—Can it be? Our enemy,The greatest threat the Empire’s ever known,Hath ’scaped our watch and is to Endor flown?How can that be, for do we not have guardsIdentifying ev’ry ship that comes?Hath he fool’d them to make his landing, then?Guard 2E’en so. Lord Vader hath return’d with him.Guard 1Darth Vader brought him here?Guard 2—Yes. Wherefore artThou so perplex’d?Guard 1—The rebel pilot whoHath single-handedly destroy’d the firstDeath Star is hither brought—Guard 2—As prisoner.Guard 1As prisoner. Aye, that is better. ButHow came he then to be on Endor, say?And wherefore was he there? Do we yet know?Guard 2How he hath landed there is yet beyondOur knowing. He hath said he was alone.Guard 1And hath he been believ’d?Guard 2—Nay, we have notOur senses quite forgot. Pray, give our menAn ounce of credit, lad. Our scouts do searchFor his accomplices e’en now.Guard 1—’Tis well.Guard 2Forsooth, the Empire soon shall triumph.Guard 1—But . . .Guard 2Alas, my friend, what troubles thee? Why dostThou speak this “but”? Why “but”? What “but”?Guard 1—Hast thouRead the descriptions of the Endor moon?Guard 2I have, for we were order’d so to do.Guard 1Then thou hast heard about the creatures there.Guard 2Mean’st thou the native population thatWas deemèd insignificant?Guard 1—Indeed.The full report hath said that they are arm’d.Guard 2But with such sticks and rocks as would not harmA womp rat, and much less an AT-AT. ThouWilt not fear armies made of twigs. ’Tis true?Guard 1Perhaps, yet follow on: it seems that thereAre rebels on the forest moon, who nowHave hidden, and we know not where. What ifThese rebels were to meet the creatures, bandTogether, crush the bunker that controlsThe shield that watcheth o’er the Death Star, thenCoordinate a wing’d assault, which wouldDestroy this battle station and—still more—Deliver our dread Emperor and LordDarth Vader unto their untimely deaths?Could not just such a chain of dire eventsDefeat the Empire strong in one fell swoop?Guard 2Thou shouldst not be a guard, my friend, for thouArt suited for a life of fantasy.Thou shouldst a writer be of stories grandWherein a group of men and simple beastsDo overthrow an Empire powerful.O, it doth break upon my sight: my friend,The ancient storyteller he, who weavesHis tales to bring delight to all who hear.Guard 1Thou mockest me.Guard 2
