Within the Walls of Hell by Taniform Martin Wanki Page B

crackling sound made by the gate ).
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    William : I think someone is to be let in.
    Sandi : let’s go and see who it is.
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    (They all exit William’s room).
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Act 3 Sc 1
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    At the Gate.
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    Messenger: This way please.
    Carlos : I can recognize that gate. It looks like the one leading into my palace. But I can see only a vast yard with no tiles and the nature of the structures leaves much to be desired. They are not good for human habitation especially for somebody of my rank. Where have you moved my palace to?
    Messenger : Nobody has moved your palace. It is still where you built it.
    Carlos: Then where is it?
    Messenger: It is in the world below your feet.
    Carlos : Then what am I doing here? I don’t remember asking anybody to take me anywhere. Someone must have kidnapped me from my palace. ( Stops and thinks hard for a while ) But how is that possible? I have the best trained guards in the world and kidnapping wouldn’t have been possible. ( Thinks and rethinks ) How did I get here?
    Messenger : Nobody kidnapped you. From the way you are sounding, it seems you don’t even remember what happened to you.
    Carlos : It seems I don’t know what happened to me? ( Remains silent for a while. Searches his brain again and again ) AAAH yes, I was addressing a crowd at the capital city Square when a flying object was spotted heading towards me. The last think I can remember was a huge noise the flying object made upon touching the ground. Could it be…
    Messenger : The flying object was a missile and it catapulted you here, not instantly though. You have moved from that world down there to this one.
    Carlos : But I didn’t ask to be sent here. Those who used that missile to catapult me here did so without my consent. I want to go back to my beautiful palace. That is the only place where I feel really comfortable and safe.
    Messenger : alright, see you soon.
    Carlos: ( walks back towards to the gate. Murmurs to himself as he does so ) My goodness, what a place!!! Even the house of my dog is better than this place. And he is trying to say that we have two worlds we have to live in. If this is the one someone has to leave and come to, then it is of no use. It is better someone remains down there. It seems the president of this place is not a serious man. He has not built a palace worth the name even for himself because I can’t see any good structure anywhere. This place looks like a slum. If I have to accept that nonsense of moving to this next world, what would my people think of me now? I brutally shut up those who tried to say that there was a supreme being some where greater than me. I couldn’t tolerate that and had many of them killed. I am the only supreme one who is the giver and taker of life. My people all know that and I have to keep it that way. This is not possible! If this is the palace of that Supreme Being those foolish religious fanatics talked about, then I think he needs to come to me for some lessons about living in a luxurious house. This place is not good for human habitation. ( Gets to the gate. Tries to open it but it doesn’t open. Tries to use force but it does not still open. Shouts to the messenger ) Come and help me open this gate. That is an order.
    Messenger : ( Does not move but remains rooted where he is, just watching )
    Carlos: Is this real or I’m just dreaming? Did that guy just disobey me? Down there, nobody could do that without having a knife go through his or her throat or a bullet through the head. ( Starts walking back to meet the Messenger ) Could it be that power is deserting me? I hate to feel that I’m not in control. ( Gets closet to the messenger and stares him straight in the eyes. loudly ) Didn’t I order you to come and open that gate?
    Messenger: ( Remains silent and does not show any reaction )
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    ( Stone, Sandi and William come closer to where Carlos and the Messenger are