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MARGERY
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534 SHAFTESBURY
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THE ESKIMO TRANCE
A Play in Two Acta
Maurice Rowdon
MARGERY VOSPER LTD,
534 SHAFTESBURY AVEM
LONDON, W.1.
SERRARD 5106.
Copyright Library of
Congress Washington


CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
STUBB
FAWCEIT
DOG
YOUNG DAVE


SCENE
The interior of a trapper's hut in the North West
Territories close to the Alaskan border, several hundred
miles from the Mackenzie river. There are three sinple
beds with pelts thrown roughly over them, and a log table;
no chairs, only store-chests. Three pairs of snowshoes
lean againet the wall near the door, and there are trappers'
packs. Hanging by the window is a large frying pan, the
only cooking utensil we can Bee. Apparently, the cooking
is done outside.
The place is in a bad state of repair: the door hab
no lock or handle, and swings open; the window is off its
hinges. There are two sporting guns in the corner.
The only modern object in the room ie a field-radio,
in the corner farthest from the door.
We are on top of a hill overlooking a massive valley,
and the broad window looks out on to the sky.
TIME
The present.


NOTE FOR DIRECTORS
DOG, STUBB and FAWCETT are Englishmen. FANCETT'
parentage io uncertain, but he is certainly Weleh stock, as
we hear from his accent; perhaps born in British Columbia,
illegitiaato. STUBB is a Londoner by birth; he vorked in a
London wood-yard until he walked out on his wifo. DOG io a
Sonerset man, with the characteristic strong burr.
These three men probably came together in one of the
trapper's towne, porhaps Fokimo Point; or in a nilitary aroa
like Mackenzie Bay where casual labour is needed. Or they
may have met in Montreal, before any of them took a chance
and came north. However thoy met, a common quality brought
them togethers loneliness and lack of ties.
They are on a miseion here but exactly what it is even
they don't know. There is only a radio connocting them to
the other side of the valley. They' ve learned the rudinente
of trapping to pass the tine, and they try to inagine them-
selves real trappers 'or even gold prospectors from fifty or a
hundred yeara ago.
Relevant to this play are the following quotations from
SIR BERNARD LOVELL, Jodrell Bank Astronomical Station:
'In thè case of certain experiments which are now
poseible the initial steps could produce irrencdiable
'A modification of conditions in opace could influence
the mental conditions of mankind....
'It seems alnost that wo are noving towarde the proof of
the old and universal belief that connected the moon with madness.'


INDEX OF TERMS
White-trapping is trapping by laying strychnine poisoning,
illegal because the husky dogs can pick it up. A trapper's
word for treacherous.
Smudge ie a fire lit near the hut to keep mosquitoeo away:
it smoulders gently day and night.
Cache is a structure on poles to keep provisions on, so that
the grizzly bears can't climb up and take it at night.
PAS was a famous prospector's station earlier this century;
saloons, whorehouses, a few shops. (for rye whiaky). PRINCE
GEORGE was the same. ESKIMO POINT and CHURCHILL wero where
the trappers traded their pelts. Radium was found at ECHO
POINT, as tho play says. BARKERVILLE mentioned in Act 11
with ridicule was a shanty town fron the goldrush days.
pitchblend ore--a kind of gold; ansay means to test this ore
in the laboratory; it cost five pounds in the Tventics,
do luxe prospectors werc the speculators, not the nen who did
the actual prospecting and staking out of the ground.
white-fox- the foxes trapped in the enowy regions,
angekok and torngarcoak---terns from Eekino mythology which
aro explained in the play.
the old telegraphic trail---this firat telephonic trail in the
NW territories was laid by trappere, mostly by a Frenchaan on
horseback. The flowers mentioned, in the play are those
actually to be found there.
cookroach --adapted from the Italian as slang for priest.
plncer gold in the gravel bars of the river--the river beds
were dredged for gold; placer means the sands or gravol bed
that contained valuable minerals.
tailinge--refuce from the gold-dredging.
King Prempel---an Ashanti king on the Gold Coast of Africa
who nassacred people and used their blood for paint.
Gillis's Grave---where three trappers died in mysterious
circumstances without a mark on their bodies, leaving their
hut as described in the play; a true story.


It ia late-morning on a sparkling,
clear day and 1ight is pouring through
the door.
STUBB and FAWCENT sit on their beds,
their hoads in their hands, dosing
gloomily.
STUBB is small and round, FAECEIT slim
and clean-chaven. FAWCETT's long, slin
face always seeme startled; STUBB looks
round in a gingerly way, like a man on
the run.
Silence.
FAWCETT starta, looks towards the door,
his eyes wido, then relaxes again.
STUBB open his eyes slowly and stares
at the door, too. He suddenly grabs
FANCETT's arm, and FANCEIT jumps in a
terrified way.
STUBB:
It's himt
They scramble to tho door. Thore is
tho sound of steps and heavy breathing,
and of sonething being draggéd.
FAWCETT: (delighted) Dog!
STUBB:
What you got, Dog?
DOG, an enormous figure of a man, with
a wild beard and buohy red hair, enters
dragging an ammunition box.
He has a wild and yet abashed look which
makes hin squint up his eyes frequently.
FAWCETT: (watching DOG as he drage the box in) Gunshot?
DOG: (viping his brow as he lets the box fall) That'e right!
STUBB:
How's Dave?


DOG:
OKI
STUBB (with hie quick hunted look) See Mrs. Dave?
DOG:
FAWCETT: Ien't she there?
DOG:
She's there, I thinki Re talks about her!
STUBB:
Where'd you kip down, Dog?
DOG:
Dave's. In the shop. Behind the grain---
where he keeps the rats!
FAWCETT: You didn't evan glimpee her?
DOG:
Well-(blinking) I thought I did---once!
STUBB (warmly) You did? Where?
DOG:
Just---disappearing round the hut. I thought
BO. (Sitting on the. box, still wiping himself)
He just calls hor trs. Dave--I think.
FANCEIT (fixing him with hia oyes) What's she look like, Dog?
DOG:
I didn't really glimpse her---just an idea-- like
a feeling. (After a pause) On the plump side,
nayba. (Bursting out) Why couldn't she come out
and shake my hand? (The othere look at hin
sympathotically) Are we ecarecrows or sonething?
STUBB:
She might have been down the lake.
DOG:
She was therel (Pausing again) She muot have been
therel He said--'See that hut? That's where
che ist'
STUBB:
Dave said that?
DOG:
Yest
FAWCETT (quickly) They're not married?
DOG:
Married? He said she was a schoolteacher, come from
Winnipeg, to help him with tho station. He nevor
clapped eyes on her before!
STUBB:
But he called her Mrs. Dave!
DOG:
She didn't come out and shake me by the hand, that's
all I knowt That's just like hia--keep her back
like that. (Paueing) I don't go across that valley
often. It's a twenty-mile hikel Andifyord dovt
kep br the path
!(maks a mariny gulun d
kinyshet)


STUBB:
You got supper all right?
DOG:
Oh, yeal You know how he ie. Grinning all the
time.
STUBB:
Did you got the mail?
DOG: (scornfully) Hail! No, I miseed it. I thought, to
hell, I'm not vaiting all morning for thatt
STUBB:
You'd have had to wait two years, maybe!
DOG:
Shut upt
FAWCETT and STUBB cease watching him,
and aleo eit down.
Husky-dogs bark in the distance. Then
it ie quiet again.
FAWCETT: Dave's huskies-
A pause.
STUBB (to DOG) We knew you was there all right by the dogs-
right to the minute, like always.
DOG nods indifferently.
STUBB (glumly) You didn't see nobody?
DOG shakes his head like a child,
pouting and alnost in tears.
DOG:
He just left the food oute And a bed. (Lips
quivering) Like a lepert
STUBB and FAWCEIT look at hia
sympathetically.
STUBB:
You didn't see hin or hear him?
DOG shakes his head.
FANCETT: But you got a glimpee of the dane, you saidi
DOG (blinking doubtfully, unwilling to let him down) Well..
FAWCENT (eagerly) Did you?
DOG:
I thought I did....
FAWCETT (with contempt) "Thought'!
DOG (angrily) They stick ae in a hut five hundred yards away!
Barbed wire all roundi


dames
He wants you up here---going crazy! And if you try and
break out - - - :
DOL a (aarrupting him) Shut up :
F C Th (is indigna tion directed at DOG).
Even a walk's not allowed!
Wo can fish a mile ofishore, and three miles out there's
the finest
in the
fishing
North West Territories!
DOG. (gazing at him a teadily). You eat too much fish, Fawce tt. It
makes
lustful.
you
A pause.
STUBB. (with the saie implied blame on DOG); These guns are to shoot
at peoplo----not creatures!
FAWCETT:
Even Dave don't know why we're here I reckon.
STUBB:
He gets his pay packet once a month but ho donf t know
where from and it's dead money because he can't spend
on trees and lake-water, which is all he's got--and a
whore he keeps locked up :
FAWCETT:
If he goos to torn he's a dead man inside an hour, he
told us so himself : No police investigation, 'suicido
while of ungound mind', he said so himsolf.(Dreamily )
Or was that Long Martin?
STUBB:
He says we're unsafe, that I do know.
DOG.
(grudingly interested). Unsafe ?
STUBB:
We've got it in our bodies-----!
DOG.
(alarmod) What?
STUGG:
It's working in our bones, it's ---'.
DOG:
Shut up : (Then quiotly) I've told you before,
thom towers has ears (with a glance outsido).
FAWCETT (in a lower voise) I'11 tell you some thing, overy creature
knows why heTs on the earth but we don't, we don't
belong, the birds don't seem to like us, it isn't our
furniture if you see what I mean, all these- trees
DOG
(quie tly again)
You're Fawcett. He'sj Stubb. I'm Dog.
FAHOTTS
Thet's not your name :
DOG8
At' 8 the aptest name I ever had, cockroach.


ANCE
APPENDIX A.
STUBB:
We're not trappe rs
DOG
(flaring up again) We're throe trappe rs, ge t that into your
nut!
We trap, those are our polts, they're what we sleep
under, the re fore we're trappers : We're trappers
in trapping country :
STUBB.
Except we're under orders. To a man under orders.
FAWCETT:
Everything we got is go vernment issue. The shack,
the traps, the guns :
And how do you account
for the concre te?
DOG:
It's just the re, -
cockroach. And as for gove rnmont,
government is dreams. Somo body dreamed it once in
his head.
Same as concre te. -
They give him up in puzzlement.
Aypause. Suddonly STUBB... etc.


STUBB (in astonishment) Barbed wire?
DOG:
It seemed to glean--like bared wire!
FAWCEIT (his eyes glinting and fascinated) Iou could have
crawled up---taken a peek at this daxel (Suddenly
cackling with laughter) She might have fallen in
love with your beardt
DOG (leering) I'm tired.
STUBB (half to himself) Barbed wire..
DOG:
Well, I'm not suro. (Trying to make a definite
picture) I know ho's got a gun trained on the cabin
door, for when you try and get near him. That'e
for certain!
STUBB (nodding) And why olse would he send hio son up here
with the mail? He could give it to you himeelf!
DOGI
That's right!
FAWCETT: He don't want you peoking at his damest
insertwhdag
A pause.
dixt
Suddenly STUBB
FAWCETT to
heiito
nudges
tell
DOG something.
FAWCETT (remembering) It's the fifteenth of July, Dog. I
worked it out.
STUBB (to DOG) Ie says it's election day. I said I thought
the eighteenth.
DOG (suspiciously, to FAWCETT) Why---you anxious to etep
into my boots?
FAWCETT (with his startled look) Me?
STUBB:
Is he right, Dog?
DOG:
Sure it's election day! (Agnin to FANCETT) You
never miss, do you?
FAWCETT: It's our constitutiont We agreed on itl
DOG:
That's not why you remombert
FAWCETT: Why, then?
DOG (turning away, blinking) Jealousy!
The other two are ailent in a contrite
way.


FAKCETT (suddenly, sniffing) I smell grizzly!
DOG: (half to himself) Like hell you dol
STUBBI
They was round last night, Dog. They near on
climbed the cache.
DOG:
That'e for Fawcett to mendt (Without looking at
FAWCETT) He'll be fixing a ladder for 'om next!
STUBB (jokingly) They can stamp you to pulp, Fawcett!
DOG (harshly, to FAWCETT) And look at thie doori Hov nany
more nights are you going to barricade us in with
enowshoes? And the window! (Turning away
impatiently, since FANCETT shows no sig of responding).
STUBB:
Remonber that summer we sav steam coming up from a
hole, it was after a thaw, it must have been the
apring, and Dave jumped etraight down into a
grizzly's lap?
DOG:
And tho grizzly didn't even wake up!
FAWCET (xaking up suddenly) Well, 60 Dave says, but Dave's
a bloody liart
DOG:
He's kept you in' provisions for a couple or three
yeare, sweetheart, and haen't overcharged. You
take the name of the Provider in vain and hy aight
not provide any moree
FAWCETT: Well, I reckon he don't do it for nothing.
DOG:
We all do it for nothing.
STUBB:
We get nothing, that's truet
DOG (still to FAWCEIT) He shoved you how to make a cache. He
taught you all you know. How to stretch the pelts.
Lay tho traps. Clean your guns. Keep a emudge
against mosquitoes. What'a wrong with that--did
you want his blood as woll?
STUBB (to DOG) But he couldn't introduce you to his whorel
There is silence. Then DOG gets up
wearily.
DOG:
0.K.1 Let'e got it done withi
The others rise as well.


STUBB:
As if we didn't knovl
DOG (cutting him short angrily) Well, if you know, waive the
formalitieb---but there's hin (indicating FAHCETT)
to contend witht
STUBB:
DOG:
Well, get it done with---who's chairman?
STUBB:
Fawcett.
FAWCETT: It's always me. Because I get no votes. O.K.-
: show of confidence for no, by raieing the hand,
He waite, but neither of the other two
raises hie hand.
FAWCETT (threatening) Why, you mean couple of-l
DOG:
Get on with it!
FAWCETT: For Stubb. A show of hands.
DOG raises his hand.
FAWCETT (reluctantly) For last year's Dog! a show of hands.
Only STUBB raises his hand. FAWCEIT
keeps hie arms firnly at hie side.
DOG (glowering at him) That's one for Stubb and one for me
eo you decidet Stubb'e our Dog, ie that it?
(FAKCETT hesitatas) : Well, come on-l It'e Stubb
you wanti (HE and FAWCEIT stand glaring at each
other) I'11 give you ten secondat What'o it to be?
At last FANCETT raises his hand,
still glaring at DOG.
DOG:
Thank yout
STUBB:
Just what I Baidi
FAWCETT (to DOG) Was I going to vote hin Dog (meaning STUBB)?
DOG:
Don't blane me for-it, that's alll (3itting down
again) It's circumetances!
FAWCETT: I've never seen you raise your hond for m that'e
allt
DOG: (mildly) 4 You're power-hungry, Fawcétt, that's whyl You'd
be starving us of fires at night and keeping the
pelts to yourself if we snde you Dog.


FAWCETT: And where did you get your education---at the
phorehouse reading-room down at Pas?
DOG:
Oh, listen to that---he's bitteri Listen, if you
want to be Dog take it-I'1l call you Dog a
hundred times a day---but that wouldn't be free
election, would it?
FAWCEIT (quietly) O.K., 0.K., you're Doge
STUBB:
The Bame every year (vith a eigh)!
They relax again, yawning, scratching
themselves, gazing before theme
Suddenly there is a dietant ehot from
across the valley.
DOG (jumping up furiously) She's shootin', for Christ's saket
Dave's whoret Like a nent (Turning to STUBB)
She'e laying trap-lines like.a men---yet che couldn't
shake me by the hand---l
STUBB:
0.K., take it easyt
DOG:
What's she ehootin' at-can you tell me that?
STUBB (with a wink at FANCETT) A timber-wolf.
DOG (taking him seriously) A timber-wolf, my arse! So that's
how it'o going to be from now on---showin' us she's
theret A womant In trouserst Talkin' with a gunt
There is silence while he stands
glaring acrosa the valley, with a very
alight bewilderment in his angor.
STUBB (looking anay) You're bushed-
DOG:
'Woman't It's nowhere I can see!
It's just rolls
of fati
FANCEIT (with innediate fierce interest) Ic that how she looks?
(DOG shrugs) I think she's thin, with glasses on-
(Gazing before him)
STUBB:
And I think she's--fattish---I agree with Dog-
fattich with lovely-
DOG:
That's enought (Contemptuously) Stop thinking-
thinkers! (Striding up and down) That's no woman!


DOG: (Glancing across the valley as if it had contradicted him)
A wonan carries her flesh, well, (guietly) like a
kind of angel. Like we was reading about, remember
(looking down at STUBB and FANCETT)?
FAWCEIT: It'e always angelo or somothing! Angele are nen,
anyhow.
DOG (turning on hin) They're any sext
FAWCETT: Angele? They're boyal
DOG:
Tell him, Stubbl
STUBB:
I seen to remember they're both. Gabriel, iike
we was reading-was he a he or a she?
FANCETT: A he.
STUBB:
The two fallen angele, that started up hell, was
women, I seem to remember.
DOG: (striding again) Woment I've Been women in' my day--l
(To FAWCETT) Remember Flaning Ethel down at Pas?
FAWCETT: Do II
DOG (To STUBB) She used to keep the nost miniaturost revolvor
you've ever seen in her stocking, and ahe nevor took
it out, it WBB thore all the time and you had the
feoling it might go off-t Remember that?
FAWCEIT: That'e rightt
Silence, as they think about this,
smiling.
STUBB:
I alwaye used to think you got like the air when you
came up here---clear all the way through, like you
see Dave's cabin of a morning on the other side of
the valley, like a pioce of canvas. (A pause)
Did you think 80, too?
DOGt
No. (Another pause) Yes, I did.
FAVCETT: So did I.
STUBB:
And it didn't happon. We're getting bushed-- a
bit more every day-
DOG:
So what keeps you here? (Glaring at them both)
You're a couple of lane ducket You're lousy drunks!
You ait at a table with a couple of pinto of rye in
your gute and because the dice sayo six you---uccch!


12n
STUBB:
You did the same,
FAWCETT: In fact, you laid the bets
DOG (imitating them) *You laid the bet, you laid the bett
I always get that! You had it in your faces, you
couple of white-trapping lice--you asked for that
eixi
FAWCERT (to STUBB) Listen to that!
DOG:
You think you're strong--what's étrong about signing
up for voluntary imprisonment for five years
without a prison, without a sentence, without a crime?
STUBB (uncomfortably) It takes strèngth--don't it?
DOG:
No, it's just pigheaded and proud, that's whatt
It's just conceit! And when you get back to Pas
and plant yourself in Any's whorehouse and don't
need your trousers for a week-
STUBB (laughing) That's goodi
DOG:
Who's going to look at you? Who's going to renember?
Who'll even know your nane? Can you tell mo that?
will Any be there? They'1l all be deadt The
saloon won't be there where you threw the dicel
*Five years't
FAWCENIT: That's the beauty of it.
DOG:
That's right---talk to me about beautyt
FANCEIT: There won't be anybody there. Nobody'1l remember.
There*1l just be us.
DOG:
That'e right, thinker!
FAWCETT: There'll just be our lives, 1ike signing your nane
in water, as comebody said down at Pas when I was
prospecting.
DOG:
That's it, that's itt
FAWCETT: Just between yoursolf and God, if you follow mol
DOG:
Oh, I follow you, I've béen following you for near
on three yoars--(bellowing at tho top of his voice)
but I want sone NOISE---some real NOISE, do you hear
me, not your voices any more---sone NOISE!


There is another shot in the distance.
DOG gapès in the direction it came from.
STUBB:
You got your noise, mate (with a vink at FAWCETT)1
DOG:
What does she mean--? (He stops, trying to pukzle
soiething out)
STUBB:
You're bushed.
FANCEIT (with a sigh) Every eloction day there's sonething
crazy!
DOG (turning on hin arain) And that'a because of me, I
suppocel (Scornfully) Electing me Dog! What a
namel
STUBB:
It was your name. We'll spell God the wrong way
round, you said.
FANCET: You've certainly been thatt God the wrong way
rounds
DOG (squinting at him danterously) Heaning I'a the devil?
FAWCEIT (with fear) I didn't mean exactly thati
STUBB (to DOG) He means like he aaid the other night.
DOGt
What was that?
STUBB:
About you running messages between God and uB.
DOG (appensed) Oh, that: (Looking out aoross the valley again)
There might be something in that.
A pauce.
STUBB:
Can you see the flag?
DOG:
STUBB:
Put your telescope up.
DOG (quietly) thy, who's going to write you nail?
STUBB:
It was that last letter---I--
DOG (with a sigh) 0.K., O.K.-
FAWCETT: There we gol
STUBB (almost in tears) What's she have to rub it in for? She
don*t have to writel It aakes mo think-- of the
kitchen, where's she eitting. And her---front--


FANCETT (mournfully, as if they'd heard it a hundred times
before) Oht
STUBB (in tears) What am I doing hére? I don't. remenber
what happenedt
FAWCETT: A cool son-of-a-bitch happenedt
STUBB (in a strange reasoning vay) He wasn't cool, mate-
ho was on the same bench-
DOG:
Yes, yest
STUBB:
We used to give each other-
DOG:
'a sinoke at teatime!' (With disgust) Oh, Christ!
STUBB:
We didt
DOG (to himself) Five yearst (Glarins at both of thon) And
where'e it going to get you? I'1l tell you where-
where it got the boys at Gillie's Grave, down at
Manson Creeki
FAWCEIT (with his startled look) What's that?
DOG:
Nover hear?
FAWCETT: Nof
DOGI
There was a couple of trappers--they'd been trapping
ten yeara or more. Found. doad, sitting up against a
couple of treen, each side of a dead fire, froze stiff,
they was nearly covered over with autumn leaves, they'd
been sitting there a long time, all vinter long-
FAWCENTT: Yes, I think I heard-
DOG:
There was a rusty frying pan by the fire. A few
yards on there was tho other one-
STUBB:
There was three?
DOGI
That'e right. He was leaning against a tree, too.
His rifle was cocked, none of -the bullets was fired.
Not a mark on thoir faces. Just sitting there.
Their hut was a couple of hundred yards up the hill.
The door was swinging open. Thore was a bundle of
letters nailed to the table.
STUBB:
What did the letters say?
DOG:
Thoy was eaten by rats.


FALCETT: That'e tho way to go out--like Flaming Ethal used
to say down at Pas, "Jubt sit and fall asleep't
STUBB (to DOG) They could have got Bone white bait in their
food---strychnine kills otraight off,
DOG:
How do you get white bait in a frying pan?
FAWCETT: A noose comes along and gots trapped-
DOG:
What? Hould you cut up a moose you hadn't shot?
FAWCEITS They might have been desperate!
DOG:
In the aiddle of summer? With all the fish in the
lake?
FAWCETT: Oh, thie was surner?
DOG:
How olse would they be sitting out there--how elee
vould they be going along the trape at all? It's
only muts like you who stay out in the vintertime
and have to have the frostbite rubbed out of their
fingerst
STUBB (to FAWCETT) And how about the letters? How did thoy
get nailod on the teble if they didn't know something
beforehand?
DOG:
That'e righti
FANCEIT: Because they didn't have any rat-food and the rate
had to eat something! (He cackles with laughter)
DOG (with disgust) That's why you*re never Dog--I
FAWCETT: Why?
DOG:
Because you cantt be damed-well serioust You've
got that cackle at the ond of everything---
(imitating hin) hal hat hat If I do go bushed,
it'il be your long face sent nel
FAWCEIT: You was bushed before you ever set foot in Prince
George, matet
DOGI
I was bushed to eet foot in Ary's whorehouse and get
to know you!
STUBB:
He and Long Martin had just sold two hundred fox at
Eskimo Point for eighteen hundred dollars, renomber
that?


DOG (rolaxing) You could bave got double the price at Churchillt
STURB:
We was in a hurry!
FAWCEIT (to STUBB) You and Long Martin must have looked a
scream together, setting the trape-the long and
the chort of itl
STUBB (comically) I have my dignity.
FAWCETT: You need it, natet
DOG:
The biggest let-down I éver had was when they found
radiuz at Echo Point. I must have walked over that
ground about fifty thousand tinest It took five
pounds to have a bit of pitchblend cre assayed in
those daye and I didn't have itI didn't even have
a couple of centol That was a big rush.. Eldorado
dold Hine shares went up to eighteen shillings a
sharet Thoy all came in aeroplanes, all the de luxe
prospectorst
Silence.
FARCETT: Did you say Dave's whore has rollo of fat?
DOGI
That'a iti
FANCETT: From just a glimpee?
DOG (with a wink at STUDB) I can tell from the way ahe fires
a gunt
STURB:
Hat
DOG:
That's not tall and thint That's a heavy
domineering type of womant
FAWCETT: Ycs?
DOG (vith authority) In any case,, sho laya white trape.
FAWCETT (suddenly rojecting this) To hell with you! Just
because you found a dead fox from last winteri
DOG:
On her linel
FAWCEITS What does that prove? Suppose Young Dave laid it?
I wouldn't put it past him!
DOGI
It'e a greenhorn's trick, that's whyi Young Dave
knows better than thatt
STUBB (to FANCETT) What's wrong in a white trap anyway?


DOG:
What?
STUBB:
I'm getting to think it's better.
DOG:
Well, listen to that-he's been trapping and
stretching polte for three years and ho suddenly
gets humanet
STUBB:
You know it yourself, mate-the animale auffer, they
bite off their legs, they starve to death, they're
caten alive by their own kind, sitting in a trap 1ike
that. I reckon a real man don't do that, for money
or anything else.
DOG (suspiciously) So that's it? I've hoard you use them
words before-l (Squinting at him) You-
STUEB 2ooke questioningly at FAWCETT.
FANCEMT (to STUBB) He means freal man'.
STUBB (blinking at DOG) whatz -
DOG (still saouldering) Should we all be sitting down in
Montreal writing accounts---is that it?
STUBB:
We could run mink farmo-white-fox farmes It's
the big thing in the southi
DOGt
The pelts aren't so good!
STUBBI
They cell all right!
A ailonce, during which DOG continues
to equint his eyes dangerously at STUBB,
who begins -to look uncomfortable.
DOG (quietly) I'm not quite a 'real mant-ie that it?
FANCETT: He didn't say thatt
DOG (turning round on hin) Kéop your aouth ahuti (He alowly
puts his hand. on his rifle, still staring at STUBB)
STUBB (frightened but without moving--in a whisper) Now,
then, Dog.
DOGt
I know what's in your nind! (Grips hold of the rifle)
You mean I'm a pouf, oh?
FAWCETT: Drop thati
STUEB has his eyes fixed on the gun in
a terrified way.


STUBB:
Suddenly DOG picka the rifle up as if
to point it and STUBB dasheg to hio
feet.
PAWCETT (trying to reach over) Drop itt
DOG lifts the rifle and bogins to
eight it calmly. STUBB is trembling
all over.
STUBB (running) Dogt Dogt Stop him, Favcett, for Christ's
saket
le sees DOG taking aim and in dosperation
doubles hinself up on the floor, showing
his behind, noaning and trembling. DOG
takes ain an hie behind. FANCETT
watches him with horror.
FAWCEIT: Dog, you can't- You can't
Just at the noment DOG is about to pull
the trigger there ia another ahot from
across the valley, but closer. STUBB
lets out a screan, taking hinself as
shot.
STUBB:
Oh, Christt Oh, Christi (Rolling over) He's got
me, Fawcett, oh, Christt
DOG lovero his gun alowly, vatching
him in a fascinated wayi hie head on
ane eide. FAWCEIT also watchos hin.
STUBB:
He's done it, he's done it, oh, Chriot, I knew he'd
do it one day (crying):
DOG creeps over and touches STUBB oh
the behind with his foot.
STUBB (taking it as another blow) Oh, no, for Christ's sake,
no--no more, matet
FANCETT (quietly) Got up, mate. He didn't fires
STUBB looks up, astoniched. DOG is
tovering ovor him.


FANCETT (begiming to. cackle with laughters and initating STUBB)
Oh, oh, he's done it, he's done itt (Leaping round
as STUBB did) Oh, Christ, oh, Chriat, I knew he'd do
it, oh, Christi (cackling helplessly)
STUBBI
Thore's no need to mock,
DOG:(watching hin, but abashed) I just raise y gun and you go
like that!
STUBB:
Well, you have done it. before, mate. (Glumiy and
reproachfully) And a gun's a gun, you know,
FAWCET (pointing at DOG) Look, he'e ashamedt
STUBB (walking awvay) So he chould bet
FAWCETT: That's the first time you've eet your eighta on him,
Dog. And yet you're eupposed to be responsiblet
DOG (limply) Have another election, then.
STUBB (to hincelf) Blimeyt I thought that was the end of
Joa Stubb all rightt
DOG (trying to appease) You're auggestible, that'e all, matel
STUBB:
But you was pointing a gun at met
PAWCETT: That's it.
DOG:
I wouldn't have firede
FANCENT: You near on didt I sav yout
DOG (decisively) I won't stand for nonination againe
FANCETT: Listen to it--pride-
A pause during which they all stare
glumly before thene
DOG:
0.K., I'a sorry, thene
STUBBI
That'a all right I'd like to take a gun on
you sometimes.
Thoylaugh. politely.
DOG (conversationally, to STUBB) Thie thing of the white trape-
how are you going to keop your huskdos off the poison?
A wholo pack died of strychnine down at Manson Creek
ten yenrs back.
STUBB:
What I said: breed your animals instead, Don't let
'em run wild and then trap.


A pauso.
DOG (in a hesitant way) Did you notice something? She's
getting to see my side of. things?
The other two gaze at him in silence.
FAWCETT: What's that?
STUBB:
Who's ahe?
DOG:
Dave's whore.
FALCENT: What do you mean?
DOG:
She fired off just when she should have---did you
notice that? (As thoy staro at hin) All right,
look at me aoif I was crazyi
FAWCDIT: What are you talking about?
DOG:
She fired to stop me firing.
STUBB:
You are bushed, you knowei
FANCETT: Who's the 'thinker* now?
DOG:
That's not thinking, it's plain factet
FAWCETT: Oh!
DOG (to STUBB) She fired to stop me killing you.
FAWCEIT (with an amused glance at STUBB) Well....
DOG:
I'm not sure, mind you---
STUBB (to DOG) You're better in the winter-tine, mate--
not so jumpy.
DOG:
Hell, it's true. It's the angekok in me, I suppose.
(Seeming to hope that they will ask hin what the
word means) That means....
STUBB (mechanically) 'Hedicine man'.
DOG:
That's right. It- was the longeat apprenticeship
I ever served: Tho hardest, too. When the Eskino
feols he's been called he retires to a lonely place-
I chose Carlyle Street, Winnipog---I didn't hardly
speak to a living soul for two years nor moro---I.
prayed and fasted until the Torngarsoak appeared
FAWCETT and STUBB both recite the next
sentence with him, as if they know overy
word of his narrative.


ALL:
....that's the great white bear.
DOG:
It cane up in front of the iron bedstead. Yot I
wasn't surprised. He did everything they said, too.
He ate ne up and vonited out the pieces, and these
formed together again, and the great white bear
disappeared. They gave me a wife, and I used to do
all their healing. I swear I had healing powers.
STUBB:
Did you use the wife?
The radio begins blinking red, a
device for when it is unattended.
DOG:
Not me. I've seen a fev white men go nativel I
didn't want tho lice picked aut of my hair! And
the stench of those pelto in the igloos-- I never
really got used to it.
STUBB:
As long as you don't go into that Eakimo trance
again--eh, Fawcett?
FAWCEIT: I'1l say!
STUBB:
Last time you looked like deadt
DOG (quietly) We've been known to die..
STUBB:
It lasted all day---scared tho ballo off mel You
couldn't answer the radio for twenty-four houret
FANCETT (seeing the radio) Hey, it's showing red, Dog.
DOG (with a acowl towards the radio) Leave it be! It's Dave
wanting to apologise. 'I'll be up for a game of
carde, boye!' w-he's been promising that for near on
three yearsi
The radio ceases to blink.
FAWCETT (to STUBB) Remember that old telegraph trail in the
Arctic, and all those flovers---the blue lupins,
saxifrage, forget-me-nots, yellow Arctic poppies?
No radio therel You had to lay it all by wirel
STUBB:
That's right!
DOG:
Flowers'l (In a leg-pulling way) What did you
do--make posies?
FAWCETT: That's itt
A pause.


DOG (looking round) It'e funny---I expected her to fire thent
FAWCETT: Why?
DOG (with a ohrug) I don't khowl
STUBB (to FAWCETT) She's the voice of hie conscience:
Because he eneered at your flowerst
DOG:
'Conscience's
They lieten. But nothing happens.
STUBB (to DOG) How do you fast at Carlyle Street, Winhipeg, Dog?
FANCETT: He means he didn't oat, he only dranke) (with his
cackle)t
DOG (diaregarding him) I used to have vater for breakfast.
If you eat nothing first thing it shrinks the stomach.
Thon dry bread and water for dinner. Or unsalted
potatoes. Then I went on a jag Saturday and Sunday.
It usually took fourteen hours* aleop to bring me
round. A jag never had less effect on me in my life.
That was the fasting. I'll tell you something about
fasting, I meàn when you don't eat a thing for a
couple or more weeke, only drink water-
Again FAWCEYT and STUBB recite with him.
ALL:
..all you diseases come out backwards.
FAWCETT (with sudden surprise) They do?
DOGI
That's right. You get a touch of all the diseases
you evor had, starting from the last one you had to
the first one when you was a baby. I started with
a dose of clap and ended up with nappy-rash!
Theylaugh. But FAWCETT's cackle
spoils DOG'B fun.
FAWCETT (still cackling) That's difficult to believe!
DOG:
It's true! Ask anybody who's fasted. It purges
you right through. Ask any of the shipwrecked
fellows, they'1l tell they didn't even want to eat.
Thé trouble's eating again, you don't want it!
STUBB:
You get out of the habit, I supposo.
A shot, from the samo distance.


DOG (flaring up) Now--t (Taking the shot. as a challenge to
his truthfulnoss)
FANCEIT and STUBB gaze at each other.
FAWCETT (with a wink at STUBB) What did that one moan?
DOG is gazing across. the valley with
his mouth open.
DOG (to himself) Well, I did want to eat, I suppose. I wanted
a jag-how's that? Not exactly food, but a
prolongod jag. (Addressing the valley) Now is that
all right?
STUBB (to FAWCEIT) Listen to itl
DOG (still addressing the valley) I wanted a dag---to---purge
myself. It was part of the fast. I wanted-
(insipidly) well, a carnival, release of the spirit -1
A shot.
DOG:
The others ait staring at him.
DOG:
But it's true---it's-- (He stope)
FAWCETT: (anothor wink at STUBB)
it true?
DOG (vearily) No. I juet wanted a jag, that's all. Just
to get disgusting drunk and flop out on a bed. Like
suicide for half-a-day.
Ho stares emptily before him. They
listen. Silence.
FAWCETT: That seemed like the truthi
STUBB:
You're bushed!
DOG (eagerly) I'11 try an experinent, I'll-- (Staring acrosa
tho valley)
STUBB (scared) Keep your hand off that gun, that's alli
DOG:
I'1l see if we're tunedt
FAWCETT: What?
DOG (spenking in the direction of the valley) Fire---in ten
seconds---
STUBB:
Hey! (Suporstitiona aroused)


FAWCETT: Ssehi (Ie quickly reada hie watch) ive-l
Thoy listen.
A shot.
DOG (excited) what was that-vas that ten seconds? God
abovel Who's bushed now, eh?
FANCENT: About seven seconds.
DOG:
It's near enough! Wake up, Stubb-!
STUBB (with diegust) Oh, Christ-
DOG (to the valley) Fire when I say---(turning to FAHCETT)
Who was that in the bible-reading last night---?
FAWCETT: Eh?
DOO:
The guardian angel---the one who brings peace-
you said ahe was a' man and Stubb said she was a
woman-
FAWCETT: Oh, Gabriels
A shot.
DOG:
That's itt (Jumping up and down) By Christ, I
didn't mean her to be that exact---I---
STUBB (chaking his head) Look at it, just look at it-m
DOG:
That's the word I meant--I meant hor to fire on
Gabriel--t
A shot.
STUBB:
Bliney!
DOG (beyond himself) That's itt That's itt Oh, Christ,
that'e itt
FAWCETT (wary for the firat tine) Licten---you'd better stop--
DOG:
Gabriel: (A shot) Gabriel! (A shot)
FAWCETT (frightened) Now chnt up!
DOG:
FAWCETT
Shut upt Do you hear me? Shut upt
DOG (panting) O.K. But--don't say I'm wrong! Eh?
(to STUBB) Who's wrong about the ehots?
FAWCEIT: Just calm downi If it'e true or not don't make
any difference---Just dalm down!


Silenco. They gaxe before thom and
gradually calm returns.
FAWCETT: That's---impossible-
Gillis's Gruve
DOG:
Impossible? I told you the story of Hencor Creek-
strange things happen up here--i
FAWCETT: O.K., 0.K.1
DOG (still excited) ---letters eaten away by rate- not a mark
on their bodies--door léaning open!
STUBB:
That's funny we chould have talked about Gab---i
FANCETT: Sssh!
DOG:
What?
STUBB:
FAWCETT: Stubb!
STUBB (almost whiopering) Gabriel.
A shot. He jumps.
STUBB:
Blimeyt
DOG:
Therel
STUBB (to himsolf) Blimey-
DOG (to FAWCETT) Don't talk to ne about impossible after that!
FAWCETT (trembling) Well, just don't let'e Bay that word again,
that's allt
DOG:
Why not? I thought you was silence's best friends
Until it happens! Like the atorm on the lake--
FAWCETT: Don't say thati
DOG:
Just a little wave--l
FAWCEIT (pleading) No, please!
STUBB (to DOG) Leave him alonet
FAWCETT: I did all I couldt I-
STUBB (to DOG) You've done it nowi
DOG (quietly) O.K., O.K., I dian't mean it-
FAWCENIT (almost in tears) I could hear her cryingt They say
you can't shout when you're drowning but she did! A
kind of a long call, like a moan or a crooning noise,
like an Indian calling--- she went up and down in the


water--she lost her foothold, you see-ahe wais
being taken further and further off-well, I'a
just standing there--I just start to wade in with.
ny hands stretched out, can you inngine that?-
what a thing to dol And she was fifty yarde away!
And I couldn't swim-there I was stretching out my
honde-t.
DOG:
If you couldn't svin--there's nothing to be achaned
FAWCETT: But I was s0 ashamedt Then ali of a audden the,
lifeguard came down with a boat-it was off
Vancouver Island---
STUBB:
You said a lakot
FAWCETT: Vancouver Ialand, I saidi And he pushes the boat
out---he takes hold of her arns and pullo her in-
I never seen a life saved B0 easy! He even rowed
with one handt Andall I did was etand and watchi
She was thin---with glasses on-
DOGI
*Vancouver Island'i They all cone here with their
dreams---expect the air to wear ten down---but it don'tt
FAWCETT: Well, God forgive me, that's all! In three years of
silence you'd think he'd have spokent
STUBB:
Who?
FAWCETT: God.
STUBB (vith a twinkle) He just ain't talkative, matal
DOG:
He'e talkative all right to then with earst
FAWCENTT: Meaning--?
DOG:
You've been on aany a jag since your cockroach-days,
Fawcett, and you haven't asked forgiveness for then!
FANCETT: It'e O.K. for you. You was never in the cloth,
I believe?
DOG:
Cloth be damned! Cloth don't change a mant
STUBB (with sly humour). What's wrong with a cockroach having
a drop of-?
FANCETT (persuasively) It'o a miesioni It's a trusti That's
whyi And I failed the trusti Can't you see that?


STUBB:
You wasn't cut out for the 11fe, maté, that'e all:
DOG (reminiscing pléasantly) Remember wa used to fish of a
Sunday--regular-take a boat on the lake---have
tho days all marked up---Monday for washing-
Tueadays for the cache---Mednesday the pelts and
Date's store---those were early daysl
STUBB:
That's right!
FAWCEIT (reflecting) I used to run a conmunion-class and a child
asked me once, 'Why can't we oee the rest of God's
I said, *Nhat do you
and he
said,
tHe cén bee God's face in the soin, why can't we Bee
the rest of hia?* And do you know what I said?
DOG:
FAWCETT: I said, what you 6ee in the face of a man, your
own face, reflected in the moone'
STUBB:
I thought God was a copper when I was a kid. The
night was his dark-blue uniform, when he came up
close, to see you was all right when you was asleep.
DOG (to FANCETT) And now you know bettor?
FANCETT: That's right. Now I know that that ohild was right.
A pause.
STUBB (in a matter-of-fact way) A policeman came to the door
and he said, 'I hear you've been getting violent?
And I said, "Oh?* He said, 'Yes, the wife's boen
down to the station, she says she wants protection.'
I told him about the lodger, with his long black coat,
and he said thoy'd drop the case. All I did was take
my belt off, chow her the belt. But her going down
to the station finished mo. It was like the fireplaco
walking out of the back door, I've never felt warn
sincel.
FAWCETT: There*s a Judas everywhore.
STUBB:
I couldn't go back now. I'd be--sick! That
fireplace with the little black bars in front--the
way the clock ticks of a Saturday afternoon---y
waistcoat used to emell of wood shavings, from the
mill, it used to get in my hair. (Loaking at the
othera) You've saddled yoursclves with this for 11fe.
Dying can't be much different. Tou can't go back now.
He'd shoot ym deud, Ard hobody 'd be
the wiser,


DOG:
There's always a woman in it. Not women- just
one woman. The same one every time. (Nodding
towards the valloy) There she is again---tho eame
one.
FAWCETT: Who do you reckon this Mrs. Dave is?
DOG:
She come from winnipeg--that's all Dave Baid.
She's so brainy she's evil, he said, and very handy
with a gunt
FAWCEIT: Because there wns a achoolteacher down at Pas,
too-whad a big let-down in love, 60 Long Martin
said. Suppose this is her?
DOG:
Long Martin's a liar. He's also the biggest pimp
in the North West Territories. Ho runs throo
whorehouses in Fort Churchill alono, to my knowledge.
FAWCETT: That's what he said, anyhow---she had a big love-
hitch.
STUBB (to DOG) He was no pimp when we was prospecting together,
that's all I know!
DOG:
But he found trapping was slow monoy--he needed a
lot of hot money, illegalt
STUBB:
That's no proof he's a' pimp.
DOG:
Ask Davel Flaming Ethel told hin over at Pael
STUBB:
Over at Pas--that's where tall atorios are hatched!
Down at Fort St. John or Hudson's Hope you don't hear
of whorehouses!
DOG:
Flaming Ethel saye he pulled out a wad of fifty-
dollar bills-threw it across the table--said keep
it! You don't got that trapping!
STUBB:
You get it dicing.
DOG:
She Baid ho didn't touch the cards all week. He
was looking round for white traffic all the timo.
She told him, keep off my girls. That's a pimp!
FAKCETT (eagorly) I feel like alipping across the valloy
tonight and knocking at her cabin-door. She might
throw me the key! Theg I'll olip it in- the key
I moan!
He cackles with laughter. DOG looks
at him with disgust. FAKCETT'8
laughter subsides and he begins looking
curreptitiously at his pack on the ground.


DOG (watching him closely and talking to STUSB) I do believe
he's serious, by God!
FAWCETT (hositantly) I thought for a night---I-
DOG:
You'11 stay here! We're not having a week of
wailing and gnashing of teeth, ie that right, stubb?
STUBB:
That's right.
DOG:
If you want a jag go down to Pas and atay there a week--e
break your bet-but you're not turning this valley
into your vicarage-!
FAWCENT: Vicaraget (Starting tovards hin) You--l
DOG:
Watch itt
FAWCEIT (drawing back because of DOG's grin look) Al1 I wanted
to do was tell you what she'a liket
DOG:
Go down in the daytine, feast your eyes and come back.
But we're not having you try and get us to burn your
bands with flaming logs and Christ knows what else-
tie your hands up and whip your backside---aling soil
all over your face--no, sirt
STUBB (to DOG) Remember him putting a sack over his head-
that'a what he thought sackcloth and ashes wasl
Blimoy, you ought to havo aeen his facel
FAWCETT (to DOG) I need a jag!
DOG:
You need the remorse after, too, But you're not
getting it up here. Not while I'a Dog. You wont
to break the bet, go down and break it, otay at Agy's
for a couple of weeks, she'll give you plonty to
gnash your teeth about, and a dose of something, too.
FANCETT: I nerer had a vicarage. Your education don't stretch
that far, it seems.
DOG (laughink) It'd be somo vicaragel With cubicles on every.
floori
FAWCETT (amiling unvillingly) 'Cubicles'-
STUBB:
Renepber those cubicles at Prince Goorge--with the
boys answering each other over the walls?
DOG:
And the trapper fron Eakimo Bay who sat on the bed and
just looked at hor for a couple of hours, and paid
double the price and vent away? There's a lot of
strange love in the human breastt


STUBB::
That's right.
DOG:
r'11 tell you something. Before I came up here I
thought I'd have a tough time. I thought not just
a tough tine with the froezing cold and the yak-food
but tough with the other boys---plenty of fights,
knife-brawls and jaga every night. Big muscley
fellows who*a knock you down if you breathed too deop..
I was frightened. But thore's leso of that than
down belowt We're like the aninals---they don't
ecrap each other, only for food or their mates or
protection--not just for a scrapt That's why I
couldn't go back downstairs, I couldn't get back
to that hardness. They're like insects! And thoy
all eit down there in their offices thinking--
beware of thinkers, that'e what I've always told yout
FAWCETT: I couldn't go down because of the jags. The jags
lack sympathy down there. (To STUBB) Know what
I nean?
STUBB (irritated) No jags are good enough for you, are they,
nate- ever sinco you whored with your casaock on?
FAWCETT (to DOG) It's true what he saysl
STUBB (to FAWCETT, beginning to be fascinated) Fawcetti How
did you-? (Wriggling closer to him) Was this
on your morning vieits?
FAWCETT: Eh?
STUBB:
You just called in of a morning---you did the
FAWCETT (as faccinated) They needed it, I tell you!
STUBB (excited) Go ont
FAWCETT: The marriod---the unmarriedt Young--and old!
DOG:
Drop itl
FAWCETT (atill to STUBB) It seemed--to fascinate them-
being undor--- (With a glance at DOG) KNow what
I mean?
STUBB:
Yee, yest (Staring into FAWCETT'e face)
FAWCEIT: I night be standing there--just inside the door--


STUBB: (still ataring at him) Hey!
FAWCETT: Yes?
STUBB (gripping him by the arn) You caid inside the door--!
(Peering into hia eyes) Listen, weren't you -?
(To himself) By Godt It's--l Dog, it's -
Well, Christ alivel
Fawcett begins to drav back from him.
DOG (screwing up his eyee) What's the matter?
FAWCETT: Stubb!
STUBB:
It'sl It's him! Dog, it's hint (Shouting)
You rat! Iou dirty cassocky rat!
FAWCETT: What?
STUBB (breathlessly) There was a cassock upstairs--behind
the door--it gave him a thrill with his cassock
DOG:
Where waa the cassock? (To FAWCEIT) What's he
talking about? FANCETT ahakes his head dumbly)
STUBB:
At homel
DOG:
What?
STUBB:
He-was the lodgert
DOG:
You're bushedt
STUBB:
Tho wife used to say, I'l1 get that long black coat
of his cleaned, that funny black coat that reaches
down to his feeti (To DOG) Look, he don't say noi
DOG (with disguat) Youtre bushed, Stubb! You didn't even
know Fawcett thent
STUBB:
Laok at his face---he don't deny it!
DOG:
Deny it, Fawcett.
FAWCETT simply etares at STUBB.
STUBB:
She used to go upstairs-
DOG:
That was fifteen years before you come to Past
Fawcett was névor in Londoni Stubbt
STUBB:
Look at hint
DOG:
Tell him it's wrong, Fawcett! Fawcett!


But FAWCETT etill stares before him.
STUBB:
The same long face- The way he ueed to come
downstairs, very soft-
DOG:
Bushed!
STUBB (in a dreamy way) It makes us---brothers in a way---
DOG:
Brothers!
STUBB:
I knew we'd meet up again---
FAWCETT (also dreamily) Me, tool Stubb--was her name--
was ehe called---Gabriel?
A shot. Tho other two gasp.
FANCETT (seening to wake up) Hey! Gabrielt
Another shot.
DOG (delighted) You aid itt
STUBB:
Fawcett!
Théy rush to congratulate him.
FAWCEYT (beaming) Thanke!
DOG:
I knew you could do it!
FAWCEIT (to DOG, excited) You mey be right--she's over there
to stop us getting bushed! (Gazing across the valley)
DOG:
That'e right!: What did I say? (To STUBB) You
wouldn't believe net (Shouting) Gabrielt
A shot.
FANCETT: Gabriel!
A shot.
DOG (hilariously) Gabriel!
Another shot.
STUBB:
Gabriel!
Silence. STUBB looks acrose the
valley suopiciously.
STUBB (turning on them) You ratst Trying to edge me outt
(Shouting at tho top of hie voice) Gabriel:
Gabriel!
Gabriel:
Gabrielt Gab---l
A shot.


DOG:
At last! (Encouragingly) How's that, Stubb, eh?.
STUBB (exhausted) Thank Christ! Thank Chriet for thatt
DOG:
She means us all--get that into your nutst Now
sit downi
They sit down round the table in a
happy spirit.
DOG:
Now I don't know about you two, but it'e begun to
be clear to me that---this name, this name-
I won't
say it--eans something. (STUBB and FAWCETT grunt
agreement) It meano something for us. The question
is what? (A pause) Nov I've got a suggestion---I
don't know how you two'll take it.
FAVCENT: What?
DOG:
She--the namo---she's bringing us closor---che's
guiding us all the time--to---(He stope).
FAWCETT: Where?
DOG:
It might be something---rich---and marvellous-I
don't knowt We've just got to wait and see (with
an appreciative glance across the valley).
STUBB:
I think she night be somebody---connected with us-
DOG:
Connected?
STUBB:
With one of us - Just with one of ust And we don't
know which one yet!
FAWCETT: Our names are certainly writ in water, like they said
down at Paal I never Baw her more than a couple of
minutes, she was there bobbing up and down in the
water, then ahe was lying on the aand, then she was
gone, walking up the beach- She never even spoke
to mel She went avay with my soul! I don't even
know hor namet
DOG (burying his head) Uccht
FAVCETT: When you go back downstairs, to Pas or Prince George,
nobody recognises you. They say, "Aren't you---?',
then they stare in your faco. And you don't say
nothing. That's because you're different now. Your
life goes along like water, you don't belong to places
any nore- That'e why I came up here.


DOG:
To find out you was madé of water?
FAWCETT: That's right!
STUBB:
I heard a doc say it was true. He said we could
be melted down!
DOG (nodding) I tried to melt away in Kumasi. But the heat
didn't do it. Nor did the monsoons, though it was
pretty wet. Yes, indeed! I had a punkah-wallah
worked the fan for mel
The radio blinks red again.
STUBB:
You did?
FAVCETT (imitating DOG) 'And a policeman out there, a white
policeman, was next to Godt'
DOG:
He was, tool
STUBB:
But still, you found you wasn't next to God, didn't
you, mate?
DOG:
It was over before I knew what was happening, I tell
you!
STUBB:
I know!
The radio ceases again, unobserved.
DOG:
He was standing there--in the governor's drawing room-
under the fan---swish, swish, liko the wings of some
sort of big bird, and I can remenber the pictures on
the wall--eve used to call it the picture gallery-
and this little black boy was like an angel, an
Ashanti-boy in white, 60 delicate, so humble and
sweet, I had to touch him-and he didn't say anything---
I think he éven smiled---I don't know what was in my
mind-it just happened-- -I touched him---I was getting
married the next month-!
FAWCEIT (with a sigh) That's itt
DOGt
I wact A magistrate's daughter-- But I---l
It was only that chaplain---a blasted cockroach---
(with sudden fury) I could have crushed him in my
fingers and he'd have made a crackling soundt
STUBB:
Who givos a damn here?


DOG:
I dot With my hand on that little boy's cheek--
they.made it. dirty---thore was noting wrong in itt
Staring at me---in the doorwayi
FAWCETT: That'a what they all say.
DOG:
Why not?
FANCETT: If I go on a. jag I don't Gay afterwards I've been
purel What's s0. pure about--!
DOG (understanding what he is about to say) You-i (He leape
across and grabs FAWCEIT by the throat) Say it, say
it, you cockroach, go ont
FAWCET struggles and his facegets
redder and redder. Ho can only make
wild strangling sounds.. STUBB gets
alarmed.
STUBB (tapping him on the back gingerly) Dog--Dog, matet
(DOG Beeme unable to release his hands)
DOG (to FAWCETT) Say it--say it!
STUBB:
Gabriel! (Shouting across the valloy) Gabriel'o
A chot. DOG auddenly releases FAWCEIT.
They stare across the valley.
DOG (às FAWCETT trios to get his breath back) She saved hie
lifel She does look after us, Stubbi
STUBB (humouring him) That's it-now just calm down, matel
FAHCETT (recovering hio speech) We're---bushedi We never-
done---thie beforet
STUBB (to hinself) She did save us, in a wayt
DOG:
My handa went limp, I tell you---when I heard that
shoti
FAWCEIT: Thank Christ they didt (to STUBB) Let's find a
hut up the line, matel This ono's bushed!
STUBB (to DOG) You want to watch yourself!
FAWCETT: Look at his facel Looki (Feoling his own nèck)
You never done that before! It's the finisht
He bogins to walk off, still feoling
his neck.


STUBB (alarmed) Where you going, mate?
FAWCETT: Find a hut up thé linet I'll go to Dave'al He's
a killer, that onet Look at himt
STUBB:
Fawcett! Cone back!
FAWCEIT (to DOG, who still stares up at the sky) You killed
that boy! You killed him, didn't you?
DOG (looking at him in horror) Fawcett!
FAWCEIT (seeing the effect) It'e in your hands---you've got
murderer's handst That's what you did to the little
Aehanti boy!
DOG (glancing down at his hands) Kil1? (With horror) Nol
FAWCENT (at the door) Murderer! Murderer! You murdered a
little Ashanti boy!
DOG (screaming) No, not (Staring at his own handa) No, for
God's sake, noi Nol Take them away! (Holding
out his hands) Take them away, oh, for Christ's sako
take them away! (Bursting into tears) Take them
away!
FAWCET (moving back, humbled) Dog--1 didn't mean--
Ho approaches DOG to comfort him.
STUBB:
You didn't---did you, Dog? You' didn't kill him,
did you?
DOG (hopelessly) I don't knowl I don't knowl
He weeps on FAWCETT's shoulder.
FAWCENT: I didn't mean it, Dog!
DOG:
They never told mel They never--let me know-
FAWCETT: CAK., 0.K.
DOG (looking into his eyes 11ke a child) They never saidt
They just-sent mo away!
STUBB (to FALCETT) Sit him down.
They help DOG to sit down.
FAWCEMT: What did you do, Dog? Try. and remember!
DOG:
I don't know!
FANCETT: What did you do to the little Ashanti boy?


DOG (looking up and reflecting for a tina) Nothing.
FAWCETT: What you worried about, then?
DOG:
What they caid---what they made me out to bet
FAWCETT (turning avay from him) It's pridel What I've always
eaid---you're proudt
A bird suddenly flies over outaide
and STUBB seises his gun and moves to
the window. But he doesn't shoot.
STURB:
Let him live, I thought. Probably going home to his
dinners
They sit down exhausted. DOG passes
his hand over his head and sighs.
FANCETT: That'e another thing. You get not to liko killing
birds any more. Last weok I took aim at fifteen
birda and didn't fire a shot. Hear that, Dog?
DOG:
Uh-huhi
FAWCEIT (with his cackle) Because I had no ammunitioni
A pause.
STUBB:
All we do is live in our sins up here. I thought
we'd be 80 pure! But all ve hear about is sins.
DOG:
It'B all wo got!
FANCETT: You're too fond of fate, Dog. It's like a black
hood over your head!
STUBB:
That's why we make him Dog---he's alwaye eniffing
the ekyi
DOGt
You know damn-well I've got an instinct-I'n your
interlocutor---botween the sky and you!
FANCETT: Lieten to iti
DOG:
You can't fool the Indiansi I Baw the white bear
0.K.--he ate me up--in Carlyle Street, Winnipeg---
and he speved me out againt For five yeare I told
them all about their gode---I say in their igloost
I know more about their gods than they knew themselves!
I was the first white angekok---and the last most
likely!
FAWCETT: Then the stink of moose got you downt


DOG:
I used to sit and talk about the aky. You've got
nothing s0 peaceful in your 1ife, you cockroacht
I used to talk about the Eekimo heavens-
FANCETT: You could take that away from an Indian just by
snapping your fingere! But you couldn't take away
what I learned!
DOG:
About Jesus?
FAWCETT: That'e iti
DOG:
It'e God I'n talking about--not the King of the
Cockroaches!
FAWCETT: You'ro a blasphemer--
DOG:
And you never know what he'll decide. (Speaking
monotonously, almost drowsily) Like at Gillis'a
Grave, near Manson Creek. The cabin door ewinging
open, letters nailed on the table---eaten by rats-
two men Bitting up-a rusty frying pan in between--
not a mark on their bodies---another man fifty yards
down the hill---rifle cocked- Cocked--
They seen to fall asleep. Silence.
STUBB (waking up with a start) Were they known men?
DOG (also waking up with a' 'start) They vere known as much ds
a trapper ist A face and a namet
FAWCETT: Maybe they were on a bet, too-like ust
STUBB:
Don't talk bushed!
DOG (gazing across the valley again) You coulda't go back down
again if you wanted tof
FANCETT: Why not?
DOG (to STUBB) You can talk to me about white-fox farms, but
it's them* B brought your prices down. Not s0 long
back beaver-pelts took thirty dollare A piece, know
that? All you get- -for the best prime pelt of eilver
fox is seventy doilars nowadays! And I remember
selling two hundred low-grade dark polts for near on
five thousand dollars at Eokino Point---ryself!
Don't talk to ne about white-fox farmal
STUBB (with a wink at FAWCETT) Why, Dog--are you thinking of
going down all of a sudden?


DOG continues to gaze across tho valley,
as if nursing a secret.
FAWCETT (approaching BOG, intrigued) Where would you go?
DOG (after eyeing them both for a noment) Little place by the
Peace River--
STUBB (alao drawing near hin, excited) He's had it all worked
outi
FAWCETT: What' would you do?
DOG:
I figured it out like this. A place like Fort
St. John or Hudson's Hope, along the Pence River
valley: you'vo got the whole of that boiling water-
FAWCETT: Yest
DOG:
de All that povor in the Peace River Canyon, you've
got prospects---at's rich country---you've got coal,
you've got timber, fur, bog iron, copper---they say
there's still placer gold in the gravel-bars of the
river-!
STUBB:
What about that?--what about the dredging firms that
lost their money back before the war?
DOG:
I don't say that'e what we'd do---l
STUBB (digging FANCETT excitedly) Wet
DOG:
I say there's prompecta--tthere's'riches all round--
in the aky--in the water-in the eartht
FAWCEIT: There'd be-people, too-we
DOG:
That's righti People you can talk tol No nore of
thie Gabriel stuffi
A short pause, then there is a shot.
They eye each other.
STUBB (quietly) Let her talkt
DOG:
That's it! (Turning hie back on the valley
deliberately) We'll go down and be among people--
We'll go in the saloons; play carda, we'll be luxury
prospectoro---
STUBB:
That's itt
FAWCETT: We'll have horses---a fine old house up on wooden
stilte--


STUBB:
We've got the money---cached out in those trees--
in peltel
DOG:
And what do we do? We trade them across tho valley
to Dave for half-price! Well, they say if you're
trapping you're hot in it for money, ahd that's the
truth!
STUBB:
Peace Rivert
A pause, during which they all dream
about this.
FAWCEIT (quietly, looking up at DOG) How about the police?
DOG:
It's only what I think! I don't know I did it--l
It's only what I say I didi I don't rememberi I
just think!
FAWCETT: And you'a think just the sane down theret
Another silence, more glum than before.
STUBB: (pondering) We could try it. Go down for a week. Tell
Davo we're selling pelts---
DOG:
No cooking---think of that! I can hear how my
footstepe'd Bound on the wood floor, going to the
polt-store--
FAKCETT: Thoy'd laugh at usl
DOG (flaring up) They laugh at people who laugh at thenselves!
FAWCETT (to STUBB) You wouldn't think he gets all wound up if
you move hie cup of coffee an inch in the morning,
would you-if you don't have your blankets turned
by half-six---then his Bible-reading at nighti
STUBB (with a wink) He's got' his little Ashanti boy to keep
him warmt
DOG (murmuring, half to hinself) He keepe me godd! When I
think of him-I can see the little gold ringe in
his ears--the way his téeth sparkle--
FAWCETT: But---(leaning forvard persuasively) being good's a
struggles Dog, a daily struggle---it's a--l
(Ho stope dead and stares in front of him)
DOG:
I hate cockroaches---


STUBB (to DOG) Remember that time down at Pas he'd beon on a
week's jag and put his head in the ashcan outaide
Amy's anloon and got the boye to give hin a welting
with thoir straps?
DOG:
Tehal
STUBB (to FANCETT) I bet you never even felt it, you was Bo
drunki
FAWCETT (who has aubsided in a puzzled way aftor his moral
speech) I saw my cheets next morning, covered vith
blood--- There was Bores all over ay back.
DOG:
I don't mind a Catholic cockroach, he goes on a jag
and forgeta, but you lot!
FANCENT: We're our own judges---we don't send ouf dirty linen
to tho mothér-church and expect it to come back cleani
They are quiot again.
DOG (to himsclf) *Being good's a struggle'---yes, I can remenbér
thati (to STUBB) Then he led me through the -
gallery down to the gaolt
STUBB (looking at him) What?
DOG:
The sweat was pouring down my neck-I can remember
ny knees shaking. And he said 'Being good's a
etruggle, Haines'---and he put hic hand on my shoulder.
A pause, during which the othor two
look at him.
STUBB:
Who did?
DOG:
The chaplain. A long-faced-- (Putting his hand
over his eyes) I've thought about it s0 much--l
(Looking: up at FAWCITT vith clear eyes) Listen-e-
whose idea was that?
FAWCETT (staring at him) Eh?
DOG:
What was the plan--you must have known the Governorts
mind.1ike your ownt
FAWCENTT: What's that?
DOG (reasoning with him) I réckon you must have sat in his
office four hours d day---I can remember that-m
you used to take your tiffin together---


FAWCENT (with a perplexed look at STUBB) Tiffin? that the
hell's that?
DOG:
Was I getting too big for you?
FAWCETT: Big?
DOG:
Too popular? I know the language too well?
STUBB:
Bushedt
DOG:
You can say bushed, but he knocked my career on the
head inside thirty seconds!
STUBB:
Yes, yest
DOG:
*That little native boy'- ---(imitating a chaplain'e
whichis intidentally fluting void- 'is the Prince Regent's son, Haines.
aiso Faratt's
I'11 have to see the Governor about thiel' (to STUBB)
I pleaded with him---'Flease don't do it, chaplain,
please don't--l' But he went on walking up the
etairs, I can remember the punkah wallah outside the
Governor's door---then--ap vent Chief Inspector
Haines in smoke- phew-
FAWCETT (gazing before him sadly) I wish we was down bolow-
DOG:
What docs it make you feel like, Chaplain Fawcett?
FAWCEIT: And the marble stairs. I can renember the marble
stairsi (As if illuminated) How the sunlight ahone
on themt
DOG:
That's itt
FAWCETT: They were whital
DOG (to STUBB) He renemberst You see?
FANCETT (radiant) But you doserved it, Haines--you killed
that boy!
STUBB:
'Haines*! It's a different nane every week-
Haines, Wykham, Stornford, Crampton! It's time you
moved on to Wykhan about nov, ien't it (to DOG)?
DOG:
Chief Inspector Haines---until this cockroach tore
ae downi Fifteen years in a eweat-bath---I provided
royalty with a wall---ay own body--I
STUBB (imtating him) 'And they used to call me the battering
rant'


DOGE
My face was known in the highest oircles--
*Haines'll see to it', they alwaye saidt
He yawns unexpectedly.
FAWCETT (looking about him) Listen to that silencel
DOG stares before him, recollecting.
A pause.
FAKCETT (to STUEB) Suppose they just fell aaleep?
STUBB:
Who?
Gilliss Grane?
FAWCETT: Them three at Hansen Gresk? The cold makes you
sleepyt Suppose there's a sudden cold enap? You
freezel Just sitting therel
STUBBI
It was cumnert
FAWCETTS But a sudden wind-1ike a breath---! It makes you
sleegy--(He yawne and stretches out) Remember that
time north of the Skeena River, along the trap-line,
behind the huskies---Just ailes and miles of white
snow--Ne had to pinch each other awake--to stop
getting frost bitew--just miles and niles---of---
white-
He fallo asleep.
DOG:
*Haines'. (He begins to nod, sitting)
STUBB geto up, stretchos and looks down
at the other two.
STUBB (also yaming) Bushed!
He begins strolling off, hie hande in
his pockets, whiotling quietly to himself.
Ho disappears out of the door.
Silence.
The other two aleep an, DOG still in
the sitting position, his head hanging
forward; FANCENTT snoring loudly.
We hear STUBB's whistle fade away.
A bird suddenly flies over but neither
DOG nor FAWCETT atir. Two or three
more birds fly over. Suddenly there
are ahots from acrose the valley, one
after the other. FANCETT jumps into


the sitting position, panic-stricken.
DOG lifts his hoad in a dazed way.
FAHCETT (staring at DOG with horror, as if etill asleep)
Haines, Haines--don't shooti (As the volley
continued) Haines, for Chriet's eake, Haines,
you're hitting moall over my body---Hainesl
(Twitching violently with each shot, just as if he'd
been struck)
DOG simply stares at him with fascination.
FAWCETT: Hainest Haineet
Unable to bear the 'shots' any, more
FAWCETT seizes hio own gun andpoints
it at DOG.
DOG is at once on his feet.
DOG:
You-l It's guiit, you cockroacht
He wrenches FAWCETT's gun out of his
hand and flinge it aside, then wrestles
with hime
FAWCEIT fights franticaily.
At last DOG overpowers hin, on the
floor close to tho door.
DOG (lying on top of FAWCETT, breathlens) Who' 8-- Haines?
Who'e thie Haines?
FAWCETT (scening to recognise him slowly) Dog--
DOG:
The name's Wykham. Get that into your head-
Wykhan!
STUBB dashes in and almost tripe over
them. They struggle to their feet
and stare at hin in astonishment.
DOG (peering at hin) Whow-? (Passing his hand over hie face)
Christ-- I thought it was---a--newcomert
FAHCETT: So did It
DOG:
A new face!
STUBB:
It's always the same---Af I go away. for a ainute
you two fight! Every timet Like a couple of-
brothers! Dan't you?


DOG:
He jumps on me (abashed)t
FAWCEIT: He was firing at me---like in dreanst
They notice STUBB ie panting.
DOG (to STURB) What' you been running for?
STUBBI
I've got newasl
DOG:
Nevs?
STUBB:
She's firing at birdsi (He sits down on a chest
heavily) That'a the news. I vatched 'em falling.
DOG:
You sav--?
FAWCETTE Did you see. hor?
STUBB:
She bagged five in a row. Ijust Baw the birde.
They gaze "before them glumly. This is
bad news, especially for DOG.
DOG:
It's all disappointments up here-
STUBB:
Just like I caid---nothing talks to you up hore-
get that into your nutt
FAWCETT: So what do we do?
DOG:
Go back down---(with sorrow) There's nothing to stay
up here for-
A shot. They stare at each other.
STUBBI
Another bird.
DOG (reminiscing sadly) I asked a parson once--we was eitting
in church one afternoon---the sun was coming through
the stained glass--I said, 'Ien't God's face in the
moon, if BO, where's his feet?' And he said, "That'e
the face of mân, that's your face, son- Trust a
cockroach to take the guts out of lifel
FANCEIT: I can*t live without eonebody:
STUEB:
There's just Dave over there--and his cont
FAWCEIT: There's hor as wellt
STUBB:
It's only Dave says ehe's there. Iou know hov he
is-with a little twinkle in his eye!
FAWCEIT: Long Kartin says she's neatt with plenty in front,
and she had a big let-down in lovet


STUBB:
Long Martin's a pinpl
DOG:
He's no pimp!
STUBB:
What about that vad of fifty-dollar bille- she
said he hadn't Hayed a card all weekt
DOG:
You believe that?
STUBB (stoppings ecreving up his eyes) Hey- Wasn't it
you--who told mo that? (He stops again, looking
puzzled)
DOG io silent, thinking something over.
DOG:
And suppose she does shoot birds?
FAWCEIT: What?
DOG (to STUBB) Suppose she does? (to FAWCETT) Let hin
answer-he brought tho newe, after allt
STUBB:
It means--she's not in tune with uot
DOG:
You think bo? I'm not so suret I'd just like to
find out. (Looking across tho valley) What do you
say---(suddenly) Gabriel?
Àn immediate shot.
FAWCEIT (radiantly) Dogt
DOG:
Gabriell (A shot) Gabrieli (He says this one
vith firn confidence, his chin set)
And again there ie a shot.
FAWCETT: Gabriel!
Another shot.
They all three begin shouting Gabriel
and there is a volley of ohots as before.
They dance up and down happily chanting
the name as the volley contimes.
At last the shots cease. Thoy laugh
happily and sit dovn in a busy and
celebrativo way--it is like a happy
reunion.
DOGI
Well, thank God for itt That'e all I can sayt
Thank God for, a little gusdance-(winking at them)
with or without birdsl
The other two nod and laugh maturely
at thio.


FAWOETT: Does it make you feel peaceful again, Dog?
DOG (nodding) And clear.
FAWCETT: He, tool
The ràdio blinks again.
DOG:
My insidee feel all right-put it that way. Same
with you? (PAKCETT nods quickly 1ike a child trying
to please)
STUBB:
Like Fawcett oaid down at Pas, when we laid the bet,
remember?---"Somothing's got to cone out of the
cilence!'
A peuse.
DOG:
Another thing, It makes me hungry.
STUBB:
Me, tooi
The radio ceases blinking, unobserved.
DOGI
What about the beans-did you put 'èm in soak,
Mrs. Fawcett? (with a gay wink at STUBB)
FAWCETT doeantt answer. He Beems to
be thinking.
STUBB (mdging DOG happily) Ho forgot!
FAWCETT (deliberately) Mrs. Dave don*t. existt
DOG:
What? Now shut your moutht
FAWCENT: She-l
DOG:
Youtre spoiling it, youtrewt
FAWCETT: She don't exist!
DOG (desporately) I've seen her!
FANCENT: You said to Dave, "What you keep in that cabin over
there, Dave?', for a joke, and ho said, with that
little twinkle, FA womant' That'e all! Fa ajoke!
STUBB:
That'e righti I wanted to aak Young Dave but
(to DOG) you wouldn't let nel
FANCEIT (to STUBB) That's to keep his dreàn going! He's
driving un bushed, I tell you! Young Dave'11-bo
tho little Aahanti boy soont
DOG (to himself) Don't talk bushedt


FAWCETT: But it'll take some doing---a Canadian boy in the
bloom of sixteen, with bright yellow hair, and
trigger-happy, * to the son of a Gold Coast tribeomant
STUBB:
Dog could do it, don't you worry about thatt
DOG node, again thinking it over.
DOG:
Al1 I'd 11ke to know is this: what. difference does it
make? Something's there-call it a she-call it
Gabriel--!
There is a shot.
DOG (with increased confidence but atill ina level voice)
Call it-w-Dave'e whoro---it doesn't matter! Something's
talking to us, and that's all I'm interested in..
(Briskly) Nov, come on, get the lamps ready,
Fawcett---oteam ahend---you want us in darkness tonight?
He rises in a businesslike way and tho
others follow suit, with a glance at
each othero
STUBB:
It's always lampe when he loses confidencet
DOG (to STUBB) Have a look at the cacho---we don't want half
the grizaly population up those poles tonight---
it seems Fawcett can't use greasol
FANCENT: There's no more grease to use, I've told you that.
DOG (to STUBB) And look at the Smudge. Whose turn for patrol?
STUEB:
Mine.
DOG:
Then get to it. Have a look at the generators--
the towor-
STUBB stops on his way out.
STUBB:
The what?
DOG:
The generators.
STUBB:
What generators?
DOG:
You always say that! The ones outsidet
FAWCETT stande watching then as if for
the outcone of a contest.
STUBB:
Where?
DOG (impatiently) You haven't noticed anything--in three years?


STUBB:
There's--(he trails off dreamily)
DOG:
What would you call them?
STUBB:
I don't knov, I :
(With fear) Would you call
them towers? I'd say---masta--
DOG (interested despite hinself) Masta?
STUBB:
With kind of wings--that turn round and round-
not towers exactly..
DOG (hesitantly) I see them as towers.
STUBB (quickly) But what for?
DOG (taking thie as unfair) Shut upt
They stand there frightened by their
own talk.
DOG (to FAWCEIT) What would you say thoy was like?
FAWCEIT (engerly) I'a cay thoy was for the weather---maybe
weather detection--I
DOG (angrily) I didn't ask you what thoy was fort Nobody
acked you thati
FAWCETT'6 ansver bas increased his fear.
STUBB:
And what's the good of looking every day---concrete
tovers won't walk avay!
DOG (shouting at him) You knov your ordersl If you see a
stranger, shoot! Now get out!
STUBB (going out, rifle on shoulder) It's the only order we
ever got.
The other two stand watching him go.
They don't like to be reminded of the
outside.


Only DOG and FANCETT. FAWCEIT ie
preparing the guna and packs for hunting.
DOG stands scanning the other side of
the vàlley through a amall telescope.
He suddenly sights something.
DOG:
Hey! Look at thiet There's maili
FAWCEIT: Mail? (Running to the door) Hoy, Stubb---thero's
mailt
DOG (taking the telescope down) The last time it came was-
He acrows up his eyes painfully and
stopas he can't remémber.
STUBB appears, with his rifle, as if
from his patrol.
STUBB:
What's thet?
FANCETT: The flag's out! I'm expecting a letter frog-t
(He also stops)
DOG:
At Carlyle Street, Winnipeg, I got forty Christmas
cards one yeari I kept them on ay dresser for six
monthst
STUBB:
Remember that timo we danced all night--a new moon-
when some mail came up? We got double prico for our
pelts and nobody could tell us why!
DOG:
A war broke out downstairs, that's why! Is the
cacho 0.K.?
STUBB:
It won't hold more'n a week.
DOG:
Hear that, Fawcett?
FAWCETT: Stubb's our cache experti
DOG:
Like hell he iet You just don't like worki
Listen---Stubb and me'll sit upind today and cookt
You can eit by tho Creek ond pick 'em off!
STUBBI
I don't like the way Fawcott shooto---he's too deadlyt
DOG:
He 's a cockroach, that's why!,


FAECETT: I'm a stalker, really--I'm no good with the
flying speciest
STUBB (to DOG) Remember when he brought that noose-ran down
and we hadn't even seen it?
DOG:
Come on---there's shootin' to dol (As they inspect
their guns) Wire 0.K.?
STUBB:
Yes.
DOG:
Generator?
STUBB (nodding) Beats ne why we can't have light. Thore must
be a couple of million volts out there!
DOG:
Light's real, that's whys
STUBB:
They say Young Dave's a spy. He only bringo the
mail to spy on us. To sèe if we'ro still around.
DOG (squinting at him) Why, feeling nervous?
STUBB (hushed, making a gosture towarde the door) But what's
under that--?
DOG:
Shut up!
FAWCEIT (turning suddenly) Why shouldn't he ask questions?
DOG (turning on him an sviftly) Who can answer them?
FANCEIT: But--l
DOG (interrupting him roughly) Iou can'tt That'e for surot
FAWCETT: We had issue chairs and iosue lachbasins once, and
you had to burn the chairs--use the basins for
goldfishi Why?
DOGI
Because them things are real, that's whyl
FAWCEIT (wildly) I like reality !
DOG (gazing at him scornfully) You? And what are you going
to shoot with, realist? You've got no ammunition!
FAWCETT (baffled) There's ammunition there 0.K.1 (pointing
at the chost)
DOG:
Are you sure?
FAWCETT (making a nove towards it) I can look!
DOG (keeping him away roughly) Lay offi Ever since you elected
me Dog you've been giving me the glass eyel


FAWCETT: Eh?
DOG:
Find yourself ànother Dog, realist! And Bome
other dreamouee
He sits down an the chest heavily.
STUBB (nervously) Are wo going, Dog?
DOG:
k'm just tired of making it up, that's all...
FAWCETT (humbled) Is there anything wrong, Dog? Shall I go
ahead to the Creek? (Trying to be bright) Beans
for supper?
DOG:
I've got no more dreana to weave, boyo. (Looks fron
one to the other) There'e no Mrs. Dave. Just
sonebody out there shootin' birds.
STUBB:
We 1iko your dreans, Dog.
DOGI
Like hell you dol We're in a dead-end street, Stubbi
I've hold the office too long.
FAWCETT (gingarly) No, no.
DOG:
It's time to recollect, boysl
STUBB (knowing what this means) Oh, no, for Christ's sake-
not the Eskimo trance!
DOG:
She ain't there any morel (Calling) Gabriel? : *
No Gabriel. Yes, it's time to recollect!
He continues to eit there with a blank
face. It dawns on the other two that
this roally will be the Eakimo trance.
STUBB (drawing. back) Dogi
FAWCETT (also drawing back) Hey, Dog-
DOG contimues to eit there as if
forcing himself to lose conncioucness.
His head droops more every moment.
STUBB and FAWCEIT stand. close together,
gazing at hin in growing horror.
DOG's eyos close.
STUBB (in a whisper) Dog * Dog * e come backi
DOG's head slumps forward. He is
quite still. There is a long silence.


STULB (without moving) What do we do?
FANCETT (running to chnke DOG) Dog, it ain't truel She's
there all right! Mrs. Dave's theret
But DOG renains notionless.
STUBB (with romignation) € He's gono.
FAWCEIT (withdrawing again and speaking hesitantly) Dog--
shall we be naking up the books tonight?
STUBB bends down and speaks into
DOG's face.
STUEB:
Hainest (No reply) Wykhant Boillyl Stornford:
(Turning to FAECETTA What's the other one?
FAWCETT: Crampton.
STUBB:
Cramptont Crampton! (Ho raises himself slowly)
He's on tho white-bear stuff againt he's got to be
spewed out in bits and then put together again.
(Turning avay in diogust) Tchat
FAHCETT (persicting with DCG) Dog--I can't keep the booke like
you! Where's the rosta? Dog! (He turns to STUBB
in alarm) He takes tho signals fron Dave, don't
forget thati Dog---ve can't signall How do we get
tho provicions rp? Suppose there's an s.0.8.?
Listen, Dog--I think thero's an S.0.8.1 Right nowi
DCG ia motionless.
STUBB:
He'e the only man can talk to the husldes, toot
FAWCETT: Crampton! Bailly!
The radio blinke s.0.6.
STUBB (in alarn, seeing it) Crampton! There's an s.0,s.!
They both stare at the radio in horror,
until aftor a few seconds it ceases.
They relax a little.
FAWCETT: Don't you know one signal?
STUBB:
Not
Thoy stare at DOG with groving fear.
FAWCETT: Who handles the husky teams now, Dog? I feel coldt


Silence. They eit down and. glance
towardo the radio-no eignals..
STUBB:
He'll sit there till winter comes. That'a what the
Indians do! Remember what he always used to say?
'The Eskimo trance in the death of thé Torngarsoak,
which means the death of... (droweily) dreamss..'
FAHCEIT is, staring at. DOG in a fixed way.
FANCEIT (in a hushed voice) Hey--Stubb! Look at his head!
STUBB (starting) What?
FAWCETT: He looks like the man who camo to the vestry--
A man in the choiri
STUBB:
What arc you talking about?
FAWCETT: It's truoiI swear by Godt He Bays, 'I've followed
your career very close, Mr. Fawcett,* he saya, and
I'll have the cloth off your baci-' Standing thero
in the véstry-door! Hin big red beard- Iis head
hanging down 1ike that- Thoy called him the
shaggy mountain--- He dept the morala of the village
in hie head. Yet tbey say he died a profligate. He
disliked the competition from a priest, thoy Baid.
There wore too many women in the village---sufforing
from the sane desires, Stubb--I always used to call
them such loud desires!
STUBB:
What was his name?
FAWCETT: --Bailly, I thinks
STUBB+
Bailly?
FAWCETT (springing up and approaching DOG with fascinated
attention) It is Baillyt It'e his head--when
he diodt
He eprings back suddenly.
STUBB (frightened by this) What?
FAWCETT (shrieking) Dog, Dog-w-you can't die! Dogi
A long silence. Ho stande thore
trembling.


Gillis's Grunve
STUBB (guietly) Maybe that's how the boys at Hanson Crerk
died. Just--sat and died-(Looking round)
Per'aps we're deadt It's too quiet, Fawcett--
not a husky--or a birdi
They listen, quaking.
FAWCEIT (looking towards the vindow and whisparing) Gabrielt
Gabriell
STUBB (nudging FAWCEIT) Take his pulse!.
FAWCETT (drawing back) Not pot
STUBB:
You mst have done the last offices--to the deadi
FAWCETT (his toeth chattering) I 1
STUBB:
Was you a cockroach?
STUBB (threateningly) Was you?
FAWCETT: L-me -I--think a0m
STUBB:
You're buehedt
FANCETT: Put a glass under his nose-I done that to---to-
Baillyt
STUBB quickly rumages about in his
pocket, and finds a broken pieco of
mirror. He puts it under DOG's nose.
FAWCETT (whispering) Careful, Stubb-awthe last offices has
got to be carefull
STUBB studies the mirror for
Bome time,
afraid to get too close.
STUBB:
FAWCETT: Christ!,
STUBB (jumping back) DOGI DOG!
FAWCEIT (also shouting) Dogt
DOG is motionless.
STUBB;
He's spoofin'--1 reckon!
FAWCETT: That's itt He was holding hie breathi (A pause)
Do you think so?
STUBBI
I think he'ow--not dead.


FAKCETT (smiling) Well, thank God, thent You see, Stubb,
I think he needs us---I--? (Ie promptly goes and
sits down beside DOG in a confidential way) I did-
résent your power, Dog.' I never vanted you olectedt
You aldn't deserve that prison-sentence on the Gold
Conet! You aee, the Governor and me resentad the
way you spoke the longuage, we couldn't speak it, you
see. We tried to learn from the text-books but it
didn't work--we was jealous of your way vith the
natives! You didn't kill that little Ashanti boy,
did you? Ho keeps you good!
STUBB (bending down and speaking softly) You said you was going
to lead us to a place, Dog---remember? Three years
ago? When we laid the bet? (A pause; thon to
FAWCENT) Is he breathing?.
FAWCENT: Oh, he'o breathing!
STUBB (egain to DOG) You said we need five years of silenco,
remerber?
FANCEIT (with sudden dinillusion) We should never have cone up!
We should neter kave signed ont (Shouting at DOG
again) Dogi Dog! Wake up! (Shaking DOG
violently) Dog!
DOG remains still, slumped on the
armunition chest.
STUBB (shouting in DOG'6 ear) You ditched us, you ratt Now
wake upt
Ho aloo shakes DOG violently. AB he
dous so he hears somothing clink in
DOG's pocket. He stopo.
FAWCEIT: What's that?
STUBB seizes a little bunch of keys and
holde them up before hin.
STUBBI
The gunshot koysi
FAWCETT(radiantly) We'll shoot cur way across the valley-
tith audden resolve they both heave
DOG off the ammunition chest---a
tremendous effort-and leave him
slumped againet ono. of the other chosts.


STUBB (unlocking the chest) Hey, look at thist
FAWCETT: Bottlest
They atare insido the chest.
STUBB:
Wherots the gunshot?
FANCETT: It's ryet Bottles of ryel
STUBB seizos a bottle and tears the
top off, then drinks thirstily.
STUBB (gasping) God aave the King!
FAWCEIT (cackling) A couple of sips and you alwaya say that!
(Also seizing a bottle and drinking) Sing your
prohibition song!
STUBB (with great relish, an enormous anile on hio face)
Four and twenty Yankees, feeling very dry,
Went across the border to get a drink of rye,
When the rye was opened, the Yanks began to sing,
BOTH:
God bless America but God save the King!
FAHCENT (peeping at DOG) that'e he ever done oxcept feed us on
lies? 'Hrs. Dave's over thorel' (To DOG, defiantly)
Mrs. Dave don't existi And last year it was Young
Dave coning up with a contract fron Prince George to
naké us richt The year before that there was
redium in the valley! Then ho was on the run
every time a bear eniffed round the cache he said,
"That's the copst'
STUBR:
Shall I tell you sonething about Dog? (After
peeping. at DOG) Long Martin told me--four years
ago. He-went native with the Indians. (Peeping
cautiously at DOG again) Ate moose-meat with his
hands, had the lice pickod out of his hair. Lived
in their etink and 1iked it. Ho- --he---(lowering
his voice) came to my door in South London and said,
'I hear you'vo bin getting violent with the wife?'
'The wife? I saye. And the teara atarted pouring
down my facet He took me down tho.station and I
told hin about---Favcett--and he said---
FANCETT: Uccchi
STUBB (in an imploring way) that did you do it for, nate?


FAHCETT (drinking) Well--(forcing hinself to say sonething)
It wagme-the village---the women with all thèir
desirod---such loud desiros, I alvays used to say!
The village in Hales!
STUBB:
It was Scuth Londont
FAWCEIT: South Walost
STUBB:
London!
FAWCETT: Walesi
STUBB (giving in) All right, then. Fawcett---tell me about
her-
FAVCENTT: who?
STUBB:
My wifow
FAWCEIT: Well--I used to come in-
STUBB:
Yest
FANCEIT: Knock at the door--atart walking up the staire--!
STUBB (fascinated) Yes!
FAWCETT: She'a say, let me have'your cassock for the cloaners,
I'll come and get it--and chow!
STUBB:
Go ont
FAWCETT (suddenly refecting the fantasy) To hell with itt
(Shaking STUBB out of hio fascinated state) Don't
you realice---he'll have us bushed? We'll go bushed!
(Looking at DOG) Look what he's come to now!
STUBB:
Just to think, I used to go out of a. morning at five
o'clock aharp and walk down the road to the tram, and
they used to call me Mr. Stubb. And Joe at the works.
Or Josoph. The boss called mo Joseph. (A paune)
And I vent on the boose every Friday night, regular.
I never got rough but sho couldn't stick it after
near on fifteen years. (Disconsolately) 'You're
not fit to live in a street', che said, *You're-
you're---sahamed of it', she said.
FAWCETT: Ashamod of what?
STUBB:
-It. (In total disillusion) There never was a
lodgor. I wanted her to. But she eaid no.


FANCEIT (with the same disconeolate air) r I never did take
ordors. I was ohly in the choirs And Immliked
tho girlsw That'a all.
STUBB (turning to DOG) What do you say to that, Dog? What do
you cay to a drop of truth?
FAHCETT (whispering) Let's go down, Stubbi
STUBB (rising with a nod but still looking at DOG) You never
could beer to hear the truth about yourself, could
you, mate? Well, you'll get it now, all on your
own. You'll get your silence.
They begin to pack stonlthily, with
glances 'at DOG.
FAWCENT: Wonent Think of itt
STUBB:
And poople talking sanot
FAWCEIT: We'll get to Dave's before nightfall---tell him
Dog'd asleept
STUBB:
For evert
Thoy continus packing busily.
FANCETT: Hey--chat about gunshot?
STUBB:
Sash! (Glancing at DOG) We don't need shot-
not in daylightt
They hitch on their packss Ae they
do so a dog barks on the other sido
of the valley.
FAWCETT (whispering) Dave's huckiest
Their own huskies anewer, closo by.
They wait, fearful that DOG will be
disturbed.
STUBB (whispering) Come ont
They creep out, with a last glance at
DOG.
DOG is alcne. The huskies bark again
néar by. Then there is silence.
DOG is quite notionlese as before.


Suddenly there is a chot. It is
followed by another, then another,
until there is a volley.
The doge begin to bark frantically.
DOG shakes himseld avake.
DOG (looking round with a glare) Gonof
He jumps up with a tremendous bound
and stands with hio feet astride 1ike
a great animal, glowering.
Tho firing dies down.
DOG:
So that'e itt
Ho Gees the open ammunition chest, teara
out a bottle, then another; gazes at
them, and puts them back. He cees the
half-empty bottle they have left behind
them, seizes it, holds it up to the
light, and puts it down again.
DOG:
Gonet
He begins to calm down, picks up his
gun, which thoy have left lying on the
ground; leans it againot tho bed care-
fully, closes the chest with a violent
kick and sits down on it again.
Silence, as he gazes before him.
DOG (to himsolf) And I used to sweep the gravel at the
Governor's lodge--look at me now! (Takes a drink
from the used bottle) You liari (Pauses) Yos, old
King Prempel painted the walls of his polace with
human bloodt Gallons of itl But the Englich broke
him. They turnéd him into a cititen. (With a saile)
Like ne. They exiled him to an island in the
Indian Ocean, and when he came back he was talking
about public works.
He frowns as if trying to rocollect
something.
DOG (with effort) I could never bear to touch--a wonan!


He seens astonished at his own words
and looks round to see if there are
hearers.
DOG (looking up as if answering someone) fhat's that-w-I don't
like the truth? There's the truth! And I hope it
chokes you! They stoned mo-(almost weeping)
hissed at me? A poor darned whites (After
recollection) Liar. (Looke up at the aky and
whispera) Gabrielt
Silence. He noda in a resigned way.
Ho gazes before him in the eilence,
quite lost in memories, it. seems.
There is a movement close by and he
seizes his guna
DOG:
Who's there? (He waits, breathing heavily, his gum
pointed) Who'o there?
STUBB and FAWCET appear again. They
walk in cautiously. DOG lowers hio gun.
They appear shaken. DOG watches then
clonely as they put down their packs and
guns.
DOG:
How far d'you got?
STUBB:
Eago of the lakes
DOG:
Then?
STUBB:
We Baw Young Dave.
DOG:
You did? (They nod silently) What did he say?.
STUBB:
Ho--he---laughed at us- He just stood there and
laughed-w The teara was pouring down his face.
Ho was holding his Bidesa He couldn't help it. He's
a decent kid. He just couldn't help laughing,
DOG (gritting his teeth) r'11 give him laughl
Thoy sit down again and stare before
them in cilence.
FAWCEIT: Lhy did hë laugh, Dog?
DOGt
Because you'ré unfit for civilisation! Becanse
you're a couple of scarecrows. You're finished--e
you can*t go down to reality any morel That'e why.


FAWCETT: Thoy'd have drummed us out of Pas if we'd gone downt
STUBB:
Ho just atood and laughed. He couldn't get his
breath---he doubled upl And you couldn't blame hint
FAWCET: (to DOG) They'd laugh at you, toot
DOG (with sudden fury) I wouldn't try to go downt I wouldn't
try itt Get that into your mutt
A pause.
STUBB (pleasantly) It's. nice' to hear your voice again, Dog-
DOG (still to FANCETT) 'Women't Look at yourself in a nirror,
Casanoval
FANCENT strokee his chin in a self-
conscious way.
FANCETTE We need your help, Dog. Perhape you could choke
Young Dave off for us! a over the radio. Tell his
dad!
DOG:
Like hell I coulat You want the truth--you got
iti Out of the nouths of babes and sucklingo--
And 1'11 tell you eomething elcewhile you was out
butterfly-hunting I talkod the truth to nyself-
it'e getting quite a habit round heret Truth's a
two-way traffict
STUBB:
We tslked, too, Dog--while you was asleep.
DOG:
And what did you talk?
STUBB:
Well-
DOG:
No, just tell me, in the same. wordal Go ahendt
STUBB:
I- A (Glancing at FALCETT for help)
FAWCEIT: I éaid I was only---in the cloth---f
DOG:
Yes?
FAWCETT: I said I wasewd, (He can't go on)
DOG:
And that was the truth?
FAWCETT: That'e itt
DOG (with relentless nockery) I'm fascinatedt
STUBB:
I told Fawcett about the--I said she.always said--
'Xou'ro not moant- I said- About---fifteen
yeare--I---(le gives up)


DOG (nodding) Quite a confession, eh? And you had eone rye? :
STUBB:
That'e right.
DOGt
'Four and twenty Yenkees'? (STUBB node)
GOD SAVE THE KINGI (Imitating STUEB)
DOG finishes off with FAWCETT's cacklé,
and the other two Iook away, shanefaced.
PAWCETT (with sudden spirit, lighting up) And what wais your
truth?
DOG (momentarily off-guard) My ownt (Pointing to the eky)
For Godt
STUBB (finging the koys at him) You can have your rye-keyat
DOG:
Thanks.
They glover at each other.
STUBB:
Dog.
Dod:
Yea?
STUBB:
Young Dave had aome mail. A whole wad of it,
Sticking out of his pack.
DOG:
A vad of it?
STUBB:
That'e right!
DOG:
So where is he now?
STUBB:
I don't knowam We just rant
DOG:
Oh, you didt Heroost
FAWCITT: It seened like trapper's mail for a couple or three
yearsl
DOG:
We'll just have to wait, then--unless you acared
him off for goodt
STUBB:
I reckon all that shooting was jest Young Dave
coming over with the mailt
DOG:
You did? Realisti
STUBB:
And Dog--we talkod it over---(pointing at the
ammunition chest) We thought it was funny--
there's a lot of bottles theret
DOG:
And you thought you'd find gunshot?


STUBBE
That'a righti It seemed a lot of bottlesem
for an amunition chosti (trying to kid)
DOGI
Dan't you 1ike rye?
STUBB:
But that's a yearts supplyt
FANCETTS Dog--where's that gunahot?
DOG:
Hore-right. under ay--er- (lie amiles dofiantly)
FAWCETT: You moan-? (Ho Kives an alarnad glance at STUBB)
You traded the pelta for-t You traded all those
STUBB (staring at DOG) You aia what?
PANCETT: Therets no gunahoti Oh, Christ in heavent How
are we, going to live--eat---? God help us, Dogi
that's alli
DOG:
That's the idea--for God to help you--if he vente tol
FAWCETT: You're buahedt
STUBB:
He'e spoofin't Like the Eskimo trancel (laughing)
DOG laughs. with hin ironically, and thoy
both suddenly atop.
STUBB (leaping on him) You rat!
DOG pushes him off with a kick.
FANCETT: Suppose a grizely comes provling round---suppose one
of the juskies goos wild--?
STUBB: * You're bushed, bushedt
DOG (mildly) I can talk to huskies, you know that. And
gricalies never come near me
STUBB:
They might cone near uet
DOG:
Then put your faith in God, 1ike I dol
FAWCETT: There's ay ton-foot rod--just that---betveen us
and starvationt
STUBB:
'God', he sayal 'God's
DOG:
It'e funny-(quietly) I don't know why I did it.
I just had to. I radio-ed to Dave, *Give ae rye
this time. It'11 belp un dreant'
FANCETT: And there waB me cleaning the gung


STUBB:
Well, we're stuck now.
DOG:
Why stuck? Go on downt LAke you started doing!
STUBB:
Suppose we neet a grizely?
DOG:
It'o laughter
you're afraid oft Gunshot won't
keep
APPENDIX B
STUBB:
Ànd Da ve allows it
How' are we to shoot strange rs ?
ASE
Doda:
Well, maybe (with a broad smile) I could
on a few rounds, for purposes of
lay my hand S
some thing we can all riso to.
murder. That's
FANCETT:
What---7 Dogs Dogs uranticarBILYALESLHI
toara) My rod-y rod--i
He dashes to hie bed in search of hie rod.
STUBB:
Iou're bushedi
DOG:
Leave gunshot for the people downstairs, Stubb-
you're a mild man-e (Laughing)
FAWCEIT (to STUBB) He's done itt He's stolen my rodt
He seires his gun and pointe it at Dog.
DOG (quietly) Shoot met I like being shot---it's my weakneset
FAWCEYT pulle the trigger and there is
only a click.
FAWCEIT (finging the gun avay) I'm going down--I'11 get there
tonight if it kills mel (Picks up his pack arain)
Come on, Stubbi
STUBB doesn't move.
DOG:
He's scared of grizzlies.
FAWCEIT:
Stubb!
STUBB doesn't move.
FANCETT (to STUBB) How are we going to live, then?
STUBB only shrugs indifferently.
DOG (to STUBB) Remember whèn we got your love-letter neer on two
years ago? And we laced ourselves with rye all night,
and sat round a fire and listened to the sound of the
trees and then watched the sun come up? And you
wouldn't read your letter--the only letter we ever
gotm-tho only time Dave's red flag went upt


STUBB:
That's your idea, tool-the red flagl When we've
got a radiol
DOG:
But we'll read our lottors this timewwwand drink ourselves
round the clockt (to FAWCETT) Non, come on, eit down-
Let's talk the trutht It makes ne feel good.
FAWCENT: (taking off his pack again and shaking his head) You're
bushed, Dog-- You're bushed and God knows where
it's going to endi
DOG:
What did ehe urite a love-létter for, Stubb, if she's
having a: joy-ride on the lodger every night?
STUBB (hanging his head) The iodger don't exist-
DOG:
Aht (to FAWCITT) Io that what I missed?
FAWCEIT:
You was avakei (Scoffing) Eskimo trancet
STUBB (continuing in samo vein) She wants me back. She loves me.
DOG (holding out the bottle to hin) Here-wash the truth downt
STUBB (with subdued ferocity) What about your truth?
DOG:
Oh, that'll come in timel (Suddenly, to FAWCETT)
Expecting mail?
FAWCETT:
Not
DOG:
I thought you wanted to talk reality?
FAWCETT:
There---you was avake--I said oo!
DOG:
I was more awake than I've even been before---now who's
that letter from?
FAWCEIT (vincing under his glaro) Well-Y alvays expected ny
old mum and dad to write.
DOGE
Didn't they ever?
FAWCETT:
Back in Vancouver they did. They hate me-
DOG:
thy?
FAWCETT:
They think I'm richt They think I'm doun in Vancouver
with a cheroot in ny mouth, living in the whorehouse,
ay feet up! I used to send then a postcard every
yoar--to keop 'em happy-a hotel--a nice garden--
something de luxo. So thoy think I'm rich! Thoy
think, 'Ho doesn't give us a centi And he's rich
like that!'


DOG (slyly) Not even as a cockroach wasn't you rich, Fawcett?
FAWCETT:
I- (He staros cadly before hin)
DOG:
FANCETT:
I waan't in the cloth.
DOG:
Therel
FAWCENIT:
They wanted me to, badly. First the choir, then a
course in theology--
He breaks off, waiting for DOG'e
next question.
DOG:
*They', Fawcett? Who'e *they'?
FAWCETT:
Well-
DOGI
Your aum and dad?
FANCETT (at the dead botton of hie morale) I haven't got no num
and dad.
DOG (soothingly) You are rich in a way, Fawcett. You live in
ono of God's loveliest hotel-gardens--I
FAWCETT (looking rond him) I feel coldt
DOG (with a pleasant chuckle) It's as hot as you'll over get it
this latitudel
STUBB (guietly, oyeing DOG) Now it'a your turn.
FANCETT (excitedly) Are you expecting mail, Dog?
DOG:
P'rape. p*raps I amt
FAWCETT:
An arrest?
DOG:
No. Only tax evasion. That'e from Winnipeg.
From the old prospecting daye. And a police-
summons fron Mackenzie Bay--drunk and disorderly.
A guy froa Eskimo Point owes me three hundred dollars.
He aight be writing to apologise. He aid once or
twice, down at Pas.. Very serious letters. That'e all.
Silence.
STUBB:
What about the murder charge?
DOG (blinking rapidly) Murder charge?
FAWCETT:
Ie your name clear, Dog?
DOG (pcreving up his eves) I think 60, yesl


STUBB:
Was you ever in Kumasi?
DOG (after a long pause, hanging his head so that his eyes aren't
soen) No.
STUBB:
What's your name?
DOG ahakes his head dumbly.
FANCETT (encourngingly) But, Dog-meif there's no price on your
head, we can go dow---ud're free--you can load uB
down--you know how! :
DOG (in a murmur) You'd bo laughed at juot the sames
STUBB:
P*rape not with you!
DOG (zulling at his ovn beard impetuounly) Look at thie!
STUBB:
That'sa good beardt
DOG:
You don't see tem any moret Not thie big! And
what's your destinaticn?
FANCETT:
Fort St. John---Prince Georget
DOG:
And Amy's whorehouse?
FAWCEIT:
That's right!
DOG:
Where we éat and laid the bet?
FANCEIT (enthusiastically) Yes!
DOGI
The 'truth'!. They want the trutht.
A doubtful paise..
STUBB:
Whare olse, then? Amy's atill theret
DOG:
You're thinking of the construction days, Stubbl
STUBB:
What's that?
DOG:
*What'e that?' You waen't alive in construction daye,
that's whati Fort St. John---Prince George---Ang's
whorchouse---they don't existt That'e whatt
FANCETT:
Fort St. John don't exist?
DOG:
Not your Fort St. John! I know a railroad track,
some hotels, a Board of Trado, some churches, stores-
FAWCETT:
What about that?
STUBB:
I---can't remember'
DOG:
How do you talk the truth if you can't ramember what's
true?


STUBB:
There's Amy's saloon-we
DOG:
The Port Douglas Hotell They don't aven call it
saloon any morot
FAWCHIT:
And Berkerville-
DOG:
'Barkervillo*t
STUBB:
Kelly's Rotel- Remember the tailinge along
Williams Creek? I reckori they turned that gravel
over a thousand tines---polishod and bright! That's
DOG (mocking) "That's itt'
FAWCEIT:
Barker took six hndred thousand dollars in gold, so
they say-
DOG:
'And laid the seed of British Columbial*
FAWCEIT: That's it!
STUBB:
Richfield--Walker's Gulch---Muggete as big as your
hand--Antler Creek---Low Hee-
DOG (taking up the recital) Conklins Gulch- Remember the
Roger's Restaurant---the tin shop-a-?
STUBB:
That'a itt
DOG:
The Occidental Hotel- The Browery Saloon?
STUBB:
Yeal
DOG:
You remember pioturest You remember dreans, Stubbi
A hundred years agot But I thought you was after the
truth now?
FANCET (with his startled look) What's the truth?
DOG:
Thie- --Barkerville's a muneun-piece from the goldrush
dayst It's a dream that brought you to Canada-
that's whatt Any's whorehouse don't exist! You
laid a bet in the backroom of the Port Douglas Hotel,
drinking ryel With businessmen all roundi White
collarst. Christian mission workerst Train timo-
tablest A fellor fron the civil airlinest A couple
of schoolmerms drinking port and lemont That's whati
(Chackling to himself) And Any used to cloan out your
rooms, you licet No shooting, no cursing--I No
Flaning Ethelt


FANCEIT (starting up) Flaning Ethel, shewl
STUBB:
Thoy both stope
DOG:
She existed all right---before you waB born-
*with the most miniaturest 1ittle revolver you've aver
seen in her stocking'-
STUBB:
I've seen horw
DOG:
That was a piece froa the north of England our here
on a. drean 1ike youl You only called her Flaming
Ethell
FAWCENTS
Because she had red hairt
DOG:
That'a xightt And they took her away far disinfestationt
Then they put her on miasion-work among the Indians.
Stubb-they go prospocting in helicopters nowadayst
STUBB:
You don't soo helicoptors round heret
DOG:
What would they want round herommcit and watch you
going buched?
FANCEIT (bitterly) What about the great white bear--the two
yeers fast at Carlyle Street, Winnipog? Tell me
that's not a dreant
DOG (quietiy) You take your choice, Fawcett.
FAWCETT:
And the Torngarsoak!
Thoro is ailonco.
STUBB:
What could we do dovn below, Dog?
DOG (grinly) Hang yourself in a white collart You vanted it
vild when you came up here and you've got itt
STUBB:
Long Martin was wild all right-we staked our claine
north of the Ingenika River---high-grade ore
DOGt
But you went north by traine And Lang Martin got
back to Vancouver by military planes
FANCETT:
What are you trying to prove?
DOG:
That the construction days aro overt If you want to
go downs go downi---but there'o just streets. Streets.
Town councils---owago plans--prostitution lawsom
wives to hook you---politics---newspapers! (Fixing
FAMOTE with hia eyea) Don*t you remembor?


FAWCETT (awkwardly) You've got to sign certificates---spocial
licences---that kind of thing?
DOG:
That kind of thing, yes! You're on the wrong side
of the law up hére, Fewcett! Shall I tell you why?--
because you're freet
FAWCENT nods gravely.
FAKCETT:
Perhaps those three fellers at Gillis's Grave got
caught by a squall--like you get on the lake---the
sky goes black before you can turn the boat round-e
DOG:
They weren't in a boatt
FAWCETT: I thought you said---l (He stops)
STUBB (eagorly) Dog---is that Peace River plan still on?
DOG:
Suret
STUBB:
A fur farm---lynx---fishers--some silvers---some
black fox-
DOG (still watching FANCETT) You're breaking the law all the
tine, Fawcett. You go stalking in Junet Did you
know that was outside the moose-season?
FAWCETT:
DOG:
Can you tell me when the moose-season starts?
FANCETT: No.
DOG:
After how nany years? (With disgust) Septenber 15tht
FAWCETT: I reckon if a fat noose walks into your territory he
wanta to be eatent (With his cackling laugh) In or
out of season!
DOG (watching the other two in silence) Why do you two follow me--
first for dreans, then for truth?
STUBB (looking up: at the sky and shivering) It ceens to be blowing
up colat
FAWCETT (startled) That'e what I thought! You never know what
weather you're going to get. Remember that day it
stayed dark till two in the afternoon?
DOG (cynically) It was dark because you was dead asleep--
FAWCETT (indignantly) We noved around with lampae--l
DOG (beyond his tether) What about it? What'a the good of
remembering?


STUBB (quietly) I don't like it full moon. It Beems-
dangerous--- Them towers seen to movel
DOG:
What towers?
STUBB:
They--I
FAWCETT (frantic) Shut up!
FAWCLIT sits there shivering. The
others seem unaware of this cold.
DOG (pleasantly) Listen to that eilence. You can't break a
eilence like that. Do you notice, the animals never
try? They squawk and bellow but the noises just
sink in.
STUBB nods vigorously
FAWCETT (seeing STUBB's nod) That's right!
DOG:
1 told the silence a mouthful while you was away. I
said I couldn't never bear
noment
he aeems
to falter) touch a wonan.
STUBB (laughing deliberately) Go oni Nobody'd say you was a
pouf if they'd Been you with Flaming Ethel down at
Pas, eh, Fawcett?
FAWCETT:
That's rightt
STUBB:
I heard she nearly pulled her pistol on you in the
acti And she said, 'Do you want my blood as well?'
Do you want my bloodt
DCG (delighted vith the bogus menory) That's right!
The atmosphore of nake-believe starts
again.
FAWCETT:
That was the time Long Martin jumped over a cubicle.
and landed an May and a de luxe prospector from
Winnipeg! He was blind that night! He said the
prospector had her knickers and high-heeled shoes on
and she was painting hin red!
DOG (chuckling) With her rouge-stick!
FAWCETT:
Thoy used to charge all-night prices therel Rose
never would take an all-night cuetomer if she could
help it. Remember that? She said you had to be a
wife évery tine---and she wasn't that unfaithful,
not to change husbands six times a woeki


DOG:
She had a kind of a wit, don't-you think 80---Rose?
FAWCETT:
She didi
STUBB:
Remember the guy who used to sit her on his knees for
a couple of hours and then go away? They say he had
it shot away in the war.
FAWCETT:
He was scared, that's all! He was palè, you remember?
His eyes moved a lot, they seemed to be floating all
the time---vory dark, very soft!
STUBB (quietly) You're talking about Long Martin.
FAWCETT:
Am I?
STUBB:
That'a how the pimps start. No interest in sexi
FAWCETT:
I remember--I
DOG (auddenly) Stop remembering!
Silence.
STUBB:
Young Dave's never been this long.
FAWCETT:
If we're leaving, Dog--shall I damp the smudge down?
DOG:
No, let it otay!
FAWCET:
And start a forest fire? It hasn't rained in two
montha!
DOG (angrily) It's all right, I tell you---it's dying every
minute, just the same!
The radio begins blinking again, s.0.S.
FAWCETT (to STUEB) What's the matter with hin?
STUBB (seoing the radio) There's a signal, Dog.
DOG:
You'll get your signals soon enough!
FAWCEST (approaching the radio) I'll answer it.
DCG (bellowing) Leave it alonel (Murauring to hineelf) Long
Martin-- (To STUBB) Perhaps you'd 1ike to go into
partnerthip with him again--when we go down?
STUBB:
Pimping?
DOG:
In the mail-order racket! He took a room eix foot
by ten in a seven-storey house in Bridge Street,
Vancouver---he rubbed blanco in his collar to get it
white--and he sent out envelopes---he- (Stopping)
You're looking Bovsad!


FAWCET (guietly, as if to protect STUBB) Long Martin has a
couple of the brightost whorehouses in the North
West Territories, ian't that right?
DOG:
Like hell he hast He never oven had a secretary!
And he caid to you (to STUBB), if your memory
atretches back that far, he said, *Come in with me,
we'll advertise our pelta-in the small-ads colum
in the Vancouver Times, we'll give a mail-order number,
and we'll send 'em bad pelts for cut pricest' What
a hero! And he went round all the stations from
Mackenzie Bay to Eskimo Point picking up bad peltal
And the business caught like a forest fire! It went
from bad to better, and from better to low-down crooked,
and now he's a rich man! And you was his white-
collared worker---you wiped his business clean evory
day!
STUBB (hanging his head) Doesn't sound like Long Martin to net
DOG:
Not the Long Martin you've been cooking up for
yourself for three years!
The radio-signal ceases.
FAWCETT:
I alwaya heard he's got the fattest whores in Prince
George! It was Dave broke the news---remember that,
Stubb?
STUBB:
Do It /
FAWCETT:
*He's gone prospecting in petticoatal'--talk about -
laughi
STUBB:
And the night Long Martin played Flaming Ethel---
they didn't take their eyos off the dice for two
whole nights---and that'e where he got the money!
DOG:
I'll striko a bargain. Tell me the truth abaut
Long Martin and we'll go dow---I'1i shave off my
beard at Dave's and I'll march you into Pas like a
victorious arry---we'il make a fortune on a white-
fox farmi
STUBB (radiantly) You promise?
DOG:
If you tell the truth! (Relentlessly) It'e got
inside mel O.K.?


STUBB and FAHCETT glance at each other.
STUBB:
DOG (to FAWCETT) First---your list of Long Martin's whores-
you.remember?
FALCEIT (eagerly) Yest
DOG:
How did you draw it up?
FAWCEIT (in alarm) I-
STUBB (impatiently) Tell hint
FANCETT:
From---from the girla in the village---South Wales-
thew--the fat ones-
DOG:
Thankst And now (to STUBB) I want this one quick--
what's Long Martin's mail-order address?
STUBB (with lightning speed) Best Pelts Ltd., 24 Bridge Street,
Vancouver.
DOG:
Like a puppy! Goodi
STUBB:
Nov do we go down?
DOG:
Without the mail? We'll wait for that---then go down.
FAWCEIT (irritatod) Mail-
A long silence.
STUBB (burying his head in his hande) We'll wait a hundred yoarst
Suddenly there is a shot, ayite close by.
STUBB:
It'e hin!
They all lieten.
FAWCETT:
What's he shooting his way up for?
DOG (laughing) He'G blazing a trail for your mya and dad's
letters!
STUBB (with sudden resolve) I don't want letterst
FAWCEIT (jumping up at once) Nor nel
STUBB (also jumping up) Let'd got
DOG (alarmod) You'll otay herel
They stop in the act of picking up
their packs.
STUBB (to FANCETT) He'B scaredi


DOG (abached) We'll go down together. I'a leading you--is
that right? Who else can fix it up with Dave?
You're on contract, remember!
STUBB (seeing a bargaining point) Well, it's got to be quickt
DOG:
He's nearly herel Can't you tell by the shot?
He's down by tho Creeki Now take it easy-
Easy-- What about another bottle of- (laughing
with an effort) gunshot? Eh?
He: jumps up and opens the chest, pulla
out another bottle while the other two
watch him suspiciously.
FANCETT:
It's been a long time.
STUBB:
FAWCETT:
Three yearel
DOG (handing them the 'bottle after opening it) Horel
STUBB:
FAWCETT (also chaking hia head) It disagrees vith né. (Suddenly
getting an idea) Perhaps they died of a jag---1
DOG:
Who?
Gillis's Gruve!
FAWCETT: The fellers at linseer Craoki Suppose they drank all
night---the mail comos up the night before---they went
out stalking and just--sat there and died-of boose-
DOG nods with a kind of disgust as he
puts the untouched bottlé on the table.
STUBB (to DOG) Was the lotters read?
DOG:
I don't knowl
STUBB:
I mean, was they opened?
DOG (impatiently) The rats ate 'em up, BO how do I know?
Another shot, even closer.
DOG:
Theret What did I say?
They look in tho direction of the
shot, run to the door.
FAWCETT (calling out) Is that you, Young Dave?
They wait but there is silence.


STUBB:
You there, Dave?
DOG (sharply, his voice much stronger than tho others) Gabriel!
The othere gape at him.
STUBB:
Liaten to that, 'Gabriel't
FAWCEIT: (suddonly turning on DOG) It was you got us up herel
*Gabriel', 'Gabriel': Who you calling. to--who you
been calling to for three years, for Christ's sake?
(Screaming at the top of hie voice) You big, fat,
two-faced, bearded poufi Tim
it don't
There ain't no civilisation you cockroach!
DOG (also shouting) exist! It's make-believe, down there!
They're all the same as us
FALCETTS k-sowabeen on a jag and the town looked dead, BO you
laid a bet---'Something's got to come out of the
silence', you said. Like hell it didl Like helli
STUBB (quietly) It was you said that, mato.
FANCETT (turning on him also) Said what?
STUBB:
About the silence. Down at Pas.
FANCETT (staring at him) Me?
STUBB:
That's right! You*d just been offered a job on
road-haulage and it scared the shit out of yout
So you càno up heret
FAWCETT:
Dog was offered the job!
STUBB:
Dog was working in the municipal---!
DOG (going for him) Nov, then, you rat---l
STUBB (fumping avay) In the municipal office-- (speaking quickly)
sewage department---checking up on the road mendersmee
ten dollars a weekt
He stando there penting with the effort
and they all seem to share the
exhaustion.
DOG cuddenly dashea to the bottle,
picks it up and takes a long draught.
DOG (gasping) It's the memory that goes---they say it'a the
first thing---there's too much silence!


STUBB:
You remember all right!
DOG:
I feel cold- (shivering) dead coldt -
FAWCETT:
That's what I said just nov! And yoia said it'o as
hot as you'll ever get this latitude!
DOG (eitting down on thé chest again, hugging hinself up) Got
the fire laid for tonight?
FAWCETT:
We're going, you said!
STUBB:
We're in a fix if we don't go down-without gunshot!
FAWCETT:
That's right! (to DOG) What do we eat? The beans'll
be out by the end of the week, the moose-meat's nearly
gone! (Bending down and talking to him fiercely)
That's like you, isn't it---letting us starve to
death like the boys at Gillis's Grave, by Manson
Creek---thero's the creek just below---do you want us
to do the sane-?
DOG (bursting out anerily but still shivering) To hell with your
storieal *Hanson Creek'- 'Gillis*s Grave'-
how long are you going to cling to that one?
FANCDTT:
It's your etory--the rusty frying pan, the letters
nailed to the table eaten by rate---that's youret
DOG:
And you believe itt You put your own lying stories
in my mouth and then say thoy're truet
FAWCEIT (gasping) I---t
STUBB:
It's true all right---I heard it from a guy at
Coldwater Creak---stories about death are alvaya truel
DOG (fiercely) I'll cast you two in the truth and leave you
stinking of it-like men in a bogi (He goes very
guiet) They'll never lot us back. Get that in your
nuts.
They both stare at him.
STUBB (in a whisper) what'e that?
A hush falls on them. FAWCENT casts
his eyes round in the silence.
DOG (also whispering) Remember what Dave said three years ago?
'I'm looking for guys who've given up.' And he shot
me a wink. *Like you,' he said.


STURB (trembling) Hey, does that Young Dave wear a fall-out
suit? He seemed to--i
FAWCETT (shrieking) Shut upl Shut up! (A pause) How*d they
give us spporannuation if we wasn't going back?
DOG (still quietly, gazing at hin) To lead you on. 'Keep
yourselvos amused up. there', he Bays. Remember?
'I'll teach you how to trap, etretch the pelte.
Take a gun apiece. A fishing rodi I'll give you
a pack of huskies.' Roriember?
FAHCETT (bowed) No.
DOG:
'Al1 you got to do', he says, 'is answer the radio
four times a day, koep the grass round the atation
trimaed, patrol once an hour and-keep your rotten
mouths shuti Remenber?
STUBB (terrified, with a gesture towards the door) What's under
the concrete?---them towers-?
DOG:
He didn't cay.
STUBB:
What did you sign on for, Dog?
DOG:
We all aidi
The hush continues.
FAWCETT (suddenly) I'1l go down tonight if it kills me, I'il
mako Dave's cabin and kip there the night, I'll go
alone, B0 help me Godi
DOG:
God'll help you all right if you can help yourself---
but be careful of that silence on your way over, that'a
all, Fawcett---mind you don't got wobbly kneest
FAWCETT:
You come with me, Stubb---the silence nakes me giddy--
I have to start shouting---they'1l pick me up for
cragy---let's go down, Stubbl
DOG:
We only foed each other with dreamst - Alone we're
real! Go ahead---go down---we'll all go down alonel
STUBB:
Are you bushed? We've got no gunshot! I can't
talk to huskies--by Christ (to FAWCETT) He's leaving
us, Fawcett-- He'sw-l
DOG, suddenly seeming his advantage,
seizes his pack and nakes às if to
leave.


STUBB:
He's doing it, Fawcett-- Dog, Dog, come back-
we can't handle the huskles---Dog, Dog!
DOG (stopping) What do you want me for? I'm not gunshot!
STUBB (exhausted) te just need you.
FAWCEIT (surrendering) You're--in with the ailence, Dog.
You seen to know about it..
DOG (throving dovn his pack vith a glad gesture) All right!
FAWCENT:
Thank Christ!
DOG:
Anyway, maybe hete dead---noved to another town-
another---civilisationt
STUBB:
Who's the'?
DOG:
Long Martin.
FAWCETT:
The petticoat-dealer!
DOG (turning on hin ficrcely) And you--what'1l-you live on?
Going back to lavatory-attendant in Vancouver?
FAWCETT (stunned) Dog-
DOG (relentlesaly) Maybe the hole you drilled through to the
ladiest layatory ie still theret
FAWCET (staring before hin) It was Wales-
DOG:
You didn't stir out of Britinh Coluabia till you was
turned twenty-threet And Christ knows who gave birth
to yout
STUBB (laughing auddenly) A tap---a Fawcett!
DOG (with disgust) Grin your bloody head offi
A ahot, close by. Thoy jump.
FANCETT:
They ahould take that gun out of his handet He'e
triggor-happy!
STUBB (to DOG) And what about you--what'1l you go back to?
DOG:
STUBB (contimuing) He cones out to do the big prospecting job--
sails from Southampton in a de luxe liner carrying
coal---and thoy give hin a job at the Town Hall in
Wimnipegt A job listening to the aseistant sewage-
officer talking big about Eakinos and the king of
Kumasi who painted the walle of his palace with
human bloodi


DOG (quietly) You look ugly when you say that.
STUBB:
I feel sick, more likelyt
DOG:
That's disgust at yourself!
They glara at each other.
FAWCEIT:
I just feel dead-the air feels dead, do you know
what I mean? I can't smell the pine-firs any more
(he miffs)---Just about now you can snell the lake,
usually--when the wind changes, as the sun starte
its downward course, as the guy down at Pas used to
The other two contime to glare at
each other.
DOG (still to STUBB) Why don't you finish it? How he took
à wife-e-?
STUBB:
I was leaving it to yous
DOG:
And couldn't do it-got half-way and couldn't do
STUBB (corry now) Well, you don't have to blame yourself-
Silence.
FAWCETT:
There don't seem a reason for doing anything;
(Pointing at the bottle) Even the rye-it's just
liquid! Eh, Stubb?
DOG (in a dried-up, eucken voice) We'll leave. I'll tear up
the contract with my own hands!
STUBB (in a whisper) Leave, now, Dog?
DOG:
Yes.
FAWCETT:
We won't wait for the mail?
DOG:
STUBB and FAWCETT réach out for their
packs, watching DOG for a move.
STUBB:
What do we do with the rye, Dog?
DOG (in the sane voice as before) Lock it up.
STUBB:
We lock the cabin?
DOG:
What's that?
STUBB:
We close the cabin up?


DOG:
No, leave it open for the boy. (Strangely) He's.
young and greeni..
FAWCETT (as STUBB takes up his gun) What's the use of guns
without ohot?
STUBB (strapping up hie pack) They're weapons just the sane.
DOG watches them listlessly aB they
prepare their packa again.
DOG:
Don*t forget the frying pan. We'll need to cookt
STUBB (turning) What's that?
DOG:
The frying pan.
STUBB:
Ohl The frying pan, Faucett!
FAWCETT nods and abaently takes it
down and begins etrapping it to the
back of his pack.
STUBB (hastily) We'll hit the other eide of the valley by
nightfall---there's 1ight enough---!
DOG:
He'll be there--with his poliohed white collart
Renember thatt
STUEB:
I don't have to Bee hint
DOG:
I heard of a man once, he filled in seventy thousand,
nine hundred and forty-two onvelopea!
FAWCETT (turning) That was Stubbf
STUBB (stopping his preparations) I used to hate that wall--
more than anything--it was dirty yellow---and the
way Long Martin used to cough---every day, every
hour of the day- (he imitates a terrible dry cough)
the way he used to put his finger round the insido
of his collar on the hot daysI had to get out, Dog!
DOG:
And youtre going back to that?
STUBB (helplessly) I couldn'tt
DOG:
You was talking through your enot about ne just now
in the sewage department---do you expect me to go
back to that?
There is a shot in the distance.
FAWCETT:
He's further offt


STUBB:
Haybe he'a lost! (To DOG) We could answer his.
shots with ours.if you hadn't traded our pelts for
rye this morningt
FAWCEIT:
That was yesterday! We've been two daye without
gunshot!
STUBB:
It was this dorning-
(But he ien't sure)
DOG (to STUBB) I'll tell you why you won't go to Long Kartin-
because you owe hin close on seven hundred quidt
STUBB:
What?
FAHCENT:
You owe Long Martin that, Stubb?
STUBB (to DOG) Hent? when 2
DOG:
The date makes no difference! A couple of thousand
trapping days ago-a couple of eternities!
STUBB (dazed) Soven bundred-
DOG (to FAWCETT) That leaves you, lavatory-man---to go back to
your hole in thé wall---alonet
FAWCEIT (as if to cover this up) I never heard about Stubb.
ouing any soven hundred quidt
DOG:
Not about Long Martin vaiting down in Pas for him,
saying he won't put him in gaol, he'll take hin into
partnership again---on half-pay-- for fourteen years,
until his bails have shrivelled to the eize of peast
That was Long Martints ovn expression!
STUBB:
What would I need that noney for?
DOGI
To pay your wife for leaving her in the shit twenty
yeara back---l
A eilence during which FAWCEIT gazes
at STUBB cympathetically.
STUBB:
The lodger-
DOG:
There was no lodgeri There was Hr.. and Mrs. Stubb-
nobody even looked at her in the butcher's every
morningt
STUBB:
I never sent her nothing. No noneys only letterst
DOGs
You loft that to Long Martini That's what you didt
And it piled up until he had you in a corner where
you couldn't movet


STUBB (with audden decioion) I ain't going downl
DOG:
Like hell you ain'tt
They lieten again. Nothing.
DOG (in a lover voice) Let's go up, noy downt
STUBB (startled) Up?
DOG:
We'll find another cabin further upt Beyond the vire.
FAWCETT (nervously) It's an ideal
STUBB:
DOG (with a chuckle) Give ne that rye, lavatory-man!
FAWCEIT hands hin the bottle and DOG
takes a drink.
FANCETT (looking at him affectionately) You know, you'ro still
our Dog. You always will be. It'e something a
man's born with.
DOG hands the bottle back to him and
FAWCEIT closes it again carefully.
STUBB:
We'll freeze to death up theret
DOG:
It did me good to trado that gunshoti--- I've always
hated guns!
FAWCENT:
You could never shoott
DOG (indignantly) I used to be a markaman in the war---at five
hundred yards I-l
STUBB:
You waan't in the wart
FAWCEIT (gazing at the bottle he has just closed) I never used
to got real drunk--weven on a week'a jag. I always
had oné eye open--l
DOG:
Like hell you did---one lavatory-eyo!
STUBB:
We could go to Dave's-kip there the night-see
what he saye about noving on--try di town we've
never seen beforet
FAWCETT:
There's lote of towns I wouldn't 1ike to see again!
DOG:
He, toot Vancouver, Winnipog--!
STUBB:
Eskimo Point, Prince George, Past The whole damn lot!


A shot, close by againe They jump.
They stare at each other in horror.
STUBB:
Suppose he's bringing bad novl
DOG:
Sassh!
They listen intontly.
DOG (in a lovered voice) I don't 1ike the way he's--moving
FANCETT:
What?
DOG:
Suppose it'a not one at allt Suppose it's severalt
FAWCEIT (frightened) How could that be?
DOG:
Suppose they're signalling---one eide of the valley
to the other---closing in?
STURB (uncomfortably) You're bushedi
FANCETT:
Wa've got no gunshott
They liston again.
FAWCENT (bursting out) Io there a price on your head ar not?
DOGt
What about hin? (Pointing at STUBB) He's wanted for
Beven hundred quidi They'd surround a place for that!
FAWCENT:
We're wanted for the war maybe---chirkding the var-l
DOGI
The war was-when? (He stops, perplexed)
STUBB:
Long Martin's too lazy. And he aight be dendi
I tell you, it didn't seem like seven hundred--
more like-
FAWCETT:
How much, Stubb?
STUBB:
Fivel quid!
DOGI
'Fivett Fivo a weok for thres yearat
FAHCENTT:
I never was married, Eo I can't tollt (With his
startled look)
DOG (burving hic head in hia hande) I don't want to be with you
two any noret
STUBBI
We can't wait for this mail all nightt
They listen again. And again they
relax a little in the silences


FAWCETT (to DOG) The air feols dead up here--there's nothing
moving--I (Frightening himself) Haybe we're
radio-active! It's got in our bones---driving us nad!
STUBBE
Shut up!
DOG (his hoad still buried) 'You're as 1imp as a rag', * she said,
*why the hall did I narry you?--at that dance I
thought you had a truncheon in your trousers---and
now lookt* That'e what ahe said-
The other two gaze at him. Thoy sit
down again. Silence.
FAWCEIT (qguietly) We used to have quite a ritual round here.
Renember what Dog used to say (to STUBB)?-the stars
havo a rhytha, ao have we, 80 has the moon, and it'a
the came onel
STUBB (gazing at DOG) Ho used to bless the cabin once a month
with Croek waters Half-an-hour's silence at nightfall.
We had sone style in our life thent Look at him now!
DOG (aurmuring) But you hated me for itt Hell, you've got your
democracy nowl (Suddeniy) It's funny-I was wider
avake than I've ever been before but-l
STUBB:
What's that?
DOG:
In the Eskimo tranco--that's righti- (Radiantiy)
I saw a new land, a land where ahe's been leading us
all this tine, you can laugh at Gabriel, you can kill
her if you like-you've done it, you've killed my
dreams--but ehe'e leading us there---I remember it
now--you can call her what you 1ike---you can call
her Daveta whore or my little Ashanti boy.e.l
FAWCEIT: I swear, you wais dead in that trance, Dog--we tried
your breath on a pioce of glassi
DOG:
I saw the new lond---right before ay oyebsw--and the
three guys sitting there---at Gillie's Grave-
FANCEIT (startled) Gillists Grave?
DOG:
That's where she led thent And they just sat down
out of joy and thought they was dead---because they
was alive for the very first time-l They just eat
doun and died of joyi And one of the guys--I'11
nover forgeti--he was trailing a frying pan--he ran


maybe ten or fiftoen miles along the rim of a hiil,
up the trap-line, behind the other guys, I remenber
this frying pan clanging against tho trees, it clanged
far tén or fifteen miles, along the rin of the hill-
he nust have been strang--he mubt have had some
constitution---it was fear that gave him the strength
maybo---his eyes was popping out of his head!
FAWCETT:
I never heard of people dying of joy-
DOG:
You'd eay they died of colduthoy reached the enow
lind-thoy had nowl (He stops vith a porplexod
expression) They had no gunshot-w
STUBBI
What's that?
FAWCETT:
Listen, Dog, I'd 1ike to go downt
DOG:
I'il never forget that frying pan clanging along-
In tho wooda, at the rim of the hilli And everything
was ao clean, s0 cool, tho further you went, the
sounds were so clear For fifteen milest And
then the snow-iinet
FAWCEIT (with his startled look, garing up) Thie is the beet
home I ever hadt
DOG:
Me, toot
A ahot very close bys They jump again.
STUBB:
Hoy!
DOGS
Sesh!
Thoy listen intently.
STUBB (whispering) He'a just round the cornert.
DOG (also whispering) He can't bet You can't valk through that
bueh without rustling a leaft
STUBBI
He must have crept-
They sit quite atill, peering at the door.
DOG (euddenly calling out) Young Davet Young Davet Is that
you out there? (A pause) Come and join ust
Dead silence.
FAWCEIT (in a whisper) Why should his namo be Young Dave
juat because hia dad's
DOGI
It's what ve've always called himt


STUBB (in an animated whiepor) Date nover told his son'e nambt
(to FAWCETT) I reckon I know whys tool---he's the
son of a whoret
FAWCENT:
Go on!
SRUBB:
Amy made a mistake one night--she--
DOG (aharply) That's enought We don't have scandal up herei
A twig breaks near by.
STUBB:
Hoy!
They listen, their oyes wides
FAWCET (still whispering) He's opying on uel With orders. to
shoot if we try to leavet
DOG (calling out atain, but more tremuloualy) San of Davel Son of
Davol
There ian't a sound,
FAWCETT:
It's the emudget I threw somo twigs on the snudge
this marning! (But he is trembling)
STUBB:
That's where the shot came fron-the lact shott
DCG:
I can foel something's therel
FAWCETT:
It's the smudge, I tell you-I can see tho smoke--
STUBBE
It's somobody noving-l
FAWCEIT:
It's Young Dave taking the miko--he playa thé fool--
(Frembling violently)
DOG (suddenly, at the top of his voice) Come out, you son-of-a-
bitch, come on out!
His roice echoee away and there is dead
silence.
STUBB (frantically, to DOG) It's you get's us laughed at with
your dreamet
FAWCETT:
That's rightt (But otill trembling) Romenber when
he hid from the copo over at Dave'a cabin? Ran out
of the shop with his beard flying-Dave's face fell
a milo-t
DOG (shouting) Except that you ran with met
FANCHT (his teeth chattering) What?


DOG:
with your coat-tails flying!
FAWCETT:
I ran becauee you rant
DOG:
We all ran togother!
FAWCEPT:
And all the cope did was eit there and play carde,
and vo stayed in the bushes and watched 'on-for
three houre or norei And I think they-kept-
chuckling! (Hie teeth chatter ao mich that ho can
hardly talk)
STUBB:
That's right! And Dave said an the radio, 'What was
you scared of, boys?* afterwardet With that little
twinklet
They liston again but nothing moves.
FANCETT:
It's the sandge, I toll you-
DOG (calling out again) Got the mail, Davo's son?
Silence.
Suddonly there is a shot almost where
they stand.
They are all ohivoring violently.
STUBB (clutching hold of DOG) Somebody's moving-l (Pointing)
They stand close together, gaping at the
spot the shot cane frome
DOG (with a peculiar wild triumph) They've cone---to get ust
They're surraunding us, boyel
STUBB:
The seven hundred-I
FAWCETT (with horror) The hole in the wall-
DOG (shouting) Get tho packs on your backat
They all scramble over each other trying
to get their packe on, picking up their
rifles, kicking the bottles ovor.
FANCEIT doesn't succeed in gotting his
pack on because of the frying pan he
has atrapped ons
DOG:
Hainer a note on the table for Dave--an S.0,S.--
(Diving at one of the stord-chests and pulling out
a large hammer and some long naile) A pencils,


quickt An S.0.S.---we're going up the trapline-
further up-
STUBB (trembling feelins in his pockets for a poncil) You're bushed!
There is another ahot, imnodiately by them.
DOGt
Quickt
He drops the hamer and nails and he and
STUBB dash off, with their packe and guns.
We hear DOG shouts
DOG:
Thoy'vo conc to get us, Stubbt
FANCENIT is left alone, hopelessly
trembling as ho tries to get the pack
on his back and pick up hie rifle at
the same time. The frying pan traips.
FAWCETT (frantically) Stubbt Stubbi STUBBI
STUBB reappoars.
STUBB (taking hold of him) Cuickt
FAWCEIT (still trying to get the pack up) Stubb, the frying pan--
the frying pan-t
STUBB:
Come ont
Ho pulle FAWCEIT off, and the last wo
a0e of the latter is the frying pan-
he is trailing hie pack along by the
straps, with the frying pan clattering
behind,
FAWCENT (as he
off) The
goes
frying pant
We hoar it clanging along behind him.
It dies away slowly. Silence
Huskies bark close by, thon thore is
silence again.
After a long pause YOUNG DAVE enters,
a youth of fifteen or sixtaen. He has
a gun alung ovor his shoulder, a amall
pack and a helt of amunition.
He is gloved and heavily booted.


He stares round at all the disorder.
He takes a thick bundle of letters
out of his.pack and puta them 'on the
table.
Suddonly a bird flies over: he runs
to the window to take aim but is too
late.
Then he leaves and tries to close the
door behind him. But there io no lock
and it swings an its hinges He kicks
it closed a second time but again it
owings opena
He rowenters the cabin, cloarly wondoring
where to leave the letters, for fear
they will blow away. He sees the
hamner and long nails. With one mure,
smart stroke he drives a nail into the
letters and fixes them on the table.
He leavea in a hurrys The door evinge
behind him.
There is ailence.
The radio blinks S,0,8,
There appear to be quite a number of
letters there. Our attention ia.
concentrated an them as the curtain
falls. We cun alrealhy lmayine
the ruts mibblingy thim
CURTAIN