Penguin Island — 14 Bk2 Ch6 - The Dragon of Alca
VI. THE DRAGON OF ALCA
“We afterwards went to visit the cabinet of natural history.
The
care-taker showed us a sort of packet bound in straw that he told us
contained the skeleton of a dragon; a proof, added he, that the dragon
is not a fabulous animal.”—_Memoirs of Jacques Casanova_, Paris, 1843. Vol. IV., pp. 404, 405 In the meantime the inhabitants of Alca practised the labours of peace.
Those of the northern coast went in boats to fish or to search for
shell-fish.
The labourers of Dombes cultivated oats, rye, and wheat.
The rich Penguins of the valley of Dalles reared domestic animals,
while those of the Bay of Divers cultivated their orchards.
Merchants
of Port-Alca carried on a trade in salt fish with Armorica and the gold
of the two Britains, which began to be introduced into the island,
facilitated exchange.
The Penguin people were enjoying the fruit of
their labours in perfect tranquillity when suddenly a sinister rumour
ran from village to village.
It was said everywhere that a frightful
dragon had ravaged two farms in the Bay of Divers.
A few days before, the maiden Orberosia had disappeared.
Her absence
had at first caused no uneasiness because on several occasions she had
been carried off by violent men who were consumed with love.
And
thoughtful people were not astonished at this, reflecting that the
maiden was the most beautiful of the Penguins.
It was even remarked
that she sometimes went to meet her ravishers, for none of us can
escape his destiny.
But this time, as she did not return, it was feared
that the dragon had devoured her.
The more so as the inhabitants of the
valley of Dalles soon knew that the dragon was not a fable told by the
women around the fountains.
For one night the monster devoured out of
the village of Anis six hens, a sheep, and a young orphan child called
little Elo.
The next morning nothing was to be found either of the
animals or of the child.
Immediately the Elders of the village assembled in the public place and
seated themselves on the stone bench to take counsel concerning what it
was expedient to do in these terrible circumstances.
Having called all those Penguins who had seen the dragon during the
disastrous night, they asked them: “Have you not noticed his form and his behaviour?”
And each answered in his turn: “He has the claws of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a
serpent.”
“His back bristles with thorny crests.”
“His whole body is covered with yellow scales.”
“His look fascinates and confounds.
He vomits flames.”
“He poisons the air with his breath.”
“He has the head of a dragon, the claws of a lion, and the tail of a
fish.”
And a woman of Anis, who was regarded as intelligent and of sound
judgment and from whom the dragon had taken three hens, deposed as
follows: “He is formed like a man.
The proof is that I thought he was my
husband, and I said to him, ‘Come to bed, you old fool.’”
Others said: “He is formed like a cloud.”
“He looks like a mountain.”
And a little child came and said: “I saw the dragon taking off his head in the barn so that he might give
a kiss to my sister Minnie.”
And the Elders also asked the inhabitants: “How big is the dragon?”
And it was answered: “As big as an ox.”
“Like the big merchant ships of the Bretons.”
“He is the height of a man.”
“He is higher than the fig-tree under which you are sitting.”
“He is as large as a dog.”
Questioned finally on his colour, the inhabitants said: “Red.”
“Green.”
“Blue.”
“Yellow.”
“His head is bright green, his wings are brilliant orange tinged with
pink, his limbs are silver grey, his hind-quarters and his tail are
striped with brown and pink bands, his belly bright yellow spotted with
black.”
“His colour?
He has no colour.”
“He is the colour of a dragon.”
After hearing this evidence the Elders remained uncertain as to what
should be done.
Some advised to watch for him, to surprise him and
overthrow him by a multitude of arrows.
Others, thinking it vain to
oppose so powerful a monster by force, counselled that he should be
appeased by offerings.
“Pay him tribute,” said one of them who passed for a wise man.
“We can
render him propitious to us by giving him agreeable presents, fruits,
wine, lambs, a young virgin.”
Others held for poisoning the fountains where he was accustomed to
drink or for smoking him out of his cavern.
But none of these counsels prevailed.
The dispute was lengthy and the
Elders dispersed without coming to any resolution.
