Jick's Journey
by Sally Drumm
in collaboration with John Blair and Dennis Adams
© 2007 Sally Drumm & Dennis Adams
Photos byJohn Blair and used with permission

ACT 2, SCENE 1

[KOUBIS on a path in Thomas Wood. He sniffs around and fingers the Bag of Days. Unobserved by KOUBIS, PHISTO watches. ALUNA spies on both.]

KOUBIS: Mine, mine, mine, oh joy — Thomas Wood is mine! Nerus will perish along with those other worm-eating ferrets — and that Two-Legs thing that smells like breakfast! But they'll follow, surely they will. They'll hunt me down like a pack of dogs on a green field. Curses on them. Phisto — heh-heh — yes, I'll get the old serpent in on my trick, make him my slave with a promise of bliss. I, and only I know the Ancient's curse! [Koubis pulls a pearl from the bag; holds it aloft.] With this soma swallowed, Phisto's strength will follow! Then the wood is mine for sure! So I'll pretend…and then…

[Hissing, PHISTO moves closer; KOUBIS hides the bag and pearl behind his back.]

KOUBIS: Speak of the devil and the devil slithers in.

PHISTO: Koubis you slime-sucking rascal, what's that in your dirty little paws? A frog? A sweet little snack for the wicked? Semper peccator, semper justus

[Faint light on ALUNA, who spies from the background.]

KOUBIS: Ever sinning, ever righteous, independent, cruel and vicious, don't get too close or I'll sink my teeth in you! [He waggles the bag before PHISTO's eyes.] See what I've got? See what's mine? A bag of your tears and a club for your spine!

PHISTO: Fool! Without that bag Nerus will fail the new day! Idiot! Scourge of Thomas Wood — messenger from Hell. How dare you! You must give it back or be the end of the lot of us!

KOUBIS: Never, slug-eater! All hail Koubis, king of the wood! Kiss my tail! [He turns his tail on PHISTO, but remains out of striking distance.] Do as I say, not as I do — I'll be the decider of fates from this 'til then.

PHISTO: We'll all soon pass away if you don't return that bag.

KOUBIS: The elixir of life is mine and I'll do as I please. I control life, so what of death? Hounded by dog and hunted by horse, chased into bogs and worse! I've spent too many days crouching on my hinds, kneeling to the sun, stretching my paws to catch a drop of wet for my poor tongue. Never again will I bow to that life-singeing orb! Nerus had his chance — that jumbuck of an otter who thinks himself a walrus. Walrus — Pah! And now I have your tears, all shiny and pretty in this little bag. You'll do what I will or suffer for it. I know the secret of your tears!

[A dead bird drops from a tree. ALUNA's eyes flash.]

PHISTO: [Angry.] You think so, Shih Tzu? Well add this to your bag of gloom. A living line, an abstraction in flesh and blood, without end or beginning, a circle or square, I do what I please and answer to none. Time made 's time lost, but I cannot be clocked. Endless — a ghost am I in the sunlit world, a shadow in darkness, swift as lightning, the vomitor of life and death! Am I she or he? You really can't know. Squeezing and throttling, swallowing and sleeping, coiling, uncoiling, coupling, uncoupling, melting, and re-emerging: no creature knows me but me. Tides swell when I drink; storms wreak when I belch. A twisted chain am I who links the hours. Call me Draco or Ophis, Dragon or Snake, I am Phisto, lord of darkness and I shall not heed your calling!

KOUBIS: But you will, Serpent — [Plucks a yellow rose from a bush.] — what stillness twists the sinews of your heart? What crimson joy falls each morn? What thorn tears at your beady eye with each fallen drop? What secret love does Life embrace?

[PHISTO plucks the rose from KOUBIS' hand with his mouth, just missing the bag of days. KOUBIS places into his mouth the pearl he has been holding and pretends to eat it. PHISTO hisses and swirls in death throes, crushing the rose.]

KOUBIS: Do as I say, Rat-breath, or die!

PHISTO: Yessssss—spit it out!

[KOUBIS spits the pearl from his mouth. PHISTO slides to it, coils his body around it.]

KOUBIS: Now that we understand each other, Tail-wagger, here's what you will do.

[KOUBIS ties the bag around PHISTO's neck. Note: The bag must be re-tied around PHISTO's neck using a slipknot before Act 3, Scene1]

KOUBIS: Take this bag and place it in your pit among the roots of that burnt stump you call a home. Keep it there and don't try any tricks, or I'll swallow this.

[KOUBIS reaches for the pearl inside PHISTO's coils. PHISTO quickly coils himself around KOUBIS' body and begins to squeeze.]

PHISTO: Now who will do whose bidding? Play dead, Poodle! Now my little lapdog, you will keep the others away or I will squeeze the life from you [he squeezes KOUBIS tighter.] just as I squished that little mutt [tighter.] I found wandering about just a night ago!

KOUBIS: [Breathless.] You? You killed that child's dog?

PHISTO: Child? [tighter.] What Child? Speak, Spitz! [tighter.]

KOUBIS: [choking.] She would have made a wonderful breakfast — smelled like fresh fawn.

PHISTO: Who!

KOUBIS: [Barely audible.] Came…to…Nerus's…Pool.

[PHISTO uncoils, slithers away from KOUBIS, and arches like a rattler preparing to strike.]

PHISTO: Go…find her…get her to my pit! Do as I say, or I will find you!

[KOUBIS runs offstage; ALUNA flies off.]

PHISTO: Stolen tears and stolen years, shed and lost and those unknown — these creatures steal my tears, grow them into pearls, but this Midnight, the new day will not be born — not if I have the girl. Precious Purse — who needs you? But you'll do to bring her to me. As was foretold, a Two-Legs comes at last to Thomas Wood, and only she can restore the Wood to life. But I who pay so dearly, losing my spawn each dawn, am I to spend eternity as Nature's pawn? That stupid fox will delay them long enough for me to betray them! [He looks down at the crushed rose.] Oh sick Rose, I have found your bed. At last, I'll break the heavy chain that binds me to this dewy grave [slithers offstage.]

ACT 2, SCENE 2

[A forest path. JICK, accompanied by SEERA, meets PHEEBES.]

JICK: [to SEERA.] I wish you would talk to me. Why won't you talk to me?

JICK: What's this?

[JICK pokes PHEEBES with stick.]

JICK: A 'possum? I wonder if he'll bite. [JICK again pokes PHEEBES.]

PHEEBES: [Still on his back.] I do!

JICK: I wouldn't bite you! Please get up. I won't bite if you won't — Pinkie Promise!

[JICK reaches with her extended pinkie to catch his tail, but PHEEBES rolls onto his feet.]

PHEEBES: [snorting/angry.] Oh, I'm hungry, so hungry, and there's literally nothing to eat unless I find it! What I wouldn't give for a dug of worms! If you want anything done around here you have to do it yourself.

JICK: Worms! Ugh. I'm hungry too, but I was thinking of eggs!

PHEEBES: [cheering up a bit.] I love eggs! Robin's or sparrow's, bob white's or blue jay's, wren's or canary's, blackbird's or dove's: Yes! Give me eggs! Shaken or stirred, I don't care! Give me the eggs I love! [angry again.] Loving eggs is one thing; getting them's another — that's work. Don't look at me like that — I'm not your egg finder. No. Don't even think about it.

JICK: I don't eat birds' eggs. I eat chicken eggs. So there.

PHEEBES: Chick…en? I've never heard of chick…en. Is this some trick you're trying on me? Go away!

JICK: It's not a trick, Chicken is chicken, but what's your name?

PHEEBES: Pheebes. Nothing more, nothing less. Now get out of my way — I've work to do!

JICK: Wait, that tail of yours might come in handy. It looks like an extra arm, something to swing with from trees. Who knows? We may have to cross a stream or a gully — you can help us!

PHEEBES: [Steps back.] My tail? My tail! [He dances about making a show of his tail.] I was born the size of a wasp, and made my way up to my mother's pouch. [JICK continues to try to touch PHEEBES' tail.] There, I grew strong. My nose is pointed, my ears are small, my fur is grizzled, and my teeth are long. My paws are like yours; each one has four digits and a thumb, but my tail — my tail is not to be touched! No creature touches my tail — try it and I'll bite your arm off.

JICK: No biting! I don't see anything wrong with your tail — it's like a finger, or a …a…

PHEEBES: A beautiful tail, bushy and full — I dream of it still, how I brushed it and plaited it like a show horse mane. Now look at it! That cunning kitten, Koubis, shaved all the fur off while I was sleeping. He woke me up as he finished. I hate being wakened when I'm dreaming. But it was a nightmare I wakened to that night. That crudgily croucher, Koubis, dancing on his hind legs, screaming, "Who has the handsomest tail in the wood, now, Wood-Hog?" I'd choke him, stomp him, squeeze his skraffling neck with my paws if only I could catch him.

JICK: I love your tail! If I had a tail, I wouldn't feel so …so strange here, so half-asleep and half-awake…

PHEEBES: You love this thing, this funugly pathetic excuse for a tail? I hate it! After that…that… Koubis tricked the fur off, it never grew back. I get so mad — when the weather grows cold, my tail turns stone. I hate cold — I hate him — I hate this tail. Why me and not him? Why couldn't I be the one to shave his tail? I'd claw him and rend him, scratch him and bite him — why, I'd eat him; I would if I could! Now go AWAY!

JICK: But I can't go away. Koubis has the Bag of Days. He's taken it away. We have to find him. We have to! Do you know where he is?

PHEEBES: No TOMORROW? NOW THAT REALLY TISHES ME OFF! That maggot-eating scum sucker, that full-of-frog-tizzle waddler, scuz-muddler, zhrug-grubber — I know where everything is in Thomas Wood. My eyes may be small, but I'm not blind. I'm brave! I'm bold! I'm scranctified! I'll take you! But… what will you do when we find him?

JICK: I'm not sure, but— Where are you going? You said you'd come with us!

[PHEEBES goes off path to relieve his bowels, and makes quite a deal of it.]

PHEEBES: Eouuuuuuu. All those berries and pine nuts, mushrooms and worms — how I hate swilling in the past! -Eouuuuuuuu.

[JICK visibly reacts to PHEEBES display. SEERA, who has not yet spoken, flashes an urgent Let's go. A dead bird drops from the sky. JICK picks the bird up and absentmindedly holds onto it after examining it. SEERA's light dims.]

JICK: [Still holding dead bird.] C'mon, Pheebes, Let's go!

[PHEEBES returns to the path. KOUBIS leaps from shadow.]

KOUBIS: The fawn and the Wood Hog! My dear [he bows to Jick.], please allow me to introduce myself — Koubis is the name, eating you is my game.

PHEEBES: [Hiding behind JICK.] Where's the bag, you sniveling shuckster!

[KOUBIS runs toward PHEEBES, growls and marks the nearest spot. PHEEBES plays possum.]

JICK: [Playing tough, throws the dead bird at KOUBIS, and strikes a strongman pose.] I'm here to fight beastie-beasts like you! Where's the bag, Tail-Snipper?

KOUBIS: [Laughing, kicks the bird.] Where's the bag? Where's the bag? Ring around the posey little nosey while I sink my fangs in your soft little belly!

JICK: [Picks up two sticks.] Don't you get feisty with me! Choose your weapon, or call coward! I'm your beast!

KOUBIS: Don't mind if I do! [Grabs a stick from JICK.] On with it then, Little Nosey.

[KOUBIS and JICK sword fight on the path. JICK trips over PHEEBES, falls, and KOUBIS leaps on her. VLAD, as a red light, leaps from PHEEBES' belly and assails KOUBIS. KOUBIS, swatting at the red light, disappears into darkness. SEERA's light intensifies. JICK and PHEEBES remain lying on their backs.]

PHEEBES: How could I do that — just lie there and do nothing? I'm the rugbungliest creature in this wood! I hate—

JICK: [Gets up, looking after VLAD and KOUBIS.] Oh, M. G. — there's nothing wrong with you or your tail. Get up — we've really got to go. This isn't a shopping trip in the magical forest! [She pulls PHEEBES' ear.]

PHEEBES: OW! Don't do that, you beastie!

JICK: Pheebes, what was that?

PHEEBES: A scrumdiginous blask of a fox! Haven't you ever seen a Koubis?

JICK: Well, no, not till just now. But what chased Koubis away?

PHEEBES: You don't want to know. Be glad it's gone — [Aside: Blood-sucking shell of a parasite…]

[We hear a few notes of a wordless Romanian song sung by VLAD. PHEEBES looks around, shakes his head and acts as though he's grazing. SEERA moves with PHEEBES.]

JICK: OW! [VLAD's red light on JICK as she reacts to a bug bite.] What! [Another bite.] Ow! [More bites in rapid succession.] Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop that!

[PHEEBES and SEERA knowingly watch from a distance. PHEEBES shakes his head and slips away; SEERA follows PHEEBES. VLAD sings faster and faster until he reaches full speed. JICK spins and swats in time to the song, until she spins off stage.]

JICK: [From the wings.] Got you!

[JICK re-enters, dragging the now-visible VLAD with her, as if punishing a bad puppy.]

[NOTE: Romanian words appear in bold font without their diacritical marks and are followed by their approximate pronunciation in parentheses. Necessary translations appear in parentheses with "Trans." See http://denseatoms.blogspot.com/ for lines with proper diacritical marks and a pronunciation key.]

VLAD: [In Romanian] Nu, nu! Lasa-ma in pace! Lasa-maîn pace! Nu-m fa rau. {noo noo! LAH-suh mihn PAH-cheh. LAH-suh mihn PAH-cheh. Noom fuh RUHW.} -- [No, no! Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Don't hurt me.]

JICK: [Puzzled, but still not letting go] What's that jabbering?

VLAD: Eu vorbesc românes,te. Sânt un purice din Transilvania. Ma numesc Flea. Te rog! Lasa-ma in pace! {yehw vor-BESK ro-muhn-ESH-teh. sunt oon POO-ree-cheh deen trahn-seel-VAH-nee-ah. Muh noo-MESK Flea. teh rohg. LAH-suh mihn PAH-cheh.}-- [I'm speaking Romanian. I'm a Flea from Transylvania. My name is Vlad. Please! Leave me alone!]

JICK: You're not making sense!

[Jick stomps and slaps at Vlad]

VLAD: Lasa-ma in pace! Lasa-ma in pace! {LAH-suh mihn PAH-cheh. LAH-suh mihn PAH-cheh.} -- [Then, with a heavy accent:] Please! Pearly Mouth! Leave me alone!

JICK: [Shocked, lets VLAD go; Vlad scuttles to the ground] Pearly Mouth!

[She thinks a moment, then rubs her front teeth with her finger, smiles knowingly. VLAD begins to sing an improvised chant.]

VLAD: De vidra vreau sa( cânt, mai mai! {deh EE-drah VRAYW suh kint MUH-y MUH-y.}

JICK: I want … to sing … about the otter!

VLAD:

JICK: Nerus! Hey, Nerus!

[Vlad begins teaching Jick The Otter Song, to the tune of the opening theme of George Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody Number 1. Very haltingly at first, she sings the English translation of each line after VLAD sings the Romanian. With each line, JICK's sung delivery is more fluid and confident.]

VLAD: Ah, foiae verde, frumos,ica! {ah fw-AH-yeh VEHR-deh froo-moh-SHEE-kuh.} — La la la la la la la

JICK: Oh … green leaf … fresh leaf … tender … little … leaf. La la la la la la la.

VLAD: Vidra s,tie apele. {VEE-drah SHTEE-eh AH-peh-leh.} -- La la la la la la la.

JICK: The swift brown otter knows the way to swim. La la la la la la la.

VLAD: Noaptea s,i clar de luna … {NWAHP-the-ah shee clahr deh LOO-nah.}

JICK: In the nighttime, under moonlight …

VLAD: Apele, vadurile. {AH-peh-leh vah-DOOHR-ee-leh.}

JICK: All along the fords and rivers.

VLAD: Haide! Ca sa tu nu te-nece. {HIGH-deh!kah suh nooh te-NEH-cheh.}

JICK: Follow — unless you want to drown.

BOTH: Follow, or you're going to drown.
In the nighttime, under moonlight,
La la la la la la la,
Under moonlight, in the nighttime,
La la la la la la la.

VLAD: And … te poarta la izvoare … {teh PWAHR-tuh lah eez-VWAH-reh.}

JICK: Otter brings you to the cool springs …

VLAD: Sa te racores,ti pâna-n coate … {suh teh ruh-koh-RESHT PUH-nuhn KWAH-teh.}

JICK: To refresh you, up and down …

VLAD: Tu te speli de fiori de moarte … {too teh spell deh fyohr deh MWAHR-teh.}

JICK: Cooling your arms with blooms of death,

BOTH: Cooling with blooms of death.
In the nighttime, under moonlight,
La la la la la la la,
Under moonlight, in the nighttime,
La la la la la la la.

[Vlad and Jick continue to dance while singing the song in English, duet]

JICK: Can we do that again? Could I stand on your feet this time?

VLAD: [Laughing/Speaking again] Iata, poftim. Cum vezi, poti sa m-înt,elegi. {YAH-tuh pohf-TEEM. koohm VEHZ pohts suh mints-ehl-EDGE.}

JICK: [Paraphrasing him] Yes, I see. I really can understand you. – But why should I have any more trouble understanding you than the other animals?

VLAD: Asculta, Fat,a de Piersica. {ah-SKOOHL-tuh FAHT-sah deh pyehr-SEE-kah.}

JICK: [Offended] Peach Face? [She rubs her face and realizes VLAD was complimenting her in his own Vlad's manner.]

VLAD: Da, da. {dah dah} — Yes, yes. Listen, Peach Face. Soft One. I am not – mai dificil sa( {my dee-FEE-cheel suh.} – not any more difficult to understand than those others. It is that your...your understanding of me needs growing – needs to grow.

JICK: [Surprising herself by responding in Romanian] Oh, t-înt,eleg foarte bine! {oh tints-eh-LEG FWAR-teh BEE-neh.}

VLAD: [Laughing] Oh, you do, do you? So, you understand me – foarte bine {FWAR-teh BEE-neh.} – completely? Hm? How do you understand me? Willow Hair, what am I?

JICK: Why, you're a nasty old Vlad. And you have an even nastier bite.

[She bites him.]

VLAD: Ai! [Then laughs.] Fair enough – I love blood, live on it, swim in it, breathe it and breed in it. Ahhhh, Peach Face, nothing else? What else is – un purice {oohn POOH-ree-cheh.} – a Vlad?

JICK: [Starts to say something, then doubts herself] Well, I can't say. I really don't know. – I'm sorry.

VLAD: It was what you can call – unjust – uh – unfair question. How could you possible (sic) know the answer?

JICK: Well, let me try. You're strong.

VLAD: Da. {dah.} -- Yes.

JICK: You can move faster than anything I've ever seen.

VLAD: Ba da! {BAH dah.} -- [Yes, indeed!]

JICK: You're hard to smush.

VLAD: I know. But you slapped hard enough!

JICK: [Thinking hard] You're small.

VLAD: Ah, vai de mine! {ah VUH-y deh MEE-neh.} Alas! So, too, are you.

JICK: You are! [Stomps feet]

VLAD: I wasn't contradicting you, just bemoaning my fate. My size is small, tiny. But my story is very, very big.

JICK: [Delighted] You have a story? I love stories. Tell it!

VLAD: De accord {deh ahk-OHRD} – all right, but it is not a happy story. A long time ago, back home in Transylvania, I was proud. All fleas were proud. Mighty hunters of pa(duchi {puh-DOOHK} – lice and furnici {foohr-NEECH} – ants and so many other insects who feared us. Fleas held – you know, games – we jumped up and down for days without stopping and – how we hopped – înalt! înalt! {un-AHLT un-AHLT} – high, high, high into tree limbs and down again with such speed! Ah! Those were the days before matchbox and circus. Can you imagine? A creature so noble as me, trapped on a sideshow circuit!

JICK: I believe you! I really do – but you had me spinning back there.

VLAD: Hah! I was only playing with you then. But things changed in Transyl-vah-nia, our dear, beloved homeland. Bad, bad things happened. Rats came out of the sunrise. Thousands of rats – brown, black, red, dirty, bad, cesspool-swimming brine-drinking rats!

JICK: Euooooo, rats! Did they eat fleas?

VLAD: Nu, mai ra(u! {noo my RUHW.} No, worse! They tricked us. Said Transyl-vah-nia was an ugly place. Liars! The rats said the land where the sun falls was a beautiful place for fleas, with many ants. Many louses. Many more good small things to hunt, to eat. “Why don't you come with us,” they said. ”We'll take you there on our backs!”

JICK: Oh, Vlad! What fun!

VLAD: No! The rats lied! Disaster for fleas and for Two-Legs like you... especially for Two-Legs like you! Everywhere the rats go, Two-Legs died, all of them. Sick, sick, blistering-bubbling sick, and after bad days sick, they die. So many of them. Why, I did not know. But the rats were to blame. They laugh and gossip and then move on to more Two-Legs' lands. And more Two-Legs died. Many more.

JICK: So, what did you do?

VLAD: I leaped from my rat one day and went fast to the Two-Legs. To warn them about the rats. “Pericol! Pericol!” {peh-REE-kohl peh-REE-kohl.}-- I yelled, “Danger, danger!” … But, you know, I am small. They could not hear me. I shouted. They would not hear. I bit them, to get their attention. But they just swatted me, as you do-do. The Two-Legs, they blamed me for the sickness. They have hate for me. All places I go, they try to crush me underfoot. But I am very tough. I do not crush. But their hate for me, it makes me very sad. Always sad. And it makes me think … too much, I think. Again and again I bit Two-Legs, but they never listen. So. I keep biting. I love the taste of Two-Legs, better even than pig … savory … and easier to hunt than louses or ants. To watch them leap and dance is delicious!

[JICK looks worried.]

VLAD: Don't worry — I eat only once a night. [Slyly.] I had enough of you a moment ago… very tasty — a fine peach wine.

JICK: [Annoyed, scratching.] Thanks… I guess. But what about you? Are you scared of dying?

VLAD: To die? For a flea, to die is nothing. Back in Transyl-vah-nia, fleas were not just hunters. We were fierce warriors! Strong, fast! We never started wars, but always we would finish them. And always it was o victorie. (oh veek-TOH-ree-eh) Many fleas would die. But die happy. More fleas are born. The homeland is safe for them. Dead fleas are soon forgotten, but were happy to die proud. Death will come. No doubt. To die with pride! For a Vlad, that is better than life itself! But to die with shame, to die hated, that is the worst curse of all.

JICK: [Sadly, remembering home.] What was Transavany like?

VLAD: [Frowning, pointing at JICK.] Ah! — Transyl-vah-nia! Just beautiful! [His mood brightening.] But you must see it with a flea's eyes. [VLAD pulls a strange telescope or kaleidoscope from his pocket.] I brought this with me from Transyl-vah-nia. [Pushes scope toward Jick.] Look inside! Look inside!

JICK: [Does so.] Oh, Vlad! It's pretty! [Suddenly realizing a greater truth.] No, no. It's… BEAUTIFUL!

VLAD: [Dreamily.] Ah, Peach Face, the infinite is the only beauty I will know but never see though it's often right before my many eyes! Whatever moves is moved! I could explain a cause, but then the cause must be explained! And then the explanation needs explaining, and just like me, thin as painted sky, the things between must be explained, and on and on. All the coming to and passing away, an infinite series, like those stars you see! [Pointing to the audience.] Look long and hard at that sequined sky... See the broken necklace? All things pass away. What shines must fade, what moves is moved, the tides distracted by the moon, the moon distracted by the stars: all refracted in this eye. That is, existence and essence, not one from the other, but of each other. A matter not of necessity but of the probability of encountering delays, problems, — Ha! RATS! The sharp tooth pierces soft hide. What leads us to connect this to that, and that to then, while "What" remains adrift within?

JICK: I understand! Maybe the world just began this very minute and whatever got it going is doing something else, somewhere else, right now. Maybe the world is a creature, or a boat! A rowboat! A sailboat! Pirates in search of treas… Oh No … the pearl! The Bag of Days! Nerus! Seera! Pheebes! Pheebes! Oh, Aluna!

[JICK falls down crying.]

[A dead bird drops from the sky. SEERA, who has just returned from searching for PHEEBES, begins flashing madly around JICK.]

VLAD: What, Seera? Koubis has stolen the bag of days? I thought I heard some mumbling about this while I was still warm upon that dug, Pheebes!

JICK: We have to get the bag! Oh, no — where's Pheebes? Vlad, find him!

[Fog envelops the path.]

JICK: [Heard but not seen.] Seera, oh Seera, where are you?

[ALUNA arrives clearing away the fog with wing beats. SEERA's light reappears. A dead bird drops.]

JICK: [Angry.] Gosh, Aluna, where've you been? Maybe next time, you'll take me!

ALUNA: Who-who wastes time quarrelling? Who thinks he's a trickster gets tricked!

JICK: KOUBIS! Where is he?

ALUNA: Who makes friends with Phisto? Who loses the bag of days? Who slithers away with the prize 'round his craw? Who must hurry? — Less than an hour to the hour!

[PHEEBES enters, unwillingly. VLAD as a red light plays upon PHEEBES, biting him.]

VLAD: [Spoken from off-stage.] Here's the missing culprit! I found him rooting for truffles…lost in the fog!

PHEEBES: [Scratching and swatting where VLAD bites.] Stop that suckbluberus! We've work to do, days to save, dawns to raise! [Looking to ALUNA.] Phisto has the bag of days around his neck! Only one place he could be going: Serpent's Root!

JICK: Phisto's a snake! Euoooooo — I hate snakes!

PHEEBES: Not just any snake! Phisto is almost as ancient as the Ancient. Phisto is a serpent of the first degree, speciferous! Ohhhh, this situation is ogmourious! Rextaphourus mercipius!

JICK: What?

VLAD: [From offstage.] I live on this dug and can barely understand a word he says. Jick, Phisto is one of a kind. We'd better get moving!

JICK: Onward, Troops!

[Lights Down.]

SCENE 3

[On a forest path, JICK and SEERA have become separated from the others and wander onto the stage.]

JICK: Seera, could you at least, like, say just a little, Hi? Dang it, I can't believe Pheebes wandered off again. At least Aluna was with us. I hope she finds him! I feel better when Vlad's around. Dang it, Seera, talk to me. I'm tired. I miss my MOMmmmm…

[JICK sits down, frustrated — SEERA has not yet spoken to her.]

JICK: You can flash all you want, I'm not taking another step till you talk to me!

[SEERA flies on stage behind JICK who cannot see her. SEERA swoops in the background, enjoying herself, dancing. Finally she pulls in behind JICK, puts her hands over Jicks eyes and:]

SEERA: Surprise! Guess who?

[JICK jumps up. They face each sideways on stage.]

JICK: [Checking out SEERA's wings.] Are you real? Wow, girl, Let's go grab some wild wings for me!

SEERA: Jick, Jick, Jick, no wings for you on this dark night! We really should be going on our way.

JICK: But I'm so tired—

SEERA: The day grows old, and I along with it will soon become a wingless dark cloud that only you will remember.

JICK: [Still checking out SEERA.] But what are you? You look sorta like a lightning bug and sorta like a hummingbird. Are you a fairy?

SEERA: No, Bone-girl, I'm no hummingbird or fairy — I'm Coleoptera Lampyridae, better known as Firefly.

JICK: What do you eat?

JICK: But I do, I do want to know!

SEERA: These two red spots on my head often attract my bread. Seems certain smaller creatures think my red spots look like a good bed. My cold light, too, draws many a feast. The boys just love my [seductively.] bi-o … lumi -- nescence! But here in Darkland, I seldom sup. My nights are too busy chasing after the cup. This day soon will end and with it will go I!

JICK: No!

SEERA: As it is, so it must be, the time draws near for me to join the millions who've passed this way before. Why, one of me even witnessed creation! I once lived in Dawnland, and it was I who brought fire to Two-Legs. I was a mirror in the trees. They called me Queen of the Stars and of those celestial spheres was I. As Kukula, I witnessed the end of many a Baby Jaguar, cubs less than you, but now I find I'm sent to guide you and that's fine with me. I've moved across the sky as a comet to guide many before this night. And once, long ago, there were countless ones like me in Dawnland, but then the great fog came, the bitter sand fell upon the ground, and everywhere we laid our eggs, beneath a leaf, beside a tree, safely tucked beneath the shadow of a blade of grass, the young died in the bitter sand. So here am I, at your service, and in return, perhaps, when you leave this, my home, you'll seek out the bitter sand and destroy it. Then in the mountains of the Congaree, perhaps once more, millions of me, you'll see! I am but a point of reflection, and we must find the pearl or I shall fade away!

JICK: Oh no!

SEERA: Worse! Along with me the Ancient, who holds those workers of mischief, Koubis and Phisto, at bay, will turn to ash beneath the moon!

JICK: Who is the Ancient?

SEERA: I'm certain you'll see soon enough. Suffice to say, the Ancient is the oldest thing in the world! Of silver hair, of rough brown skin, in Dawnland, too, the Ancient once grew, but there, for the Ancient, as it is for me, strangelings of Nature have lost their places. Sad, but this is the way of progress — Unless? Ah, well, the things we love too quickly slip away, our dreams a million stars swallowed by each day. No day is the same as yesterday, nor will any other be exactly like today. Tonight, life hovers above the abyss! Tomorrow's at risk! Now, Bone-girl, you must remember these words I say: Silence Silences Silence: Tiree, Tiray!

JICK: [Amazed by SEERA's message.] Why? That's silly!

SEERA: I have a special power — the pearl must be returned or I shall burn! If Phisto tries to enchant you, you must speak these words I say: Silence Silences Silence: Tiree, Tiray! Now repeat them!

JICK: [Throws a Karate chop at the air.] Silence Silences Silence: Tiree, Tiray! Silence Silences Silence: Tiree, Tiray! [JICK notices her shadow.] Look, Seera, my shadow's running away!

SEERA: [Laughing.] Silence Silences Silence: Tiree, Tiray! Catch it if you can!

[JICK plays at shadow dancing. SEERA's light creates the backdrop for a shadow play. SEERA's body is all light. JICK and SEERA, as twins, execute the same moves. JICK'S shadow plays against the backcloth. She uses her arms to mimic the creatures she's met, she frolics like a Walrus/Otter; walks like an Egyptian [owl.], plays dead like a possum, leaps like a flea, and flies like SEERA, until SEERA, hearing the faint who's of ALUNA, stops.]

SEERA: Lady Beastie, we must move on — Aluna has called the hour!

[JICK turns to SEERA.]

JICK: Alright, let's hit the trail, Kuk-Kuk. I feel so much better.

[JICK heads offstage. SEERA stays where she is. JICK, realizing she's alone, stops short of the wings and turns back to SEERA.]

JICK: Don't be so shy! [Runs back to SEERA.] You wanna be my best friend?

[Lights down as SEERA and JICK face each other, bend their arms at their elbows, and touch palms and foreheads before joining hands and moving down the path.]

ACT III

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