The Unicorn from the Stars and Other Plays Part 3

PAUDEEN. Go in and see what can you make a grab at.

JOHNNY B. [_getting in_]. That every blessing I gave may be turned to a curse on them that left the place so bare! [_He turns things over._] I might chance something in this chest if it was open.... [ANDREW _begins creeping towards him._]

NANNY [_outside_]. Hurry on now, you limping crabfish, you! We can't be stopping here while you'll boil stirabout!

JOHNNY B. [_seizing bag of money and holding it up in both hands_].

Look at this now, look! [ANDREW _comes behind and seizes his arm._]

JOHNNY B. [_letting bag fall with a crash_]. Destruction on us all!

MARTIN [running forward, seizes him. Heads disappear]. That is it! Oh, I remember! That is what happened! That is the command! Who was it sent you here with that command?

JOHNNY B. It was misery sent me in and starvation and the hard ways of the world.

NANNY [_outside_]. It was that, my poor child, and my one son only.

Show mercy to him now, and he after leaving gaol this morning.

MARTIN [_to_ ANDREW.]. I was trying to remember it ... when he spoke that word it all came back to me. I saw a bright, many-changing figure ... it was holding up a shining vessel ... [_holds up arms_] then the vessel fell and was broken with a great crash ... then I saw the unicorns trampling it. They were breaking the world to pieces ... when I saw the cracks coming, I shouted for joy! And I heard the command, "Destroy, destroy; destruction is the life-giver; destroy."

ANDREW. What will we do with him? He was thinking to rob you of your gold.

MARTIN. How could I forget it or mistake it? It has all come upon me now ... the reasons of it all, like a flood, like a flooded river.

JOHNNY B. [_weeping_]. It was the hunger brought me in and the drouth.

MARTIN. Were you given any other message? Did you see the unicorns?

JOHNNY B. I saw nothing and heard nothing; near dead I am with the fright I got and with the hardship of the gaol.

MARTIN. To destroy ... to overthrow all that comes between us and G.o.d, between us and that shining country. To break the wall, Andrew, the thing, whatever it is that comes between, but where to begin?...

ANDREW. What is it you are talking about?

MARTIN. It may be that this man is the beginning. He has been sent ...

the poor, they have nothing, and so they can see heaven as we cannot.

He and his comrades will understand me. But now to give all men high hearts that they may all understand.

JOHNNY B. It's the juice of the grey barley will do that.

ANDREW. To rise everybody's heart, is it? Is it that was your meaning?... If you will take the blame of it all, I'll do what you want. Give me the bag of money, then. [_He takes it up._] Oh, I've a heart like your own! I'll lift the world too! The people will be running from all parts. Oh, it will be a great day in this district.

JOHNNY B. Will I go with you?

MARTIN. No, you must stay here; we have things to do and to plan.

JOHNNY B. Destroyed we all are with the hunger and the drouth.

MARTIN. Go then, get food and drink, whatever is wanted to give you strength and courage; gather your people together here; bring them all in. We have a great thing to do. I have to begin ... I want to tell it to the whole world. Bring them in, bring them in, I will make the house ready.

ACT II

SCENE: The same workshop a few minutes later. MARTIN. seen arranging mugs and bread, etc., on a table. FATHER JOHN comes in, knocking at open door as he comes.

MARTIN. Come in, come in, I have got the house ready. Here is bread and meat ... everybody is welcome. [Hearing no answer, turns round.]

FATHER JOHN. Martin, I have come back.... There is something I want to say to you.

MARTIN. You are welcome; there are others coming.... They are not of your sort, but all are welcome.

FATHER JOHN. I have remembered suddenly something that I read when I was in the seminary.

MARTIN. You seem very tired.

FATHER JOHN [_sitting down_]. I had almost got back to my own place when I thought of it. I have run part of the way. It is very important.

It is about the trance that you have been in. When one is inspired from above, either in trance or in contemplation, one remembers afterwards all that one has seen and read. I think there must be something about it in St. Thomas. I know that I have read a long pa.s.sage about it years ago. But, Martin, there is another kind of inspiration, or rather an obsession or possession. A diabolical power comes into one's body or overshadows it. Those whose bodies are taken hold of in this way, jugglers and witches and the like, can often tell what is happening in distant places, or what is going to happen, but when they come out of that state, they remember nothing. I think you said----

MARTIN. That I could not remember.

FATHER JOHN. You remembered something, but not all. Nature is a great sleep; there are dangerous and evil spirits in her dreams, but G.o.d is above Nature. She is a darkness, but He makes everything clear--He is light.

MARTIN. All is clear now. I remember all, or all that matters to me. A poor man brought me a word, and I know what I have to do.

FATHER JOHN. Ah, I understand; words were put into his mouth. I have read of such things. G.o.d sometimes uses some common man as His messenger.

MARTIN. You may have pa.s.sed the man who brought it on the road. He left me but now.

FATHER JOHN. Very likely, very likely, that is the way it happened.

Some plain, unnoticed man has sometimes been sent with a command.

MARTIN. I saw the unicorns trampling in my dream. They were breaking the world. I am to destroy, that is the word the messenger spoke.

FATHER JOHN. To destroy?

MARTIN. To bring again the old disturbed exalted life, the old splendour.

FATHER JOHN. You are not the first that dream has come to. [_Gets up and walks up and down._] It has been wandering here and there, calling now to this man, now to that other. It is a terrible dream.

MARTIN. Father John, you have had the same thought.

FATHER JOHN. Men were holy then; there were saints everywhere, there was reverence, but now it is all work, business, how to live a long time. Ah, if one could change it all in a minute, even by war and violence.... There is a cell where St. Ciaran used to pray, if one could bring that time again.

MARTIN. Do not deceive me. You have had the command.

FATHER JOHN. Why are you questioning me? You are asking me things that I have told to no one but my confessor.

MARTIN. We must gather the crowds together, you and I.