The Arrow-Maker Part 34

Hush! Perhaps she will move her!

BRIGHT WATER

Do you think yourself aggrieved so much, Chisera? Come, I will match sorrow with you, I and all these (_the women surge forward_), and the stakes shall be the people. Here is my pride that I throw down, in my bride year to know my husband an impostor. Have you any sorrow to match with that?

WACOBA

Since you wish a man so much, Chisera, here is mine whom the vultures seek.

(_The women part to show the dead man stark in his blanket._)

HAIWAI

Would you have a child at your breast, Chisera, here is mine, for my milk is dried with hunger.

(_She holds up her swaddled child which_ BRIGHT WATER _takes and holds toward the_ CHISERA, _who stands confused, for the first time acutely aware of their misery._)

BRIGHT WATER

(_Measuring the effect of her words._) Chisera, my breast is as fruitless as yours--but you ... you have ... good medicine.

TIAWA

Lay hold on the G.o.ds, Chisera, these are ills from which man cannot save us!

(_The_ CHISERA _throws out her hands to signify the loss of her power, her blanket slips to the ground and she covers her face with her hands._)

THE CHISERA

Gone--gone! It is gone from me!

BRIGHT WATER

(_Signing to the women to hide the blanket._)

By dancing you shall bring it back again--for the sake of the women and children--dance, Chisera!

(_Her voice has a kindling sound, and the women echo it with a breath._)

THE CHISERA

Oh, I have danced until the earth under me is beaten to dust, and my heart is as dry as the dust, and all my songs have fallen to the ground. (_She begins to walk up and down excitedly._) With what cry shall I call on the G.o.ds, now my songs are departed? (_She begins to chant._)

And my heart is emptied of all But the grief of women.

(_The women watch her breathlessly; as she gradually swings into the dance, they seem to urge her with the stress of their anxiety._)

All the anguish of women, It smells to the G.o.ds As the dead after battle, It sounds in my heart As the hollow drums calling to battle, And the G.o.ds come quickly.

(_As she falters the tribe surges forward._)

TRIBE

Dance, Chisera, dance!

(_She tries again and no strength comes--the men hold up their hands, palms outward, in the sign of prayer. The drum begins hollowly._)

Come, O my power, Indwelling spirit!

It is I that call.

Childless, unmated--

(_Drums and rattles are brought out, at first cautiously, lest she take alarm and be turned from her purpose, but as the fervor of her dancing increases, with increased confidence._ SIMWA _remains seated at one side, watching her, his foot touching his quiver._ PADAHOON, _who has moved over near him, observes him narrowly in the interval of dancing._ CHISERA _sings._)

Nay, I shall mate with the G.o.ds, And the tribesmen shall be my children.

Rise up in me, O, my power, On the wings of eagles!

Return on me as the rain The earth renewing, Make my heart fruitful To nourish my children.

(SIMWA _is seen to strip the magic arrow from his quiver._)

BRIGHT WATER

Simwa, Simwa, what do you do?

SIMWA

No more than the G.o.ds will do to me if they hear her.

THE CHISERA

This is my song that I make, I, the Chisera, The song of the mateless woman: None holdeth my hand but the Friend, In the silence, in the secret places We shall beget great deeds between us!

(_As she rises on the last movement of the dance toward ecstasy, the excitement rises with her, expressing itself in short, irrepressible yelps, at the highest point of which a scream from_ BRIGHT WATER _arrests the dancers._)

BRIGHT WATER

Chisera, the arrow, the black arrow! (SIMWA _shoots._)

THE CHISERA

(_Dying._) Ah, Simwa! (_Dies._)

(_In the distance is heard the shout of the approaching Tecuyas._)

CURTAIN

GLOSSARY OF INDIAN WORDS AND PHRASES THE DANCES COSTUMES