Yes, there is much to do.
King
I had hoped for freedom for this evening, for the faces of the camels are towards Mecca, and I would see the caravans move off into the desert where I may not go.
Chamberlain
There is very much for your Majesty to do. Iktra has revolted.
King
Where is Iktra?
Chamberlain
It is a little country tributary to your Majesty beyond Zebdarlon, up among the hills.
King
Almost, had it not been for this, almost I had asked you to let me go away among the camel-drivers to golden Mecca. I have done this work of a King now for five years and listened to my councillors, and all the while the desert called to me; he said, "Come to the tents of my children, to the tents of my children!" And all the while I dwelt among these walls.
Chamberlain
If your Majesty left the city now---
King
I will not, we must raise an army to punish the men of Iktra.
Chamberlain
Your Majesty will appoint the commanders by name. A tribe of your Majesty's fighting men must be summoned from Agrarva and another from Coloono, the jungle city, as well as one from Mirsk. This must be done by warrants sealed by your hand. Your Majesty's advisors await you in the council-hall.
King
The sun is very low. Why have the caravans not started yet?
Chamberlain
I do not know. And then your Majesty---
King
[Laying his hand on the Chamberlain's arm.]
Look, look! It is the shadows of the camels moving towards Mecca. How silently they slip over the ground, beautiful shadows. Soon they are out in the desert flat on the golden sands. And then the sun will set and they will be one with night.
Chamberlain
If your Majesty has time for such things there are the camels themselves.
King
No, no I do not wish to watch the camels. They can never take me out to the beautiful desert to be free forever from cities. Here I must stay to do the work of a King. Only my dreams can go, and the shadows of the camels carry them, to find peace by the tents of the Arabs.
Chamberlain
Will your Majesty now come to the council-hall?
King
Yes, yes, I come.
[Voices off: "Ho Yo! Ho Yay! Ho Yo. Ho Yay!"]
Now the whole caravan has started. Hark to the drivers of the baggage-camels. They will run behind them for the first ten miles, and to-morrow they will mount them. They will be out of sight of Thalanna then, and the desert will lie all round them with sunlight falling on its golden smiles. And a new look will come into their faces. I am sure that the desert whispers to them by night saying, "Be at peace, my children, at peace, my children."
[Meanwhile the Chamberlain has opened the door for the King and is waiting there bowing, with his hand resolutely on the opened door.]
Chamberlain
Your Majesty will come to the council-hall?
King
Yes, I will come. Had it not been for Iktra I might have gone away and lived in the golden desert for a year, and seen holy Mecca.
Chamberlain
Perhaps your Majesty might have gone had it not been for Iktra.
King
My curse upon Iktra!
[He goes through the doorway.]
[As they stand in doorway enter Zabra R.]
ZABRA
Your Majesty.
King
O-ho. More work for an unhappy King.
ZABRA
Iktra is pacified.
King
Is pacified?
ZABRA
It happened suddenly. The men of Iktra met with a few of your Majesty's fighting men and an arrow chanced to kill the leader of the revolt, and therefore the mob fled away although they were many, and they have all cried for three hours, "Great is the King!"
King
I will even yet see Mecca and the dreamed-of tents of the Arabs. I will go down now into the golden sands, I ----
Chamberlain
Your Majesty---
King
In a few years I will return to you.
Chamberlain
Your Majesty, it cannot be. We could not govern the people for more than a year. They would say, "The King is dead, the king---"
King
Then I will return in a year. In one year only.
Chamberlain
It is a long time, your Majesty.
King
I will return at noon a year from to-day.
Chamberlain
But, your Majesty, a princess is being sent for from Tharba.
King
I thought one was coming from Karshish.
Chamberlain
It has been thought more advisable that your Majesty should wed in Tharba. The passes across the mountains belong to the King of Tharba and he has great traffic with Sharan and the Isles.
King
Let it be as you will.
Chamberlain
But, your Majesty, the ambassadors start this week; the princess will be here in three months' time.
King
let her come in a year and a day.
Chamberlain
Your Majesty!
King
Farewell, I am in haste. I go to make ready for the desert [exit through door still speaking], the olden, golden mother of happy men.
Chamberlain
[To Zabra.]
One from whom God had not withheld all wisdom would not have given that message to our crazy young King.
ZABRA
But it must be known. Many things might happen if it were not known at once.
Chamberlain
I knew it this morning. He is off to the desert now.
ZABRA
That is evil indeed; but we can lure him back.
Chamberlain
Perhaps not for many days.
ZABRA
The King's favour is like gold.
Chamberlain
It is much like gold. Who are the Arabs that the King's favour should be cast among them? The walls of their houses are canvas. Even the common snail has a finer wall to his house.
ZABRA
O, it is most evil. Alas that I told him this. We shall be poor men.
Chamberlain
No one will give us gold for many days.
ZABRA
Yet you will govern Thalanna while he is away. You can increase the taxes of the merchants and the tribute of the men that till the fields.
Chamberlain
They will only pay taxes and tribute to the King, who gives of his bounty to just and upright men when he is in Thalanna. But while he is away the surfeit of his wealth will go to unjust men and to men whose beards are unclean and who fear not God.
ZABRA
We shall indeed be poor.
Chamberlain
A little gold perhaps from evil-doers for justice. Or a little money to decide the dispute of some righteous wealthy man; but no more till the King returns, whom God prosper.
ZABRA
God increase him. Will you yet try to detain him?
Chamberlain
No. When he comes by with his retinue and escort I will walk beside his horse and tell him that a progress through the desert will well impress the Arabs with his splendour and turn their hearts towards him. And I will speak privily to some captain at the rear of the escort and he shall afterwards speak to the chief commander that he may lose the camel-track in a few days' time and take the King and his followers to wander in the desert and so return by chance to Thalanna again. And it may yet be well with us. We will wait here till they come by.
ZABRA
Will the chief commander do this thing certainly?