Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

How can they be dead, when they live in your memory? Men do not know this secret, because they know so little. Thanks to the diamond, you will see that if you remember the dead, they live happily.

Tyltyl. Is Light coming with us?

The Fairy. No, it is a family visit. I will wait near here. They did not invite me.

Tyltyl. Which way will we go?

The Fairy. Over there. You are on the threshold of the Land of Memory. Turn the diamond, and you will see a big tree with a board on it. It will show you that you are there.

But don’t forget to come back, by a quarter to nine. It is extremely important. Be punctual, don’t be late. Good-bye!

3.В The Land of Memory

A thick fog. The trunk of a large oak, with a board. A vague, milky, impenetrable light.

Tyltyl. Here is the tree!

Mytyl. There’s the board!

Tyltyl. I can’t read it. Wait, I will climb up on this root. It says, “Land of Memory”.

Mytyl. Is this where it begins?

Tyltyl. Yes, there’s an arrow.

Mytyl.

Well, where are granddad and granny?

Tyltyl. Behind the fog. We will see.

Mytyl. I can see nothing at all! I can’t see my feet or my hands. (Whimpering) I’m cold! I don’t want to travel any more. I want to go home.

Tyltyl. Come, don’t cry, just like Water. Shame on you! Look, the fog is lifting already. We will see what’s behind it.

The mist begins to move. It disperses, evaporates. Soon, in a more and more transparent light, appears a cheerful little cottage.

The door and windows are open. There are bee-hives under a shed, flower-pots on the window-sills, a cage with a sleeping blackbird. Beside the door is a bench, on which Tyltyl’s grandfather and grandmother, are seated. They are sleeping.

Tyltyl. It’s granddad and granny!

Mytyl. (clapping her hands) Yes! Yes! So it is! So it is!

Tyltyl. Take care! We don’t know yet if they can move. Let’s keep behind the tree.

Grandmother opens her eyes, raises her head, stretches herself, and looks at Grandfather, who also wakes slowly from his sleep.

Grandmother. I think that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming to see us today.

Grandfather. They are certainly thinking of us, for I feel something.

Grandmother. I think they must be quite near. I see tears of joy before my eyes.

Grandfather. No, no, they are far away. I still feel weak.

Grandmother. I tell you they are here; I am quite strong.

Tyltyl and Mytyl.