ACT IV
THE GIANT’S CASTLE: MIDNIGHT
_In a dim twilight of stars a castle is seen upon a rock. It is thatched with eel-skins, and there appears to be neither door nor window. The dark figures of Finn, the Climber, the Thief, the Marksman, and the Listener are presently seen stealing softly over the rocks. The other three have evidently remained with the boat. They talk in whispers._
FINN
[_To Climber._]
Is this the place?
CLIMBER
I believe so.
FINN
It’s very dark, I cannot see your face.
LISTENER
Hark!
FINN
[_Nervously._]
What is it?
LISTENER
I hear something inside, It sounds like children’s voices. Have you tried The door?
FINN
There isn’t any door.
LISTENER
[_Positively._]
I really hear Something, I don’t know what. It sounds quite near.
CLIMBER
If there’s no front door there must be a stair, I’m certain he has put the child in there; And since it must have got inside somehow, I rather think the door is in the brow. At any rate, I’m going to climb and see.
FINN
[_Anxiously._]
Take care! The thatch is very slippery!
LISTENER
[_Cheerfully._]
If there’s a way in, then there is no doubt There must be just the same way to get out.
[_The Climber’s figure is soon dimly seen silhouetted on the roof against the stars._]
CLIMBER
[_With a delighted exclamation._]
Just as I thought!
FINN
[_Nervously._]
What?
CLIMBER
I’ve found a door just where I thought.
FINN
Can you open it?
CLIMBER
Oh yes, there’s not Much difficulty there, It comes away with prayer.
[_She is seen kneeling._]
FINN
What’s that you’re saying?
LISTENER
Be quiet! Can’t you see she’s praying?
CLIMBER
[_Presently._]
It’s opening up!
FINN
[_Eagerly._]
What is inside?
CLIMBER
I’m looking, but I haven’t tried My eyes yet in a night so deep.
[_She calls down softly presently._]
The Giant is sound asleep!
FINN
Oh! Can you see if he’s still got the child Inside the cap Of the other hand?
CLIMBER
[_Delighted._]
It’s there! It’s still taking its little nap!
FINN
[_Desperately._]
If only I were strong enough to creep Inside and steal it while he is asleep! But with this heavy box I can’t get up.
LISTENER
Why don’t you throw it away then altogether?
FINN
[_Arrested._]
I wonder if I could? I don’t know whether—
CLIMBER
[_Calling down._]
There’s a dog here too besides, and a little pup!
FINN
Abominable! They’re sure to bark.
LISTENER
[_Delighted._]
I say! A puppy! What a lark! Please try and get it for me. Hark!
FINN
[_Nervously._]
What is it?
LISTENER
I hear the Giant coming up out of his sleep. You must be quick, Or else you’ll stick.
THIEF
[_To Climber._]
I’m almost certain I could creep And steal the child while he is sleeping, Only I’m rather old to do much leaping; You’d have to carry me a bit, And let me gently down to it.
CLIMBER
All right! There is no difficulty there. With your support I could go anywhere.
[_She swings down, takes the Thief on her back, and is presently seen on the roof letting her gently down inside the castle. The Climber is seen again kneeling._]
FINN
[_Anxiously, from below._]
Oh dear! How slow she is! It’s very dark. Why is she delaying?
LISTENER
Be quiet! Can’t you see she’s praying? Hark!
FINN
[_Nervously._]
What is it now?
LISTENER
[_Joyously._]
I hear the child coming up out of his sleep.
CLIMBER
[_Calling softly down to the Thief._]
It is so deep Inside, I can’t see where you are.
LISTENER
[_Anxiously._]
Has she got the puppy?
CLIMBER
[_Reassuringly._]
She’ll get it all right, never fear!
LISTENER
[_Whispering loudly._]
Good man! I say! Can You hand it down and let me hold its muzzle? I guess to both of you it is a puzzle To know at present where to put it, And if Finn sees it probably he’ll shoot it.
FINN
[_Anxiously._]
Has she got the child? I can’t endure To wait like this.
CLIMBER
[_A trifle hesitatingly._]
I think so. I’m not sure.
LISTENER
Be quick! I hear the dog coming up out of her sleep.
THIEF’S VOICE
[_From within, faintly._]
Oh! Lower me again to Mother Earth, For I in spirit have been called as far As the secret place where her lost children are, And I now bring them back to second birth, Rescuing both the body and the soul Out of the Hand of death entire and whole, If you are strong enough to bear us back To the same side from which we came.
CLIMBER
[_Reeling with the sudden relaxation of nervous tension._]
Alack! I am as wearied as a falling star, I cannot do it alone.
[_At this moment the Hand is seen emerging from the roof. It grips the Climber and takes her in._]
FINN
[_With a frantic cry._]
Where are They? Oh! My God, what shall I do?
MARKSMAN
Put your finger underneath your wisdom tooth And find what it replies.
FINN
[_Doing so._]
It says that I must tell the truth.
MARKSMAN
[_Sternly._]
Confess your previous lies!
[_Finn hides his face with a groan._]
MARKSMAN
[_Gently._]
You need fear no disgrace If you will look me in the face.
FINN
[_Trembling._]
I’m thinking that there are not many here Can look you in the face without some fear.
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
If you are too shy I cannot help you at all. You must all die.
[_He turns away._]
FINN
[_Clutching him by the shoulder._]
No! No! No!
[_The Marksman turns and gazes at him. Finn remains upright, his eyes riveted on the Marksman’s._]
FINN
[_Steadily._]
I told her I was wide enough awake.
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
That was a great mistake.
FINN
I told her I could quite well do Without her aid.
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
That was untrue.
FINN
I told her that I did not feel The slightest pain. Her dream was real,
[_He points to the box._]
For overburdened with this weight Of earth, I was in such a state I really could not recognize Myself reflected in her eyes. I felt in such a deep disgrace I could not look her in the face, So when she brought her dream by and by I put her off. Trying to deny My God, I told a fearful lie.
MARKSMAN
[_Tranquilly._]
She never believed it, and she marked it die Dwindling slowly away As the light grew stronger and the grey Faded for ever from the windows.
[_He points to the faint line of green, which is now showing on the horizon._]
In the cottages they will soon be putting out all the lamps And going about their work in unreflected light.
FINN
[_Springing up with a cry of joy._]
What! Is it really all right?
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
Yes, quite; You’ve told me all that I require To set you free.
FINN
[_Now a different man._]
If God be true no man can be a liar. Come, follow me.
LISTENER
Where are you going?
FINN
[_Eagerly and joyously._]
I’m going after the Climber, Her point of view’s sublimer. I’m going to throw away my bow.
[_He casts the box from him._]
MARKSMAN
[_Picking up the box._]
Take care, you’ve not much yet on which to go!
FINN
[_Radiantly._]
I cannot fall, The way she chose is practical!
LISTENER
Since you have let her in for this, no doubt You’re bound to find a way to get her out.
MARKSMAN
[_Turning on a little electric torch to light Finn._]
It’s still a little dark to-night. I’ve put things in the proper light For you, but it strikes me I’ll have to clear up more before you’ll see Her way out of the difficulty.
[_Finn reaches the roof in safety, and calls down anxiously._]
FINN
Are you there? Are you there?
CLIMBER
[_Calling faintly from within._]
Oh! Have you come? I knew you’d not be long, I’d noticed you were getting very strong. He’s tied me hand and foot. I cannot move, I’ve found the Thief and he are hand in glove!
FINN
No matter! I’m entirely of your mind. I’ll find My way inside and get you out just now.
CLIMBER
[_Anxiously._]
The door is just behind your brow.
FINN
[_Hitting his forehead._]
I’ve got it!
[_His figure is seen against the dim twilight kneeling._]
LISTENER
Be quick! I hear the Giant coming up out of his sleep!
[_The Hand takes in Finn._]
CLIMBER’S VOICE
[_With a muffled cry of despair._]
Too late! Too late! My God, what shall I do?
MARKSMAN
[_Hurriedly, calling from below._]
Put your finger under your wisdom tooth and tell me what it replies.
CLIMBER’S VOICE
It says that I must tell the truth!
MARKSMAN
[_Very sternly._]
What! You as well! Confess your previous lies!
CLIMBER’S VOICE
It is so dark I cannot see your face, I feel that I’m in very deep disgrace. Alas! I told him that I was asleep!
MARKSMAN
Your error there was truly very deep.
CLIMBER
I thought that I was strong enough To return alone.
MARKSMAN
What utter stuff!
CLIMBER
[_Desperately._]
I said I thought he was in pain; The pain was mine, for in my brain I felt a tugging and a stress I could not understand, unless One in the likeness of a man Had summoned me to Heaven. I ran, I climbed, I reached the topmost stair, And found that I was not all there, For if I’d left the earth behind I should have gone out of my mind, Since God requires a soul and body too To make the substance of His dream come true. I understood God did devise To make this earth His Paradise; I saw our second birth was got Just out of earth by happy thought, But fearful that a Truth so glad Would seem an impudence half-mad, I made him think that God’s design Was just a silly dream of mine.
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
He always believed your dream; He marked it grow Out upon his sleep with bewildered joy, Until at last, just like a little boy, He put his hand up in the dark to feel Her face, and found he had touched something real.
[_He opens the box and takes the rainbow from it._]
In the cottages they have put out all the lamps, And go about their work in unreflected light.
LISTENER
[_Excitedly._]
The Giant is coming up out of his sleep for the last time, and he is bringing the dog with him!
MARKSMAN
[_Quietly._]
I am not afraid of myself, you need not shout, For I am strong enough to bear them out.
[_At this moment the Hand rises again from the chimney. The Marksman is seen stringing the rainbow and letting fly an arrow, which transfixes the Hand. There is terrible darkness for a moment, the stars fall from the sky and the moon turns crimson, leaving pitchy night. With a loud crash the walls of the castle fall away, and in a serene silent splendour of purple and crimson the dawn rises over the sea, revealing the Big Young Hero standing upon the rock with the child in his arms. The Climber and Finn are in each other’s arms, the Thief is holding the puppy._]
MARKSMAN
They have all come up out of their sleep for ever!
LISTENER
[_With a great cry of joy._]
I always knew this would happen! She’s got the puppy too!