Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

Tyltyl. (touching his hat). Behold the Diamond!

Night. Well, then… Here is the key that opens all the doors of the hall. But I will not be responsible.

Bread (very anxiously). Is it dangerous?

Night. Dangerous? I myself do not know what I will do when certain of those bronze doors open upon the abyss. In each of those basalt caves, are all the evils, all the plagues, all the sicknesses, all the terrors, all the catastrophes, all the mysteries of the world. I imprisoned them there with the aid of Destiny. If someone escapes and shows itself on earth…

Bread. Mrs. Night, I am the protector of these two children; therefore, permit me to ask you a question.

Night. Certainly.

Bread. In case of danger, which is the way of escape?

Night. There is no way of escape.

Tyltyl (taking the key). Let us begin here. What is behind this bronze door?

Night. I think it is the Ghosts.

Tylty. I will see. (To Bread) Have you the cage for the Blue Bird?

Bread (with chattering teeth). I’m not frightened, but it’s better not to open the door. It’s better to peep through the keyhole!

Tyltyl. I don’t want your advice.

Mytyl (beginning to cry). I am frightened! Where is Sugar? I want to go home!

Sugar (eagerly, obsequiously). Here I am, miss, here I am. Don’t cry, I will break off one of my Fingers. You will have a sugar-stick.

Tyltyl. Enough of this!

He turns the key and cautiously opens the door. Forthwith, five or six ghosts of strange and different forms escape and disperse on every side. Mytyl screams. Bread, terrified, throws away the cage and goes and hides at the back of the hall. Night, running after the ghosts, cries out to Tyltyl.

Night. Quick! Quick! Shut the door! They will all escape and we will never catch them again! They feel bored in there. Man ceased to take them seriously. (She runs after the ghosts with a whip formed of snakes. She tries to drive them back to the door of their prison). Help me! Here! Here!

Tyltyl (to the Dog). Help her, Tylo!

The Dog (leaping up and barking). Bow-wow-wow!

Tyltyl. And Bread, where’s Bread?

Bread (at the back of the hall). Here. I am near the door.

One of the ghosts moves in that direction and he rushes away. He utters yells of terror.

Night