The Post Office | Page 9

to keep the patient awake.
MADHAV. Amal has shut his eyes. I expect he is sleeping. His face
tells me--Oh, Doctor, I bring in a child who is a stranger and love him
as my own, and now I suppose I must lose him!
DOCTOR. What's that? There's your headman sailing in!--What a
bother! I must be going, brother. You had better stir about and see to
the doors being properly fastened. I will send on a strong dose directly I
get home. Try it on him--it may save him at last, if he can be saved at
all. [Exeunt MADHAV and DOCTOR.]
[The HEADMAN enters]
HEADMAN. Hello, urchin!
GAFFER. [Rising hastily] 'Sh, be quiet.
AMAL. No, Fakir, did you think I was asleep? I wasn't. I can hear
everything; yes, and voices far away. I feel that mother and father are
sitting by my pillow and speaking to me.
[MADHAV enters]
HEADMAN. I say, Madhav, I hear you hobnob with bigwigs
nowadays.
MADHAV. Spare me your jests, Headman, we are but common people.
HEADMAN. But your child here is expecting a letter from the King.
MADHAV. Don't you take any notice of him, a mere foolish boy!
HEADMAN. Indeed, why not! It'll beat the King hard to find a better

family! Don't you see why the King plants his new Post Office right
before your window? Why there's a letter for you from the King,
urchin.
AMAL. [Starting up] Indeed, really!
HEADMAN. How can it be false? You're the King's chum. Here's your
letter [showing a blank slip of paper]. Ha, ha, ha! This is the letter.
AMAL. Please don't mock me. Say, Fakir, is it so?
GAFFER. Yes, my dear. I as Fakir tell you it is his letter.
AMAL. How is it I can't see? It all looks so blank to me. What is there
in the letter, Mr. Headman?
HEADMAN. The King says, "I am calling on you shortly; you had
better arrange puffed rice offerings for me.--Palace fare is quite
tasteless to me now." Ha! ha! ha!
MADHAV. [With folded palms] I beseech you, headman, don't you
joke about these things--
GAFFER. Cutting jokes indeed, dare he!
MADHAV. Are you out of your mind too, Gaffer?
GAFFER. Out of my mind, well then I am; I can read plainly that the
King writes he will come himself to see Amal, with the state physician.
AMAL. Fakir, Fakir, 'sh, his trumpet! Can't you hear?
HEADMAN. Ha! ha! ha! I fear he won't until he's a bit more off his
head.
AMAL. Mr. Headman, I thought you were cross with me and didn't
love me. I never could think you would fetch me the King's letter. Let
me wipe the dust off your feet.

HEADMAN. This little child does have an instinct of reverence.
Though a little silly, he has a good heart.
AMAL. It's hard on the fourth watch now, I suppose--Hark the gong,
"Dong, dong, ding," "Dong, dong, ding." Is the evening star up? How is
it I can't see--
GAFFER. Oh, the windows are all shut, I'll open them.
[A knocking outside]
MADHAV. What's that?--Who is it--what a bother!
VOICE. [From outside] Open the door.
MADHAV Say, Headman--Hope they're not robbers.
HEADMAN. Who's there?--It's Panchanan, the headman, calls--Aren't
you afraid of the like of me? Fancy! The noise has ceased! Panchanan's
voice carries far.--Yes, show me the biggest robbers!
MADHAV. [Peering out of the window] I should think the noise has
ceased. they've smashed the door.
[THE KING'S HERALD enters]
HERALD. Our Sovereign King comes to-night!
HEADMAN. My God!
AMAL. At what hour of the night, Herald?
HERALD. On the second watch.
AMAL. When from the city gates my friend the watchman will strike
his gong, "ding dong ding, ding dong ding"--then?
HERALD. Yes, then. The King sends his greatest physician to attend
on his young friend.

[STATE Physician enters]
STATE PHYSICIAN. What's this? How close it is here! Open wide all
the doors and windows. [Feeling AMAL'S body] How do you feel, my
child?
AMAL. I feel very well, Doctor, very well. All pain is gone. How fresh
and open! I can see all the stars now twinkling from the other side of
the dark.
PHYSICIAN. Will you feel well enough to leave your bed with the
King when he comes in the middle watches of the night?
AMAL. Of course, I'm dying to be about for ever so long. I'll ask the
King to find me the polar star.--I must have seen it often, but I don't
know exactly which it is.
PHYSICIAN. He will tell you everything. [To MADHAV] Will you go
about and arrange flowers through the room for the King's visit?
[Indicating the HEADMAN] We can't have that person in here.
AMAL. No, let him be, Doctor. He is a friend. It