490 - The second life

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Evi Charitidou

In another era… Flash forward.
Angel
We ate all our animals… There is nothing left to us anymore…
Fotis
But we had nothing!
Angel
And all our wealth…
Fotis
It wasn’t enough not even for supplies…Time. Now there’s only one thing left to us…
Angel
What might have left to us?
Fotis
The only thing that is of value… Time. Our humanness…
Angel
What can our humaneness do with those barbarians?
Fotis
Give the example!
Angel
To whom?
Fotis
To history!
Angel
What does history mean when you have no future any longer?
Fotis
But then it’s much more significant. Time. In front of death all that fills in life becomes details…
Angel
And if we had nothing else?
Fotis
Our people were born in the light and grew up in fire!
Angel
Now though that our last hope has quenched, darkness will cover us…
Fotis
One candle is enough to enlighten the world… Silence.
Angel
Yes, four hundred years have not been able to erase our nation…
Fotis
These four hundred years made them grow up!
Angel
They made them grow up so as to die!
Fotis
Death is not our enemy… It’s there where every life ends… Time. Our enemies are the barbarians.
Angel
And what can we do?
Fotis
Nothing any longer! They will help us!
Angel
But how?
Fotis
Not live but become memory!
Angel
What does all this mean?
Fotis
Our real opponent is oblivion…It’s stronger than death even …
Angel
You are asking too much! Time. Nobody will follow you…
Fotis
I don’t want them to follow me… I want their liberation!
Angel
And what if the cost of liberty is death?
Fotis
There is no other coin left…
Angel
And who would do this sacrifice?
Fotis
No one! Silence. Only a people can do this!
Angel
The people want bread and you offer them their death!
Fotis
It’s not the name that gives value, but the value that creates the name… Time. Mesolonghi is not born yet!
Angel
And will it be born with the sacrifice of the people?
Fotis
There is no other choice…
Angel
Oblivion…
Fotis
Yes.
Angel
So, it’s the only way to beat oblivion…
Fotis
The only one.
Angel
And what about the children?
Fotis
There are no children any more…. Their youth died out of hunger…
Angel
I don’t know whether our people will believe us…
Fotis
Faith says the same thing…
Angel
What do you mean?
Fotis
If there had been no crucifixion, there wouldn’t have been Christ…
Angel
But who can accept this?
Fotis
Without crucifixion, there is no resurrection…
Angel
The value of life is death…
Fotis
And the value of death is memory…
Angel
Since we lost the battle for life!
Fotis
We have to give the battle for memory!
Angel
In this way we will live inside memory…
Fotis
It’s only in this way that we will exist… Flash forward. The end.