Chapter Seven: Andrew

THE FOREST

At spring’s bequest, the icy fields

high on purple peaks quench the thirsting brooks,

give new life to the rivers, lakes, and falls.

They roar with their rebirth,

low through valleys greening by their love,

the snow melts springtime serenade.

 

I’ve kept you here, kept you safe,

kept your nights warm, days cool,

while he wandered his way back to you.

But I’ve kept your beauty too,

kept you as much for me, dear one,

to keep my nights cool, and my days warm.

I melt the icy fields. I relinquish the water.

 

Drink—be filled with life again—

make green the valleys with your love.

But I will always hold this memory,

when you were of me and I, you.

And though I give you back, I do not give you up.

 

Dearest one, my Andrew, he is here.

He is here for you. Call to him.

 

ANDREW

Marcus! Marcus!

 

[We hear the wind, a gentle, easy wander that slows to a stop.]

 

WANDERER [internal] 

And then… the wander stopped..

 

[The Wanderer is holding back tears.]

 

WANDERER [internal] 

Stopped right there. In front of that cave.

 

WANDERER [internal, the last internal line] 

The cave where I found you.

 

[The Wanderer runs to the mouth of the cave, then enters slowly.]

 

WANDERER 

Andrew? Andrew is that you?

 

ANDREW 

MARCUS! Over here!

 

[The Wanderer runs over to Andrew and they embrace. They kiss. Some gentle tears.]

 

WANDERER [through the tears] 

I’m so, so sorry.

 

ANDREW 

For what? You’re here! That’s all that matters. How… how did you find me?

 

WANDERER 

The wanders and the forest…

 

ANDREW 

I knew she would bring you to me. She’s taken such good care of me, done everything she could.

 

WANDERER 

And I knew she would do that. I made a deal with her, and I’ve been wandering for so long to find you.

 

ANDREW 

And now you have.

 

[Sigh.]

 

WANDERER

And now I have… [Beat.] Oh, Andrew. Are you hurt? What can I do? How can I help?

 

ANDREW [interrupting] 

Marcus, you’ve been here barely a minute. I am hurt, but that can wait a moment. Just hold me. That’s enough right now.

 

[A small swell of wind outside the cave.]

 

ANDREW [tenderly] 

How long has it been? You look as though you’ve aged ten years.

 

WANDERER 

I feel it.

 

ANDREW 

But still just as beautiful as the last time I saw you.

 

WANDERER 

And you look as if you haven’t aged a day. I was rather hoping you had kept

track. There were times in the forest when I’d wake up, and then suddenly it was night again. Like time had passed without me. I didn’t know how many hours, or even days had gone by. So much time where the only thing I could focus on, could hold onto, was finding you.

 

ANDREW 

Nights blending into nights. Days blending into days… I think I’ve been through something of the same. I tried going out and looking for you a few times, but with my leg…

 

WANDERER 

Please let me look at it.

 

ANDREW 

Oh, alright. It’ll be fine. [Winces]

 

[The Wanderer inspects his leg.]

 

ANDREW 

I’ve been doing everything I can, trying to think of what you’d tell me to do…

 

WANDERER 

It’s definitely broken, but it is on the mend. You did good. But let me see what I can do…

 

[The Wanderer pulls out the guitar and starts to play the song of healing. It’s weaker than

when we’ve heard it in the past, but he is able to do it.]

 

[Andrew sighs with relief.]

 

WANDERER 

I’m… I’m sorry I don’t have more to give. I had to fix my own leg, and there was… a hurt boar… How… how does that feel?

 

ANDREW 

Much better. [Goes to get up.] We should be able to…

 

WANDERER 

No. No, no. The magic only helps the healing along. You still need to rest. And… and I need to rest. This cave seems like a nice spot. Could you stay here a few days more?

 

ANDREW 

That’s probably wise. There’s a stream that runs along the side of the hill about thirty paces off. It’s been a pretty convenient spot to be held up.

 

WANDERER 

Okay. I’ll go out. Get some water. Find some food.

 

ANDREW [interrupting] 

No! Stay. Please don’t leave. Not yet. Just… just be here with me.

 

WANDERER 

Of course. Of course.

 

[A small gust of wind. Night descends. A small campfire.]

 

ANDREW 

Dear, would you sing me a song?

 

WANDERER 

What would you like to hear?

 

ANDREW 

Sing me our song. Sing me Tulay Tuliy.

 

WANDERER 

Of course. 

 

[The Wanderer kisses Andrew’s forehead, and pulls out the guitar and sings. It’s a short beautiful song, and Andrew harmonizes on the second verse before dropping out on the third, having fallen asleep.]

 

WANDERER [singing]

 

Carry on through the day, 

carry on through the night. 

Carry on by my love, 

carry on by starlight. 

 

You are safe, you are loved. 

You have made it through. 

Tulay, tuliy. Carry on. 

 

Carry on through the sadness, 

carry on through the grief.

Carry on by my love, 

carry on by belief. 

 

That you are safe, you are loved. 

You will make it through. 

Tulay, tuliy. Carry on. 

 

Carry on through the day, 

carry on through the night. 

Carry on by my love, 

carry on by starlight. 

 

You are safe, you are loved. 

You have made it through. 

Tulay, tuliy. Carry on.

 

Tulay, tuliy. Carry on.

 

[Wind blows.]

 

THE FOREST

There are stories oft told,

Of men from days of old,

Who wandered to find their way through.

Through nights brisk and cold,

Through hills, valleys, and fold,

In search of what is good and what is true.

 

They wandered,

They wandered,

They wandered for a love that is true.

They wandered,

They wandered,

They wandered for the good they can do.

 

You have reached your journey’s end,

Love once torn now will mend,

Oh my wanderer, I’m so proud of you.

And your voices coo and blend,

And your minds homeward wend,

Oh my wanderer, I’m so proud of you.

 

For you wandered,

you wandered,

You wandered through the dark and the dew.

You wandered,

You wandered,

You wandered for your love, good and true.

 

There are wanders yet to make,

There are journeys yet to take,

Hardships and struggles will renew,

But with love and hope at hand,

You will travel cross these lands,

And your life will find a place to bloom anew.

 

Go and wander,

Go and wander,

Go and wander for a love that is true.

Go and wander,

Go and wander,

Go and wander for the good you must do.