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Back The Darker Face of the Earth Save as PDF
Chapters (27)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Dedication
  7. Cast
  8. Prologue
  9. Act One
  10. Scene 2
  11. Scene 3
  12. Scene 4
  13. Scene 5
  14. Scene 6
  15. Scene 7
  16. Scene 8
  17. Act Two
  18. Scene 2
  19. Scene 3
  20. Scene 4
  21. Scene 5
  22. Scene 6
  23. Scene 7
  24. Scene 8
  25. An Interview with Rita Dove
  26. Biographical Note
  27. Back Cover

Sprinkling powder on the second candle.

. . . kosi ano!”

The second candle goes out.

PHEBE Have mercy . . .
SCYLLA

You have tried to snatch words

back from the air. The wind is angry.

It will take more than these—

Indicating PHEBE’s offerings.

to satisfy him.
PHEBE (Pulls a white handkerchief out of her pocket.)

Here’s . . . a hankie from my mama.

There’s a little lace on it—see?

SCYLLA snatches the handkerchief, places it on the branch, and repeats the procedure with powder and incantation.

SCYLLA

“Ni oru ko mi gbogbo

omonile fu kuikuo

modupue—

baba mi Elewa!”

The third candle flickers but stays lit.
Ah!
PHEBE What is it?
SCYLLA

Are you prepared to hear

what the spirits have to say?
PHEBE (Gathering courage.)

If there’s something I need to know,

I want to know it.
SCYLLA

I give you two warnings.

One: guard your footsteps;

they are your mark on the earth.

If a sharp stone or piece of glass

falls into the path you have walked,

you will go lame.

Two: guard your breath;

do not throw with words.

Whenever the wind blows,

if your mouth is open,

your soul could be snatched away.

That is all.
PHEBE Scylla . . .
SCYLLA Go now!

SCYLLA mutters over the candles as PHEBE hurries off, shuffling her feet to blur her footprints as she flees. On the way she passes AUGUSTUS. In the distance the SLAVES can be heard humming during the “shout”.

AUGUSTUS Evening.
PHEBE (Caught in the act of obliterating her steps; embarrassed.)
Evening.
AUGUSTUS Back from the shout?
PHEBE (Trying not to speak.)
Uh-uh.
AUGUSTUS

What’s your hurry? Why don’t

you keep me company for a spell?

Unless you’re scared of me, that is.
PHEBE

Scared of you? Why should

I be scared of you?
AUGUSTUS

I can’t think of a reason in the world.

Come on, rest yourself.

PHEBE sits down beside him carefully.

AUGUSTUS Sure is a fine night.

PHEBE nods.

AUGUSTUS You’re trembling.
PHEBE I am?

Claps her hand over her mouth.

AUGUSTUS

And I don’t believe

it’s entirely my doing.

He says this in a mildly flirtatious manner, then looks off, unaware of the effect this has on PHEBE, who has stopped thinking about SCYLLA and is now acutely aware of AUGUSTUS as a man. AUGUSTUS continues speaking, preoccupied once again with his hatred.

Fear! Fear eats out the heart.

It’ll cause kings and field niggers alike

to crawl in their own piss. Listen

to them sing!

What kind of god preaches such misery?

Gesturing in the direction of the “shout”.