Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [126]
URLIK (almost in hope): “You couldn’t believe in—in sorcery …”
ARAB LEADER (shrugging): “We believe everything and nothing in the desert.”
11. Ext. Oasis. Arab camp. Day.
An Arab approaches the spot where Urlik and Arab leader sit. The Arab puts a broken piece of carving from the ship into the hand of the Arab leader. The Arab leader turns the carving over and over in his gloved hands as he talks to Urlik, who speaks a little more animatedly.
URLIK: “My name was once Colin Ericsson. I’m used to a different name now—Urlik … For as long as I could remember I’d been fascinated with the legends of a time when all this desert was green and fertile, when a vast civilization flourished here, with a science and technology the equal to our own. Its centre was a city—Negrana—which vanished suddenly—yet sometimes appears as a mirage in the desert—an image thousands of years old. You know those legends?”
ARAB LEADER (amused): “We would call the stories history, rather than legend …”
Urlik becomes excited, sensing a fellow spirit. He takes the piece of carving and brandishes it as he speaks with increasing animation:
URLIK: “Exactly what I believed! I was beginning to convince other people—got a grant for further research—into parts of the desert never before explored …”
As Urlik speaks we fade from a close-up of the carving in his hand to—
12. Ext. Desert. Archaeological dig. Day.
—Urlik’s hand holding a piece of stone with hieroglyphics on it. He is in modern desert gear. He holds a trowel and carefully brushes sand away from the stone. We pull back to see that we are at the site of a desert archaeological dig. Arabs have dug well below the level of the sand and are handing up fragments of stone to others on the ground. Urlik is excited by his find.
URLIK (voiceover): “Some lucky finds brought more finance for more expeditions. I was looking for Negrana, of course, City of the Mirage. I sensed I was getting closer …”
13. Ext. Desert. Day.
An expedition led by Urlik in conventional tropical gear. Arabs lead pack camels after him. The desert seems endless. Urlik studies a map and compass as he goes.
URLIK (voiceover): “All my life I’d felt it my destiny to find Negrana. I felt it was my true home. As if I belonged nowhere else. It seemed to be calling me—as a mother calls her child …”
Urlik consults his compass and then puts it in his pocket. He points into the featureless desert. One of the Arabs shakes his head but shrugs as Urlik orders the expedition to turn in the direction he indicates.
URLIK (voiceover): “Still I found no signs. We’d been weeks in the desert. I began to give up hope. Then I started to hear a voice in my head. I was sure the sun was driving me crazy … The voice used a language I’d never heard—yet it was more familiar than my own … Then, the first night we’d set up camp …”
14. Interior. Tent. Night.
Urlik lies on his camp-bed. He is reading from an old parchment. The tent is filled with chests and boxes, with unfolded maps on almost every available surface. It is lit by a lamp that throws strong shadows everywhere. He sits up alertly as he hears a voice, distinct and clear, as if its owner is in the tent with Urlik. There is a very faint echo to the voice.
BELPHIG: “Champion—where are you? We sense your nearness. Come to us, Urlik …”
Urlik looks frantically around him for the source of the voice. Again it is obvious that he suspects his own sanity, his own hearing. He settles back to his parchment. The sonorous voice comes again.
BELPHIG: “Champion. Your destiny waits in Negrana. We need you now …”
Urlik claps his hands over his ears and mouth for the voices to go away.
URLIK (voiceover): “My mad obsession with Negrana had pushed me over the edge …”
15. Int. Tent. Night.
Urlik gets up, flinging down his parchment. As he does so he knocks the hanging lamp with his shoulder and the lamp swings crazily, sending shadows leaping everywhere. Shakily, Urlik takes a flask from his kit and drinks sparingly from it. He turns, close to panic, as the voice sounds