Even Odds Read online

at him briefly)

  I just think it is too serious

  And we must be cautious.

  (She turns away yet again)

  And all said,

  I am just afraid

  because it will show

  Just as I surely know.

  The people are indoors

  Waiting in twos or fours;

  Waiting to hear you bend

  So as to rejoice your end.

  NE: (He walks away from her, visibly angry)

  No! They wait to hear who’ll win,

  For they know deep down within;

  That justice is about to resurrect

  And put everything again correct.

  (He turns around to face her and she looks back at him)

  Have no single cause to worry,

  You’re after all not the quarry.

  (Softly)

  Though they got you in the way,

  It will certainly be just as I say.

  We will come out without a scratch,

  That is the gain of an honest search.

  Justice shall always prevail,

  For there is more in its trial.

  It is always ever the bias host,

  That says their guest is the first.

  Justice is always pure clean

  As surely as it can be mean.

  Justice is so sure and honest

  And it is so pure and modest.

  BI:

  I fear for our sake;

  I fear for our fate!

  Why must it lead us through this path?

  Why should it seize our lives from birth?

  NE:

  That is what differentiates

  And also what distinguishes

  A mere dream from wishes;

  For the living and their fates.

  That is what nullifies

  Greatness based on lies

  And what would uphold

  Opinions cast in solid gold.

  BI:

  Surely there is a safer way to take,

  One that all of us it wouldn’t forsake.

  NE:

  There is always such a way,

  But in the end you must pay.

  Pay for all the idle lazy ease

  You have had as you please.

  The reason why it is so hard

  To become the ones heard,

  Is so as to harden the hearts

  Of all who are of great paths.

  Those who become mighty

  And remain so for eternity,

  Aren’t those who steal their way.

  For those fall off and never stay.

  BI:

  I don’t know how to attain greatness,

  But I certainly know of its fruitfulness.

  For that reason I do love to remain up,

  Forever enjoying with a richly full cup.

  For I most certainly favour progress,

  Even if it is just a withering head-dress.

  NE:

  It is either in the blood or heart,

  That is what determines our path.

  If in the blood, it is a right.

  If in the heart, it is might.

  Each can duly make it there

  And keep aloft without fear.

  Together they are a sure winner,

  Even if it is for the worst sinner.

  When it is said to be in the soul,

  Then you’re a dreamer, that’s all.

  All your dreams remain unrealistic,

  Even if they’re feasible, not fantastic.

  BI: (She stares at him thoughtfully)

  But sometimes doesn’t it make you wonder

  Why is it that despite all this order

  Life is so insecure

  And so very unsure?

  Sometimes doesn’t it make you shrink,

  To just sit and really think;

  How unsafe you really are,

  Even if all call you sir?

  Sometimes don’t you just inwardly seek

  Answers to things that make you sick;

  Things that you can see

  And those that are to be?

  Sometimes doesn’t it shake your being

  To know you can’t do a thing;

  Even if you are the greatest

  And solely the mightiest?

  Sometimes doesn’t it uproot your guts

  To know all your answers carry buts;

  Even if of all the world’s wise men

  You are the greatest one of them?

  Sometimes don’t you become nervous

  With lots around you so noxious,

  And knowing so very well

  Each could be your end?

  Sometimes don’t you seek safer refuge

  As you’re amidst problems so huge;

  Seek to hide your face

  With your every pace?

  Sometimes doesn’t it just dawn on you

  That in spite of you and others too,

  Your journey could take one bend

  And just come to a sudden end?

  NE:

  No! Because when you sit to ponder

  As you grow each day older,

  You learn to invent a cure

  As you become more mature.

  Because when you try, you make the link

  Between those good and those that stink,

  For then you will see that in this pair

  There is nothing to fear.

  Because when you have started to pick

  Questions for answers that aren’t thick,

  Only then will every wig you see

  Carry or hide an ineludible bee.

  Because when you wake up every morning

  You start to look towards every evening,

  So you do those things you do best

  And leave the others for the rest.

  Because when you are really hurt

  You are bound to start to loathe,

  So you can’t say why then

  On your farm it doesn’t rain.

  Because when you choose to be cautious

  In going about hopes so luxurious,

  Of all the meaning you will sell

  None will ring a single bell.

  Because sometimes we do one instead of two

  And that is why it remains to be true

  That we can not really mend

  These silly holes of doubt we tend.

  BI:

  Your way with words

  Is only for the lords.

  NE: (He smiles)

  Alas, I do thirst.

  Spare me first.

  (BI exits. NE stood staring into space thoughtfully, with his hands behind him.)

  BI: (Still out of sight and loudly)

  Enable us Gods!

  Lead our lords!

  (BI runs back on stage, empty handed.)

  NE: (Visibly angry)

  Nameless witch!

  You seasoned bitch!

  Worst of the stupid,

  Where is my liquid?

  BI: (Frightened)

  From what I just beheld

  It wouldn’t do any good.

  If in the past we were bled,

  Then the gods want more blood.

  NE: (Showing interest)

  Please tell me it is the king.

  Say he is trying something!

  (BI nods in reply. NE smiles and smartly exits)

  BI:

  We must leave quickly, do you hear?

  They are upon us and will soon be here!

  (NE's muffled laughter is heard)

  Can you please not hear?

  We shouldn’t still be here!

  NE: (He enters calmly)

  Please do panic not,

  You must go forth.

  Go on to our cousin,

  Who waits at the inn.

  Say to him like I now do say,

  ‘To your men where they lay,

  For the time is now upon us.

  As predicted, its time for
force.’

  BI: (Visibly terrified)

  But what is to be of you while I’m gone,

  For it will be quite long before we return.

  NE: (Impatiently)

  Just be quickly gone,

  Worry not of my lone.

  BI:

  But..

  NE:

  Out!

  BI:

  They’re almost upon us now.

  NE:

  Then use the rear or anyhow.

  (He turns away)

  But see you hurry and go.

  Be so fast and careful too.

  BI:

  But I can’t leave you here.

  NE:

  Leave right now, you hear!?

  (Both exeunt simultaneously, from opposite ends. Then BI slowly re-enters.)

  BI:

  O heavens up above,

  O earth of good love;

  Aid us this moment,

  Spare us this torment.

  NE: (His muffled voice is heard shouting)

  Sons of adulterers!

  Heirs of wanderers!

  (BI visibly shivers)

  Born of old whores,

  The worst living sores!

  (BI covers her face with both hands)

  Show me each your face,

  And extinguish your race!

  (BI kneels and starts to weep)

  Don’t stand there like it isn’t real,

  Advance and embrace my steel!

  (A clash of swords is heard amidst sounds of a small battle, with male voices. Brief silence follow. BI stops weeping and crawls to a corner to sits quietly on the floor. NE rushes back with a bloodied sword in his left hard. He doesn’t see BI huddled up in a corner. He kneels down and rests his hands and chin on the sword’s handle as he positioned the sword upside down in front of his knelt frame. The blade's tip is balanced tip first on the stage's hard floor.)

  She must now be on her way back.

  The enemy has shown what it lack.

  (He laughs)

  But I am not fooled,

  And will not be lured.

  Thus if I am shaken,

  Then I will be taken.

  When my cousin arrive,

  We make our final drive.

  BI: (Suddenly)

  I still shudder,

  My dear brother.

  (NE is startled by the sudden sound of BI's voice behind him. He turns around slowly and appears even more surprised to see she is still right there with him, sitting on the floor behind him. He glares at her angrily.)

  I’m sorry my brother,

  It is for you I bother.

  (BI stands up as NE lets the sword drop with a clatter on the floor)

  I was so scared.

  For you, I feared.

  (NE is angry and he visibly shakes)

  Please my brother,

  Pardon your sister.

  (NE stands up and the visibly terrified BI backs off as he approaches her.)

  NE:

  This day you cause me great sorrow

  As you murder of my own tomorrow.

  BI: (Backing away from him still)

  I will start going right now.

  I can still make it, you know.

  NE: (Shouting)

  After we have been surrounded completely?

  You surely make pleas to insult me, purely.

  (BI attempts to dash off and exit but NE blocks her off, attempting to grab her neck with both hands. She tries to fight him off but he is too strong for