The Acorn-Planter by Jack London

Author:Jack London
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Start Classics
Published: 2014-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

ACT II

(A hundred years have passed, when the

hillside and the Nishinam in their

temporary camp are revealed. The spring

is flowing, and Women are filling gourds

with water. Red Cloud and DewWoman

stand apart from their people.)

{Shaman}

(Pointing.)

There is a sign.

The spring lives.

The water flows from the spring

And all is well with the Nishinam.

{People}

There is a sign.

The spring lives.

The water flows from the spring.

{War Chief}

(Boastingly.)

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

All is well with the Nishinam.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

It is I who have made all well with the Nishinam.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

I led our young men against the Napa.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

We left no man living of the camp.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

{Shaman}

Great is our War Chief!

Good is war!

No more will the Napa hunt our meat.

No more will the Napa pick our berries.

No more will the Napa catch our fish.

{People}

No more will the Napa hunt our meat.

No more will the Napa pick our berries.

No more will the Napa catch our fish.

{War Chief}

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The War Chiefs before me made all well with

the Nishinam.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The War Chief of long ago slew the Sun Man.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man said his brothers would come after.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man lied.

{People}

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man lied.

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man lied.

{Shaman}

(Derisively.)

Red Cloud is sick. He lives in dreams. Ever

he dreams of the wonders of the Sun Man.

{Red Cloud}

The Sun Man was strong. The Sun Man was

a life-maker. The Sun Man planted acorns,

and cut quickly with a knife not of bone nor

stone, and of grasses and hides made cunning

cloth that is better than all grasses and hides.

--Old Man, where is the cunning cloth that is

better than all grasses and hides?

{Old Man}

(Fumbling in his skin pouch for the doth.)

In the many moons aforetime,

Hundred moons and many hundred,

When the old man was the young man,

When the young man was the youngling,

Dragging branches for the campfire,

Stealing suet from the bear-meat,

Cause of trouble to his mother,

Came the Sun Man in the night-time.

I alone of all the Nishinam

Live to-day to tell the story;

I alone of all the Nishinam

Saw the Sun Man come among us,

Heard the Sun Man and his Sun Men

Sing their death-song here among us

Ere they died beneath our arrows,

War Chief's arrows sharp and feathered--

{War Chief}

(Interrupting braggartly.)

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

{Old Man}

(Producing cloth.)

And the Sun Man and his Sun Men

Wore nor hair nor hide nor birdskin.

Cloth they wore from beaten grasses

Woven like our willow baskets,

Willow-woven acorn baskets

Women make in acorn season.

(Old Man hands piece of cloth to Red

Cloud.)

{Red Cloud}

(Admiring cloth.)

The Sun Man was an acorn-planter, and we

killed the Sun Man. We were not kind. We

made a blood-debt. Blood-debts are not good.

{Shaman}

The Sun Man lied. His brothers did not come

after. There is no blood-debt when there is no

one to make us pay.

{Red Cloud}

He who plants acorns reaps food, and food is

life. He who sows war reaps war, and war is death.

{People}

(Encouraged by Shaman and War Chief

to drown out Red Cloud's voice.)

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man is dead!

Hoh! Hoh! Hoh!

The Sun Man and his Sun Men are dead!

{Red Cloud}

(Shaking his head.)

His brothers of the Sun are coming after.

I have reports.

(Red Cloud beckons one after another

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