Free Water Theatre by Lindsay Clarke Page A

same time, where there is no pain or sorrow, where no one grows old and everything gives pleasure to the senses.’ So Guerino, of course, asks the Devil to tell him the way to this cave of marvels. ‘But you must take care,’ the Devil warns him, ‘because the cave is guarded by a terrible serpent called Macco, who was once a man but has been enchanted by Sibilla and is now become a snake.’”
    Gabriella paused there to sip her San Pellegrino, then put on her sunglasses and moved to the edge of the pool, where she sat in the light, dangling her legs in the water.
    I said, “I’m wondering which side the Devil is on in this story.”
    â€œI am telling you the story as it was told to me when I was a child,” she reproved me. “I too had questions. I was toldnot to interrupt. So – Guerino has no fear. When he comes to the cave, he walks the serpent under his feet and goes into the underworld looking for the
fata
. And it is just as the Devil has promised – not dark, but a bright garden of figs and apricots and pomegranates. There are orange groves and lemon groves filled with singing birds, and the air is still fresh with flowers of spring. As for Sibilla herself – she is a woman of great beauty who welcomes Guerino with sweet words. Yes, she says to him, she will reveal who is his father, but first he must taste all the pleasures of her
paradise
, where the banquet lasts for ever and the music does not grow tedious, and no one gets sick or feels bad from drinking too much, and time itself stands still so that no one grows old. And then, when they have become lovers, she and he, she will tell him everything he wants to know.”
    Gabriella turned her head to glance at me briefly through the dark glasses that concealed her eyes. “But Guerino is not a fool. Even as he tastes the pleasures of her cave, his clever mind asks questions. He learns from her servants that she is the famous
Sibilla cumana
who had prophesied the birth of a Saviour from a Virgin. But she had believed that she herself was the chosen one, that God would enter as flesh inside her virgin womb, and she was so filled with grief when Santa Maria was chosen in her place that she has come to this garden beneath the earth, where she will live till the end of time. Now Guerino is excited very much by her soft voice and eyes that speak of bedtime, by her white skin as she lies down beside him. But he resists the desire to make love with her, and the story says that he is glad he did so, for a day comes when he peeps his eyes through the drapes of Sibilla’s boudoir and sees that, beneath their skirts, the legs of her servants are…
squamose
? Scaly, yes, like those of reptiles. So he thinks that Sibilla too must be a serpent, and when she next comes to make love with him, he rejects her. She pours her fury and venom on him, but he runs away, back into the upper world. Once there he finds that a whole year haspassed. Because he is a good Christian he goes to Rome to give thanks for his salvation, and the Holy Father absolves him for the time he has spent in Sibilla’s company.” Gabriella glanced my way and took off her sunglasses. “So what do you think of my story?”
    â€œI expected Sibilla to get a better press.” Smiling at her puzzled frown, I added, “I thought your story would speak well of her.”
    â€œYou think it does not?”
    â€œWell, I can’t say I’ve ever been keen on scaly legs!”
    Gabriella gave a little laugh. “There, did I not say you were like Guerino? You see only from his point of view.”
    â€œBut that’s how you told it.”
    â€œThat was how you chose to hear it.”
    â€œDidn’t I hear you say the Devil was behind it all?”
    â€œHe too has his work to do. And did he not speak the truth?”
    â€œThat Sibilla had turned some poor soul into a snake?”
    â€œHave you not heard of the