Sixth scene, TALES OF OLD
Later that day, Jeanne and Claire are sitting at quite a sturdy table while an overcast weather and a light drizzle have replaced the morning sunny spell. The mother is explaining to her daughter who looks rather bored how to recognise edible berries from poisonous ones. Sophie is standing on a chair next to the window where she just lit a candle.
Jeanne – Sophie, come here, will you ? We need some light over here while birds and rodents have little use for it. Besides, you’ll wet the wick. – Sophie grabs the candle and waves it gently in front of the window – Well, what are you doing ?
The young girl turns to her mother and there seems to be something like a smile on her face. At this moment, we hear the door in the other other room being opened, then closed and a few moments later, François appears at the door looking distraught and his clothes dripping on the wooden floor.
Jeanne, quavering with goggled eyes – Here you are ! We were so worried ! Where have you been ? Come on, don’t just stand there, you’ll get cold.
Then, he starts to move forward with small and clumsy steps so Jeanne and Claire dash towards him to help him stand on his feet and to undress him – when he sits at the table, he wears only his linen pants and the blanket that has just been put on his shoulders. Jeanne is crouching in front of him with her hands on his lap while the two girls are standing a few steps behind her.
François, looking up from the ground and meeting his partner’s face – I… I was getting some wood to guard against the storm that was brewing when it preyed down on me unexpectedly. I didn’t know where to go nor what to do, so I climbed up the mountain as if I could stand above the clouds. There I stood before a dilapidated chapel in which was a most peculiar man. After having come to blows, I let him lying on the floor, I waited a while to see if he would wake up and nodded off. The next day, I found him as I had left him and went to get some food. When I came back, the chapel was empty and, as I was looking about the area, I received a violent blow on the back of my neck. – He pauses and sighs heavily – Upon waking, so dark was the night, cold as Hell was the ground and there I lay amidst an unknown forest, unable to move and with the hooting of an owl as the only token of my being awake. Later, I managed to get up and wandered as a blind man in the dark, searching for a way out. The only thing that I remember after this is that glimmer dancing in the distance.
Jeanne – Oh, François, I was so afraid ! But you are among your own now, you don’t have to be afraid any more.