By

The village square of Waterburg is alive with activity. It is not however the activity of celebration. The air is heavy with foreboding and the sounds of voices are pitched to the taut strings of anxiety and fear. People are running in the streets, dust is everywhere. The villagers are carrying their belongings out of their houses and loading them into wagons and onto the backs of their beasts: horses, donkeys, oxen. Visible behind the village on a high hill is the castle of The Duke and Duchess. And in the distance, behind the surrounding hills is the glow of distant raging fires.

Down the narrow road that approaches the village as it winds through the countryside comes The Stranger. He is worn from travel but not weary or old from the hardships of his life on the road. On his shoulder he carries a large woven basket with a lid. He sets his basket down as he enters the square and gazes around at the curious site. No one pays him heed.

The villagers: Hurry, hasten, time is short. We must be gone when they

arrive.

Ransom tugs on The Stranger�s tunic asking for a gift of bread or coins. The Stranger turns in response and notices him.

The Stranger: Why do all of you hurry to abandon this village? Isn�t

this your homeland?

Ransom is eager to answer The Stranger, hopeful to receive an alm or two and experienced at the art of accommodation.

Ransom: The glow on the horizon tells the story.

Villagers: We must hurry. Time is short.

Ransom: The Barbarians are approaching our village to loot and to burn.

Villagers: Coming, they�re coming, they�re coming. Time is short. Etc...

The villagers, who stopped their frantic activity to listen to the exchange between Ransom and The Stranger now redouble their efforts, newly reminded of their desperate cause. The Stranger lifts his basket back to his shoulder and walks purposefully to a ladder which leads to the top of the highest structure in the square. He quickly climbs to the top. He reaches into his basket and removes a strange-looking instrument which he places to his lips. When he blows into it, it emits a loud piercing scream. The villagers suddenly stop what they are doing and all eyes turn to The Stranger, high above them on the rooftop. He holds his basket above his head and speaks to them in a loud resounding voice..

The Stranger: This magic basket contains all the secrets you need to defend yourselves against these Barbarians.

The Stranger ends his announcement triumphantly, perhaps expecting a rally of interest from the villagers. But in their distracted state, they are not sure what he�s talking about.

Marcus: What did he say?

Grog: He said, "This tragic task it complains all the sea crabs you need to depend your elves and pin three contrarians."

Richard: That doesn�t make any sense.

David: No he didn�t say that. He said, " This smudge is beget constrains all these egressions unique to distend your shelves and gain free agrarians.

Daniel: We are free agrarians.

Grog: The last thing we need is three more agrarians.

Richard: Why would he say that. Is he really that stupid?

Marcus: I was sure that he said, "Dismal in Basque, it can stain all who seek what�s to need. Truly pend your stealth and pend these partheniums.

Richard: Whatever you decide.

Marcus: Partheniums

David: Agrarians

Grog: Contrarians

Richard: Whatever you decide.

Daniel: Its not fair that we�d have three new agrarians.

Marcus: Partheniums

David: Agrarians

Grog: Contrarians

Richard: This isn�t very efficient. I�ll be working over here while you decide. Just let me know.

Daniel: I just think it should be fair.

Ransom speaks up very timidly. No one notices him.

Ransom: I know what the stranger said.

Grog: Contrarians.

Villagers: Contrarians

David: Agrarians.

Villagers: Agrarians.

Marcus: Partheniums.

Villagers: Partheniums.

Richard: I never got into partheniums. What is it with flowers? They�re not very efficient.

Daniel: I can�t have partheniums and we have to share with three new agrarians. This is so unfair.

Villagers: So unfair. We just want it to be fair. We work too hard, we run from danger and now all this confusion is too much to bear. It�s simply not fair.

Marcus: Partheniums.

Villagers: Parthen.....

Ransom speaks a bit more boldly.

Ransom: I know what the stranger said.

Everyone has a good laugh at Ransom�s expense.

Villagers: It is clear why you are a beggar boy and we are...

Ransom: He said that his magic basket contains all the secrets we need to defeat the barbarians.

The villagers are silent. Finally the villagers speak very quietly.

Villagers: What?

Ransom replies is a very soft voice.

Ransom: He said, "This magic basket contains all the secrets you need to defend yourselves against the barbarians."

Suddenly all attention is on The Stranger, still standing on the rooftop.

Villagers:

The Stranger�s moment is interrupted by a brass fanfare, and all the villagers drop to one knee. The Stranger remains standing and when Ransom notices this he stands as well. The Duke and the Duchess ride into the square on horseback. They stop when they see the gathering.

Duke: Who is this man of such grave impertinence that he stands in the presence of royalty.

The Stranger: Forgive me majesty, in my lands royalty do not allow that their people live in fear.

Duke: Not only impertinent but without reverence as well. Kill him, henchman.

The Duke�s henchman steps forward with a very large ugly looking war axe. As he raises the axe, The Stranger picks up his basket and seems to mumble something to it. He then places his ear against the basket and seems to be listening. Just as the henchman starts a powerful swing of his axe, the Duchess speaks. Hearing her voice of command, the henchman buries his axe in a tree that is next to The Stranger instead of striking him with it.

Duchess: Hold your hand, henchman. I would know what exchange we witness between this stranger and his basket.

The Stranger: Fair Lady, this basket speaks to my ears alone in riddles that contain the answer to any dilemma that may be devised

Duchess: And what does your basket contain, Stranger?

The Stranger: Two stones and a sling, My Lady.

Villagers: Two stones and a sling.

The Duke is getting impatient and angry.

Duke: Enough of this. I would have this fellow dead.

The Duchess raises her hand, and the Duke silences obediently.

Duchess: He may be dead soon enough. But if his basket can answer a riddle that I pose he may be of use to us. If not, kill him.

Villagers: Gasp!

The Stranger nods respectfully and awaits the Duchess� question. She thinks for a moment.

Duchess: Can what is lost forever, be found again where it never was before and where it never was lost at all?

Villagers: Gasp!

The Stranger taps on his basket and mumbles to the basket the question posed by the Duchess. He puts his ear very close to the basket and listens. Then he looks up.

The Stranger: To go where the very first time you will be,

And find in that place what you lost:

That�s a journey that travels nor road nor the sea,

And the heart is its ultimate cost.

This begins a solo by the Duchess, accompanied by the underpinnings of the five villagers who argue quietly about what The Stranger just said, while the Duchess� private thoughts sing out over this accompaniment.

Duchess: He has discovered me. He knows I spoke to him of love it seems. And yet I am strangely pleased, that he has seen through me. And seen into my quietest dreams.

Marcus: What did he say?

Grog: He clearly said, "In the cart is insoles to my frost."

Richard: That doesn�t make any sense.

David: He did not say that. He said, "At the start an insult is not lost."

Daniel: The insult was not lost on us, that�s certain. .

Grog: The last thing we need is more insults heaped on us.

Richard: Why would he say that. Is he really that stupid?

Marcus: I was sure that he said, "Foreign parts is the old timers cost."

Richard: Whatever you decide.

Marcus: Foreign parts.

David: At the start.

Grog: In the cart.

Richard: This isn�t very efficient. I�ll be working over here while you decide. Just let me know.

Daniel: I just think it should be fair.

The Duke angrily interrupts the argument and the Duchess� ponderings. As he shouts all other activity stops.

Duke: Enough of this. We must prepare to flee before the barbarians arrive. There is no time for this foolishness.

Again the Duchess raises her hand in protest. The Duke heaves a sigh of exasperation and again acquiesces. She speaks to the villagers.

Duchess: You will do as this stranger tells you. His word will be ours.

She speaks to the Stranger.

Duchess: Instruct my people on preparations for this defeat your basket promises our enemies will suffer. We shall not flee from this danger.

The Duke is not pleased. He would very much like to flee. He and the Duchess ride away, arguing quietly as they go.