Ane

Text:
Atta (pleading young female voice #1):
Mother Ane, I come to you with a plea.
A year of his patience, torment for me, and no peace!

Mother Ane (stern elderly female voice #2):
The law is harsh, but there are no exceptions.
There should already be three of you!

Atta (angry young female voice #1):
Did I bless the wrong gods?!
Did I kill Alenya in vain?!
I am ready to become food for the fish!

Mother Ane (gentle elderly voice #2):
Do not cry, I can comfort you.
For many generations in your lineage, giving birth has been a struggle.

Atta (angry young female voice #1):
The old woman comforted me!
I will go to the fish for amusement!

Mother Ane (worried elderly voice #2):
Atta Ette, do not run away!
Only three versts to the east.
Behind the overgrown hills, where the swamp is, seek there.
Where you see a flat stone, it will grow from the ground.
Next to the stone, the tree of life, come closer and embrace it.
And do not stand there long in silence, ask and go!
Leave as a gift only a drop of blood, here’s the knife, return it later!

Atta (pleading young voice #1):
Do not delay, take the girl to the tree!
The branches hit my face, I carry my blood!
I have no strength to seek it, dreams are real, and I cannot rise!

Atta's Husband (menacing male voice #3):
Mother Ane, Atta is lost!
How long has it been since you saw her?!

Mother Ane (frightened elderly female voice #2):
I am guilty, I have sinned, I let her go!
I sent her to the tree of life, so her dream would come true!

Atta's Husband (demanding male voice #3):
Time is my enemy, do not delay, show me the way!

Mother Ane (serious elderly female voice #2):
At the border of two ikkoes, the path begins, an ancient trail, surely overgrown with thorns.
It’s not far to walk on the path, and you will reach the lowland, wet your feet and turn right, to the small swamp.
There you will see the flat stone that Mother Earth has cast forth, next to it the tree grows, that is where your Atta is!

Atta (surprised young female voice #1):
What barking do I hear ringing?
Is it a dream or reality?
Knife, old woman, stone, where am I, but I am definitely not in the forest?!
What is this big tree?
Why does my hand hurt?
I am not myself, it’s as if there are two of us, and my name is Atta!