n k the g l a s s l i e s ? Look

at those e y e s . . . what cheeks... what l i p s . . . what a c l u s t e r

of h a i r . . . (She l e t s o u t ALTEA's h a i r . ) Touch i t , A u l a g a , Uva.

ALTEA ( s i g h i n g ) : Oh!

UVA ( n o s t a l g i c ) : What s o f t n e s s ! How i t glows!

GORGO: You can boast o f y o u r s h o u l d e r s . . . And what a t h r o a t ,

child! Have y o u seen a neck l i k e yours i n t h e towns o f t h i s

land? No, don't lower y o u r e y e s . . . I t e l l y o u you're n o t t o

be modest. Have I brought y o u up t o be l i k e t h a t ? You alone

are m i s t r e s s o f what i s t h e r e i n s i d e . (She p o i n t s t o t h e g l a s s . )

ALTEA: I never r e a l l y looked a t m y s e l f , a u n t i e .

GORGO: Little liar. Are you going t o d e c e i v e me now? Come on!

ALTEA: I am c o n t e n t t o p l e a s e y o u .

GORGO: P l e a s e me... p l e a s e me... Well who e l s e , my t r e a s u r e ?

I f y o u had someone o t h e r than me... But he c l o s e d h i s e y e s ,

he l e f t us one day, when t h e f l o w e r had s c a r c e l y appeared on

the branch. Now you have opened, c h i l d . And I am here t o c a r e

for you. I am something l i k e y o u r gardener. I t i s o n l y me

you have t o thank.

ALTEA: Y e s , y e s , Aunt.

GORGO: But touch h e r , A u l a g a . What s h a p e l i n e s s !

UVA: And what s h o u l d e r s ! My hand f a l l s a s l e e p on them...

GORGO: Oh, and t h i s b u s t , my f r i e n d s ? Once I read t h a t magnolias...

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But not h e r e . . . Lunar lemons... What f r a g r a n c e ! A l l o f you

i s a garden.

ALTEA (as UVA s n i f f s h e r s k i n ) : I t i s the fresh lavender that

Animas puts i n my c l o t h i n g .

GORGO: The l a v e n d e r o f Animas! The aroma o f y o u r b l o o d , o f y o u r

flower's f l e s h . And i f t h a t g l a s s s h o u l d s e e . . . But such

t h i n g s , my n i e c e , a r e s e c r e t s r e s e r v e d f o r more i n t i m a t e

mirrors.

ALTEA ( b a s h f u l ) : A u n t i e , f o r t h e l o v e o f God, Aulaga and Uva a r e

here.

UVA: Don't be v a i n ; we t o o have had o u r May, you know.

GORGO: Look, she's t u r n e d r e d as a poppy.

ALTEA: I ' l l d i e i f I cannot m e r i t y o u r f o r g i v e n e s s .

GORGO: Come now, be happy, A l t e a . Look, I'm not angry. What i t

is is... plainly... b e i n g y o u r f a t h e r w i t h o u t b e i n g him...

Educating you... Taking care o f y o u . . . T r y i n g t o see t h a t you

do o n l y what would have p l e a s e d him, made him proud...

ALTEA: I never meant t o do y o u harm, Aunt Gorgo.

GORGO: Do me harm! And what makes y o u t h i n k t h a t , my c h i l d ? I

would l i k e t o know. S i t down. (ALTEA s i t s . After looking at

her f o r a moment.) P i t y i t i s not a throne! What y o u r e a l l y

deserve. But I'm g o i n g t o s i t down t o o . Do me harm! (AULAGA

and UVA s i t down w i t h her.) Of course i f t h e s h u t t e r s d i d n ' t

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overlook t h e s t r e e t , s u r e l y , n i e c e , i t wouldn't have occurred

t o you t o say what y o u have t o l d me now. Do me harm!

( B r i e f pause.) What does one s e e , my c h i l d , from the rooftop?

Have you looked c a r e f u l l y ? Answer me.

ALTEA ( s t r a n g e l y ) : The c o u n t r y s i d e , a u n t i e . . . The mountain o f

the Crosses...

GORGO: And something e l s e ?

ALTEA: The s k y , a u n t .

GORGO: And what does one see from the garden t e r r a c e ?

ALTEA: The t r e e s . . . the flowers... the mud w a l l s . . .

GORGO: That i s a l l ?

ALTEA: B i r d s , the sky...

GORGO: And through t h e s h u t t e r s i n t h e p a r l o r d o w n s t a i r s , A l t e a ?

ALTEA: The s t r e e t . . .

GORGO: The s t r e e t and n o t h i n g more? (ALTEA keeps s i l e n t . GORGO

gets up.) Nothing more? That's n o t very much, n i e c e . Are

you sure? Nothing more than t h e s t r e e t ?

ALTEA: The s q u a r e . . . with t h e f o u n t a i n . . .

GORGO: And n o t h i n g more?

ALTEA: ...the c h u r c h .

GORGO: Only t h a t ? Because t h e s t r e e t has been made t o be walked

o n , so t h a t people can walk up and down a l o n g i t . Isn't that

t r u e , niece?
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ALTEA: A u n t , I've l o v e d y o u a l w a y s , b u t I... How m i s e r a b l e I am,

auntie!

GORGO: And t h e s h u t t e r s have been made t o permit one t o see

w i t h o u t b e i n g seen what comes up and goes down a l o n g t h e s t r e e t .

ALTEA: A u n t , a u n t , I beg o f y o u .

GORGO: And t o p e r m i t one a l s o t o speak w i t h him who comes up and

goes down a l o n g the s t r e e t .

ALTEA ( f a l l i n g on h e r k n e e s ) : F o r g i v e me, f o r g i v e me!

GORGO: Do me harm! And he who comes up and goes down along the

s t r e e t , he who c o u r t s y o u from the s t r e e t a t n i g h t , i s n ' t i t

t r u e , A l t e a , t h a t he must be t a l l , s l e n d e r and brown, surely

c a s t i n g sparks from h i s eyes...?

ALTEA: You have never made me c r y , a u n t i e .

GORGO: B u t , my d e a r , I don't want you t o c r y . I am no h a r p y , no

f e r o c i o u s monster i n ambush f o r y o u r t h r o a t . Don't be

frightened, child. (She r a i s e s ALTEA t o h e r f e e t . ) Get h o l d

of yourself.

UVA: As f o r u s , you can speak f r e e l y , i n a l l c o n f i d e n c e .

GORGO: Are y o u l i s t e n i n g ? A u l a g a , don't wander o f f .

AULAGA (whose mind had wandered): Y e s , y e s , we're t h e same as

Gorgo. Don't be a f r a i d t o speak.

GORGO: So he i s tawny... olive-skinned... And h i s e y e s . . . What

c o l o r d i d we say h i s eyes were? (ALTEA remains silent.

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GORGO, i n a h a r s h e r tona) Black... but l i k e b u r n i n g fire-

brands... No? (ALTEA nods h e r head.) And he i s s l e n d e r , l i k e

a r e e d , as a good horseman s h o u l d be... A great e q u e s t r i a n ,

c l e a r l y , t h e most g a l l a n t i n these mountains. (She shakes

ALTEA by t h e s h o u l d e r s so t h a t h e r n i e c e hods h e r head l i k e a

stuffed doll.) And h i s name? That i s what I do n o t know,

what y o u s t i l l haven't t o l d me, n i e c e .

UVA: But she's going t o say i t , I'm s u r e .

AULAGA: Aunt Gorgo must know. I t ' s f o r y o u r own good, c h i l d .

Why torment her?

GORGO: She w i l l say i t .

UVA: And what reason i s t h e r e t o keep i t s i l e n t ? I w i l l help y o u ,

little morning s t a r . And A u l a g a . Y o u ' l l see how we w i l l bring

i t t o y o u r l i p s , between the two o f us. Is i t maybe L i n o , t h e

son o f Dona M a r g a r a , o f t h e Ranch o f t h e Lemon T r e e s ?

GORGO: Is i t ?

(ALTEA denies i t weakly with h e r head.)

AULAGA: Could i t be L e o n i c o , the youngest o f t h e Olmedo f a m i l y ?

GORGO: Is i t ?

(ALTEA, as b e f o r e . )

UVA: B i a s , t h e handsomest o f t h e men o f Pino. Grande?

GORGO: Is i t ?

(ALTEA denies i t s i l e n t l y . )
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AULAGA: Hernan, o f the Z o r z a l e s f a m i l y ? B o r n o s , o f Vina Hermosa?

GORGO ( t h r e a t e n i n g with h e r c a n e ) : Is i t , i s i t , i s i t ?

ALTEA: Aunt, aunt, please!

UVA: Well they a r e t h e r i c h e s t , c h i l d , t h e most renowned f o r

twenty leagues around.

GORGO ( t e a r i n g o f f ALTEA's b o d i c e i n a sudden j e r k . ) Could i t be

some v e r m i n , some s c u r v y scum from t h e d i s t r i c t o f louse nits?

Come, c h i l d , answer o r t h i s s t i c k w i l l t e l l you what you have

deserved f o r some time now.

UVA: Maybe's she's ashamed, Gorgo, because who knows i f i t i s n ' t

the b a r b e r down a t t h e c o r n e r .

AULAGA ( l a u g h i n g ) : Or F r a s c o , t h e s h e e p s h e a r e r , who has no

eyebrows.

GORGO: The sheepshearer? What more c o u l d t h i s s l y dead l i z a r d

want! That's t o o g r e a t an honor f o r h e r . Do you know who she

i s i n love with? I ' l l t e l l you s e c r e t l y . (The t h r e e o f them

crowded t o g e t h e r hear something from GORGO and b u r s t o u t i n

e x p l o s i v e g u f f a w s , h o l d i n g t h e i r noses i n a gesture o f disgust.)

UVA: Oof! Could i t be p o s s i b l e , G o r g o j i l l a ?

AULAGA: I t ' s d i s g u s t i n g , c h i l d , w i t h such an o c c u p a t i o n .

GORGO: Oh y e s , oh y e s , t h a t ' s t h e o n e , t h e very one.

UVA: I won't be t h e godmother a t y o u r wedding. Whoof!

AULAGA: Even I wouldn't give him a k i s s w i t h o u t f i r s t h o l d i n g my

nose.
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THE THREE OF THEM: H a , h a , h a , ha!

(Like three shades, l i k e three s i n i s t e r shawls, laughing,

mocking, wounding, they come and go around ALTEA who weeps

s o f t l y , h e r f a c e covered by h e r h a i r . )

GORGO: I t o l d you not t o c r y , broomstick. Uncover y o u r f a c e , o r

do you i n t e n d t o sweep the f l o o r with those t a n g l e s ?

UVA: She looks l i k e a f r o g f i s h .

AULAGA: The queen o f the v i n t a g e !

GORGO: The queen? Of t h e dung heap! Of t h e garbage dump!

We're f i n i s h e d w i t h t h e goddesses o f beauty! O f f with a l l

t r a p p i n g s , trimmings and c o l o r e d f e a t h e r s ! (She starts

t e a r i n g o f f ALTEA's costume, y a n k i n g i t from h e r body.)

J u s t what had you imagined! The queen! Now you're going t o

dress i n the c l o t h e s you d e s e r v e . B r i n g them, Uva. They're

i n t h e c l o s e t i n my bedroom. The queen! And w i t h s e c r e t pages

who c o u r t you i n t h e dead o f n i g h t ! E i t h e r you c o n f e s s who he

i s o r I ' l l s t r i p you naked and draw b l o o d on y o u r s k i n with my

fingernails. Say i t , say i t . . .

ALTEA: I can't, aunt, I can't. K i l l me... Suck o u t my v e i n s . . .

Drag me by t h e h a i r . . .

GORGO: No! I ' l l bury you a l i v e , between f o u r w a l l s , and you w i l l

never go out a g a i n , n o t even t o e a r l y morning mass.

ALTEA: Bury me i n t h e e a r t h . . . a l i v e . . . , with my eyes open.

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But don't ask me h i s name... I cannot... I t i s impossible...

There i s a knot i n my t h r o a t .

GORGO: Oh you cannot? You haven't t h e courage? Y o u ' l l see i f

that's t r u e , l i t t l e niece!

(UVA has r e t u r n e d , b r i n g i n g t h e b l a c k dress o f an o l d woman,

long, dismal, derisive.)

GORGO: A u l a g a , h e l p Uva... The two o f y o u , take these new

endowments... f o r a goddess. Shut h e r up i n them. ( S t a r t i n g

to leave a t the r i g h t . ) Imprison her w e l l . God! God's God!

(As t h e two o l d women dress ALTEA s i l e n t l y , o f f - s t a g e GORGO

can be heard s h o u t i n g with s l i g h t pauses) Yes! Yes! I am

here... I obey y o u . . . Immediately... Yes! I'm here!

(Her f a c e covered with a b l a c k l i n e n c l o t h which f a l l s to her

w a i s t , s t i l l w i t h h e r c a n e , GORGO r e t u r n s t o t h e room,

c i r c l i n g s l o w l y and s a d l y around ALTEA.)

S p i r i t t h a t watches on h i g h .

Never l e a v e my s i d e .

S p i r i t t h a t s u f f e r s on h i g h .

With me e v e r a b i d e .

S p i r i t t h a t s h i n e s on h i g h .

Your l i g h t from me never h i d e .

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( S t o p p i n g i n f r o n t o f ALTEA, t u r n i n g h e r back t o the a u d i e n c e ,

she s i l e n t l y r a i s e s the l i n e n c l o t h t h a t covers h e r . )

ALTEA ( a f t e r a c r y o f h o r r o r , w h i l e she f a l l s as i f d a z z l e d t o

her k n e e s ) : Castor... I t i s Castor...

GORGO ( s t i l l c o v e r e d , she removes the b e a r d , which she l o o k s a t

for a moment b e f o r e throwing i t down on the t a b l e . Now

uncovered, l o o k i n g upwards, with anguish and as i f t o h e r s e l f ) :

No! See the abyss i n t o which you plunge us, brother.

AULAGA ( a n g u i s h e d , h e r v o i c e r a p t ) : Castor , my nephew... He

never t o l d me a n y t h i n g . . .

(UVA laughs s o u n d l e s s l y , mocking.)

GORGO (In a harsh b u t c r e s t f a l l e n manner, a f t e r l i f t i n g ALTEA

from t h e f l o o r she covers h e r n i e c e ' s f a c e with h e r l i n e n cloth.

y / /
Shouting): Animas! Animas! Animas!

ANIMAS ( e n t e r i n g ) : Madam...

GORGO: Take t h i s f r e a k from b e f o r e my e y e s .

ANIMAS: A y , my poor s w a l l o w , my l i t t l e morning s t a r !

GORGO ( p o i n t i n g t o the e x i t with h e r c a n e ) : Silence!

(ALTEA and ANIMAS l e a v e . )

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GORGO ( a f t e r a pause): So: C a s t o r , the l i t t l e nephew o f y o u r

dreams, A u l a g a ! . . . (To h e r s e l f ) My h e a r t had s a i d i t t o me.

AULAGA ( b r e a k i n g i n t o t e a r s ) : Gorgo... Gorgo... Gorgo...

GORGO (as i f i l l u m i n e d , a d d r e s s i n g t h e heavens): Light... Only

y o u r T t j h t , my b r o t h e r . . .

(UVA breaks o u t l a u g h i n g , u n t i l she i s f u l l y guffawing as t h e

curtain slowly falls.)

 CHARACTERS IN THE SECOND ACT

Same as those o f the f i r s t a c t .

 ACT TWO

The whitewashed r o o f t o p . C r e e p i n g vines and beyond the r a i l i n g

the branches o f several trees. From the r o o f t o p one can s e e , l i k e

a l a b y r i n t h , o t h e r r o o f t o p s , t u r r e t s w i t h t h e i r weather v a n e s ,

k i t c h e n chimneys, e t c . Flowerpots w i t h f l o w e r s , c a g e s w i t h canaries,

basket c h a i r s . . . D r a m a t i c , b a l d , y e l l o w a g a i n s t t h e mid-afternoon

sky: the Mountain o f the C r o s s e s .

Dressed i n b l a c k , ALTEA i s e m b r o i d e r i n g . Her b e a u t i f u l hair

is l o o s e and ANIMAS i s combing i t l o v i n g l y .

ANIMAS: A n g e l , my s e r a p h . What l o c k s f o r t h e sun t o always s i n g

its joy i n ! What t r e s s e s f o r t h e breeze from the f i e l d s t o

comb! I would w i l l i n g l y seed them i n f l o w e r pots and I would

water them every a f t e r n o o n , c e r t a i n t h a t i n the morning they

would be b u r s t i n g with f l o w e r s . Each time I touch them i t

seems t o me t h a t I smooth v i n e s t h a t go c r e e p i n g a l o n g the

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whitewash o f these w a l l s , f u l l o f nests and t h e peeping o f b i r d s .

Do you hear me, A l t e a ? Are you l i s t e n i n g , c h i l d ?

ALTEA: I hear y o u , Animas, I hear y o u .

ANIMAS: No, you're n o t l i s t e n i n g , d e a r e s t c h i l d , because I know

where t h a t head wanders, where t h a t h u r t b r e a s t f l i e s off to.

ALTEA (throwing down the embroidery frame and r i s i n g ) : Leave me

b e , f o r t h e l o v e o f God, Animas! I beg y o u . Don't l a y y o u r

hands on my h a i r a g a i n . I want t o be uncombed, d i s h e v e l e d ,

horrible...

ANIMAS: Poor l o v e , poor l o v e !

ALTEA: I can't take i t any more. I'm s u f f o c a t i n g . I am b u r i e d

while s t i l l a l i v e , scorned, forgotten. (Messing up h e r h a i r )

Why comb me and arrange my h a i r i f not even he remembers t h a t

someone l i v e s i n t o r m e n t , a p r i s o n e r , among these mute w a l l s .

Hide my f a c e , c o v e r me w i t h Aunt Gorgo's b l a c k v e i l . I no

l o n g e r want t o see t h e sky above t h i s sad r o o f t o p .

ANIMAS: Do not d e s p a i r , f l o w e r . Let's wait a l i t t l e . We don't

know...

ALTEA: I d o , Animas, but a d m i t t i n g i t keeps me from s l e e p i n g a t

night.

ANIMAS: He w i l l come l o o k i n g f o r me s o o n . I am s u r e .

ALTEA: Why do you c o n s o l e me with l i e s ? I know very w e l l what i s

happening.
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ANIMAS: I t i s t r u e , c h i l d , he used t o f o l l o w my t r a i l a t every

moment, l i k e a h u n t i n g dog. And wherever we ran i n t o each

o t h e r he would even t h r e a t e n t o k i l l me i f I d i d n ' t b r i n g y o u r

messages t o him.

ALTEA: He i s t i r e d , bored w i t h not f e e l i n g c l o s e t o me, with

knowing t h a t not even my eyes are s p y i n g on him from behind

the window; d e s p e r a t e , because he t h i n k s a l l t h i s i s useless...

And he has gone away, you know t h a t he h a s . He has f l e d from

me, where he w i l l never again hear my name n o r t h a t o f h i s

Aunt A u l a g a , who was tormenting him, persecuting him, harassed

by Uva .and Aunt Gorgo. C a s t o r doesn't l o v e me any more.

ANIMAS: Don't s l a n d e r him, A l t e a , don't you punish him t o o , not

even with y o u r t h o u g h t s .

ALTEA: Oh, and does he w r i t e me any more? And has he gone t o look

for you again i n the town? And does he pass by i n t h e s t r e e t

in t h e e a r l y mornings as b e f o r e ? And i f he o n l y went away t o

keep from s u f f e r i n g t h e f u r y o f those t h r e e o l d women any more,

how c o u l d he have done so w i t h o u t s e e i n g y o u , w i t h o u t entrusting

someone t o t e l l you?

ANIMAS: Something i s going o n , c h i l d . My h e a r t says s o . What

do you and I know about what those two c r a z y o l d l a d i e s a r e

plotting? A little patience...

ALTEA: Impossible! Impossible!

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ANIMAS: J u s t a l i t t l e spark l i k e that...

ALTEA: From where c o u l d I draw s t r e n g t h , Animas, i f a t times I

now dream t h a t I am no l o n g e r i n l i f e ?

GORGO'S VOICE: Altea! Altea!

ALTEA: I hate h e r . I hate h e r . May God f o r g i v e me, but I hate

her. I am a f r a i d o f h e r , h o r r i f i e d . Fear s t e a l s t h e s l e e p

from my e y e s . Animas, because o f y o u r l o v e , d e l i v e r me from

her!

GORGO'S VOICE: What are y o u d o i n g , A l t e a ?

ALTEA ( g o i n g t o t h e r e a r w a l l and c a l l i n g down): Nothing, aunt.

(Through clenched teeth) Dear God, don't l e t h e r come up!

GORGO'S VOICE: Is Animas with you?

ALTEA: Y e s , y e s , a u n t , combing my h a i r . (A s i l e n c e , i n which

the b e l l s o f a campanile c l o c k a r e heard s t r i k i n g t h e hour.)

Her v o i c e . . . her footsteps... the b e l l s . . . And so i t goes

o n , every a f t e r n o o n , every n i g h t , e v e r y day... The hours

wound me... I do n o t want t o hear t h e c l o c k s o r look e v e r

again a t t h a t Mountain o f t h e C r o s s e s . . . where he must have

gone away...

ANIMAS: No, n o , don't t h i n k t h a t c h i l d . (Moving about ALTEA,

as i f f r i g h t e n i n g someone o f f with h e r hands) Away from h e r e ,

demons! Fly o f f , evil spirits! Don't f r i g h t e n my c h i l d . My

c h i l d wants t o r e s t . She wants t o s l e e p i n peace. She wants

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t o l i s t e n t o the s t o r y o f "The King's Peacock".

Pavi, pavf,

i f the P r i n c e saw me now

he would f a l l i n l o v e with me!;

o r the s t o r y o f the " T a l k i n g B i r d , the S i n g i n g T r e e , and the

Yellow F o u n t a i n " . Once upon a t i m e . . .

(A c l o c k n e a r e r by s t r i k e s the h o u r , i n t e r r u p t i n g Animas.)

GORGO'S VOICE: Altea! Come down t o the garden immediately.

ANIMAS: R i g h t away, madam.

ALTEA: I'm coming down now, aunt.

(ALTEA g o e s , w h i l e A^IIMAS stops t o p i c k up the embroidery

frame and sewing b a s k e t . When she s t a r t s t o l e a v e , BION

appears, mysterious: h i s beard grown o u t , c l e a n e r i n appear-

ance i n h i s s u i t o f huge p a t c h e s . Fast scene.)

BION: S p i r i t s o f Purgatory!

ANIMAS: Jesus!

BION: The m i s t r e s s c a l l e d f o r me...

ANIMAS: I11-done... and may God f o r g i v e me. You f r i g h t e n e d me.

BION ( l a u g h i n g ) : I came up the chimney, l i k e smoke...

ANIMAS (almost l e a v i n g ) : And you w i l l go down l i k e l a s t time: by

the s t a i r c a s e and shoved out the door... i f not over the

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balcony. I'm going t o run t e l l the m i s t r e s s .

BION ( c o n f i d e n t i a l l y ) : J u s t one l i t t l e thing:. Wait.

ANIMAS: A l t e a i s w a i t i n g f o r me i n t h e garden.

BION ( t e n d e r ) : I t i s f o r h e r , my l i t t l e Moorish jasmine.

ANIMAS ( i n t r i g u e d , going t o him): F o r my c h i l d , you say?

Q u i c k l y , go o n , Bidn!

BION ( t a k i n g h e r by t h e w a i s t ) : Right away, my golden t h i s t l e .

ANIMAS ( b r e a k i n g away): Come o n , t u r n me l o o s e , bindweed.!

BldN: Bad s e e d . . . parakeet... (Showing h e r a f o l d e d envelope)

W e l l , I won't g i v e i t t o y o u .

ANIMAS: Bion! Bidn! What i s t h a t ?

BION: Yes, a l i t t l e letter... from t h e young man.

ANIMAS ( t r y i n g t o snatch i t from him): From Ccfstor... a l e t t e r

from C a s t o r !

BION: From t h e very same boy... entrusted to this beggar.

ANIMAS: You w i l l g i v e i t t o me, B i o n .

Bl6N (with t h e l e t t e r between h i s t e e t h , running t o one edge o f

the r o o f t o p ) : I f y o u come t o take i t from me w i t h y o u r golden

beak...

GORGO'S VOICE ( c l o s e b y ) : Animas! Animas!

ANIMAS ( s u p p l i c a n t , w h i l e the beggar hides the l e t t e r i n h i s s h i r t ) :

Bidn! Bidn! Out o f k i n d n e s s !

(GORGO appears.)
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GORGO ( t o ANIMAS, d i s t r u s t f u l and h a r s h ) : What does t h i s mean?

A l t e a alone i n t h e garden and you s t i l l up on t h e r o o f ? The

dog does n o t go a s t r a y b e f o r e t h e lamb. (ANIMAS attempts t o

reply.) To y o u r d u t y . Go o n .

(ANIMAS goes.)

BION ( h o n e y ! i k e ) : Dona Flower.

GORGO (with s u s p i c i o n ) : What do y o u have t o say t o Animas?

BION (humble): I came t o do my l a d y a s e r v i c e . . .

GORGO (with h e r e t e r n a l l i t t l e grunt): A service?

BION: Since you have had t h e good h e a r t t o c a l l f o r me... (He l e a v e s

for an i n s t a n t , r e a p p e a r i n g with a l a r g e bundle.) I left i t

t h e r e , on t h e s t a i r w a y . . . I heard c h a t t e r i n g . . . I said to

myself: B i o n , don't l e t anyone see i t b e f o r e Dona Gorgo. I t

is only f o r her. (He unwraps i t , l i f t i n g on high a l a r g e cage

containing a black cat.)

GORGO: Oof! What f i l t h ! A tomcat!

BION: I s a i d t o myself: t h e r e i s n ' t one i n t h e h o u s e , B i o n . Look

around f o r a c a t and take i t t o t h e m i s t r e s s . See how p r e t t y

it is!

GORGO: Take i t away! Take i t o u t o f my s i g h t ! I t ' s probably full

of mange.

BION: I f y o u don't l i k e i t , Dona Gorgo, i f you're going t o o f f e n d

the poor k i t t y . . . There a r e p l e n t y o f housetops and r o o f s

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where i t can go wooing. (Humbly, he makes a g e s t u r e o f

opening- t h e c a g e , r e c i t i n g with sadness and a u t h o r i t y )

Out, mangy mouser,

scabby t a b b y .

That's the command

o f t h i s handsome l a d d i e .

You l o v e me,

I love y o u .

You are the c a t

to catch the r a t .

GORGO (with p i t y ) : W e l l , leave i t t h e n . . . You can t u r n i t l o o s e

in a l i t t l e while...

BION: Wherever y o u s a y .

GORGO: Well... somewhere I won't see i t . L i k e my b r o t h e r Dino,

I'm mad about p a r r o t s . . . But no dogs o r tomcats.

BION: Tomcat! A tomcat! Do y o u t h i n k t h i s i s a t o m c a t , Dona

Gorgo? Bidn r e s p e c t s h i s m i s t r e s s ' judgement.

GORGO: Perhaps i t ' s a mountain w i l d c a t .

BION: Guess, guess...

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The eyes a r e t h e eyes o f a t o m c a t , but i t i s n ' t a tomcat.

The e a r s , t h e ears o f a t o m c a t , but i t i s n ' t a tomcat.

The paws, t h e paws o f a t o m c a t , but i t i s n ' t a tomcat.

The t a i l , t h e t a i l o f a t o m c a t , but i t i s n ' t a tomcat.

No, my m i s t r e s s , n o . Your house i s l a r g e . I s a i d t o myself:

a she-cat. I t may have l i t t l e ones... A l l the u t i l i t i e s . . .

Now i f my Do?fa Gorgo scorns i t . . .

GORGO: I've s a i d you're t o leave i t . . . I mean, you're t o l e a v e

her. I am n o t so c r u e l , my f r i e n d , n o r so u n g r a t e f u l . . . I f

I p r o t e c t y o u , why i s t h a t s h e - c a t t o be any l e s s ? Let her

s t a y i n t h e house and have a l l t h e k i t t e n s she wants.

( C i r c l i n g around him) But how w e l l you l o o k , Bion! A clean

suit... l o v i n g l y mended... Your t r o u s e r s . . . The knees

patched... Your b e a r d . . .

BION: Now I take c a r e o f m y s e l f m y s e l f . . . s i n c e Dona A u l a g a . . .

GORGO: And yourknees as w e l l ? And t h a t s h i n i n g s h i r t ? Look how

i n d u s t r i o u s he i s ! I see the work o f c h a r i t a b l e hands t h a t

do n o t r e s t f o r y o u .

Bl6N: Dona Gorgo t e l l s y o u t o come back... Put on y o u r new c l o t h e s ,

I s a i d to myself... as i f o u r h o l y Patron o f t h e C r o s s e s ,

which i s who you are t o B i o n , were c a l l i n g you t o g l o r y .

GORGO: W e l l , now you a r e i n g l o r y once again.

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BION ( s w e e t - t a l k i n g , drawing c l o s e t o GORGO): And next t o my

guardian a n g e l , t h a t ' s how I a l s o c o n s i d e r y o u , b e s i d e s .

GORGO (between t e n d e r and mocking): Angels do n o t t e l l little

lies... n o r a r e they such g r e a t rogues. Those a r e t h i n g s o f

the d e v i l . . . which i s what you a r e , B i o n . (The beggar has

been drawing c l o s e r and c l o s e r t o her.) Oof! Get away from

me, l i t t l e Satan--you smell l i k e s u l p h u r !

BION: But t h e d e v i l has the f a c e o f a r a b b i t . . . and two horns

on top...

GORGO: And don't you? (BION searches f o r them with h i s hands.)

Right t h e r e , t h e r e ' s where they s t i c k o u t , o n l y no one b u t I

can see them.

BION: I t might be t r u e , Dona Gorgo, but I don't know where they

are... You look f o r them f o r me.

GORGO: O u t , o u t o f here-you're b u r n i n g me w i t h y o u r b r e a t h !

BION: I must a l r e a d y by damned when y o u , who a r e so good, say

t h a t I am. (He d i s a p p e a r s , c a l l i n g o u t from w i t h i n , w h i l e

Dona GORGO s i t s . ) Knock! Knock!

GORGO: Who's t h e r e ?

BION ( c a v e r n o u s ) : The d e v i l with h i s p i t c h f o r k .

GORGO: And what does t h e d e v i l w i t h h i s p i t c h f o r k want?

BION: To come i n .
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W e l l , as f o r me, the devil

with h i s p i t c h f o r k may come i n .

(BION a p p e a r s , c a r r y i n g a p a l m - l e a f broom i n the manner o f a

trident.)

GORGO ( f o l l o w i n g the game, halfway between impassioned and mocking,

s
as BION s w i r l s around her)

Demon, demon, depart

from t h i s so l o n e l y heart.

V i o l ate r o f v i r g i n s ,

vampire o f v e s t a l virtue.

I g n i t e r o f nightmare dreams,

mosquito o f mortal remorse.

Greedy v u l t u r e of souls,

t h i e f o f a l l hope.

S p i n , s p i n , s p i n , spin

as the b l o o d now raves w i t h i n

and the s o u l , w i t h o u t l i g h t , grows t h i n .

(BION, from behind Dona GQRGO's b a c k , l e a n s o v e r , k i s s i n g her

at great l e n g t h . Softly): B i o n , B i o n , what have you done?

BION: Of a l l d e v i l s , Dona Gorgo.

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GORGO ( r i s i n g , f u r i o u s ) : God! God's God!

BION: Don't g e t mad my l a d y .

GORGO (with h e r c a n e ) : Get o u t .

Bl6N: I wanted t o do y o u another s e r v i c e . . .

GORGO: Into t h e s t r e e t !

BION ( t h r u s t i n g h i s hand i n t o h i s s h i r t ) : I have a l i t t l e letter.

GORGO: What?

BION ( s u b m i s s i v e ) : The l a d y has been so c h a r i t a b l e . . . I can't go

without giving i t to her.

GORGO (changing to a s o f t e r tone): A l e t t e r , you?

BION ( g i v i n g i t t o h e r : : From the young man... f o r the l i t t l e

niece.

GORGO: I f y o u a r e n ' t a demon, y o u a r e governed by them.

( S e i z i n g him by t h e s h o u l d e r s . ) Look a t me, B i d n , s t r a i g h t i n

my e y e s . More, more.

BION ( e m o t i o n a l , l o o k i n g away): I can't look a t y o u , Dona Gorgo.

GORGO: More, a l i t t l e more...

BION (overwhelmed with tenderness): I t makes t h e t e a r s run from

my e y e s . F o r g i v e me.

GORGO: Ah 1 I s e e , I see... Could i t be p o s s i b l e ? Enough.

Bl6N: I d i d n ' t want t o o f f e n d y o u . I came o n l y t o s e r v e y o u .

GORGO: And y o u have behaved l i k e an a n g e l . (Confidentially)

And go on behaving y o u r s e l f , B i d n . You won't be s o r r y .

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BION: B e a u t i f u l Dona...

GORGO: Now, w a i t f o r me on the t e r r a c e . The l a d i e s w i l l be t h e r e

sewing by now... Ah! and you can l e t t h a t s h e - c a t run f r e e

wherever she wants.

s
BION (as he l e a v e s , with the c a g e ) :

You love me,

I love you.

You are the s h e - c a t

to now catch the r a t

with a s i l v e r f o r k .

(He goes.)

GORGO ( f u r i o u s ) : Uva, Uva! What are you t r y i n g t o do? Where i s

i t you're going? What p i t a r e you d i g g i n g f o r me w i t h o u t know-

ing i t ? S p i t e f u l o l d woman. Jealous w i t c h . V i n d i c t i v e hag

... (Squeezing the l e t t e r between h e r f i n g e r s and a d d r e s s i n g

her b r o t h e r ) Out o f p i t y , have compassion f o r me! You c o u l d

have i n t e r v e n e d . . . Oh, nameless d i s g r a c e ! But perhaps you

have arranged i t t h i s way t o t e s t y o u r s i s t e r ' s m e t a l . (She .

reads s i l e n t l y f o r a moment) I t cannot be! Are you going t o

tolerate this? (Reading aloud) "I am so f a r away, my love,

so c l o s e l y watched h e r e , i n t h i s house l o s t i n the middle o f

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the mountains, t h a t I f e a r coming to the p o i n t o f God knows

what when the time comes f o r the dogs to make s p o r t o f me--

those b r i b e d farm hands which our f u r i e s f e e d f o r my custody..."

Oh! You granted me t o t a l a u t h o r i t y as you l a y d y i n g , you who

wanted me to become you y o u r s e l f , who l e f t me y o u r v o i c e and

even the noble a t t r i b u t e t h a t i n h a b i t e d y o u r f a c e . . . ! (She

continues reading.) "Altea, Altea: i f i t be so t h a t you are

still a l i v e , i f s l e e p has not y e t r e t u r n e d to y o u r e y e s , as i t

is with y o u r C a s t o r s i n c e he was taken from y o u r s i d e , i f

Animas i s s t i l l the o n l y c a r e t a k e r , the o n l y support f o r our

happiness..." Brother, brother! And t h a t s e c r e t o f yours at

the hour o f y o u r death? And was i t f o r t h i s f i n a l e , which I

hear now surrounds me, t h a t I was capable of burying i t i n the

most hidden corners o f my bones? (She goes on reading.)

"Always keep w a t c h , A l t e a . See to i t t h a t every n i g h t Animas

is a l e r t a t the edge o f the garden. I do not y e t know how,

but I w i l l r o o t you out o f t h a t f r i g h t f u l p r i s o n . " (Insanely)

God! God's God! F l y , b a t s , shades o f e v e n i n g , and screech

through the town the d i s h o n o r , the unhappy ending o f a f a m i l y !

Make h a s t e , chimney swallows: swoop down to the squares and

repeat i t to l i t t l e c h i l d r e n , t h a t they may mock u s , chanting

i t to the market p l a c e ! (On her knees and as i f i n a trance)

And y o u , my b r o t h e r , s t r i k e me down! Draw back the bolt,

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q u i c k l y open up the s k i e s and send me the punishment o f an

arrow t h a t w i l l l e a v e me r i v e t e d t o the s p o t , n a i l e d , l i k e a

b l a c k scarecrow on the h i g h e s t o f these w a l l s ! (She puts the

l e t t e r away and runs towards the r a i l i n g a t the r e a r , shouting)

/ S y

Animas! Animas! Animas! Lock A l t e a i n the tower! (They

go up, c o n f u s e d , from the garden: sounds o f t h e i r weeping and

voices.) Obey me! Obey me, w i t c h !

S p i r i t t h a t g r i e v e s from a f a r .

Save y o u r s e l f with y o u r s e c r e t .

S p i r i t t h a t weeps from a f a r .

K i l l me with y o u r s e c r e t .

S p i r i t t h a t keeps s i l e n t from a f a r .

Carry me away with y o u r s e c r e t .

Light... always y o u r l i g h t ! I need i t more than e v e r , my

brother. There i s s t i l l time... i f you have not a l r e a d y

abandoned y o u r daughter and t h i s y o u r wretched Gorgo.

( A b r u p t l y , AULAGA, UVA and BION b u r s t out the door and onto

the r o o f t o p , the l a t t e r h o l d i n g open i n h i s hands a wide

skein o f wool. UVA, who i s w i n d i n g i t n e r v o u s l y , bears a

huge p a i r o f s c i s s o r s d a n g l i n g from h e r neck. AULAGA c a r r i e s

a sewing b a s k e t , i n which b a l l s o f y a r n , long n e e d l e s , h a l f -

f i n i s h e d k n i t garments, o t h e r s k e i n s o f a l l c o l o r s , e t c . can
 219

be s e e n . Evening i s f a l l i n g ; a r e d t w i l i g h t , v i o l e n t ,

i n c r e a s i n g l y sharpens t h e p r o f i l e o f t h e Mountain o f t h e

Crosses a g a i n s t the clouded sky.)

UVA: Gorgo! Gorgo!

BION: Dona Gorgo!

AULAGA: We heard y o u r n i e c e c r y i n g . . . Ay! What's happened,Gorgo?

GORGO: My f r i e n d s , my s i s t e r s ! Dishonor! Disgrace! Don't come

near me. F l e e from me. I am s t a i n e d , covered w i t h b l a c k mud.

Trodden under f o o t . Wounded. Buried. Dead. Can't y o u see

me, o r i s i t t h a t y o u r eyes have b u r s t i n y o u r f a c e s ?

UVA: Rest a w h i l e , Gorgo. You're raving.

AULAGA: I must be b l i n d . . . I don't see a n y t h i n g , d a u g h t e r .

BION: Does my m i s t r e s s perhaps have a toothache?

GORGO ( v i s i o n a r y ) : A l t e a i s b e i n g taken from me... She i s b e i n g

s t o l e n from u s . . . She i s b e i n g snatched away...

UVA ( s i t t i n g and s w i f t l y w i n d i n g t h e y a r n , f a c i n g BION, who remains

standing): Calm y o u r s e l f , my G o r g o j a . Such words and such

shouting... I know what's wrong w i t h you: you're i n t o x i c a t e d .

GORGO: Y « s , but w i t h m i s f o r t u n e s . . . drunk with d i s a s t e r s . . .

Castor! Castor!

UVA: The b r a n d y , G o r g o j i l l a !

AYLAGA: What? C a s t o r ? Has he come? Has he gone? Has he escaped?

GORGO: A r e n ' t you l i s t e n i n g a t a l l ? Have stones been t o s s e d i n

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your ears?

AULAGA: That's what i t must b e , Gorgo, because my head i s b u z z i n g .

GORGO (almost h y p n o t i z i n g AULAGA, w h i l e UVA, i m p a s s i v e , c o n t i n u e s

t o wind the y a r n ) : I t i s he! I t i s he! I t i s h i s very horse

coming down the Mountain o f t h e C r o s s e s !

AULAGA: I must have mists i n my e y e s , Gorgo.

GORGO: Look, Aulaga! Wake up... Listen, listen.

AULAGA: Yes, yes... My poor mad boy!

GORGO: Do you s e e him now, Aulaga?

AULAGA: He's p a s s i n g by t h e i r o n w o r k s . . .

GORGO: The whole town i s a s l e e p . . . You a r e a s l e e p . . . You and

I are dying w i t h s l e e p . . . He's r i d i n g t h e dancing horse...

The y e l l o w o n e .

AULAGA: It i s he,i ti s ! He's p a s s i n g near t h e f o u n t a i n . . .

(Murmuring) What g a l l a n t r y ! How handsome!

GORGO: Look a t him... You w i l l never see him a g a i n . . . He s t o p s . . .

He r i s e s up i n t h e s a d d l e . . . Animas, h e l p A l t e a . . . He l e a p s

... He embraces h e r w a i s t . . . Sparks f l y from the hooves o f

his horse... A dog b a r k s . . . A l l t h e dogs a r e b a r k i n g . . .

They run o f f ! They run a t f u l l gallop! There, Aulaga, over

there!

AULAGA ( s h o u t i n g ) : Castor! Castor! My l i t t l e love! He's

s t e a l i n g h e r from me! Altea! Altea!

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GORGO: Mercy, b r o t h e r ! A f t e r the t h i e f ! You a r e l o s i n g y o u r

daughter!

AULAGA ( b r e a k i n g i n t o t e a r s ) : He has taken h e r away! I am l e f t

w i t h o u t him. My b o y , my boy!

GORGO: From t h i s moment I am a c c u r s e d . Forsaken by y o u r hand.

God! God's God!

(UVA breaks out i n a s t r i d e n t guffaw, f o l l o w e d s h o r t l y after-

ward by BION, w h i l e AULAGA, l e a n i n g on t h e r a i l i n g a t t h e r e a r ,

remains l o s t i n s p a c e , h e r eyes f i x e d on t h e Mountain o f t h e

Crosses.)

GORGO (wrenching t h e s k e i n away from UVA): What are y o u l a u g h i n g

a b o u t , busy bee's s t i n g e r ? ( S l i p p i n g t h e s k e i n o v e r BION up

to h i s elbows.) And y o u t o o , Bio'n? Do you dare t o laugh as

well? You a r e amused t o see us so c o n t e n t . How w i t t y my

little royal parrots are!

BION: Dona Uva was the f i r s t . . .

UVA: What does the l i t t l e p i g l e t know about y o u r a f f a i r s , Gorgoja?

GORGO: What does he know? W e l l , l e t him l a u g h , l e t him l a u g h . . .

That's why you begged me t o b r i n g him back... (She snatches

the b a l l o f y a r n from UVA. As she b i n d s t h e beggar's entire

body with the y a m ) And you t o o can go on l a u g h i n g , Uva.

Come on! H a , ha! L e t ' s laugh t o g e t h e r ! L e t ' s a l l laugh!

«
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There i s n o t h i n g happening here! A u l a g a , come back t o y o u r

senses. Our U v i t a i s happy... Bion i s t h e h a p p i e s t o f beggars

... He f e e l s l i k e laughing... Let's see. Your b a l l o f y a r n !

Your s k e i n s ! (BION again laughs b o i s t e r o u s l y , t o UVA's mute

and growing i n d i g n a t i o n , as AULAGA imprisons him i n o t h e r

s k e i n s , j o i n i n g GORGO i n s n a r i n g him i n the t h r e a d . )

AULAGA

P u l l , pull

the s k e i n o f wool!

GORGO

Q u i c k , do n o t t a r r y ,
skein o f Uvita
o f c a t and dogberry!

AULAGA

Faster, faster,

skein o f laughter!
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UVA ( r i s i n g , p a l e with f u r y ) : Enough! Leave him alone!

Aulaga! Gorgo!

GORGO ( e x h a u s t e d , s p e n t ) :

Slow now, be wary.

skein of Uvita

o f dog and c a t b e r r y .

UVA: What games y o u t h i n k up, daughters!

GORGO: No, Uva, i t ' s j u s t t h a t he came t o d i e o f l a u g h t e r . . . I

too am dead... (She laughs d i s h e a r t e n e d , i n a t r a g i c manner.)

Bion i s good. Bion i s a s a i n t . Bi6n i s an a n g e l . . . , a

seraph with s i l v e r wings... L e t me c e l e b r a t e h i s r e t u r n t o

Paradise.

UVA: T h i s house P a r a d i s e ? That must have been i n y o u r b r o t h e r ' s

time.

GORGO: Y e s , P a r a d i s e , P a r a d i s e , t h a t Bidn can enjoy as he p l e a s e s .

He knows how b e t t e r than y o u . (With mocking i n t e n t j Besides,

he understands me.

UVA (with a s t o n i s h m e n t , s t a r t i n g , uneasy): Him!

GORGO: Y e s , h i m , him.

UVA ( j e a l o u s ) : That he... What i s i t t h a t y o u u n d e r s t a n d , you

miserable wretch?
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BION(mysterious): Chsst... Chsst... S i l e n c e , Dona Uva.

UVA: What m y s t e r i e s are these?

BION ( l a u g h i n g ) : Mysteries? Those t h a t my p r o t e c t o r makes me

pray every e v e n i n g .

UVA: Are you l i s t e n i n g , Aulaga?

AULAGA: What were you saying?

UVA: That now I'm going t o be the porcupine i f you don't e x p l a i n

to me what's going on h e r e . Q u i c k l y , the q u i l l s are s t a r t i n g

to sprout!

AULAGA: E x p l a i n , Uvita? Leaveme alone. Don't you see? They've

taken my boy away...

UVA: Gorgoja's t r i c k e r y , ninny. Now's the time to pay no

a t t e n t i o n to h e r . You hear me? Or do you too have a p a r t i n

the u n d e r s t a n d i n g , the mystery o f t h i s one here with Bion?

GORGO: Did you say t h i s one?

UVA: Y e s , t h i s one, t h i s one with t h a t one. ( U n f a s t e n i n g the

huge scissors.) And now t h a t one's g o i n g to s i n g . . . And so

are we. Come o n , l i t t l e r o o s t e r , s i n g , chant! Cockadoodledoo!

What i s i t t h a t ' s going on between you and y o u r m i s t r e s s ?

S p i t , s p u r t out y o u r s a l i v a , horny t o a d . . . Quack, quack!

S l a v e r with t h a t tongue...

BION: My dear m i s t r e s s , Bion i s o n l y a manacled dog... A dog of

the streets.
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GORGO: But w i t h o u t a m u z z l e , Uva. Watch o u t . . .

UVA ( c u t t i n g t h e threads and s k e i n s t h a t i m p r i s o n him): Well,

b i t e , t h e n , bark f r e e l y ! Come on! Bark! Bow wow! Howl,

B i o n , howl out! Owoooo! (BION breaks out howling and g u f f a w i n g

g r o t e s q u e l y a l o n g with UVA.) Cursed be the hour when you came

back t o t h i s house!

GORGO ( t r y i n g t o stop UVA's f i t ) : Aulaga! The wool! The wool!

The poor people's wool! Go on! Keep i t up! Cut i t w i t h t h e

scissors! Cut i t o f f ! Tear i t ! Rip i t ! Pull i t t o shreads!

AULAGA: My s o c k s ! My s c a r v e s ! My k n i t w a i s t c o a t s !

Bl6N: Dona Uva, Dona Uva!

GORGO: Be c h a r i t a b l e ! You're e v i l - m i n d e d !

UVA (throwing t h e sewing basket and s c a t t e r i n g a l l t h e garments

t h a t are i n s i d e i t o v e r the g a r d e n ) : Out! L e t them go n a k e d ,

l e t them s h i v e r with c o l d ! The u n f o r t u n a t e s want c l e a n

garments, and o u r hands o n l y weave mud.

AULAGA: You f r i g h t e n me, Uva.

UVA: Alms such as those s t a i n the heavens.

GORGO: You a r e damned. I see y o u r s e r p e n t ' s body.

UVA: You a r e p l o t t i n g something... I can smell i t . . . You do n o t

f o r g i v e , y o u want e v e r y t h i n g f o r y o u r s e l v e s , g l u t t o n s . That

one now, with h e r nephew, with t h a t l i t t l e nephew t h a t fell

to h e r one good day from God knows where... And y o u , G o r g o j a ,

 226

i f you c o u l d . . . ( G i v i n g t h e beggar a shove.) Why say any

more? You make me b l u s h t o t h e t i p o f my nose f o r shame.

BION: Don't be impudent, Dona Uva, because I swear t o y o u on my

honor t h a t Bion doesn't know any m y s t e r i e s .

UVA ( t h r u s t i n g the s c i s s o r s in his face): Be q u i e t o r I ' l l c u t

y o u r eyes o u t !

BIQ'N ( r u n n i n g , f o l l o w e d by UVA): No, n o t t h a t ! My e y e s . . . my

beard! Calm y o u r b l o o d , my m i s t r e s s .

GORGO: Uva! Uva!

AULAGA: S h e ' l l c u t them! S h e ' l l c u t them! Get those scissors

away from h e r !

GORGO: She would do i t with h e r f i n g e r n a i l s . Vulture, vulture!

UVA: To y o u r cave!

BION: Mysteries!

GORGO: God! God's God!

UVA: To y o u r p i g s t y ! Get o u t , g e t out! (BION f l e e s ; h i s c r i e s

can be heard from w i t h i n . ) Mysteries! Mysteries! (Panting,

a f t e r a pause.) I t wasn't you who threw him o u t now. I t was

my t u r n t h i s t i m e , G o r g o j a .

(She s i t s , d e p r e s s e d , c o v e r i n g h e r f a c e with h e r hands.)

GORGO: My poor l i t t l e g r a p e , U v i t a , always suffering.

UVA: I threw him o u t , I threw him o u t ! And i t was me! Did y o u

see?
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GORGO: I don't want t o c o m p l a i n , my daughter... But... what do

you want me t o do? T h i s b u s i n e s s o f making a r i v e r out o f a

little drop o f w a t e r , a mountain o u t o f a g r a i n o f sand...

In the e n d , even though grapes t u r n i n t o r a i s i n s , t h e h e a r t i s

a little girl always ready t o p l a y s k i p - r o p e .

UVA: Why d i d you agree t o have him come? For t h i s , Gorgo, f o r

this!

GORGO ( i r o n i c ) : You asked me t o so o f t e n . You openly pleaded

w i t h me t o have him s t a y on w i t h u s .

UVA: W e l l , I hate m y s e l f , I'm d i s g u s t e d t h a t I c a r r i e d on s o .

GORGO: We would g e t so bored w i t h o u t him...

UVA: I am ashamed. I can't f o r g i v e myself.

GORGO (with i n t e n t , almost i n h e r e a r ) : B e s i d e s , Uva, Gorgo isn't

spiteful... Do you understand? And l e a s t o f a l l , vindictive.

Forgive, forgive! I t has made me very happy t o see him here

again.

UVA: Gorgo, Gorgo! Why are you s a y i n g t h a t t o me?

GORGO (making h e r s u f f e r ) : I f i t doesn't o f f e n d y o u , i f y o u don't

act l i k e a g o o s e b e r r y , he can come back whenever he wants...

Bidh i s good... Above a l l , he i s s e r v i c e a b l e . . . You know,

You know, he even brought me a c a t .

UVA: A s h e - c a t , t h a t he s t o l e from a n e i g h b o r f o r y o u .

GORGO: And he was so happy! You s h o u l d have seen him! Why, i t

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was then he t o l d me t h a t to him t h i s house was g l o r y itself.

UVA: Glory, Gorgojilla? What a s t u p i d wretch!

GORGO: G l o r y , y e s ; not P a r a d i s e , as I s a i d b e f o r e .

UVA (more s e r e n e ) : What an i d e a , Gorgo!

GORGO: Ah! And he a l s o swore t h a t I was h i s guardian angel...

I s n ' t t h a t d e l i g h t f u l , Uva? And he c a l l e d me a f l o w e r .

Dona Flower! The poor man was so g r a t e f u l ! Do y o u understand

it a l l now? Those were o u r m y s t e r i e s .

UVA: Anyway, I'm s t i l l s u f f e r i n g , my daughter. F o r g i v e me.

GORGO: Calm y o u r s e l f . . . Smile a l i t t l e , j e a l o u s l i t t l e girl.

You have o f f e n d e d him, m i s t r e a t e d him, thrown him o u t . . .

UVA: He deserved i t . . .

GORGO: . . . o n l y because o f y o u r s u s p i c i o n s , y o u r imaginings...

UVA: I thought he deserved i t . My soul i s going to burst.

GORGO (growing s u l l e n ) : And me? What i s going t o b u r s t me open?

Have y o u f o r g o t t e n t h a t I am d y i n g . ; , t h a t I am i n t h e midst

o f a b a t t l e , r i d d l e d with wounds...

UVA: Gorgo!

GORGO: . . . t h a t i t i s I who am going t o d i e , i f y o u do n o t

s u s t a i n me, i f y o u l e t me f o r g e t e v e r y t h i n g . Aulaga!

AULAGA: You c a l l e d me?

GORGO (transfigured): Yes, y e s . Come t o me. Don't you know?

He must have t o l d y o u . My b r o t h e r spoke t o me a s h o r t while

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ago. The r o o f t o p was f i l l e d with h i s v o i c e . F i r s t i t was a

whisper: "Gorgo, Gorgo!" I looked a t t h e chimneys... At

first I thought i t was the smoke t h a t was c a l l i n g me...

"Here, Gorgo: I t ' s me." I t came from t h e vine b r a n c h e s . . .

I put my e a r t o t h e l e a v e s . . . No, i t was o v e r t h e r e , beyond

the weather vanes... "Do n o t f a l l asleep, s i s t e r . Your s l e e p

would be t r e a s o n . L e t y o u r eyes f a l l out b e f o r e you c l o s e

them. A l t e a i s going t o be taken away... And you know, y o u

know... I am s u f f e r i n g . . . My s p i r i t i s i n s l e e p l e s s torment...

I t weeps... Don't y o u hear how i t weeps? Do n o t condemn i t

to Hell."

AULAGA: Is t h a t what he s a i d , Gorgo?

GORGO: Didn't y o u h e a r him? Didn't y o u see from the t e r r a c e ?

I felt afraid. I l o c k e d h e r i n the tower a g a i n . . . The r e d

rooster i s courting her... I hear t h a t he i s p r e p a r i n g him-

self... That he i s s h a r p e n i n g h i s s p u r s . . . He i s going t o come,

he's coming...

AULAGA: Castor! But hasn't he gone away?

GORGO: He i s going t o come! We can s t i l l stop him...

AULAGA: Yes, yes!

GORGO: . . . Run t o him... Turn h i s h o r s e . . .

AULAGA: He goes o n , he goes on!

GORGO: . . . and take him away . . . f a r away...

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AULAGA: S t o p , my boy! A moment!

GORGO: . . . beyond those mountains... t o another c o u n t r y s i d e . . .

until a l l this i s swallowed on t h e tongue o f o b l i v i o n .

AULAGA ( i n a d e l i r i u m ) : A y , my boy! My d e a t h , my l i f e ! A word

...! Hear me... You don't know, y o u don't know...! You're

going t o s t a y , you won't l e a v e me, when I t e l l y o u . . .

UVA ( p i t e o u s l y ) : Aulaga, l i s t e n , Aulaga...

AULAGA: I took y o u i n as a l i t t l e boy... They brought y o u t o me

from I don't know where... from a d i s t a n t farmhouse... when

you were s c a r c e l y a f l o w e r . . .

UVA: I beg o f y o u . . . Look a t me, a t l e a s t . . .

AULAGA: . . . You grew up b e s i d e my s o l i t u d e . . . L i t t l e by l i t t l e

I made you mine, w i t h o u t y o u r b e i n g mine... as i f you had

run about i n my b l o o d . . . i n h a b i t e d my poor e n t r a i l s . . .

UVA: Daughter, my d a u g h t e r . . .

AULAGA: . . . And t h e n , what l o v e , what l o v e ! My v i g i l , my

s a c r i f i c e s , my a n g u i s h , a r e they worth n o t h i n g t o you? I tell

you how, my b o y , but never repeat i t , never remind me o f i t ,

ever... I am n o t y o u r f a m i l y . . . n o t even y o u r a u n t . . . That

i s why y o u a r e e v e r y t h i n g t o me... Don't l e a v e me...

GORGO: A u l a g a , Aulaga! He won't go away, he w i l l n o t l e a v e y o u . . .

He won't take h e r away, we won't be l e f t w i t h o u t them... I

know, I know...
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UVA: T h i s crime must be s t o p p e d . You a r e a p a i r o f e g o i s t s .

GORGO: B i t e y o u r tongue, Uva. What do you know about crimes?

Haven't we consumed o u r s e l v e s , w a i t i n g ? Help me, i t i s a l l I

ask. S u s t a i n me a l i t t l e more and y o u w i l l s e e . . . (Shouting)

Animas, Animas, Animas! Take t h e c h i l d from t h e tower and b r i n g

her t o the r o o f t o p !

AULAGA: Gorgo commands. She i s t h e a u t h o r i t y . The male. The man.

She has h e r b r o t h e r ' s e n l i g h t e n m e n t .

UVA: I t must be t r u e , daughters: Uva never knows a n y t h i n g . A l l

t h a t takes p l a c e here from now on w i l l weigh upon y o u r s h o u l d e r s .

Gorgo i s responding t o d i c t a t e d secrets.

GORGO ( i l l u m i n e d ) : I w i l l c a r r y them o u t , be c e r t a i n o f t h a t . . .

And i f they s h o u l d n o t be c a r r i e d o u t :

May my poor eyes f a l l o u t ,

unhappy s p i r i t , s p i r i t i n disgrace.

May my tongue s p l i t i n two,

s p i r i t i n mourning, s p i r i t i n darkness.

May my dry bones splinter,

spirit i n sorrow, s p i r i t without rest.

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May my d r y bones splinter,

spirit i n sorrow, s p i r i t without rest.

May my b l o o d a l l dry up,

s p i r i t i n mortal anguish.

May my h e a r t f r e e z e i n s i d e me,

s p i r i t i n danger o f d e a t h .

May y o u never r e c o g n i z e me,

s p i r i t i n danger o f shadow.

( A f t e r an e x p e c t a n t s i l e n c e which o n l y s e r v e s t o f u r t h e r

darken t h e drama o f the v i o l e n t t w i l i g h t , ALTEA, l e d by ANIMAS,

h e r f a c e covered with the b l a c k l i n e n - c l o t h , appears like a

shadow.)

GORGO ( s o f t l y ) : I c a l l e d y o u , n i e c e , t o t e l l you something which

I have t h o u g h t , t h a t I have d e c i d e d y o u s h o u l d know... and

a l s o so t h a t y o u may spend t h e l a s t o f t h e a f t e r n o o n w i t h u s .

ALTEA: I don't want t o know a n y t h i n g . I live better i n oblivion.

GORGO: I s u f f e r because o f t h a t , c h i l d .

ALTEA: I am b e t t e r o f f s i l e n t , alone t h e r e , with t h e chimney

swallows and the c l o c k bells.

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GORGO: A l t e a , Altea!

ALTEA: Don't concern y o u r s e l f with me. L e t me go back.

GORGO: Animas, remove h e r v e i l . I know y o u r t o r m e n t , c h i l d .

ANIMAS (murmuring t o ALTEA as she removes t h e v e i l ) : Come, l i t t l e

flower...

UVA: Unhappy waxen r o s e .

AULAGA: W e l l , I f i n d h e r as she always has been: l i k e a garden

i n May.

ALTEA: I want t o go.

GORGO: My wish would n o t have been f o r t h i s . I am n o t my own

mistress. Someone who keeps watch f o r y o u r good commands me.

I obey him.

ALTEA: I beg y o u , a u n t . I am no l o n g e r on t h i s earth. Think o f

me as h a v i n g gone away, as having l e f t t h i s house a l o n g time

ago.

GORGO: My c h i l d , i t i s always t h e f i r s t l o v e which seems t h e

saddest. That's the way i t was w i t h me when I was a g i r l . . .

That's t h e way i t has been w i t h a l l o f u s .

ALTEA: I don't want t o t a l k t o anyone.

GORGO: The Angel us b e l l i s going t o t o l l .

ALTEA: I ' l l hear i t from the tower. Give me p e r m i s s i o n t o l e a v e .

GORGO: Animas, b r i n g t h e p o l e s . (ANIMAS l e a v e s . ) I t i s time

now. Do y o u remember? But y o u were such a c h i l d . . .

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ALTEA ( d e c i s i v e ) : I'm going.

GORGO ( a u t h o r i t a r i a n ) : Your f a t h e r was a happy man. In the

s p r i n g t i m e , above a l l , he wouldn't miss an a f t e r n o o n out here.

Uva and Aulaga won't have f o r g o t t e n .

UVA: Y e s , y e s , we used to hunt with him.

GORGO: Today I want to remember him with y o u . . . Give him that

pleasure, Altea. I do not ask f o r myself.

UVA: Aulaga i s a f r a i d .

AULAGA: I never h u n t e d , but Gorgo, on the o t h e r hand...

GORGO: It isn't easy, niece. You have t o be very a l e r t . Come

on. Y o u ' l l get y o u r mind o f f t h i n g s a l i t t l e . The birds...

not the b i r d s . That would be l i k e k i l l i n g defenseless flowers.

But the b a t s . . . ( M y s t e r i o u s , obsessed) Look, l o o k , n i e c e . . .

Look, a l l o f y o u . . . They're s t i l l f l y i n g high up... They've

j u s t come o u t . . . They f l y b l i n d , a v o i d i n g the tower s p i r e s . . .

They n e s t i n the d e v i l ' s head. And they c i r c l e round and

round l i k e remorse... T h e i r smell i s t h a t o f punished

s o r r o w , o f s i c k m e l a n c h o l y , o f dry smoke, decomposing, and their

w i n g s , r i b b e d and featherless, are l i k e those o f f a l l e n angels.

(ANIMAS r e t u r n s , b r i n g i n g f i v e long c a n e s , with a b l a c k cloth

a t the t i p o f e a c h . While ANIMAS hands them out to everyone)

K i l l i n g them, knocking them down i s l i k e c l e a n s i n g the

conscience o f s t a i n s , b l e a c h i n g the soul o f i t s s i n s .

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(Now with h e r p o l e , i n the c e n t e r o f the r o o f . ) Spin,

s l o w l y s p i n those b l a c k k e r c h i e f s and you w i l l s e e them

o b s e s s e d , s q u e a k i n g , c r e a k i n g l i k e wooden b o l t s i n t h e

night... (They s p i n t h e canes about r h y t h m i c a l l y w h i l e f a r

o f f t h e Angel us begins t o sound.)

Black messengers o f d e a t h ,

never n e s t on my f o r e h e a d .

AULAGA:

F a l 1 , f l y away,

and l e t me r e s t i n my dreams!

GORGO:

Never d i s t u r b my b r e a s t

with y o u r dank and dismal designs.

UVA:

F l y away, f a l l ,

and l e t me bloom i n my dreams!

ANIMAS:

F l e e , s p i n away,

and l e t her f l y without fear!

GORGO:

Never c l o a k t h i s dwelling

with the c o l o r o f your d i s g r a c e .

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ALTEA:

Fly, f l y ,

and l e t me f o r g o t t e n d i e I

GORGO ( s t o p p i n g t h e hunt with t h e o t h e r s ) : Die, die... What an

extraordinary thought, niece! As i f f a l l e n from these

f l y i n g demons.

ALTEA: Y e s , a u n t , d i e , d i e from e v e r y t h i n g . . . To c l o s e my eyes

and never again see t h i s p r i s o n , t h i s r o o f t o p , t h a t mountain...

GORGO: These a r e t h e dark shadows o f a g i r l in love, child. But

you would be c r u e l , A l t e a , and n o t t o y o u r s e l f , n o r t o me, n o r

even t o Animas, who goes w i t h o u t s l e e p a t n i g h t f o r y o u , but

t o someone who i s t h e c a u s e . . .

ALTEA: I don't have anyone any more now. I am a l o n e , surrounded

by horror...

ANIMAS: My h e a r t . . . my l o v e .

GORGO: Alone, niece?

ALTEA: Yes, y e s .

GORGO: Forgotten, niece?

ALTEA: Y e s .

GORGO: Can y o u be c e r t a i n o f t h a t , w i t h o u t y o u r b l o o d rising?

ALTEA: I don't know. But t h a t i s how I want i t t o b e .

GORGO: Are you t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h ? Put y o u r e a r t o y o u r h e a r t .

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ALTEA: A u n t , aunt!

GORGO: You d o u b t , c h i l d . I can see i t .

ALTEA: Don't k i l l me s l o w l y . K i l l me a t o n c e . I can't endure

any more.

GORGO: You a r e l y i n g t o me, A l t e a .

ALTEA: Leave me a l o n e . I have t o l d y o u what I want.

GORGO: You a r e u n j u s t . Look. (She shows h e r t h e l e t t e r .

Silence.)

AULAGA: Gorgo, Gorgo! A letter!

ANIMAS (between h e r t e e t h ) : My God!

GORGO: You're s p e e c h l e s s , A l t e a . And y o u t o o , Uva. Yes, a

letter. From C a s t o r . Why n o t t e l l y o u t h e t r u t h ? (Pause,

i n which ALTEA, AULAGA and UVA take a s t e p toward GORGO.)

Don't come any c l o s e r , n i e c e . Don't come c l o s e r , any o f y o u . . .

(A f a i n t smoke begins t o come o u t o f the chimneys w h i l e t h e

Angel us b e l l s come and go i n melancholy t o n e s . )

ALTEA ( h a r d ) : You w i l l g i v e i t t o me.

AULAGA: I t belongs t o me.

ALTEA (moving h e r a s i d e ) : Out o f h e r e , t h i e f !

UVA: It's for Altea. Give i t t o h e r .

ALTEA: I am i t s o n l y m i s t r e s s . I t i s mine.

GORGO: Yours. But y o u w i l l n o t have i t .

ALTEA: Y e s .
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GORGO: That won't be n e c e s s a r y , n i e c e . I'm going t o shout t o you

what i t s a y s . Listen carefully.

ALTEA: I want t o read i t m y s e l f .

AULAGA: No, l e t me.

GORGO: You don't want t o d i e . Castor loves y o u .

ALTEA: I won't b e l i e v e a n y t h i n g from y o u . Give i t t o me.

GORGO: He i s going t o k i l l himself f o r you... He i s l i v i n g f a r

away, he t e l l s y o u , very f a r from t h i s town, surrounded by

m o u n t a i n s , g u a r d e d , abducted by t h e s e f u r i e s . (They move

toward GORGO s l o w l y . ) Back, back! He w i l l never be a b l e t o

escape... and he i s going t o throw h i m s e l f i n t h e r i v e r . . .

hang h i m s e l f from a b r a n c h . . .

AULAGA: That i s n ' t true.

ALTEA: I hate y o u .

UVA: You took p o s s e s s i o n o f t h a t l e t t e r .

GORGO: I took i t from B i o n . That's why I wanted him t o come back.

You have b e t r a y e d me, p r o c u r e r .

ALTEA (b e s i d e h e r s e l f ) : I t ' s mine!

AULAGA (the same): I t ' s mine!

(They each take up one o f the p o l e s and r a i s e them m e n a c i n g l y ,

a l l but ANIMAS.)
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GORGO: I t i s mine... Mine... Mine a l o n e . (She t e a r s i t t o

p i e c e s and t h r u s t s them i n t o her d r e s s , at the moment t h a t

they s t r i k e her down, t o g e t h e r . ) God! God's God! (As

they beat her) S t r i k e me! Wound me! Draw my b l o o d t i l l i t

gushes! What do you know! See me now, my brother! Look at

y o u r own daughter... my faithful friends...! But I w i l l

defend y o u , I w i l l obey y o u , I w i l l save y o u r h o n o r , keeping

y o u r s e c r e t t o the d e a t h . . . • Animas! Animas! You s t r i k e me

t o o , what are you w a i t i n g f o r ?

(The Angelus sounds c l o s e r and l o u d e r now, w h i l e the thick

smoke o f the chimneys f u r t h e r b l a c k e n s the evening and the

curtain descends.)

*
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CHARACTERS IN THE THIRD ACT

GORGO
UVA
AULAGA
ALTEA
BION

ANIMAS

FIRST BEGGAR

SECOND BEGGAR

THIRD BEGGAR

FOURTH BEGGAR

PEASANT

CASTOR

Shawl-covered women from t h e town and o t h e r poor people

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A C T T H R E E

Dona GORGO'S house garden. In the l e f t f o r e g r o u n d , a white

w a l l w i t h a door. In the b a c k g r o u n d , toward the c e n t e r , t h e

sudden t h r u s t o f a s l e n d e r tower: low balcony w i t h a d o o r , and

two windows. T r e e s , v i n e s along t h e whitewashed w a l l s , f l o w e r

pots... The garden has a romantic a i r and i s somewhat w i l d and

luxuriant. To the r i g h t i n the f o r e g r o u n d i s a t a b l e a l l l a i d o u t :

f r u i t , p i t c h e r s o f w i n e , an immense covered d i s h , e t c . Iti s

night. And t h e r e i s a moon.

GORGO, k n e e l i n g on the g r o u n d , i l l u m i n a t e d by a r a y o f l i g h t ,

appears t o be i n a s t a t e o f e c s t a c y . I l l u m i n e d by another beam

of l i g h t , ALTEA i s seen i n t h e h i g h e s t window i n the tower.

ALTEA:

Some towers o v e r l o o k the f i e l d s .

O t h e r s , the s e a , the s e a .
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The towers o f my hope,

what do they look upon?

GORGO:

See me here s t r u c k down,

all f o r y o u , my brother:

my temples, f a i n t

my r i b s , in pain.

I t was not w i t h the s t a l k s o f lilies,

brother.

P o i n t e d s t i c k s , sharpened poles

were what t h a t n a i l e d me down.

You saw me t o s s e d to the earth,

brother.

E a t i n g the dust and biting

the t i l e s you have walked on.

To me, the thorns are d a h l i a s ,

for you, brother,

sweet v i o l e t s , the blows,

warm c a r n a t i o n s , the nails.

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ALTEA ( i n a lower window):

There a r e towers t h a t look upon highways;

others: ships that s a i l o f f to sea.

The towers o f my sadness,

what w i l l they see?

GORGO:

The f r a u d , the v i l l a i n y ,

brother;

the f a l s e h o o d , madness,

humiliation, deceit;

the slow e x e c u t i o n , the c r i m e ,

for you, brother;

the shame o f f o r g i v i n g

those who b e a t me down.

My b r o t h e r : a l l f o r you,

and more s t i l l , brother;

i f i t be necessary••, l e t horses

brand me with t h e i r h o o f p r i n t s .

ALTEA (now on t h e b a l c o n y ) :

Towers t h a t s i n g , s m i l i n g ;
 towers which o n l y weep.

The towers o f my agony,

what w i l l they do?

(With t h e ray o f l i g h t , she withdraws from t h e b a l c o n y . )

UVA'S VOICE ( d a r k l y ) : Gorgo!

GORGO:

Who i s i t t h a t c a l l s ? L e t them

d e r i d e me, b r o t h e r ;

l e t them mock, l e t them laugh

u n t i l they a r e l e f t w i t h o u t lips.

AULAGA'S VOICE (murmuring): Gorgo!

BION'S VOICE: Dona Gorgo!

GORGO:

Come! Approach! I am h e r e ,

yours, brother;

ready t o save t h e pure name

which you have l e f t t o u s .

ALTEA'S VOICE: Aunt!

ANIMAS' VOICE: Mistress!

GORGO:

Do n o t weep, hidden spirit,

brother, brother!
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T h i s v e r y day w i l l you be f r e e ,

h o l y , p u r e , immaculate.

VOICES OF THE FOUR BEGGARS ( m y s t e r i o u s ) : Dona Gorgo! Dona Gorgo!

(The r a y o f l i g h t t h a t i l l u m i n a t e d GORGO d i s a p p e a r s . In the

g a r d e n , i n a d i f f e r e n t a r e a , UVA, AULAGA, BION and THE FOUR BEGGARS

have e n t e r e d . ANIMAS and ALTEA are out on t h e b a l c o n y . Those who

have come i n t o the garden b r i n g with them l i g h t e d l a n t e r n s which

they s e t on the t a b l e o r hang from t h e t r e e s . )

GORGO (very humble arid s o f t d u r i n g t h e s c e n e ) : You have come,

daughters. And you a l s o . Thanks, thanks. You are now here

with me. I t i s the day o f c h a r i t y , o f h o l y a l m s , which has

been c e l e b r a t e d each y e a r i n t h i s house. But t h i s y e a r I have

wanted t o move i t f o r w a r d . And a l s o t o have i t a t n i g h t . See

what a b e a u t i f u l June moon i s t o accompany o u r s u p p e r . Animas,

Altea! I want you down i n the garden. Come down, come down,

the two o f y o u .

(They with draw from the b a l c o n y . )

UVA: You have always c a l l e d us t o g e t h e r on t h i s day so t h a t we

could help you.

AULAGA: But t h i s time you haven't s a i d a n y t h i n g t o u s , Gorgo.

GORGO: I have p r e p a r e d e v e r y t h i n g m y s e l f . I haven't even l e t

Animas s p r e a d t h e t a b l e c l o t h .
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BION: And d i d my m i s t r e s s even b r i n g out the t a b l e s w i t h o u t any

help? In o t h e r y e a r s , Bion c a r r i e d them out and he was also

the one who beheaded the lamb with h i s hand.

FIRST BEGGAR: What are we poor men good f o r ? What are we for i f

not t o be o r d e r e d about? Come get t h i s , donkey. Go bring

that, imbecile. Run h e r e , houndog. Go t h e r e , b l o c k h e a d .

SECOND BEGGAR: That's what I s a y , Dona Gorgo. Obey:

At the s t r o k e o f one, take the mule out o f the sun.

At the s t r o k e o f two, a k i c k from the shoe,

At the s t r o k e o f t h r e e , take her back t o the t r e e .

At the s t r o k e o f f o u r , whipped t o the core.

At the s t r o k e o f five...

GORGO: Enough, man, enough. That's the way of h e r e t i c s , of souls

without a heart.

THIRD BEGGAR: Well,-we'11 wash the d i s h e s afterwards among o u r s e l v e s .

FOURTH BEGGAR: And on our k n e e s , i f our m i s t r e s s commands.

FIRST BEGGAR: We would c l e a n them w i t h our snouts i f t h a t were

your pleasure.

BION:

On with the dishes,

on with the platters,

to the tongues o f these cats,

j u s t made f o r such matters 1

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GORGO: That i s how I would always wash y o u r s , B i d n , i f y o u

thought me worthy...

UVA: You a r e s u b l i m e , Gorgo.

GORGO: An u n f o r t u n a t e , a poor woman.

UVA: You, p o o r , G o r g o j i l l a ? I would l i k e t o see you b a r e f o o t ,

l i k e the true unfortunates.

GORGO ( c o n t i n u o u s l y meek): You do n o t h u r t me, U v i t a , because

t h a t i s how I am going t o serve y o u t h i s n i g h t .

(She removes h e r shoes and s t o c k i n g s . )

UVA: Jesus!

AULAGA ( d e e p l y moved, making a k n e e l i n g g e s t u r e ) : Gorgo, my

d a u g h t e r , f o r g i v e me... I have h u r t y o u . . . I doubted y o u . . .

You a r e good...

UVA: Only a b i t mad, a l i t t l e h y p o c r i t e . . .

GORGO: And a l l t h a t i s w o r s t , Uva. Speak, shout i t i n p u b l i c ,

i f you wish... ( t a k i n g AULAGA by t h e arm) No, A u l a g a , n o ,

no... I t i s y o u who must f o r g i v e me... You a r e s u f f e r i n g . . .

You aren't a l i v e . . . You a r e s i c k with a p a s s i o n o f t h e s p i r i t . . .

UVA: Before i t was I who was the m a r t y r . Now... Look!

GORGO: Y e s , look a t u s , simple o n e s , and r i d i c u l e with Dona Uva

t h e s e two s a d s c a r e c r o w s . I t i s the night f o r f o r g i v e n e s s .

(Turning s l o w l y t o l e a v e ) Have t h e kindness t o w a i t f o r me

a little while... I w i l l come back t o you s h o r t l y .

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L i g h t so m o u r n f u l , l i g h t divine,

t o d a y , w i t h o u t t h o r n s , you w i l l s h i n e .

L i g h t so s i c k l y , l i g h t so d i s t a n t ,

today you w i l l b r i g h t e n i n an i n s t a n t .

(BION and THE FOUR BEGGARS,very e m o t i o n a l , as GORGO walks s l o w l y

toward t h e door)

BION: Your l e g s have turned i n t o c a r n a t i o n s , Dona Gorgo!

FIRST BEGGAR: Angel o f k i n d n e s s !

SECOND BEGGAR: Patron o f t h e poor!

THIRD BEGGAR: Fountain o f those i n need!

FOURTH BEGGAR: Refuge f o r t h e h e l p l e s s !

UVA (between h e r t e e t h ) : Drunkard... madwoman... crazy

madwoman...

AULAGA: Saint, saint, saint!

(As Dona GORGO goes o u t , ALTEA and ANIMAS e n t e r a t t h e r e a r

o f t h e garden.)

BION (happy):

Begone, be damned,

M a r t f n , horse-man,

the moon has come,

l a n t e r n i n hand!
UVA:

Altea!

AULAGA:

Altea!

BION:

The sweetheart o f these w a l l s !

ANIMAS:

The maiden o f the r o o f t o p s !

FIRST BEGGAR:

The g l o r y t h a t from heaven

came t o pass

comes t o g i v e us what she has

and what she has n o t !

BION ( l e a p i n g about around ALTEA and ANIMAS):

A l l t o the round o f the j e l l i e d quince,

t h e r e ' l l be no bread

without twopence!

SECOND BEGGAR:

With h e r dark eyes o f h a z l e n u t s

t h a t by day are s t o r e d away

and a t n i g h t a r e s c a t t e r e d .
BION:

A l l t o the round o f t h e c a n d i e d plum,

t h e r e i s no weeping, no mournful drum!

THIRD BEGGAR:

With h e r dove's a r c h i n g breast,

which by n i g h t has wings o f w h i t e

and by day hides i n i t s n e s t !

BION:

A l l t o the round o f the r e d c a r n a t i o n ,

paper l e s s pen i s no s a l u t a t i o n !

FOURTH BEGGAR:

With h e r l i p s o f f r a g r a n t p i n e :

by day they a r e orange

by n i g h t they are l i m e !

BION:

To t h e round t h a t does n o t go round

i f t h e r e i s no b r e a d , no s t e r l i n g pound

( A l l o f them making begging g e s t u r e s )

FIRST BEGGAR:

Give us one...

SECOND BEGGAR:

Give us two...
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THIRD BEGGAR:

Give us twenty...

FOURTH BEGGAR:

Flower d i v i n e !

BION:

And play the f i f e fine!

(While the FIRST BEGGAR p l a y s a few s t r i d e n t w h i s t l e s on the

f i f e , BION and the o t h e r beggars s e i z e and k i s s the hands o f

ANIMAS, UVA and AULAGA, c a u s i n g the women t o c i r c l e ridiculously

around ALTEA: t h e r e i s much k i c k i n g and s h o u t i n g . )

UVA ( b r e a k i n g the c h o r u s ) : Feet o f a mule!

BION: To the r o u n d , f o l l o w t h e r o u n d , my Dona Uva!

AULAGA ( p a n t i n g ) : My h e a r t i s going t o b u r s t .

Bl6N (embracing ANIMAS by t h e w a i s t ) :

Come, s h e p h e r d e s s , l e o p a r d e s s ,

the hour i s e v e r - b e s t !

ANIMAS: Beast! Thief! Watch o u t , y o u ' l l s e e !

(The THREE BEGGARS advance towards ALTEA):

SECOND BEGGAR: The queen!

THIRD BEGGAR: The f l o w e r o f the v i n t a g e !

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FOURTH BEGGAR: The j u i c e o f t h e wine p r e s s !

ALTEA: Animas! Animas!

ANIMAS (coming between them): I f you dare t o touch h e r I w i l l

s p l i t you i n two!

BION ( p u l l i n g AULAGA t o take h e r o f f among t h e t r e e s ) :

My Dofia A u l a g a , t o t h e r o u n d , t o t h e round:

I pay i n good m o n e y — h u s h , don't make a sound!

AULAGA: Uva, Bion i s c a r r y i n g me o f f ! He's l e a d i n g me a s t r a y !

UVA ( p u l l i n g AULAGA by t h e o t h e r hand): What more d i d you w a n t ,

little girl? Turn h e r l o o s e , you dog!

•

ANIMAS: Wicked men! Pigs! Out w i t h a l l t h e beggars i n t h i s town!

(Suddenly t h e f i f e breaks i t s c o n c e r t b e f o r e t h e a p p a r i t i o n

of Dona GORGO, who i s wearing t h e b e a r d , c a r r y i n g a washbasin

a n d , hanging o v e r h e r arm, a small towel.)

GORGO (from t h e doorway): Run! Jump! Be merry! I t i s also the

night f o r gaeity.

(Gestures o f s u r p r i s e and astonishment by t h e BEGGARS)

BION: The m i s t r e s s has put on my beard a g a i n .

UVA: What l a c k o f r e s p e c t ! What an i n s u l t t o y o u r b r o t h e r ,

Gorgojilla! To come out l i k e t h a t i n f r o n t o f the poor!

AULAGA: Gorgo! My Gorgo! What i s happening? You make my h a i r

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s t a n d on e n d .

ALTEA ( t e r r i f i e d , s h i e l d i n g h e r s e l f behind ANIMAS): Animas, I

want t o l e a v e . Come with me. L e t ' s go.

ANIMAS: Don Dino! A y , my mad m i s t r e s s ! L e t t h i s torment s t o p

now! Don't t r e m b l e , my child.

(The BEGGARS, a t l a s t , break out b e l l o w i n g and l a u g h i n g . )

FOURTH BEGGAR: Dona GORGO has t u r n e d i n t o a goat!

THIRD BEGGAR (on a l l f o u r s p r e t e n d i n g t o be a g o a t ) : Butt away,

l o n g - b e a r d , b u t t away. Maa! Maa!

SECOND BEGGAR ( t o FIRST BEGGAR): Y o u , sharpen i t s h o r n s . And

p l a y , play! Play out l o u d and l o n g !

(The FIRST BEGGAR p l a y s a few notes on t h e f i f e . )

BION ( s n a t c h i n g t h e f i f e away from him): Have more composure;

Bion i s the o n l y beggar on i n t i m a t e terms here!

GORGO: Laugh. Screech. Mock me. My s p i r i t i s p r e p a r e d . Don't

you see? I t i s not Gorgo's s p i r i t now. Your shouts and

l a u g h t e r i l l u m i n a t e i t , b a t h i n g i t w i t h p l e a s u r e and l i m i t -

less delight.. What d i d you t h i n k ? Come t o me. But n o , don't

come, don't f o r c e y o u r s e l v e s t o take a s i n g l e s t e p . I t i s I,

on my k n e e s , who w i l l come t o y o u . ( K n e e l i n g , she moves

toward them b e f o r e the f e a r and s i l e n c e o f a l l . ) What are

these humble cobbles t o the c r e v i c e s and s c r a t c h e s t h a t my

f l e s h claims! Brambles and s h a r p - p o i n t e d pebbles a r e what

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t h i s s p i r i t asks o f me, q u i v e r i n g with hope. (She r i s e s before

ALTEA, p r e s e n t i n g her with the washbasin. As she washed ALTEA's

hands) L e t y o u r hands be t h e f i r s t , n i e c e . I t i s n o t I who

is going t o wash them, r e t u r n i n g them t o t h e i r jasmine inno-

cence. ..

ALTEA: I have gone b l i n d , I have gone mad... I no l o n g e r know

what I am d o i n g , nor whom I am s e e i n g . . .

GORGO: Now, pure once a g a i n , they can g r i p t h e rod w i t h renewed

s t r e n g t h a g a i n s t me. Here i s my b a c k , my poor bones t h a t

need i t . (ALTEA t u r n s h e r f a c e away, c o v e r i n g i t w i t h h e r

hands.) Animas, you d i d n ' t s t r i k e me, d a u g h t e r , y o u d i d n ' t

hammer y o u r hate i n t o the f a l l e n pain o f y o u r m i s t r e s s . . .

ANIMAS ( h i d i n g h e r hands): Madam, I would d i e first...

GORGO (washing them): I w i l l wash yours a l s o . Now w i t h greater

skill they can c o n t i n u e t h e i r s e c r e t work...

UVA: You wash my hands? Never, never! T h i s i s t o o much h u m i l i -

a t i o n , Gorgo.

GORGO: No, my U v i t a , on the c o n t r a r y . (Washing them) I t i s my

g l o r y , i t i s h i s , h i s own... They w i l l feel h o l y , there will

blossom i n them, p e r h a p s , t h e new thought o f c a r e s s i n g me a

little...

AULAGA (going f o r w a r d ) : Mine, y e s , I w i l l l e t y o u wash mine...

(As she washes them) Oh, what peace! What sweetness!

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What p l e a s u r e !

GORGO: Still more f o r me, A u l a g a . . .

BldN: Bion t o o , my m i s t r e s s , though I don't deserve i t . (His

head bowed, r e s p e c t f u l l y , as she washes h i s hands)

B l e s s e d madam Gorgo,

in heaven there i s an a l c o v e

w i t h a l t a r and h o l y - w a t e r , Gorgo,

reserved f o r you.

Pater noster. Jesus. Amen.

GORGO: Bion, Bioncillo... The l i t t l e d e v i l o f t h i s house...

One would need a t o r r e n t f o r you a l o n e . . .

THE FOUR BEGGARS ( r u s h i n g impetuously t o t h e washbowl): Now u s ,

Dona Gorgo!

FIRST BEGGAR: Me f i r s t . My hands a r e d i r t y .

SECOND BEGGAR ( g i v i n g him a s h o v e ) : Have you had t h e mange?

THIRD BEGGAR ( s h o v i n g t h e SECOND BEGGAR): I have. And b e s i d e s ,

I'm the new p r o t e g e .

FOURTH BEGGAR (pushing through them and p l u n g i n g h i s hands i n t h e

water): But I'm t h e o l d e s t !

GORGO: A l l o f y o u , a l l a t t h e same t i m e , l i k e good b r o t h e r s .

(As she pours water o v e r t h e i r hands and d r i e s them)

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Simple s o u l s , d e c r i e d ,

by t h i s water

be purified.

Beautiful s o u l s , denied,

by t h i s water be d e i f i e d .

(She s e t s down t h e washbasin and removes the beard.) And now,

c h i l d r e n , m y s e l f c l e a n now and p u r e , a l l o f you s h i n i n g as

s i l v e r , s i t with me a t c h a r i t y ' s t a b l e , a t t h i s f e a s t that

today i s a l s o t h a t o f peace and good w i l l . (GORGO goes t o

the c e n t e r o f t h e t a b l e and each one goes t b h i s p l a c e , stand-

i n g behind t h e i r c h a i r s . ) L e t lis commend o u r s e l v e s , b e f o r e

we b e g i n , t o him who bequeathed us t h i s h o l y and f a m i l i a r

custom.

May t h e t a b l e c l o t h s o f y o u r house

always open t o y o u r l o v e .

Give them y o u r benediction,

b l e s s them from heaven above.

Upon t h e i r u n s t a i n e d w h i t e n e s s

embroider y o u r pure h e a r t ' s love:

f o r him embraced i n y o u r s h i r t - s l e e v e s

as f o r him you s a l u t e with y o u r glove.

Wine o f y o u r r i p e s t vineyards:
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run i n rivers of sunlit love.

Olive trees: o f f e r y o u r branches

and t h e brown sweet b r e a d , y o u r b u d .

Your e s t a t e , t h e c h o i c e s t lamb,

your o r c h a r d , the choicest guaves.

Let n o t t h a t which t h e k n i f e cuts

be unknown t o t h e f o r k o f

the poor man who awaits y o u r t a b l e

as t h e t r e e awaits t h e d o v e ,

as t h e farmer awaits t h e r a i n ,

as y o u r g l o r y , y o u r s i s t e r ' s love.

THE WOMEN:

Amen.

THE MEN:

Amen.

GORGO:

So l e t i t be

f o r him and f o r God.

(They a l l s i t . As GORGO, s t i l l standing, s t a r t s to l i f t the

l i d o f t h e g r e a t covered d i s h t h a t stands i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e

table, a PEASANT e n t e r s , p a n t i n g , a t t h e r e a r o f t h e garden.)

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PEASANT (emerging from t h e t r e e s ) : Madam... Madam... (As i f

s u r p r i s e d , n o t e x p e c t i n g t o s e e so many p e o p l e ) Dona Gorgo...

(The PEASANT'S a r r i v a l produces a s t r a n g e and tense s i l e n c e . )

GORGO: What i s t h e m a t t e r w i t h you? Speak.

PEASANT ( s l o w l y , h e s i t a n t ) : Good e v e n i n g . . . F o r g i v e me... I

thought I would f i n d t h e m i s t r e s s o f t h e house alone...

GORGO ( s e r e n e ) : As you s e e , i t i s not s o .

PEASANT ( v a c i l l a t i n g ) : I b r i n g a message f o r y o u . . .

GORGO: I f i t i s by word o f mouth, t e l l i t t o me.

PEASANT: The young man...

ALTEA ( s t a n d i n g ) : Castor!

AULAGA (as an e c h o ) : Castor.

GORGO: Go o n .

PEASANT: . . . appeared a t daybreak hanging from an o l i v e tree...

(A new s i l e n c e )

ALTEA ( s h o u t i n g ) : You l i e !

AULAGA ( q u e s t i o n i n g ) : Gorgo, d a u g h t e r . . .

GORGO: Is i t t r u e what you s a y , man?

UVA: Have y o u seen him?

ANIMAS: Answer q u i c k l y . Come on!

PEASANT: Ladies... The head shepherd has s e n t me... I've been

r i d i n g a l l day... Many l e a g u e s . . . The boy... Go and t e l l

the mistress... Hanged... With t h e rope from t h e w e l l . . .

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GORGO (with f a t a l i s m ) : I t had t o happen. He h i m s e l f had w r i t t e n

it.

ALTEA ( d e c i s i v e l y ) : Animas. I want t o see him. I'm going.

ANIMAS: Then i t w i l l be w i t h me, c h i l d .

AULAGA ( f a i n t , t r y i n g t o w a l k ) : I..., I... The two o f you a l o n e . . .

UVA: You c a n ' t , d a u g h t e r . S i t down.

GORGO ( i n f r o n t o f ALTEA): Nor y o u , n i e c e . I t would be u s e l e s s ,

you don't know where he i s . And I w i l l g o , on t h i s man's

h o r s e , o n l y me. Go and prepare t h e h o r s e . Do you have any-

t h i n g more t o say?

PEASANT ( c o n f u s e d ) : Madam...

(He goes. Pause)

ALTEA: You have k i l l e d him (To AULAGA) And y o u . (To UVA) And

you also.

UVA: I-.wished t o h e l p you A l t e a . Bion and Animas know t h a t .

Aulaga and Gorgo know. But i t c o u l d n ' t b e . I t came out wrong.

ALTEA: You are murderers. (To t h e BEGGARS) L e t these poor men

know i t . Look here a t the t h r e e o f them. You can shout i t

through the town, howl i t from t h e r o o f t o p s , p r o c l a i m i t

through t h e s t r e e t s . (BION and t h e FOUR BEGGARS, some s t a n d i n g

and some s e a t e d , remain m o t i o n l e s s , as i f made o f stone.) What

are you doing? Go. Go. Dead! Hanged from an o l i v e t r e e by

your own hands. Show them your hands. L e t the beggars see
 260

them w e l l . They a r e t h e very same t h a t drop alms and t h a t

strangle a throat.

GORGO: Accuse me a l o n e . Go o n , go o n .

ALTEA: Quiet! Q u i e t , dismal o l d women, p l u c k e r s o f t h e l i g h t

from my e y e s , o f t h e j o y from my y e a r s !

GORGO: Thrash me, Rend me. Claw. Say more, but t o me, o n l y t o

me, f o r p r e s e n t l y I w i l l t e l l you...

ALTEA: T e l l me p r e s e n t l y ! L e t no one dare! L e t no one o f y o u

speak w i t h o u t y o u r hands f a l l i n g off! And l e a s t o f a l l , y o u .

You fill me with h o r r o r . A l l my l i f e has been a dark room,

l i k e a s a d , empty coal b i n . And now i t w i l l be more s o . .

Leave me be. I cannot s e e . I would p r e f e r the company o f

wolves, the nocturnal s o l i t u d e o f t h e hyenas t o b e i n g with

y o u , with a l l o f y o u , o l d d r i e d up f e m a l e s , b l a c k h o r r o r s

masked as a u s t e r e and pious s o u l s . Go s l e e p s e r e n e l y , my

t h r e e c u s t o d i a n dogs. Now C a s t o r belongs t o no-one... Isn't

t h a t how y o u p r e f e r r e d i t , Aulaga? (AULAGA s t a r e s a t h e r i n

mute a b e r r a t i o n , as ALTEA s t a r t s to leave.) A l l t h a t was

between these w a l l s were n a i l s t o me, even t h e l e a v e s o f t h e

t r e e s , except f o r y o u , Animas, t h e o n l y m e r c i f u l shoulder

f o r my unhappy, s l e e p l e s s h e a r t . . .

ANIMAS: I'm going w i t h y o u , my h e a r t , t o f l u f f y o u r p i l l o w s w i t h

f l o w e r s so t h a t f o r t h e f i r s t time your s l e e p w i l l be s o f t .
 261

ALTEA: No... Later... Tomorrow... I want t o weep w i t h o u t

anyone near me t h e r e s t o f t h e n i g h t . . . Don't come with me,

I ask y o u . . .

ANIMAS: I w i l l do as you p l e a s e , l o v e . . . Go s l e e p , go c r y a l o n e ,

and I w i l l come up then a t daybreak t o see t h a t t h e l i g h t does

not s t e a l y o u r r e s t .

ALTEA ( i l l u m i n e d by a r a y o f l i g h t from above and moving s l o w l y

toward t h e r e a r o f t h e g a r d e n , c a r r y i n g a l i g h t e d l a n t e r n ) :

Dearest l o v e , d e a r e s t love:

I w i t h o u t y o u , and you w i t h o u t me.

When a l l t h e towers

h e r a l d e d y o u r coming,

l o v e , dearest love,

I without y o u , and you w i t h o u t me.

When i n my b r e a s t y o u were

l o v e , dearest love,

I w i t h o u t y o u , and you w i t h o u t me.

What hope f o r my e y e s ,

f o r my empty lips,

l o v e , dearest love,

if I be without y o u , and y o u w i t h o u t me?

GORGO (deeply pained and i n a low v o i c e ) : Al t e a . . . Altea...

Altea...

ANIMAS ( s t a r t i n g t o l e a v e s e c r e t l y ) : How can I l e a v e you now,

child? How can I not go w i t h you now, though i t be from

a f a r , i f you go as i f dead?

(She f o l l o w s ALTEA, very slowly.)

ALTEA ( s t o p p i n g a moment, beneath the door o f h e r b a l c o n y ) :

Bed o f my h e a r t ,

bedroom o f my b l i s s ,

l o v e , dearest love,

without y o u , w i t h o u t me, n o r I with you!

ANIMAS: Love, dearest love...

UVA: Love.

AULAGA: Castor... Castor...

(ANIMAS d i s a p p e a r s . )

ALTEA (as she appears i n t h e upper most window o f the t o w e r ) :

My shadow w i l l be a t o w e r ,

yours an o l i v e tree,

l o v e , dearest love,

I with you and you with me.

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GORGO (overcome, r e t u r n i n g s l o w l y t o t h e t a b l e , going t o s i t down,

and r e p e a t i n g i n an obsessed t o n e ) : Dearest l o v e . . . Dearest

love... Dearest l o v e . . . Love...

(There i s h e a r d , as i f f a l l i n g from a h e i g h t , a h o r r i f i e d c r y

from ALTEA.)

ANIMAS' VOICE ( w a i l i n g ) : Altea! Altea! Ay,ladies! Run! Help!

A l l o f y o u , come!

GORGO ( e r e c t and t r a g i c ) : What t o do now, my b r o t h e r ? The n i g h t

o f f o r g i v e n e s s , t h e supper o f l o v e and j o y , I have b l i n d l y

exchanged f o r a n i g h t o f madness, f o r a f e a s t o f h o r r o r and

of death.

(There i s a profound d a r k n e s s , i n which t h e r e can o n l y be

heard t h e h u r r i e d f o o t s t e p s o f them a l l as they run about t h e

r e a r o f t h e g a r d e n , each one going o f f w i t h h i s l a n t e r n .

Immediately afterwards t h e r e begins t o be heard from a f a r t h e

s i m p l e melancholy music o f s t r e e t beggars o f an organ g r i n d e r

( o r h o r n p i p e , f l u t e , e t c . ) , and t h e r e can be seen beneath a

l i g h t from above t h a t i l l u m i n a t e s o n l y t h e t a b l e , t h e FOUR

BEGGARS,who a r e s t e a l i n g from t h e t a b l e , shoving f r u i t , forks,

knives, etc. i n t h e i r l e a t h e r bags. A rhythmic, silent

undertaking t h a t i s t o end with q u i e t and mocking l a u g h t e r ,

as t h e l i g h t and music a r e e x t i n g u i s h e d i n t h e garden.)

GORGO (appearing on ALTEA's balcony with a l i t candle and s h o u t i n g ) :

 264

God! God's God! Look, look w e l l a t what I have done! What

an odious crime a g a i n s t y o u r daughter i n o r d e r t o save y o u !

( T u r n i n g , and as i f ALTEA l a y dead i n s i d e t h e tower:) There

you a r e , b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e s p i r i t , poor s p o i l s o f a l o v e that

the c u r r e n t o f the same b l o o d c o u l d n o t make p o s s i b l e . Yes,

d a u g h t e r , i t was I who c a s t you from the t o w e r , who has been

l e a d i n g you day by day t o t h i s d e p l o r a b l e end. C r y , Gorgo,

cry; l e t your tears f a l l t o o , my b r o t h e r , on t h i s c r u e l stone

t h a t bows us down .and crushes us f o r e v e r !

( L o s t , l i k e a s l e e p w a l k e r , AULAGA emerges from among t h e

shadows o f t h e garden.)

AULAGA: Who were you? Who brought you t o me? Why d i d you come

to the t h r e s h o l d o f my l o n e l i n e s s and p e n e t r a t e the depths o f

my bones?

GORGO ( t o AULAGA): Soul i n t o r m e n t , l o s t and e r r a n t shadow. I

come t o y o u , w r e t c h e d , i f i t i s n o t t o o l a t e f o r you t o

understand me, t o c u r s e me and c o n s o l e me.

(Without even b e i n g heard by AULAGA, she withdraws from t h e

b a l c o n y , which remains weakly i l l u m i n a t e d . UVA emerges a l s o

from among t h e t r e e s . )

UVA ( s p e a k i n g , as i f n o t s e e i n g AULAGA): I too... I too... You

were not d e c e i v e d , A l t e a . . . You s a i d the t r u t h and you burned

me with y o u r f i n g e r when you p o i n t e d me o u t . . .

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AULAGA ( a t h e r s i d e , t u r n i n g s l o w l y i n c i r c l e s , l i k e a phantom):

I embroidered h e r d r e s s e s . . . , and I taught her to read...,

and t o hunt b u t t e r f l i e s . . .

UVA: I mocked y o u , I j e e r e d , I i n s u l t e d you w i t h my l a u g h t e r . . .

And when I went to h e l p y o u , I o n l y d i d i t out o f s p i t e . . . ,

out o f j e a l o u s y . . . , out o f rage a g a i n s t Gorgo...

AULAGA: I wanted y o u r c h i l d h o o d t o be t h e same garden as A l t e a ' s . . .

UVA: . . . but y o u r l o v e o n l y awakened my envy... Your beauty

wounded me... I was f u r i o u s a t y o u r y o u t h . . .

( C a r r y i n g t h e l i g h t e d c a n d l e , GORGO appears a t t h e r e a r . )

GORGO ( l i g h t i n g AULAGA's f a c e ) : Do you s e e me, Aulaga? (Going

up t o UVA) Do you r e c o g n i z e me, Uva? I t i s I... I t i s I...

P i t y me... Hate me...

AULAGA ( c o n t i n u i n g , s t i l l as i f t a l k i n g t o h e r s e l f ) : I played

with her... Together we looked f o r n e s t s . . . We covered t h e

tiles o f t h e r o o f tops with o u r hands...

UVA: L e t us hate one a n o t h e r , t h e t h r e e o f u s . . . L e t us p i t y one

a n o t h e r , t h e t h r e e o f us... L e t us blame each o t h e r . . .

GORGO (going toward t h e t a b l e ) : I promised him, I swore t o him

on h i s deathbed... (Placing the candle i n the center o f the

t a b l e , w h i l e AULAGA and UVA c i r c l e , s l o w l y , around h e r ) Before

t h a t , my b r o t h e r , l e t my eyes come l o o s e from my e y e l i d s , l e t

my h e a r t come u n s t u c k . . . A u l a g a , Aulaga! I t was I who gave

 Castor to you...

Who put t h e c h i l d on y o u r d o o r s t e p . . . Do you hear me?

AULAGA ( n o t h e a r i n g ) : He grew... He became a f i n e boy... They

g a l l o p e d t o g e t h e r on the mountains...

UVA: What a r e you s a y i n g , Gorgo? Bind y o u r tongue...

GORGO: C a s t o r was h i s s o n . . . , by a poor g i r l laborer o f his vine-

y a r d s . . . , from f a r o f f . . . , very f a r away...

UVA: From y o u r l i p s t h e r e escape t h i n g s not even you want t o

confess t o y o u r s e l f i n s e c r e t .

GORGO: A u l a g a , l o o k , l i s t e n t o me... My b r o t h e r was a very good

man... He even passed f o r a s a i n t . . . But you know, d a u g h t e r s ,

what l i f e i n these towns i s l i k e . . . And so many p r e t t y girls

on h i s l a n d s . . . He r e v e a l e d h i s s i n t o me weeping... I t was

the s e c r e t o f a d y i n g s o u l . . .

AULAGA: Why d i d n ' t I take him away from t h i s house, my God?

GORGO ( s t o p p i n g AULAGA): He was h i s c h i l d , do you understand? Do

you comprehend? H a l f o f A l t e a ' s b l o o d a l s o ran through the

body o f the boy... You were a s a i n t , i n n o c e n t , a l o n e . . . You

l i v e d near u s . . . Who b e t t e r than you c o u l d I e n t r u s t him t o ?

AULAGA (she c o n t i n u e s t o wander a b o u t , i n a d e l i r i u m ) : He f e l l i n

l o v e with h e r . . . How c o u l d I not see i t ? Why d i d n ' t he t e l l

me anything?

UVA: Aulaga, Aulaga...

AULAGA: . . . he f e l l i n l o v e with h e r . . . and he was l i k e a dead

 267

man t h e n . . .

GORGO: Damnation... Disgrace... Madness... I have b a t t l e d

s i n c e that night a t the s h u t t e r s . I have w r e s t l e d , with

f r a n t i c d e l i r i u m , against the i n e v i t a b l e . . . I have lied...

I have h u m i l i a t e d m y s e l f b e f o r e t h e poor... I have l e t myself

be beaten by those I most l o v e d . . . , even by y o u r d a u g h t e r ,

b r o t h e r , i n whom I was d e f e n d i n g y o u . . . And so ,much have I

done, so much have I b u r i e d i n s i d e o f me i n o r d e r t o save y o u r

s e c r e t , t h a t my e n t r a i l s have s p l i t o p e n , e x p o s i n g i t t o t h e

wind... And now everyone knows i t . . . And even t h e stones

w i l l repeat i t . . . And C a s t o r w i l l know i t a l s o . . . , because

he has n o t k i l l e d h i m s e l f . . . , and t h a t man who came, t h a t poor

man o f the f i e l d s was, w i t h o u t h i s knowing i t , a msssenger o f

my d e c e i t . . . Don't you hear? I hear a horse coming t h i s way...

Aulaga! Aulaga!

UVA: Leave h e r , Gorgo, i t i s b e t t e r t h a t she doesn't u n d e r s t a n d . . .

speak t o me, t e r r i f y me a l o n e .

AULAGA (now out o f e v e r y t h i n g , moving toward t h e r e a r o f t h e

garden): I w i l l go l o o k i n g f o r y o u , boy..., t o mix my bones w i t h

y o u r s , under t h e same branches o f y o u r d e a t h . . .

(She d i s a p p e a r s . The b e g i n n i n g s o f daybreak e n t e r the garden.)

GORGO: I k i l l e d him o n l y i n m y s e l f . . . I k i l l e d him f o r Aulaga

and f o r A l t e a , t h i n k i n g thus t o k i l l t h i s bad dream... I

 268

came t o b e l i e v e t h a t what I d e s i r e d , t h a t what was o n l y a

thought had a l r e a d y come t o p a s s , t h a t t h e f l u t t e r i n g wings

o f scandal and d i s h o n o r had f l o w n . . .

UVA: Gorgo... Gorgoja... Gorgona...

(BION e n t e r s . )

GORGO ( p i c k i n g up t h e beard t h a t she had t o s s e d on t h e t a b l e ) :

S e e , b r o t h e r , i n what an abyss you have plunged me... Your

a u t h o r i t y , t h e symbol o f my m a n l i n e s s , has s e r v e d f o r n o t h i n g . . .

(As she burns t h e beard i n t h e candles flame) The l i g h t I

have always i m p l o r e d from you has s e r v e d o n l y t o b l a c k e n me

and t o end as t h e r a v i n g shadow o f y o u r g u i l t . Bion,open

the garden g a t e , and run through t h e town knocking on t h e

doors! C a l l o u t t h e h a r l o t s and t h e d r u n k a r d s , t h e t h i e v e s

and t h e b e g g a r s , l e t everyone come and hear Dona GORGO t h e

good, t h e m e r c i f u l , p r o c l a i m i n g t h e l e p r o s y and t h e misery o f

her s o u l !

BION ( k n e e l i n g b e f o r e h e r and a t t e m p t i n g t o k i s s t h e hem o f h e r

garment): No, no. L e t them come and adore h e r , Dona Gorgo,

my poor S a i n t o f t h e C r o s s e s , my l i t t l e Dona Flower...

GORGO ( r a i s i n g him and p u l l i n g him o f f towards t h e t r e e s w i t h UVA):

Go, my s o n , wake them up! Go on! Don't l e t him s e e me...

He's here a l r e a d y . . . Don't you hear me? L e t him f i r s t see

my c r i m e , i n t h e dawn t h a t A l t e a and C a s t o r b e l i e v e d t o be t h e
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dawn o f t h e i r h a p p i n e s s .

(The t h r e e d i s a p p e a r . A f t e r a b r i e f p a u s e , CASTOR can be seen

l e a p i n g over t h e w a l l a t t h e r e a r . )

CASTOR ( s e c r e t i v e , moving through t h e g a r d e n , b a r e l y murmuring

the words): Animas... Animas... Are you a s l e e p ? I t ' s me...

Castor... I t i s time...

(He c o n t i n u e s w a l k i n g , n o t i n g s t r a n g e l y t h e l i g h t e d c a n d l e on

the rumpled t a b l e c l o t h . ) Where a r e you? What's t h e matter?

Your h e a r t i s a s l e e p . . . (At t h e doorway, and s e e i n g i n t h e

rear the f a i n t l y illumined balcony) I w i l l take you away...

by f o r c e . . . I'm going t o t e a r you away now from t h i s prison...

( E n t e r i n g and r a i s i n g h i s v o i c e u n t i l he i s s h o u t i n g ) Altea!

Altea! Altea!

(With t h e reappearance o f GORGO and UVA, t h e garden s t a r t s

f i l l i n g with shadows: shawl-covered women from t h e town--!ike

a s i n g l e b l a c k cape;BI0N, t h e FOUR BEGGARS and o t h e r poor

people.)

GORGO ( p r o c e e d i n g toward t h e b a l c o n y , supported by BION and UVA):

What am I? What was I? What are we?

Weep f o r him and f o r me.

S p i r i t t h a t g r i e v e s on h i g h .

In peace you never w i l l l i e .

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Who am I? What was I? What a r e we?

Pray f o r him and f o r me.

(The stage i s s l o w l y i l l u m i n a t e d with a s t r a n g e s p l e n d o r .

ALTEA's balcony o p e n s , and supported by ANIMAS, CASTOR

a p p e a r s , a l t e r e d , w i t h h i s arms opened w i d e , i n a g e s t u r e o f

h o r r o r and bewilderment.)

GORGO ( f a l l i n g on h e r k n e e s ) : Castor... Castor... Here, only

Animas i s worthy t o look a t y o u . . . , t o t e l l you y o u r h i s t o r y . . .

and c o l l e c t y o u r t e a r s . . . Not I, n o t I... I am no more than

a m o n s t e r , a poor f a l l e n f u r y , a f r e a k . . .

(She covers h e r s e l f with a b l a c k l i n e n - c l o t h w h i l e t h e shawl-

covered women arid the beggars c r y o u t t h i s c h a n t ) :

ALL:

Dawn o f d e a t h , w i t h o u t light,

P a s s i o n ' s unhappy n i g h t ,

on a l l t h e s o u l s t h a t a r e l o s t

may heaven's pardon alight.

(The l i g h t o f dawn i n c r e a s e s , t h e c u r t a i n s l o w l y f a l l s . )
 271

S e l e c t i o n s f r o m : C A N T I C L E

by

Jorge Guillen

(Madrid, Spain, 1928)

T r a n s l a t e d from the Spanish by

MEREDYTH SAVAGE
 CHILD

C l a r i t y o f the c u r r e n t ,

C i r c l e s o f the r o s e ,

Enigmas o f snow:

Dawn and the beach i n s h e l l s

Turbulent machine,

Joys o f the moon

With t h e v i g o r o f p a t i e n c e :

S a l t o f the b r u t e wave.

Moment without history,

Stubbornly abundant

With myths among t h i n g s :

Sea alone w i t h i t s b i r d s .

I f such grace,

So s o l e l y g r a c e , r i c h ,

Total i n a glance:

Sea, present unity.

Poet o f pure games

Without intervals,
D i v i n e , without ingenuity:

The s e a , the sea intact.

TIME LOST ON THE SHORE

The tangible day

Offers i t s e l f , extends,

Expands about me. Once again

I t o f f e r s me chairs.

No. B e t t e r on foot

I w i l l watch the colors

Of my summer,

which s t i l l does not know me.

For now, beneath

My empty h a n d s ,

A presentiment

Of b l u e s l i p s forth,

Blue o f a n o t h e r i n f a n c y

Which w i l l have clouds

For the pursuit

Of many b l u e s ,

P o s s i b l e a t times

W i t h i n the house

Of f r i e n d s , very c l o s e

--This a l s o w i l l be mine.

With access

By means o f b r o o k s , mad

With the merriment

That emerges from A u g u s t ,

And shadows o f two

In t w o s , i n d i s t i n c t

On the banks

That i n v i t e a grey g r e e n .

P l a y i n g a t the hours

That themselves p l a y , among

A l l the h a z a r d s ,

What l o v e w i l l n o t appear?

Save me l i k e t h i s , time
L o s t on the s h o r e ,

F r e e , such love,

Such h a z a r d s , the i s l a n d s !

TERRESTRIAL SPHERE

W i l l not even the r a v i s h e r o f the waves

Nor t h e amorous shipwreck

R e l i e v e you t h e n , wise sea

Who bend among curves?

I n c o r r u p t i b l e curves

Over the p e r f e c t b l u e

That d e n i e s a l l d e s i r e

The a p p a r i t i o n o f foam.

Midday form,
How u n i v e r s a l ! The r e f u l g e n t

Waves u n f o l d

The l i g h t i n t o l i g h t and b r e e z e .

And the breeze glides

- - I n f a n t seaman:
 275

B e a r i n g , y e s , but no w e i g h t —

Among a r i g o r o f boundaries

Which a t midday t i g h t e n

With a c c u r a c y . Splendor

Deserted. The s p h e r e ,

So a b s t r a c t , g r i e v e s .

THE ABSENT-MINDED MAN

How w e l l i t r a i n s by the r i v e r !
It rains l i t t l e and i t r a i n s

So tenderly

That a t times

There l o i t e r s about a man the p a t i e n c e o f moss.

Through the damp,
T h r e a t e n i n g s o f omens
P i e r c e and f l e e .

Still k i n d l y from the l a s t

Wooded r e g i o n s ,

A smoke

Makes sketches

Of i v y .

For whom i n t h i s s o l i t u d e ? F o r him most vacant?

Someone,

Someone w a i t s .

And I go—who w i l l i t b e ? — b y t h e r i v e r , by a r i v e r

R e c e n t l y r a i n e d upon.

Why do the p o p l a r s

Look a t me s o ,

I f my custom h a r d l y sees them?

In i t s s i l e n c e , abandon extends the

 276

Uninhabited branch.

But courteous f l o r a emerges s t i l l over an

October r a i n .

I, along t h e smooth green,

I go,

I go l o o k i n g f o r t h e two

Here lost:

For t h e a t t e n t i v e fisherman who, v e r y y o u n g ,

Headlong

At t h e r i v e r - e d g e , gathers

A i m l e s s c l o u d s from the c u r r e n t ,

And f o r t h e p r o d i g a l m u s i c i a n who, w i t h o u t much skill,

From between the banks

Goes s i n g i n g and l e a v i n g words i n naked

And continuous syllables,

La r a r i r a ,

ta ra r i r a ,

la ra r i ra...

I must have time

Between my t e e t h and l i p s . . .

With eyes c l o s e d , c o n t e m p l a t i n g ,

Here n o , beyond s i g h t

I see.

I know o f a r i v e r where i n t h e morning

There f l o a t and c r o s s

Curves

Of margins.

Errant

To t h e p o i n t o f n o n - b e i n g , where

Does t h e i v y g o , toward what towers

Of no-one?

Through t h e dampness
Tunnels y e a r n i n g f o r e x t e r i o r s

Open:
Onto covered bridges,

Onto passages under some green foliage

Onto the refuge

In remote valleys.

Hummed r a p t u r e .

How i t dreams, the v o i c e t h a t tumbles i n the lost

Song,

So l o s t and f l u i d , towards the expansion o f days

Without landmarks, s l i p p e r y !

Lararira,

lararira,

lararira...

The course o f the river

Leads.

The clouds,

Crumbling quietly,

Keep t h e i r l e i s u r e , they do not pause,

And the s k i e s approach me

In a w e i g h t l e s s succession

Of e t e r n a l firmament.

S h o r t , urgent

V e r t i c a l s of r a i n , pencilled annotations!

It rains and t h e r e i s no malice,

It rains.

Lararira...

I hear them f a l l , these drops

That s c a t t e r , without the s t r e n g t h o f g l o b e s ,

Over the l a s t c r e a k i n g

Leaves,

Still hanging from autumn.

Meanwhile, the bubbles i n v i s i b l e succession,

The r i v e r gathers and o f f e r s a lulling,

Continuous, secure.

No-one l i s t e n s ?
 278

For me, f o r a l l t h e l o v e o f the moss.

Happiness?

Humming, t h e s e l f r e j o i c e s in i t s river.

LIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN

L i g h t on the mountain, dense

With space o n l y s p a c e ,

Deserted, f l a t : obstinate

World a t the smooth defense

Of t h e shadow. The l i g h t t h i n k s

C o l o r s with a f i n e and c r u e l

Eagerness. There go

I t s happy unities,

The immolation o f hues

Of a g a l l a n t p a r a d i s e .

A CHILD AND THE NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY

A g a i n s t whom ( t h e r e i s no-one!) does t h e darkness take body?

Fear t r e m b l i n g with i t s shadows e x h a l e s i n g u s t s .

Between s i g h t and s l e e p

A c h i l d says:

"The b u l l s must be running!"

Then?

It w i l l suffice

To make the defense d a r k e r :

To h i d e i n dreams!

And the c h i l d f a l l s into s l e e p w h i l e from t h e dark

Forms emerge i n the f i e l d s , the crowded n i g h t , b u l l s .

 279
A Selection

by

Alfonso Canales

(born M a l a g a , Spain - 1923)

AUTUMN

That a f t e r n o o n , t h a t a f t e r n o o n was

l i k e the c e n t e r o f a g l a s s where t h e l i g h t t u r n s

l i v i d , p i e r c i n g a shock-white w a l l

of coagulated crystal.

The trees

were m o i s t ; t h e rose bushes d r i p p e d ; the e a r t h

was populated w i t h sudden s n a i l s ; and fumes

of new-made r o o f t i l e s filled the a i r .

Wind

s t i r r e d t h e sorrow o f t h e banana t r e e s . The high

t r e a s u r e o f p a l e gold s p i l l e d over and s e t

papers from o l d p i c n i c s dancing on t h e p l a i n .

Willow-herbs showed t h e i r t o n g u e s , s e a r c h i n g f o r

a new tear-drop.

And time seemed

a l r e a d y l i v e d by someone, a l r e a d y u s e d , l o o s e d

from t h e h e a r t o f a b i r d t h a t f l e w i n another c e n t u r y .
 THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN

by

Max Aub

(Mexico 1946)

T r a n s l a t e d from the Spani

and adapted f o r r a d i o

by

MEREDYTH SAVAGE
 281

N o t e , then,the p e r f e c t gentleman, f i r s t

to stifle h i s p a s s i o n s , o r , a t t h e very

l e a s t , t o conceal them w i t h such d e x t e r i t y

t h a t no c o u n t e r p l o t may succeed i n d e c i p h e r i n g

his will.

GRACIAN,The Hero
 282

C H A R A C T E R S

ROSE

GUSTAVE

WTNKEL

TIME: Spring. 1939.

PLACE: Berlin.
 283
1
( B e r l i n , 1939. A stark o f f i c e . Orv t h e w a l l : a f l a g with

the s w a s t i k a anila p o r t r a i t o f H i t l e r . ROSE, a s t e r n , e l e g a n t man

with a s u p e r i o r a i r , i s seated behind t h e desk. He i s t a l k i n g

with GUSTAVE, h i s s e c r e t a r y , a meek and a t t e n t i v e clerk.)

ROSE. The E n g l i s h come up w i t h something good from time t o t i m e .

K i p l i n g s a i d o n c e , more o r l e s s : "We must count heads or we

must c u t them o f f " .

GUSTAVE. (Laughing.) Cutting's a short cut...

ROSE. (Coldly.) You a r e too i n t e l l i g e n t f o r t h e post you h o l d .

GUSTAVE. Please f o r g i v e me.

ROSE. Have you no wish t o b e t t e r y o u r s e l f ?

GUSTAVE. Who h a s n ' t , Mr. C o u n s e l o r G e n e r a l ?

ROSE. What d i d you do b e f o r e j o i n i n g us here?

GUSTAVE. The war...

ROSE. And then?

GUSTAVE. I joined the police force.

ROSE. The Weimar p o l i c e ?

GUSTAVE. The p o l i c e are always t h e p o l i c e .

ROSE. There a r e shades o f d i f f e r e n c e , a r e t h e r e not?

GUSTAVE. There a r e s h a d e s , Mr. Counselor G e n e r a l . (He l a u g h s , ROSE

smi1es•)

ROSE. But t o d i s t r u s t t h e whole world leads nowhere. We must

r e a l i z e t h a t a man determined t o r e v e a l n o t h i n g o f h i s a c t i v i t i e s ,

a man r e s o l v e d t o l i e t o t h e l a s t , i s i m p e n e t r a b l e .

GUSTAVE. Excuse me, Mr. C o u n s e l o r G e n e r a l , but s i n c e you do me t h e

honor o f d i s c u s s i n g my o p i n i o n s , a l l o w me t o t e l l y o u , w i t h a l l
 due r e s p e c t , t h a t I do not agree with y o u , I am s o r r y t o s a y , s i r .

The man who i s g u i l t y i s our b e s t d e f e n s e , and t h e r e f o r e we must

d i s t r u s t everybody: we must f i n d i n each man the p o s s i b i l i t y

of a suspect.

ROSE. I admit the l o g i c o f your d e d u c t i o n . But l o g i c and r e a l i t y

are two d i f f e r e n t t h i n g s , don't f o r g e t . With the former you can

s a t i s f y your b e s t i n s t i n c t s , w h i l e the l a t t e r catches you o f f

g u a r d , and chance has an unknown mother. We must l i v e i n r e a d i -

ness f o r what l i f e b r i n g s , a t each hour. Your p r i n c i p l e is a

poor one because o f the i m p o s s i b i l i t y of putting i t into practise,

a t l e a s t t h e way the p o l i c e are organized to date. Each man i s

not as he i s but as he seems. What does a p o t e n t i a l murderer

matter t o us? What d i f f e r e n c e does i t make i f X hates u s , i f he

is obedient?

GUSTAVE. ...A world where e v e r y t h i n g would be t i e d t o g e t h e r , where

you knew what everyone was thinking...it would be the end o f

hypocracy.

ROSE. Hypocracy i s s a y i n g what you are not t h i n k i n g with the hope

of having your chance a t a l a t e r d a t e : i f t h i s i d e a c o u l d be

gotten r i d o f , we would see an end t o t h a t h a r d l y h o n o r a b l e s e n t i -

ment.

GUSTAVE. I t would be g r a t i f y i n g t o l i v e i n such a w o r l d . Every man

with h i s f i l e up t o d a t e , i n t h e morning...

ROSE. Maybe, one day...

GUSTAVE. We have made g r e a t p r o g r e s s .

ROSE. I don't deny i t .

GUSTAVE. The time w i l l come when e v e r y o n e , a b s o l u t e l y e v e r y o n e , w i l l

 285

be f i l e d iin the General D i r e c t o r y .

ROSE. And i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t i t i s then we w i l l begin t o fail...

GUSTAVE. Go on... C o n t i n u e , Mr. C o u n s e l o r G e n e r a l , i f I may be so

bold.

ROSE. We would have t o d i v i d e up our a t t e n t i o n i n too g r e a t a

number o f p o s s i b l e o f f e n d e r s , i n o r d e r t o be effective.

GUSTAVE. That c o u l d be s o l v e d by i n c r e a s i n g the number o f the police.

ROSE. The r a m i f i c a t i o n s a r e not so important as the r o o t s . Once

a noxious p l a n t i s t o r n up by the r o o t s , i t s shoots l a c k strength

and they d i e o f s t a r v a t i o n .

GUSTAVE. I r e s p e c t your wisdom, and I f o l l o w the p o e t i c sense o f your

statement, but, s i n c e r e l y , I believe--without meaning i n any way

t h a t I do not admire y o u r v e r y c l e a r i d e a s - - t h a t the more we

m o n o p o l i z e , t h e more smoothly t h e regime can move ahead.

ROSE. As a p r e v e n t a t i v e measure, but not as a b s o l u t e s e c u r i t y .

GUSTAVE. Now i t i s you who are the i d e a l i s t , Mr. Counselor General,

sir... To t a l k o f a b s o l u t e s e c u r i t y !

ROSE. The m a t t e r o f i d e a l i s m I w i l l g r a n t i n j e s t , Mr. Hoffman.

You know as w e l l as I t h a t s e c u r i t y i s synonymous with vigilance.

GUSTAVE. Well t h e n . . .

ROSE. Doesn't i t seem to you we have l o s t enough time with our

personal i d e a s ? L e t ' s get t o work.

GUSTAVE. You l i k e working, s i r ?

ROSE. Yes.

GUSTAVE. So do I.

ROSE. L i t t l e by l i t t l e the world i s shaking o f f the g r e a t harm t h a t

C h r i s t i a n i t y has done i t by r e g a r d i n g work as an e v i l imposed on

 us because o f o r i g i n a l s i n . Adam and Eve i n p a r a d i s e have come

t o be embodied i n a couple o f m i l l i o n a i r e s sprawled i n the sun

i n t h e Bahamas, l e t us say as the American example. Vagrancy—

and what were our primary p a r e n t s , a c c o r d i n g t o G e n e s i s ,

but a c o u p l e o f v a g r a n t s . . . ? - - b e g i n s t o r e c e i v e a bad p r e s s .

Man i s man because he works. I t i s the only thing that d i s t i n -

guishes him from t h e a n i m a l s . His g r e a t v a l u e . Puts t h e d e v i l

in handcuffs... Could you g e t on without doing anything?

GUSTAVE. No, s i r .

ROSE. And you l i k e y o u r work?

GUSTAVE. Y e s , s i r , Mr. Counselor G e n e r a l , and I ask you t o f o r g i v e

me: I l e t m y s e l f get c a r r i e d away by my imaginings and went a

b i t out o f bounds.

ROSE. The r e p o r t s 404-A and 208?

GUSTAVE. Right h e r e , s i r .

ROSE. The r e f e r e n c e from department B-20? And t h e 208?

GUSTAVE. Here they a r e .

ROSE. T h i s s i l e n c e o f B a r t ' s has me w o r r i e d .

GUSTAVE. A r e p o r t a r r i v e d from P a r i s about t h a t , s i r .

ROSE. Why haven't I seen i t ?

GUSTAVE. I l e f t i t here on t o p o f your d e s k , y e s t e r d a y .

ROSE. I haven't seen i t . Look f o r i t . You must have taken i t

away with t h e r e s t .

GUSTAVE. I hardly think s o , s i r .

ROSE. Don't argue! Nothing from B e r g e n , o r from San F r a n c i s c o ?

GUSTAVE. No.

ROSE. Enquire by c o d e .
 (The t e l e p h o n e r i n g s . Sound o f GUSTAVE p i c k i n g i t up.)

GUSTAVE. Yes... It's personal, f o r you.

ROSE. Yes... Good, send him i n . . .

(Sound o f ROSE hanging up the r e c e i v e r . To GUSTAVE.)

Please l e a v e . I ' l l c a l l you i n l a t e r .

(Sounds o f GUSTAVE l e a v i n g , WINKEL e n t e r i n g . )

ROSE. I hadn't hoped t o see you down h e r e .

WINKEL. I can imagine...

ROSE. To what do I owe t h i s pleasant surprise?

WINKEL. Pleasant?

ROSE. Whenever we have met, i t has always been a p l e a s u r e t o t a l k

with y o u .

WINKEL. I can say the same.

ROSE. Then we a r e i n t h e best o f a l l p o s s i b l e w o r l d s .

WINKEL. In t h a t I am i n agreement w i t h y o u .

ROSE. In t h a t alone?

WINKEL. And i n a thousand o t h e r t h i n g s . . . B u t , returning t o the

pleasantness o f l i f e : Have you seen what a b e a u t i f u l day i t i s ?

ROSE. It i s spring.

WINKEL. I've had time t o n o t i c e : I came t o your o f f i c e on f o o t .

C a r e f u l l y , mind y o u , but on f o o t . F o r some time now I have had

a horror o f automobiles.

ROSE. When you passed through the park you must have observed t h e

budding o f new shoots a t c l o s e hand, enjoyed t h e embalmed a i r . . .

WINKEL. D i d you say embalmed?

ROSE. Exactly.

WINKEL. I would p r e f e r another word.

 288

ROSE. There i s a d i c t i o n a r y h e r e , a t your d i s p o s a l . But, forgive

me, I was f o r g e t t i n g t h a t you a r e a s p e c i a l i s t i n E g y p t i a n h i s t o r y .

If I am not m i s t a k e n , your h i s t o r i c a l f a v o r i t e s p r a c t i c e d t h r e e

types o f embalming.

WINKEL. Yes,, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e economic p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f each p e r s o n .

ROSE. And what d i f f e r e n c e s were t h e r e from type t o type?

WINKEL. Any d i c t i o n a r y w i l l t e l l y o u .

ROSE. So they c o u l d s e l e c t , i n l i f e , what k i n d o f mummy they would

turn into?

WINKEL. Precisely. And t h e way t h e i r i n t e s t i n e s were t o be taken

out. Whether by f l a n k i n c i s i o n — t h a t was t h e most expensive

m e t h o d — o r by t h e i n j e c t i o n o f s o l v e n t s per anum. The same way

t h a t , t o d a y , you can choose between death by being run over o r

from a b u l l e t i n t h e head.

ROSE. There a r e o t h e r forms o f death which a r e more p e a c e f u l .

WINKEL. Cyanide i s h i g h l y recommended.

ROSE. It's quick.

WINKEL D i f f i c u l t t o come b y .

ROSE. Not really.

WINKEL. Do you have something e l s e t o o f f e r me?

ROSE. It i s you who have come t o v i s i t me.

WINKEL. But I would l i k e t o hear you p l a c e a t my d i s p o s a l , l e t us s a y ,

f o r example, a l o c o m o t i v e , so i t c o u l d crush me, t h e empty cage

o f an e l e v a t o r , so i t c o u l d break my neck: a steel girder...

ROSE. So i t c o u l d f a l l on your head as you pass by a house under

construction?

WINKEL. Why not?

ROSE. Too e a s y . One unexpected s t e p on t h e p a r t o f the p e d e s t r i a n

 would s u f f i c e t o make i t miss t a r g e t .

WINKEL. Something e l s e . . . I n o t i c e we haven't thought o f f i r e , o r

of w a t e r . A fall i n a bath tub i s n ' t a bad s o l u t i o n either.

ROSE. Not t o mention p o i s o n . . .

WINKEL. A l l o w me t o t e l l you t h a t t h a t i s more d i f f i c u l t . Centuries

a g o , when t h e master o f t h e house was accustomed t o e a t i n g

s e p a r a t e l y , by h i m s e l f , i t was c h i l d ' s p l a y . Now i t i s o n l y

used as the l a s t remedy o f vengeful wives.

ROSE. Electricity...

WINKEL. Not a bad i d e a , but c o m p l i c a t e d . I have come t o v i s i t you

p r e c i s e l y t o save you so much t r o u b l e .

ROSE. You a r e most k i n d . But b e l i e v e me...

WINKEL. Oh, I'm sure you don't s e l e c t the method o f s u p p r e s s i n g

y o u r f e l l o w men y o u r s e l f . You need o n l y mark a c r o s s a t t h e s i d e

of a name and t h e e x e c u t i o n — I s a i d e x e c u t i o n , Mr. C o u n s e l o r

General--the e x e c u t i o n o f your d e s i g n i s d e l e g a t e d t o competent

services... Am I not r i g h t ?

ROSE. You w i l l understand t h a t I can o n l y answer t h a t I do not know

what you a r e t a l k i n g about.

WINKEL. I'm not s u r p r i s e d . You have so much work t o do...!, B u t ,

making an e f f o r t , I do b e l i e v e t h a t you c o u l d r e c a l l having

p l a c e d a s i g n — a d o t , a d a s h , a c r o s s , I don't know w h a t — a few

days a g o , b e s i d e my name...

ROSE. I never knew t h a t h i s t o r i a n s had such i m a g i n a t i o n . . .

WINKEL. I am p e r f e c t l y aware t h a t I am being watched. Do you want

the l i c e n s e number o f t h e c a r ? 010-421-G. Three men a r e q u i t e

a l o t f o r a s i n g l e man, and one as i n s i g n i f i c a n t as I am.

ROSE. You a s t o n i s h me, p r o f e s s o r . Why should we be s u s p i c i o u s

o f such a zealous p a r t y member as you are? Your book on the

Egyptian race i s a textbook i n t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s o f the R e i c h .

I do not know what you can have t o be a f r a i d o f !

WINKEL. No one doubts t h a t I am an a c t i v e s u p p o r t e r o f the regime.

But what b r i n g s me here i s not some t h e o r e t i c a l problem r e g a r d -

ing our glorious p r i n c i p l e s .

ROSE. A l l the more reason not t o w o r r y . You may go i n peace.

WINKEL. To d i e murdered a t the f i r s t opportunity! No t h a n k s . . . I

w i l l confess t h a t I was q u i t e f r i g h t e n e d u n t i l I got here.

ROSE. And now you breathe freely?

WINKEL. As you can s e e , Mr. Counselor G e n e r a l . You p o l i c e p r e f e r t o

commit a " m i s t a k e " . . . I was very c a r e f u l not t o remain alone,

not t o walk c l o s e t o the edge o f s i d e w a l k s , and y o u know as w e l l

as I how t o c r o s s a s t r e e t i n the middle o f a group o f p e d e s t r i a n s

it i s an e x c e l l e n t p r e c a u t i o n a g a i n s t d r i v e r s t h a t are i n e p t o r

all too s k i l l f u l . Because my death must o n l y appear as an unhappy

accident. A f t e r a l l , I am one o f the p r i d e s o f the Nazi regime.

Now I've calmed down: I can t a l k t o y o u .

ROSE. Why d i d n ' t you do so by t e l e p h o n e , professor?

WINKEL. Fear o f e l e c t r i c i t y . . . o r o f being t o l d that the Counselor

General was o u t .

ROSE. Please t e l l me what you have t o s a y .

WINKEL. The o r g a n i z a t i o n o f our world i s a c u r i o u s t h i n g , my f r i e n d

Rose. F o r g i v e me! Mr. Counselor General o f I n f o r m a t i o n . . . ! You

and I belong t o t h e same p a r t y . We have the same h o p e s , the same

reverences. The p o l i c e . . . The people do not r e a l i z e t h a t the

 p o l i c e are the a u t h e n t i c f o r c e o f the f u t u r e . The armies are

c a l l e d to d i s a p p e a r en masse; they w i l l be r e p l a c e d by the police,

because f u t u r e wars w i l l not be a m a t t e r o f c o u n t r y a g a i n s t country

they w i l l be i n t e r n a l , not c i v i l , a u t h e n t i c a l l y n a t i o n a l , i n the

i n t e r i o r o f each c o u n t r y . The c i r c u m s t a n c e s w i l l compel Germany

to assume the p o l i c e s u r v e i l l a n c e o f the e n t i r e w o r l d .

ROSE. The w o r l d w i l l be f i l l e d w i t h s t a t u e s o f Fouche'.

WINKEL. Perhaps... i f j u s t i c e had anything t o do with a l l t h i s .

The p o l i c e are the c o e r c i v e f o r c e o f the world whose b i r t h we

are now witnessing. The n a t i o n w i t h the b e t t e r f o r c e w i l l

dominate. And, i n the meantime, because o f a chance event which

n e i t h e r your w i l l , nor my own, have anything to do-.with, you have

to o r d e r my....suppression. I t i s the r e i g n o f the p o l i c e . The

p o l i c e , p r o p r i e t o r s o f the w o r l d ! The w o r l d w i l l belong t o the

flatfoots! Each man with h i s f i l i n g card! These are the slogans

I propose to y o u . (Pause.) ...I was not a f r i e n d o f Von Klein's.

ROSE. Of course not.

WINKEL. I t was an a c c i d e n t a l conversation.

ROSE. A word t o s s e d t o the winds i s never recovered...

WINKEL. Unless you make a r e c o r d i n g . . .

ROSE. I don't u n d e r s t a n d , p r o f e s s o r .

WINKEL. Analyzing the s i t u a t i o n , I d e c i d e d t h a t i t wasn't as

d e s p e r a t e as i t might seem on the f a c e o f i t . You came t o the

c o n c l u s i o n t h a t i t was e s s e n t i a l t o have me eliminated. I do not

doubt t h a t some v o i c e may have been r a i s e d i n my defense...! An

illustrious professor! B u t , as a l a s t r e s o r t , you a l l decided

t h a t what would be b e s t f o r the p e o p l e , f o r the p a r t y , f o r the

F u h r e r — w o u l d be t o take the u l t i m a t e p r e c a u t i o n . . . Von Klein paid

 his debt and I am t h e o n l y person who knows what no one ought t o

know: how the a s s a s i n a t i o n o f o u r ambassador i n P a r i s was pre-

pared and c a r r i e d o u t . I t would do me no good t o t e l l you t h a t

I had not the s l i g h t e s t i n t e r e s t i n knowing the t r u t h . Besides,

i f the man was a t r a i t o r , o r on the p o i n t o f becoming o n e , he i s

w e l l o f f dead. I t was u s e f u l , was i t , t h a t h i s death s h o u l d

appear t o be the work o f the communists? Fine! That way you

killed two b i r d s w i t h one s t o n e . What need d i d I have t o f i n d

out about i t ?

ROSE. None, o f c o u r s e . But the f a c t i s t h a t you do know... It

i s c l e a r t o us t h a t you haven't t o l d anyone about i t . But you

c o u l d do so a t any moment...

WINKEL. U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h a t i s t r u e , even though I would have no

i n t e r e s t i n doing s o .

ROSE. Then the n e c e s s i t y o f y o u r disappearance w i l l not have

escaped y o u . . .

WINKEL. The t r u t h o f the matter i s t h a t I have no wish t o d i e .

ROSE. What more do you have t o hope f o r i n l i f e ? To d i e s e r v i n g

our cause...! You a r e no l o n g e r very young. You have an u l c e r

i n y o u r duodenum, y o u r c h i l d r e n a r e a l r e a d y m a r r i e d . I can

promise you a s t a t u e .

WINKEL. Bust o r f u l l figure?

ROSE. Your c h o i c e .

WINKEL. And t h e p l a c e ?

ROSE. Your home town, The u n i v e r s i t y . . .

WINKEL. Unfortunately i t i s too l a t e . . .

ROSE. I don't u n d e r s t a n d .
WINKEL. For the good o f our country I have to renounce a v i o l e n t

death.

ROSE. In t h i s too we can come t o an agreement.

WINKEL. I am afraid not.

ROSE. E x p l a i n y o u r s e l f at once.

WINKEL. I f I s h o u l d d i e one o f these d a y s , whatever the c a u s e , a

d e t a i l e d account o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t , u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y , I have

l e a r n e d w i l l be p u b l i s h e d i;mmediately, i n P a r i s . . . I assume

you w i l l not doubt t h a t I am a man who i s t r u l y devoted and loyal

to my party. But I had no o t h e r c h o i c e . B e l i e v e me, i f I were

j u s t anybody, I wouldn't have h e s i t a t e d a moment to sacrifice

myself. But I am on the verge o f d e c i p h e r i n g a p a l i m p s e s t of

the XXII Dynasty. How c o u l d I leave such a triumph to my colleagues

I t h i n k you can e a s i l y understand.

ROSE. S i n c e you are so k i n d , c o u l d you do me the f a v o r o f a d v i s i n g

me as to y o u r means o f d e l i v e r i n g the account o f y o u r c u r i o u s

d i s c o v e r y t o the i n t e r e s t e d government?

WINKEL. I have no o b j e c t i o n . On the same day t h a t Von K l e i n , under

the e f f e c t o f a nervous c r i s i s , t o l d me the whole p l o t o f the

execution o f the ambassador and how a l l the machinery was set up

t o accuse the Jews, or the communists--the l a t t e r were s e l e c t e d

a t the l a s t m i n u t e - - , I r e a l i z e d the t e r r i b l e s i t u a t i o n t h a t I

was i n i f , as was most l i k e l y , t h e r e was someone, or s o m e t h i n g ,

t h e r e t h a t was t r a n s m i t t i n g the c o n v e r s a t i o n t o the police.

ROSE. And then?

WINKEL. The f o l l o w i n g day I went i n t o a r e c o r d shop...

ROSE. ( C o n s u l t i n g a c a r d i n the f i l e s . ) At 2:30 P.M.

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WINKEL. Everyone knows t h a t I have a g r e a t r e c o r d c o l l e c t i o n — i t i s

another o f the reasons why I do not wish t o d i e . Since i t was

n a t u r a l f o r me t o be seen t h e r e , i t d i d n ' t a t t r a c t the a t t e n t i o n

o f those who had a l r e a d y begun f o l l o w i n g me. At t h a t time you

had not y e t made a d e c i s i o n .

ROSE. You c u t a r e c o r d i n g and had i t sent t o X... with a l e t t e r .

WINKEL. How d i d you know?

ROSE. I t i s no more than a s u p p o s i t i o n . Well t h e n , suppose i t ' s

true. What d i d y o u r l e t t e r say?

WINKEL. Don't you know?

ROSE. L e t us say t h a t I d o n ' t .

WINKEL. I breathe e a s i e r . Because, i f the l e t t e r were i n your

p o s s e s s i o n , t h a t i s t o s a y , i f the person t o whom i t was addressed

had been one o f u s , what would stop you from k i l l i n g me r i g h t here?

ROSE. In s p i t e o f the f a c t t h a t my task may o n l y be t h a t o f s e t t i n g

c r o s s e s a t the s i d e o f names...?

WINKEL. Whatever.

ROSE. The l e t t e r was addressed t o Monsieur C h a r l e s Du P a r e , p r o f e s s o r

at the Sorbonne, y o u r c o l l e a g u e .

WINKEL. Not a d i f f i c u l t guess. You don't f r i g h t e n me, Mr. C o u n s e l o r

General.

ROSE. But you have j u s t suggested...

WINKEL. I f you had the r e c o r d i n g , you wouldn't have r e c e i v e d me.

W e l l , now you know: i f I d i s a p p e a r , the r e c o r d i n g w i l l f a l l into

the hands o f the French Government, without f a i l . I f nothing

happens t o me, i t w i l l be d e s t r o y e d the day a f t e r my n a t u r a l death.

ROSE. Then we must p l a c e you i n the hands o f the best specialists,

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j u s t i n case. Such a d i s t u r b a n c e over a simple angina p e c t o r i s !

WINKEL. My own d o c t o r i s q u i t e good enough.

ROSE. I t would be a b e a u t i f u l i n t e r n a t i o n a l scandal!

WINKEL. What d i s g r a c e would descend on our government! Imagine...

Matters j u s t s o t r i v i a l have provoked d o w n f a l l s more famous than

this.

ROSE. The f o u n d a t i o n s o f the regime would be undermined... Do you

have a n y t h i n g f u r t h e r t o communicate t o me?

WINKEL. I hope you w i l l take the p e r t i n e n t measures t o see t h a t I

w i l l be l e f t t o l i v e i n peace.

ROSE. Don't w o r r y , p r o f e s s o r .

WINKEL. Then, with y o u r p e r m i s s i o n , I w i l l leave.

ROSE. I wish you w e l l . . .

WINKEL. I don't l i k e the tone i n which you say t h a t . . .

ROSE. I am s o r r y . But you w i l l l i k e t h i s even less...

(ROSE takes out a p i s t o l , shoots and k i l l s WINKEL.

He r i n g s a b u z z e r . S.S. guards e n t e r . To guards.)

Remove him.

(The guards remove the c o r p s e , as GUSTAVE comes i n . )

GUSTAVE. The C o u n s e l o r General was i n danger?

ROSE. No. I t was s i m p l y b e s t t o f i n i s h t h i s b u s i n e s s o f f a t once.

(GUSTAVE stops behind ROSE. He draws out a gun.)

GUSTAVE. Put up y o u r hands.

(ROSE o b e y s . GUSTAVE p i c k s up the t e l e p h o n e . )

GUSTAVE. (Not a l l o w i n g f o r any d i s c u s s i o n . ) Get me t h e C h i e f . . .

Gustave Hoffman s p e a k i n g . I have Rose under a r r e s t . . . Don't

argue w i t h me...! I don't t h i n k he w i l l c o n f e s s . . . He w i l l use

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every d e v i c e . I f we broke every bone"in h i s body... Y e s , he i s

l i s t e n i n g t o me and he knows he w i l l n o t l e a v e the b u i l d i n g alive...

But a l l t h i s i s secondary: what matters i s t o g e t a h o l d o f the

Professor's recording. Take t h i s down: Du P a r e . . . Yes,

D-u-p-a-r-c, p r o f e s s o r a t t h e Sorbonne i n P a r i s . (To Rose.)

Mr. R o s e , would you be good enough t o spare us the t r o u b l e o f

l o o k i n g up t h e address i n t h e d i r e c t o r y ? (Rose doesn't answer.)

F i n d out h i s a d d r e s s . . . Yes... Mr. Rose d i d not s u s p e c t t h a t we

were l i s t e n i n g . The move was t o o c l e v e r . . . Be quick about i t -

he has a c a p s u l e o f cyanide i n h i s mouth and I cannot keep him

from b i t i n g i n t o i t . And i t would not be s u i t a b l e f o r h i s subor-

d i n a t e s t o see such a t h i n g . (He hangs up. To Rose.) I f you

l i k e , we can c o n t i n u e our d i s c u s s i o n about the n e c e s s i t y o f

d i s t r u s t i n g everyone... Who was right?

ROSE. Did you s u s p e c t me?

GUSTAVE. No. We knew t h e r e was a t r a i t o r h e r e . Nothing more.

ROSE. You are Otto Rinkle.

GUSTAVE. Yes.

ROSE. I d i d not s u s p e c t .

GUSTAVE. Nor I y o u . I t has been a s u r p r i s e . . . Are you going t o t a l k ?

ROSE. What do you t h i n k ?

GUSTAVE. You know b e t t e r than anyone what measures we w i l l have t o t a k e .

ROSE. I have t h e cyanide between my t e e t h . I have o n l y t o c l e n c h

my jaws...

GUSTAVE. I am s o r r y . . . I t ' s a speedy d e a t h .

ROSE. Tomorrow the p r o f e s s o r ' s r e p o r t w i l l be p u b l i s h e d . I t was

worth i t .
GUSTAVE. I do not t h i n k s o . P r o f e s s o r Du Pare i s a v e r y good f r i e n d

of ours. He has accepted v a r i o u s i n v i t a t i o n s from h i s f r i e n d

Abetz... I t w i l l not be d i f f i c u l t f o r us to get a h o l d o f the

r e c o r d i n g , because now who i s going t o know t h a t the good

E g y p t o l o g i s t has d i e d ? We have time ahead o f u s . . . Your g e s t u r e

has been u s e l e s s . . . You have remained a t the halfway mark. I

r e a l i z e t h a t i t was a great temptation. I t was worthwhile t o

chance i t . Can you imagine the newspapers o f the e n t i r e w o r l d

p u b l i s h i n g the t r u t h about Von K l e i n ' s death? I t was truly

stupendous. Exciting. I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t I would have done the

same t h i n g , i n your p l a c e . The t r o u b l e i s t h a t I was listening to

the conversation.

ROSE. Where i s the microphone?

GUSTAVE. What does i t matter?

ROSE. Pure curiousity.

GUSTAVE. Keep y o u r curiousity.

ROSE. Thank y o u .

GUSTAVE. You are welcome. The move was a good one. You k i l l e d the

professor. The m i n i s t r y would c o n g r a t u l a t e you f o r y o u r d e c i s i o n :

you saved time and spared them a problem. Who would s u s p e c t you?

No one. Tomorrow P r o f e s s o r Winkel's c o n f e s s i o n would be published

in Paris. A universal scandal. Great d i f f i c u l t i e s for us, a

s p l e n d i d weapon i n the hands o f y o u r p e o p l e . Who c o u l d know t h a t

you had found out about the e x i s t a n c e o f the r e c o r d i n g ? No one.

Your a c t was normal. You were not r e s p o n s i b l e , o f f i c i a l l y , f o r

the results. I admire the s p e e d i n e s s o f y o u r d e c i s i o n . And your

having r e s o l v e d the s i t u a t i o n y o u r s e l f , w i t h o u t a s k i n g f o r

instructions.
ROSE. Thank y o u .

GUSTAVE. But we would have given the l i e t o e v e r y t h i n g . And i t would

have s u f f i c e d . B e l i e v e me. The t r u t h does not weigh more than

the l i e , once they have both been l e t o u t . A l l t h a t humanity

which f o l l o w s u s , the same as t h a t which f o l l o w s y o u , i s d i s p o s e d

not t o b e l i e v e a n y t h i n g t h a t c o u l d be harmful t o i t .

ROSE. (Ironically.) The Fuhrer d i d t h a t , so i t i s w e l l done... Do

you have a c o n c r e t e p r o p o s i t i o n t o make t o me?

GUSTAVE. I would l i k e t o hear such a t h i n g from y o u r own l i p s . (Pause.)

You remain s i l e n t ? What d i d you hope f o r ? To t r i c k me?

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , I know the c l o t h from which you a r e c u t . This

world o f ours i n which we happen t o l i v e a l s o has i t s h e r o e s . The

t r o u b l e i s t h a t now they a r e not t h e g e n e r a l s o f c h i v a l r y . It is

we who a r e t h e h e r o e s , whose name no one u t t e r s and n e v e r w i l l .

ROSE. I d i d not know t h a t you were a s e n t i m e n t a l man.

GUSTAVE. No one knows i t — n o t even my w i f e . I am s o r r y t h a t i t was

you. I l i k e you. But... You s a i d y o u r s e l f : "Our b e s t ally,

the o n l y o n e , i s the man who i s g u i l t y " . . . I f you hadn't condemned

y o u r s e l f , who c o u l d have suspected you? What country do you belong

to?

ROSE. Me? The same as y o u : the p o l i c e . . .

GUSTAVE. Wouldn't you l i k e t o change parties?

ROSE. No.

GUSTAVE. You don't t r u s t . . . ?

ROSE. No. Nor would any o f y o u . But t h a t i s not t h e problem.

GUSTAVE. You have j u s t s a i d t h a t we a r e o f the same c o u n t r y ,

w i t h i n t h e s p e c i e s t h e r e s h o u l d be no b a t t l e . . .
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ROSE. Don't i n s i s t . We have no more time f o r d i s c u s s i o n .

(There i s knocking a t the door.)

GUSTAVE. Pleasant journey.

ROSE. Thank y o u .

( B r i e f pause. There i s f u r t h e r knocking a t the d o o r .

ROSE'S gasp i s heard as the crushed c y a n i d e c a p s u l e takes effect.

B r i e f pause. Sound o f ROSE's body f a l l i n g to the f l o o r . Sound

o f door o p e n i n g . Footsteps.)

*****

1 The p l a c e s and t h e date a r e i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e . (Author's note.)

2 - - T h i s sentence i s p r i n t e d i n i t a l i c s because i t has been taken

from the magazine, United S t a t e s News, w i t h t h e o n l y change b e i n g t h a t

o f Germany f o r U.S.A. (Author's note.)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. A d o l f o Bioy C a s a r e s , Plan de E v a s i o n , Emece E d i t o r e s , 1945,

Buenos A i r e s , A r g e n t i n a .

2. Rafael A l b e r t i , E l A d e f e s i o , E d i t o r i a l Cuadernos, M a d r i d , S p a i n ,

1944.

3. J o r g e G u i l l e n , C a n t i c o , R e v i s t a de O c c i d e n t e , M a d r i d , S p a i n , 1928.

4. A l f o n s o C a n a l e s , El Candado, M a l a g a , - S p a i n , 1956, "Otono".

5. Max Aub, Los E x c e l e n t e s V a r o n e s , Mexico D.F., M e x i c o , 1946.