I return home I shall instruct my people to make glass from sand.
ESUIT
So you will be a glassmaker after you have been a racer?
Very good, not all riders have long careers and it is
always useful to have another talent to fall back on..
GLASSMAKER
A racer, what horse racing?
UTHUR
That’s right, I am riding in this season’s great race.
A beautiful white stallion from Arabia; I’m told my
chances are very good.
GLASSMAKER
Even though you are going against Jaspar and
The King’s horse. They have won every race for
the past five seasons. How confident are you of
beating them?
UTHUR
I am very confident, I have a good horse and I have
all the skills to take the prize; why, are you going to
place a wager?
GLASSMAKER
I was going to last time but as the king’s horse always
wins there’s not any point; but if you say you are
going to provide real competition to them I’d
wager on you. After all, the other riders appear to
let Jasper win to gain favour with the king.
UTHUR
I don’t want favour, just the pot of gold, that will
enable me to get things done...
GLASSMAKER
Let me give you some advice boy. The race has just
one jump and it’s at the end of every lap.
Once the wall is broken down they do not rebuild
it so stay back for the first two laps and let the
others crash against it. Once they have flattened
the wall some will be too injured to continue while
you will be able to use the damage to get
faster in the later laps.
UTHUR
That’s good advice, I was told there were not jumps
in the main race...
GLASSMAKER
Strictly speaking you are right; because once the wall is
destroyed the race is on the flat. But during the first
two laps the wall poses quite a threat to those
who do not know.
UTHUR
Thank you friend; today you have taught me two great
lessons and I will remember them both.
GLASSMAKER
Good luck, I will see you on race day.
ESUIT and UTHUR head off and after walking for a while in silence she turns to him and whispers.
ESUIT
What ‘things’ do you want to do with the winnings,
if you have them after the race?
UTHUR
It’s a long story...
ESUIT
Please tell me, I want to know, to understand
what drives you?
UTHUR
Okay, well.... Back in my land my father was a leader
of men. He organised them to work the land, raise
livestock and form a protective guard...
ESUIT
He was a king?
UTHUR
If that’s how you see it, he was just my father to
me. Anyway a great evil invaded our land and
Merlain took me away so we might get the power
to take this evil on and defeat it. It was to that I
was referring.
ESUIT
You are a very brave man, young UTHUR. I......
Suddenly a loud roar echoes through the city and they both look up to the huts high on the hill...
UTHUR
The dragon is noisy today...
ESUIT
They must be feeding him again, up there in
the Tagil.
UTHUR
The what?
ESUIT
The Tagil, or we should say the Dragontagil, the
place of dragons. In the same way we just visited
the Glasstagil, the place of glass...
UTHUR
You are such a good teacher; I wish you could come
with us when we go..
ESUIT
Go, but UTHUR, you have only just arrived, where would
you be thinking of going?
UTHUR
After the race we will go further into this land, I have
a dragon to catch...
ESUIT
Oh....
UTHUR
Just now you said you thought I was a brave young man...
ESUIT
Yes?
UTHUR
Then you were going to say something else but
I interrupted you. What were you going to say?
ESUIT
Nothing master, I was about to say nothing...
SCENE 11 EXT DAY
It’s the day of the race and a circuit has been laid out around the central square. The great bronze bull on the centre is snorting steam and his horns are rising and stabbing the midday air as the King arrives and is placed upon a huge golden Diaz set in front of the bull.
Behind him two Nubian slaves carry a chest of gold which is placed on the Diaz beside the king. He stands as the crowd roar their approval. In a side ally off the great square the riders are getting prepared including UTHUR, Merlain and Memet. UTHUR has not mounted his hose yet and is busy watching a procession of bald women dressed in long white robes as they carry offerings of flowers and corn around the square to the beating of drums. They approach the bull and lay the offerings at his feet.
UTHUR
Memet, who are these strange women?
MEMET
They are the keepers of the bull, they are the
Magi. It’s to do with these people’s religion.
All nonsense but we cannot hold their beliefs
against them; each to their own...
MERLAI|N
I would like to know how the bull is made to
dance like so, are they the people who service it.
MEMET
The Magi are very dangerous Merlain, they work
at night when the people sleep so that no one is
killed by their spells and witchcraft.
Please leave them alone if you know what’s
good for you...
MERLAIN is intrigued by the leading Magi woman and as she lays her offering before the bull he notices her glance in his direction. Her green eyes alarm him and he looks away.
MERLAIN
What an interesting looking female, her eyes
are beautiful.
MEMET
She is their Ipsissimus. The woman
may be beautiful but her looks cover a well of
destruction; you must treat them with respect my
friend or suffer the consequences.
A sudden commotion behind them draws the trio’s attention. They turn to see a large man dressed in black leather, holding a shiny bronze sword and attended by five helpers arrive. His black horse is big to hold the man but is weighed down by bronze medals which hand from the horses straps. Upon the rider’s head is a laurel and corn crown made of beaten gold.
This is your opposition UTHUR, my boy, its Jasbar
the King’s rider. See the crown he wears. It has been
won by him for the last three races.
MERLAIN
He’s very fat for a fast rider.
MEMET
Don’t let his size put you off, he is a skilled racer and
he uses his weight to bully the other riders.
UTHUR
Does the horse race with all that bronze weight?
MEMET
Each year more medals are added, now the man is
a fool to think his weight combined with the weight
of the medals will not hinder
him.
You have a good chance to take that crown this
year, just don’t let him frighten you.
MERLAIN
What is happening now?
MEMET
As the last winner he does a round of the track with
his stable men in attendance. After showing reverence
to the magi the rider must give up his crown and then
we must line up with him with the horses rear
against the wall there.
Memet indicates a high wall of brushwood logs which has been built at an angle to the king’s Diaz. The watch Jasbar ride past them and into the square where the crowd roar their approval. With his men in attendance Jasbar does a full circuit of the track and then comes before the great bull and the magi. The leading priestess stands firm while her maidens prostrate themselves about her and Jasbar takes a sheaf of golden corn from his crown and tosses it in her direction. The priestess holds the sheaf aloft and the crowd roars before she turns and reverently places the golden corn at the bull’s feet. The bull roars and snorts his steamy approval.
Jasbar the turns his steed and faces the king. He removes his crown, holds for the crowd to scream their voices for and then hands it to one of his attendants who place the crown on a red cushion. The attendant walks up the Diaz and presents the crown and cushion to the king; he smiles and instructs the attendant to place the crown and cushion upon the trunk of gold.
MEMET
Right UTHUR, you must mount the Queen, the race
is about to start.
UTHUR(As he mounts the white stallion)
I have been advised
to lay well in the rear for the first round so the others
destroy the wall. Or do you think I should I lead from the start?
MEMET
Let them go, when you are ready just whisper in the
queen’s ear and she won’t let you down.
Just be careful of Jasbar’s whip; don’t let him frighten you.
MERLAIN
Good luck boy....
A horn sounds and all the riders leave the side alley and enter the track to the screams of the crowd. They line their horses up against the wall and the King nods at the priestess. She lifts the golden corn sheaf and waits for the King’s instructions.
The horses rear up with excitement and Jasbar uses the time to examine the other riders, his eyes fall upon UTHUR, dressed in his soft chiffon tunic and leather riding helmet. UTHUR throws his a wide smile as the Queen of Arabia rears up. At that moment the king nods and the Priestess drops the corn. The horses start to race.
UTHUR stays two or three riders behind the lead and watches as they race around the square, within moments the high thicket wall approaches and he sees the first three horses smash into it throwing thicket bushels and logs in every direction. The first horse is injured and throws its rider as UTHUR points the queen at a newly formed gap in the wall.
He hears another rider getting thrown from his horse as they jump the wall and races into second position behind Jasbar as they storm past the bull for the first time.
An Arab riding a two tone stallion is beating at the queen’s heels and UTHUR looks around to see the rider’s expression of mad excitement as the two come side by side. UTHUR looks up and sees the gap in the wall approaching again and points the queen through it as the Arab and two tone smash into a part of the wall which is still strong and both go spiralling over the earth track, a second horse and rider comes over the wall and collides with the prostrate horse throwing both into the air as the crowd roars.
UTHUR comes side by side with Jasbar who snarls at him and uses his long riding crop to beat out at UTHUR. His initial reaction is to slow and let Jasbar lead where he becomes out of reach.
MEMET
Don’t let Jasbar bully you boy, beat him back....
They approach the wall again and Jasbar flies over it swiftly followed by UTHUR. As they pass the bull for a third times the boys whispers to the Queen to ride like the wind and pass the black steed before them.
They come side by side and Jasbar hits out with his riding crop again which UTHUR catches and both men pull it this way and that as the wall approaches. As both horses leap through the gaps UTHUR pulls Jasbar’s crop and tosses it into the crowd, he leads as the bull is passed for the final time and the crowd get to their feet to scream him home. As he jumps the wall for a final time Memet screams with joy and hugs and embarrassed Merlain.
They run onto the track and hold the Queen’s head as UTHUR dismounts proudly. Jasbar pulls up behind him and snarls as his attendants run to help him dismount.
The king is amazed and happy about the young boy beating the favourite and picks up the cushion with the crown upon it as the priestess crosses from where she has watched the race and joins him.
UTHUR dismounts and leads his horse to the Diaz as the crowd roar for him. The priestess hushes the crowd and picks up the golden crown from the cushion before bowing low before the king. She turns to face UTHUR..
AGNESS (The Priestess)
Tell me your name boy?
UTHUR
I am UTHUR of the island of Albion.
AGNESS
UTHUR of Albion, a stranger to this city and these shores;
today the Minator has blessed you with gold....
The crowd get to their feet and cheer loudly as the king stands beside Agnes and throws the favourite, Jasbar, a contemptuous look.
MERLAIN (to Memet in the background)
They say fortune favours the young...
MEMET
He had done us both proud today.
AGNESS
Kneel before your King, UTHUR of Albion, so I may
crown you with his glory.
UTHUR kneels before the priestess and she places the golden crown of laurel and corn upon his thick mop of brown curly hair. He looks up at the beautiful, bald and richly dressed Magi as the crowd eagerly roars their approval again...
AGNESS smiles at him and steps aside as the King addresses the crowd.
KING Sin-Muballit MINOS
People of Babylon; this year my prize has been
won by a visitor to this city. Not just a visitor
but a young man whose youth hides his skill
at horsemanship. I know I am not alone when I say
this (the king gives Jasbar a condescending glance)
you boy have surprised me greatly.
And, we all love to be surprised.
The crowd roars and claps as Jasbar tries to smile but manages to snarl instead.
This being so, take this trunk of gold and glory
in your success. Today the city of Babylon is yours;
we welcome you and look forwards to seeing you
spend in excess, party in excess and spread your
good fortune around our great city...
The crowd roars again as Jasbar looks about him and sniffs
JASBAR
Enjoy your fortune today boy because tomorrow
you may have to pay for it with blood.
SCENE 12 INT NIGHT
UTHUR, MEMET, ADRIUS and MERLAIN are in a room drinking and eating, the trunk of gold is open on the floor and Memet keeps running his fingers through it.
MEMET
I will go to the coast and return with a hundred camels
next time. Adrius, my friend, you must ensure there is
room to store the goods I bring so we all turn the goods
into more gold. Merlain, you and the boy will be able to
buy your own camel train if you want but of course,
you’re welcome to join us.
MERLAIN
Thank you my friend, but I and UTHUR will be leaving
Babylon in the morning.
UTHUR
What?
MEMET
Leaving, no, surely not?
MERLAIN
We are tr
avellers, yes, but not without a goal. Our
mission has a purpose and that is to get what we need
to return and set our people free. If we grow fat and
comfortable here we may lose sight of our goal and
that will be doing a dis-service to all those who have
died in our absence.
MEMET
But the races, you will be expected to defend your
crown in the next race; who will ride the
Queen to victory for us?
UTHUR
I will.
MERLAIN
UTHUR, calm down.
UTHUR
No, I must speak. If we have to leave tomorrow
so be it but I will do everything in my power to
return before the next race.
ADRIUS
I think the boy’s resolve is as strong as his grip
on the reigns.
MERLAIN
I hear you UTHUR and I will not stand in your
way if this is your true wish. Short term goals are
always necessary to give us focus in our day to day
lives; but our long term goal must never change.
UTHUR
I agree.
MEMET
So, you will have to buy a strong ox to carry your
share of the gold. It is a dangerous land out there
beyond the city walls. When I return to the coast
I will have to pay a small army to protect my investment
on the journey or I risk losing it all.
MERLAIN
I think we can trust Adrius to take care of our
share until we pass through this city again.
ADRIUS
It will be safe here if that’s what you wish.
MERLAIN
You have been a good host to us Adrius; you
welcomed us into your home and fed and watered us.
In fact without your hospitality I doubt we’d
Uther and the Secret of the Dragon Page 4