The Piper Part 9

[The Strollers huddle together, with looks of renewed anxiety and wretchedness.--Their laughter at the Children breaks out forlornly now and then.--The PIPER shepherds the Children, but with watchful eyes and ears toward the entrance always.

--His action grows more and more tense.

RUDI [over his broth]

Oh, I remember now!--Before I woke. . .

Oh, what an awful dream!

ILSE Oh, tell us, Rudi,-- Oh, scare us,--Rudi, scare us!--

RUDI [bursting into tears]

. . . _Lump was dead_!

Lump, Lump!-- [The Children wail.

PIPER [distracted]

Who's Lump?

RUDI Our Dog!

PIPER [shocked and pained]

The Dog!--No, no.

Heaven save us--I forgot about the dogs!

RUDI He Wanted me;--and I always wasn't there!

And people tied him up,--and other people Pretended that he bit.--He never bites!

He Wanted me, until it broke his heart, And he was dead!

PIPER [struggling with his emotion]

And then he went to heaven, To chase the happy cats up all the trees;-- Little white cats! . . . He wears a golden collar . . .

And sometimes--[Aside]--I'd forgot about the dogs!

Well, dogs must suffer, so that men grow wise.

'T was ever so.

[He turns to give JAN a piping lesson]

CHILDREN

Oh, what a funny dream!

[Suddenly he lifts his hand. They listen, and hear a dim sound of distant chanting, going by on some neighboring road. The PIPER is puzzled; the Strollers are plainly depressed.

JAN What is it?

PIPER People; pa.s.sing down below, In the dark valley.

[He looks at the Children fixedly]

Do you want to see them?

CHILDREN Don't let them find us! What an ugly noise.-- No, no--don't let them come!

PIPER Hark ye to me.

Some day I'll take you out with me to play; High in the sun,--close to the water-fall . . . .

And we will make believe--_We'll make believe We're hiding_! . . .

[The Strollers rock with mirth.]

CHILDREN Yes, yes! Oh, let us make believe!

STROLLERS Oho, ho, ho!--A make-believe!--Ho, ho!

PIPER But, if you're good,--yes, very, very soon I'll take you, as I promised,--

CHILDREN --Gypsies, oh!

PIPER Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night, With just a torch-- [Watching them.]

CHILDREN Oh!

PIPER Like fire-flies! Will-o'-the-wisps!

And make believe we're hiding, all the way, Till we come out into a sunny land,-- All vines and sunlight, yes, and men that sing!

Far, far away--forever.

[Gives ILSE a bowl to feed the other children]

[JAN pipes a measure of the Kinder-spell, brokenly. The PIPER turns.

So! Thou'lt be My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me.

JAN [piping]

Oh, wasn't that one beautiful?--Now you!

PIPER [taking the pipe]

The rainbow-bridge by day; --And borrow a shepherd-crook!

At night we take to the Milky Way; And then we follow the brook!

We'll follow the brook, whatever way The brook shall sing, or the sun shall say, Or the mothering wood-dove coos!

And what do I care, what else I wear, If I keep my rainbow shoes!

[He points to the little row of bright shoes. The Children scream with joy. ILSE and HANSEL run back.

CHILDREN Oh dear! What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?

Oh! Oh!--What lovely shoes! Oh, which are mine?

PIPER Try, till you see.

[Taking up a little red pair]

But these,--these are for Jan.

[JAN is perched on the tree-stump, shy and silent with pleasure.

ILSE Oh, those are best of all! And Jan--

PIPER And Jan Is not to trudge, like you. Jan is to wear Beautiful shoes, and shoes made most of all, To look at!

[Takes up a pair of bird's wings.]

CHILDREN [squealing]

Oh! Where did you find the wings?