Free The Haitian Trilogy: Plays: Henri Christophe, Drums and Colours, and The Haytian Earth by Derek Walcott
Authors: Derek Walcott
down, I will kneel down, my officer.
FERNANDO
García, Quadrado should complete his circuit soon,
If he should find thee torturing the boy …
BARTOLOME
You can’t talk to this one when he’s drunk.
GARCÍA
I’m not the Indian-loving, hypocritical officer.
Swear this as a good Christian. I vow never to eat
White flesh again, be mutinous to a Spanish officer …
( Enter QUADRADO .)
QUADRADO
Go hang some lanterns up now, all of you. García!
GARCÍA
I am giving this barbarian some instruction.
He flouts all discipline, thanks to your good friars.
BARTOLOME
He’s that way when he’s drunk, Lieutenant, we had
A few on shore, he don’t mean no harm with the kid.
Come, fool, do what the officer has instructed.
FERNANDO
I’ll drench his head; he’ll be all right, Lieutenant.
GARCÍA
My watch is midnight, and till the appointed glass,
I’ll do no other labour for this officer.
QUADRADO
This is the best of the conquest, rebellious trash!
GARCÍA
I won’t be called filth before an Indian bastard.
QUADRADO
Bartolome, Fernando, go fetch some lanterns for the admiral.
BARTOLOME
Come, drunkard, let us harvest illuminations.
( Exit with GARCÍA .)
QUADRADO
Come, niño, we’ll walk the pavement of the deck
And watch the sun go down in the dark sea.
What is thy name, why art thou on this vessel?
These rotting ribs that hold the heart of Spain?
PACO
Paco, señor. I am the new grometto.
QUADRADO
Thou art a boy of mixed blood. Where is thy father?
PACO
In Spain, my lord, he was a Spanish soldier.
My mother died with the last moon in the mines.
My brothers would not work, and the dogs ate them.
QUADRADO
Of what nation of the Indians art thou?
PACO
Of the Tainos, Excellency.
QUADRADO
The Tainus. Yes, the peaceful ones.
How many will be left to slaughter now?
The Chibchas, the Chocos, the Mayas,
The Lucayos, the Tainos.
PACO
Many of our warriors were killed, señor,
It was a good thing. They were savages.
QUADRADO
Niño, there are no righteous wars. Listen.
( Takes hourglass. )
I shall show you the functions of a grometto.
This, Paco, is an hourglass, an ampolleta.
With each half hour, the top sphere of sand
Dwindles into the lower and marks that time.
Now, when the lower half fills, reverse the glass,
And do this hourly; your watch is at midnight.
Unless we come too early into white seas,
In which event you must steady the glass.
By this we tell our speed and hourly
Express our thanks to Christ for our safe conduct.
Recite for me “The Salve Regina.”
PACO
Bendite … sea luz, y la Santa Vera Cruz,
Y la Santa Trinidad.
QUADRADO
With less speed and more faith.
What is the matter, what are you watching?
( COLUMBUS enters above. )
PACO
The admiral, my officer; why do his own people
Do him this dishonour, what has he done?
QUADRADO
He disobeyed the Queen. Also, he harmed your people.
PACO
Hast thou not killed any savages, my officer?
QUADRADO
Why do you ask?
PACO
My father also was a Spanish soldier.
I remember him, that he was much like you.
QUADRADO
So you have learnt the value of our faith.
( Removes a coin. )
Do you know what this is, my little disciple?
PACO
It is gold, my officer, I have learnt that.
QUADRADO
In the Old World that men called civilization,
Acquire it if you wish to make some mark.
The true stamp of acquisitive man is here,
Compounded in his image, not his maker’s.
Study this coin, it gathers darkness around it,
And like the sun, brings its own darkness, guilt.
This barbarous metal, which has less iridescence
Now night descends than the star-crusted sea,
Induced our country, mercenaries, and gentlemen
To sell their souls, for this pus-coloured metal,
Spanish gold.
PACO
It is called money, my officer.
We did not call it that when in the ground.
( GARCÍA enters unobserved, listening. )
QUADRADO
We gather this, grometto, with much devotion,
As peaceful Indians harvest yellow maize;
It makes our
FERNANDO
García, Quadrado should complete his circuit soon,
If he should find thee torturing the boy …
BARTOLOME
You can’t talk to this one when he’s drunk.
GARCÍA
I’m not the Indian-loving, hypocritical officer.
Swear this as a good Christian. I vow never to eat
White flesh again, be mutinous to a Spanish officer …
( Enter QUADRADO .)
QUADRADO
Go hang some lanterns up now, all of you. García!
GARCÍA
I am giving this barbarian some instruction.
He flouts all discipline, thanks to your good friars.
BARTOLOME
He’s that way when he’s drunk, Lieutenant, we had
A few on shore, he don’t mean no harm with the kid.
Come, fool, do what the officer has instructed.
FERNANDO
I’ll drench his head; he’ll be all right, Lieutenant.
GARCÍA
My watch is midnight, and till the appointed glass,
I’ll do no other labour for this officer.
QUADRADO
This is the best of the conquest, rebellious trash!
GARCÍA
I won’t be called filth before an Indian bastard.
QUADRADO
Bartolome, Fernando, go fetch some lanterns for the admiral.
BARTOLOME
Come, drunkard, let us harvest illuminations.
( Exit with GARCÍA .)
QUADRADO
Come, niño, we’ll walk the pavement of the deck
And watch the sun go down in the dark sea.
What is thy name, why art thou on this vessel?
These rotting ribs that hold the heart of Spain?
PACO
Paco, señor. I am the new grometto.
QUADRADO
Thou art a boy of mixed blood. Where is thy father?
PACO
In Spain, my lord, he was a Spanish soldier.
My mother died with the last moon in the mines.
My brothers would not work, and the dogs ate them.
QUADRADO
Of what nation of the Indians art thou?
PACO
Of the Tainos, Excellency.
QUADRADO
The Tainus. Yes, the peaceful ones.
How many will be left to slaughter now?
The Chibchas, the Chocos, the Mayas,
The Lucayos, the Tainos.
PACO
Many of our warriors were killed, señor,
It was a good thing. They were savages.
QUADRADO
Niño, there are no righteous wars. Listen.
( Takes hourglass. )
I shall show you the functions of a grometto.
This, Paco, is an hourglass, an ampolleta.
With each half hour, the top sphere of sand
Dwindles into the lower and marks that time.
Now, when the lower half fills, reverse the glass,
And do this hourly; your watch is at midnight.
Unless we come too early into white seas,
In which event you must steady the glass.
By this we tell our speed and hourly
Express our thanks to Christ for our safe conduct.
Recite for me “The Salve Regina.”
PACO
Bendite … sea luz, y la Santa Vera Cruz,
Y la Santa Trinidad.
QUADRADO
With less speed and more faith.
What is the matter, what are you watching?
( COLUMBUS enters above. )
PACO
The admiral, my officer; why do his own people
Do him this dishonour, what has he done?
QUADRADO
He disobeyed the Queen. Also, he harmed your people.
PACO
Hast thou not killed any savages, my officer?
QUADRADO
Why do you ask?
PACO
My father also was a Spanish soldier.
I remember him, that he was much like you.
QUADRADO
So you have learnt the value of our faith.
( Removes a coin. )
Do you know what this is, my little disciple?
PACO
It is gold, my officer, I have learnt that.
QUADRADO
In the Old World that men called civilization,
Acquire it if you wish to make some mark.
The true stamp of acquisitive man is here,
Compounded in his image, not his maker’s.
Study this coin, it gathers darkness around it,
And like the sun, brings its own darkness, guilt.
This barbarous metal, which has less iridescence
Now night descends than the star-crusted sea,
Induced our country, mercenaries, and gentlemen
To sell their souls, for this pus-coloured metal,
Spanish gold.
PACO
It is called money, my officer.
We did not call it that when in the ground.
( GARCÍA enters unobserved, listening. )
QUADRADO
We gather this, grometto, with much devotion,
As peaceful Indians harvest yellow maize;
It makes our