Dragon Slayer Page #8

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THE CREATURE:

Membranous wings fold down against the night sky. Up comes

the silhouette of a reptilian head swaying on a serpentine

neck. There's an angry hiss. A sheet of flame envelops

everything.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

FOREST - DAY

Tyrian kneels beside a mountain waterfall, having a drink

while his men hover in the background. One of them points

down the slope.

MAN:

There. I see them.

Tyrian wipes his mouth unhurriedly and strolls over to look.

Far below, half hidden by trees, the little company of

Urlanders winds its way through the forest.

A frown creeps over Tyrian's face.

TYRIAN:

Who's that old man?

MAN:

Where? Which one?

TYRIAN:

That one. That's the man from

Cragganmore. Now what's he doing

here?

MAN:

Filling in for the chief, I reckon.

TYRIAN:

(weary)

What a pity.

CUT TO:

HODGE:

Hodge marches along with the rest. When he's sure no one

else is looking he burrows into his garments and brings out

the leather pouch containing Ulrich's ashes. Reassured that

it's still with him, he tucks it away again. Galen falls

into step.

GALEN:

What have you got there?

HODGE:

None of your business.

GALEN:

A little gold, eh? What do you say I

change it into lead?

HODGE:

Save your jokes for someone else.

Me, I don't care for braggarts.

They pass Valerian, who has dropped out of line.

HODGE:

And I don't care for frauds.

GALEN:

I'm no fraud.

HODGE:

Call it fool then. Upstart. Whatever

pleases you.

GALEN:

Hodge, nobody forced you to come

along.

HODGE:

Oh, I'm here of my own free will,

all right. We each do the master's

bidding in our own way.

GALEN:

Well, if he told you I needed

wetnursing, why don't you just turn

yourself around and go back home.

Hodge snorts and fusses with his pack.

HODGE:

Home, is it? You've seen to that,

haven't you? Gone to seed, I'd say...

He glances over and discovers Galen missing.

GALEN:

He walks back along the trail, looking for Valerian. Pretty

soon the rest of the travelers are out of sight. He hears

the sound of a splash. He turns off the trail and pushes

through some shrubbery.

FOREST POOL:

Under the oaks and hickory, a forest stream has widened into

a quiet pool. A pile of clothes lies on a rock at the edge.

Out in the middle, Valerian is treading water.

GALEN:

You're too far behind us. Come on

out.

VALERIAN:

You go ahead, I'll catch up.

GALEN:

Not a good idea to get separated.

Let's go.

VALERIAN:

Right. I'll be along.

Galen leans over and splashes some water on his face. Feels

good. He shucks his pack and starts to throw off his clothes.

Valerian doesn't like it.

VALERIAN:

That's all right. Don't come in.

But Galen is now naked and walking into the water. He swims

out toward Valerian.

VALERIAN:

(edgy)

You better get back to the group,

they're probably worried.

Galen keeps swimming.

VALERIAN:

I prefer to swim alone, if you don't

mind.

But Galen has slipped beneath the surface; he doesn't hear.

UNDERWATER:

Galen works his way through the murky green underwater world.

Suddenly, he stops short and stares. He's only a few feet

from Valerian's dangling legs. He gasps in surprise. Valerian

is no boy.

ON THE SURFACE:

Galen comes shooting to the surface, coughing and sputtering.

GALEN:

By the gods!

Valerian is pale and frightened.

VALERIAN:

Stay away.

She propels herself backward, then turns and swims for shore.

ON THE SHORE:

Galen and Valerian have taken refuge behind separate bushes.

Briskly they pull on their clothes.

VALERIAN:

I suppose you'll tell everyone. Go

ahead, I don't care. It's a relief.

GALEN:

I'm not going to say anything.

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