"The legend tells us that at one time, the empire offered its most beautiful girls to the Python-God in return for prosperity," "But, where today does our story unfold?" "In which epoch?" "Jean Cocteau said;" ""Legends have the privilege of being ageless, "" "So, it is as you please," "The Dream of the Python" "I salute you, people of Koumbi." "I salute your suffering, your poverty." "Men and women, children and adults, dead and living, nobles and slaves," "I salute you all." "I am grateful to you all." "I salute Kaya Maghan and his people." "Woman!" "The night belongs to spirits, the day belongs to doings." "Listen!" "Hear you not the thunderbolt?" "See you not the whirlwind?" "Trapped!" "Koumbi, you are trapped!" "Kaya Maghan, leader of the universe!" "They say your empire is boundless, stretching from east to west, from earth to sky." "But I, Kerfa, am not impressed." "I fear nothing!" "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "Kaya Maghan, your reign is eternal?" "False!" "Most false!" "I say it loud and clear." "And I say it once again!" "Let go of me!" "See?" "They fear my tongue yet they break my nose!" "See the blood?" "Look!" "Look!" "Kerfa, you are unreasonable." "What have you been saying?" "Beware of those people." "The vulture does not sing." "The hyena does not dance." "People of Koumbi, wake up!" "Sleep does not rule this world!" "Goats who would be free!" "Orphaned ewes!" "Hide yourselves!" "Stay away!" "Be gone!" "The cruel feast of Kaya Maghan begins!" "Our customs are fundamental." "Most true." "Their root is memory." "Their fruit is the given word." "Welcome, honourable priests." "So the big day has come!" "Indeed." "The oracles have spoken..." "They have named Sia Yatabere." "She is the most beautiful, the most noble, and a virgin." "Deliver Sia to the Python-God's lair." "There, we shall offer her up." "Now you shall speak." "Kaya Maghan, it is for us to speak." "Let that which has been said, be done." "Kaya Maghan hereby offers to Sia's parents their daughter's weight in gold." "Honourable, priests, beseech the Python-God to give us prosperity at last." "May he grant us long life, and to our children and grandchildren." "Forgive me." "But Sia Yatabere is not free of engagements." "She is the fiancée of my nephew Mamadi." "He is at the front, leading our armies." "How can we offer up Sia without telling him?" "It would be best to choose another girl for the rite." "The oracles have chosen Sia, it is not up to us." "If this is how it must be," "I shall summon Mamadi so he can bid his farewells." "He must not come!" "A soldier does not leave the front for his fiancée!" "What has been given may not be taken back." "We cannot rob Mamadi of his betrothed." "Rob..." "We are robbing nothing!" "We are acting for the good of all!" "Kaya Maghan, the head of your armies has blasphemed." "He must repent." "Out of the question." "I have not blasphemed." "I have spoken the truth." "What has been given may not be taken back." " He is procrastinating." " Humiliating us." "Enough!" "What has been said shall be done." "Wakhane, you are right." "But you spoke more as an uncle than as the head of my armies." "Mamadi shall be informed after the sacrifice." "What is it?" "Nothing serious." "Then speak." "The priests came to see us..." "We know." "Indeed..." "They brought news to the palace." "Honour has come knocking on your door." "Balla, what do you mean?" "After consultation with the oracles," "Sia Yatabere, has been chosen..." "Your daughter." "Balla, this news is overwhelming." "But tell our venerated emperor, if the country's survival depends upon the sacrifice of my daughter, then so be it, may custom be respected." "Nobility is not given to everyone." "Of the Yatabere nobles, you are a thoroughbred," "Yatabere." "In your daughter's stead the emperor gives you the equivalent of her weight in gold." "Tomorrow morning, at dawn, make her ready." "We will come for her." "Yatabere." "Fatou, dry your tears." "Our pain is great, but we must save our honour." "What?" "My daughter is to die and I must hold my tongue!" "That beats everything!" "You too will die..." "Death spares no one." "We all die one day." "But Sia's death is honourable." "Sia!" "Sia, where are you going?" "Do not flee." "Wait, listen to me." "Sia, my daughter..." "Hey man, it seems that last night" "Sia ran away." "It's great!" "I hope she holds out." "For the good of all, we must find her." "Stop blaspheming, it's not good." "What?" "Blaspheming?" "Who's fucking blaspheming?" "A girl is to be murdered and you talk of blasphemy!" "Mind your language, okay?" "You're taking risks..." "Wakhane has ears all over the place." "I don't want any trouble!" "Let Wakhane do what he likes with me." "I'll not sanction heinous crimes!" "Never!" "Never ever!" "Good day, noble folk!" "Yatabere, we have come to fetch Sia." "Yatabere !" "Worthy son of nobility!" "We have come for Sia." "Sorry, but Sia fled in the night." "What?" "Fled?" "That's impossible!" "Where has she gone?" "We looked for her, without success." "Search every room!" "If she's vanished, sparks will fly for you and for me." "But much more for you." " Well?" " She's not there." "Not anywhere." "Nowhere to be found." "We'll be back." "Find her!" " Where's your friend Sia?" " I've no idea!" "Let go of my daughter, she knows nothing!" "Take her away." "She's in cahoots!" "Where is Sia?" "Grandmother, where is she?" "Search the house." " No sign." " Let's go." "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "What do you intend to do, Wakhane?" "What shall you do?" "Will you too pursue and deliver up Sia?" "I am the head of the armies." "I have already told you, interests of State come before those of family." "Do you understand?" "We have sought Sia in vain." "No trace of her in the town." "What?" "You dare say that to my face?" "Bunch of good-for-nothings!" "I want Sia here within the hour." "She's hiding in the town." "Arrest her parents immediately and all possible accomplices." "Away with you!" "The emperor has announced that all accomplices of Sia shall be severely punished!" "People of Koumbi!" "Be reasonable!" "Error is only human, but to persist in it, is diabolical!" "People of Koumbi..." "Python-God!" "God who devours his children!" "His most beautiful daughters!" "Python most misshapen!" "Deep in your stinking cave what do you know of beauty?" "Be gone!" "All our daughters are beautiful!" "In fact, all is beautiful in Wagadu!" "The earth, the sky, the sun, the stars, the water, even the wind!" "Did you hear?" "Break the skull of that blasphemer!" "We have orders not to touch him." "Do not fear death!" "Death spares no one," "If you are afraid, you will die," "Even if unafraid, you will die just the same," "Kaya Maghan offers 18 kilos of gold to whosoever succeeds in finding Sia!" "Sacrificing human beings, how appalling," "Human life is sacred!" "I declare it, most solemnly!" "Sacrificing human beings, how appalling," "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "Men and women!" "Heed what I say!" "Listen to the good news from the palace." "Kaya Maghan has announced that whosoever succeeds in finding Sia will be rewarded with 18 kilos of gold." "The word of our Emperor, Kaya Maghan!" "Men and women of Koumbi!" "Informers!" "May you be cursed to damnation!" "Kaya Maghan!" "Master of the Universe!" "No need to hurry!" "You shall soon drown in the misery of your people!" "Like this cat!" "Completely drowned!" "Be patient, you wretch." "We'll have your hide." "Sia cannot have disappeared, it's impossible." "Wakhane." "I want her at my feet... without delay." "Wakhane, laxity is rampant in this country." "That madman insults me all over town." "And you let him do it." "You must understand." "Kerfa would be more of a nuisance dead than alive." "As long as he speaks, he's but a madman keeping the people amused." "But any violence unto him would make him a martyr." "You are right." "Now, find Sia." "As for the rest, we shall see later." "I know you enjoy Kerfa's talk." "Kerfa is crazy, but not you." "Beat them good and well." "And you, do your job, castigate them." "Repeat:" "Kaya Maghan the benefactor!" "Python-God the saviour!" "They give us rain!" "They give us gold!" "They protect us!" "Very well." "Lock them up." "And make them talk." "Twins!" "Close off the town and root out that girl." "Put down all subversion and resistance." "Soldiers!" "With one exception." "Kerfa!" "Don't touch him." "He continually insults the emperor!" "Do not touch him!" "I said, not a hair on his head!" "Is that clear?" "It's clear." " Arrest them!" " It's him!" " Who?" " You!" "Why?" "Let me go!" "Take them away!" "Let go of me!" "Mercy!" "That'll do!" "I know you regularly hold subversive meetings." "True or false?" "This farce has gone on long enough." "You will reveal Sia's hideout." "Lock them up and put the screws on, until they talk." "Take them away!" "Mercy!" "Bring forth Sia's parents!" "Who are Sia's parents?" "Leave them be!" "They are innocent." "Bunch of cowards!" "Did you hear?" "I wasn't dreaming!" "She insulted us!" "Take her away!" "Sacrifice me in Sia's stead and stop torturing these people." "Even if they are accomplices, they'll never confess." "They prefer death to shame." "They've got balls." "And you have none!" "This girl is possessed." "Lock the witch up!" "On your feet!" "So?" "Still don't want to confess?" "We know nothing." "We have no reason to hide her." "Sia is not the first, nor will she be the last." "Penda is right!" "If I were an accomplice, I'd never own up!" "In this land, bastards have a name." "We ought to find one for unworthy fathers!" "Woman, what do you mean by that?" "Ignore her, she is beside herself, she is mad." "I am not mad!" "Wakhane knows what I mean!" "Let them go." "What?" "Let them all go!" "Why does Wakhane arrest everyone only to let them go?" "Queen of queens, every ill has its remedy." "He knows what he's doing." "It's a subtle strategy!" "Wakhane is hiding something from you." "Nothing!" "Wakhane can hide nothing from me." "Without me, Wakhane is nothing." "The corpse doesn't play hide and seek with the undertaker." "Fine!" "Don't say I didn't warn you." "Cat is better than chicken, All a question of recipe," "Where is Sia?" "Perhaps you know." "Good-for-nothing!" "She is not here." "She wouldn't hide out with a madman." "From now on, mind your manners, or we'll break your face, crazy old fool!" "Move out!" "Kerfa, I'm afraid." "Kerfa, listen." "I think he saw me." "Have no fear, they won't be back." "I don't want to die." "No one wants to die." "Who told you you're going to die?" "It's done!" "Come, it's really good." "A delicious cat!" " No, I'm not hungry." " Then hide." "You said they'd not be back!" "Did I say that?" "Perhaps it's true!" "But nothing is sure." "It all depends." "It's red hot!" "I don't want to die." "Then, you'll not die!" "How do you know?" "The griots will one day tell the country's children, that a young girl called Sia Yatabere was chosen from among the most beautiful to be sacrificed to the Python-God." "Her fiancé hastened to save her." "But Sia refused to flee." "In the name of all girls sacrificed, she preferred to brave death..." "Speak, Kerfa!" "I want to know all!" "You'll know when the story has run its course..." "If you still live." "But you said I won't die." "I fear for my parents..." "What does this story hold for them?" "What does it hold for them?" "They will be forgotten." "A father and a mother, are but a trifle." "A simple meeting." " I've just seen Sia." " Where?" "In Kerfa the madman's hut." "Did anyone else see her?" "No, no one." "Then don't tell a soul." "Have Mamadi return from the front as soon as possible." "So he can say his farewells to Sia." "Does Mamadi know I'm in danger?" "Mamadi?" "Who is Mamadi?" "My fiancé!" "You just spoke of him..." "He'll come to save me." "Oh yes!" "Mamadi!" "He will come, but you won't get far." "Why not?" "Wakhane's soldiers are everywhere." "And you, what does this story hold for you?" "Me?" "What matter!" "All stories have their madmen, but madmen never have stories..." "Sleep well, tomorrow will be a long day." "Well?" "If your men don't find Sia, choose another girl!" "There are lots of other virgin, noble girls in this land." "Never!" "It shall be Sia." "I gave my word." "My authority will not be bargained with." "There'll be no affront to my power." "Well said!" "So what do you intend to do?" "You speak of authority?" "You have no more authority!" "The people are party to this flight." "Your authority's been ridiculed." "Your army leader will walk out on you." "I'm telling you again." "Your griot and your advisors are but your echo." "A bunch of yes men!" "Wake up, quick, if you value your skin." "The fire burns the forest!" "The water quells the fire!" "The sand drinks the water!" "The wind scatters the sand!" "Master of the sand, master of the forest, master of the water." "The greatest of great heroes, Cisse!" "So, honourable court..." "This Sia affair is threatening the stability of the country." "You too, may have your say." "Kaya Maghan wants to have your opinion on the situation." "Kaya Maghan, my investigation is progressing." "My men are mobilised." "They are working on it." "Give me one more day, just one!" "And Sia will be at your feet." "Majesty!" "The priests' patience has its limits." "We must save the people from the Python's wrath." "The fate of the country is in our hands." "We must find another solution." "Balla, what do you think?" "Absolutely, what matters is the sacrifice." "Never!" "To give up on Sia, is a slight to my authority." "How could you dream of such a thing?" "Majesty..." "You are right..." "You are totally right!" "If we give up on Sia, the people will take it as a sign of weakness." "Wakhane!" "Bring that madman here forthwith." "Fetch him here, I want to meet him." "Right!" "That's what we'll do." "Cut out the tongue of that madman who incites the people to disobedience." "Do not arrest him." "Have him come." "I want to see him, meet him, speak to him." "Speak to him?" "That bothers you?" "You, Kaya Maghan... speak to a madman?" "I'd rather speak to a madman than to a bunch of puppet advisors, who are inapt and opinionless." "Kerfa the madman, we salute you," "Stop!" "I'll teach you!" "Little brats!" "Kerfa!" "Calm down!" "Filthy urchins!" "It's you who are crazy." "Me, I have no name." "I even have no age." "I am invisible and imperceptible!" "A curse on you!" "And on your parents!" "Malingering parents who abandon their children!" "Let go of me!" "What do you want?" " Move, scum!" " Shut it and move!" "Get going!" "Majesty!" "Here is the man whose tongue has agitated the entire town." "This is he." "See?" "They'd have my tongue, yet they bind my arms!" "Stupid!" "On your knees before justice!" "No!" "Never!" "Never!" "Is your rule on its knees?" "If it is upright, I will remain standing!" "Break his face and his legs!" "On your knees!" "Let him go!" "Lay not a finger on him." "If he wishes, let him stand and let him speak!" "Speak, me?" "It is for you to speak." "I didn't ask for an audience." "I'm giving you the chance to repent." "If you don't," "I shall offer your life to the priests for having blasphemed." "Kill me?" "I'm not afraid of death!" "I know how to wake up when I die." "Kaya Maghan, you are not like me." "If you die..." "If you die, you do not know how to wake!" "In fact, you are already dead, because you are asleep!" "Sleep does not govern." " Leave us." " What?" "Leave you alone?" "This man is mad!" "I cannot." "I am responsible for your safety." "I said leave us alone!" "Untie him." "Out." "All of you!" "So you are Kerfa the madman..." "He who insults me all over town." "Despite all, I don't wish to harm you." "I want you to speak for me too." "I want to be closer to my people." "Speak for you?" "Out of the question!" "You have too many!" "The griots, the advisors, the soldiers, already speak but for you." "I am tired of hearing them." "They're a bunch of yes men." "I'm awash in an ocean of complacency." "That's why I need you!" "I want to hear the voice of my people!" "Kaya Maghan seeks his people!" "Listen awhile to the murmurs of the town." "I have often listened, yet neither joy nor pain comes to my ears." "Help me." "I want to know my people better." "He wants to know his people better." "Your people are there!" "Outside!" "Today, they sing for you." "But tomorrow, they will trample you and sing for another tyrant." "The voice of the people is clear!" "It resounds like an emperor's fart, a fart that everyone pretends not to hear!" "Who are you?" "Me?" "I am but the dream of others." " The dream of others?" " Right!" "Then Kerfa, be my dream too!" "Dream for my people!" " What's this?" " Here." " What?" " Take the throne and dream." "Me?" "Never!" "Keep your throne!" "My dreams belong to me alone!" "Nothing is anyone's!" "All belongs to me, even you" "and your madness!" "Leave my madness alone!" "Hands off!" "Let me seek myself." "Me, I seek myself!" "He is already dead!" "Kaya Maghan is dead!" "Kerfa!" "I will kill you!" "I'll wipe you out!" "Kill me?" "But I am already dead!" "Dead, but awake!" "Every day I die." "If you cannot die and wake, you are nothing!" "Believe me..." "Nothing!" " Still here..." " Where were you?" " At the palace, with Kaya Maghan." " Kaya Maghan?" "Yes, with Kaya Maghan." " They're going to kill me too." " Kill you?" "Why?" "Because of me?" "No, because of myself." "They wanted my dreams, my madness." "I refused!" "Not just anyone can be mad!" "You must earn it!" "Kaya Maghan is thinking ahead, he wants to be rid of his advisors, his priests." "He wants to reach out to the people before the revolt." "But it's too late." "The wind is against him." "The force of the waves will engulf him." "What are you on about?" "I don't understand a thing!" "He wants to make a hippopotamus of me and hang onto my back." "What he wants is..." "I don't care what Kaya Maghan wants." "I want to live!" "Live!" "Women!" "You can never fathom them!" "She has the honour of being the prettiest and she gets angry!" "The honour of the sacred sheep!" "I am not a sheep, I am a woman!" "I don't want to be sacrificed." "Help me." "Get up." "Listen..." "Dry your tears." "He's coming." "Who?" "Who?" "Your horseman!" "Mamadi!" "He who acts more than he speaks." "We'll see if he deserves his reputation." "Come!" "Kerfa, I'm lost for what to do." "Whatever you do, the story will run its course." "Follow your instinct!" "Come, I'll take you away!" "I thank you for having come, but we won't get far." "Your uncle's men are everywhere." "Nothing can stop me." "Let's be gone from here." "Be gone from here?" "You mean, flee from here!" "Fleeing..." "Always fleeing!" "Some valiant soldier you are!" "Don't touch him!" "He saved my life." "I'd have cut your head off!" "Thanks to Sia, I spare you." "You fool!" "My head wouldn't make you a hero." "Go see the Python, he has seven." "You can chop off as many heads as you like." "Be off!" "I'll stay here and wait for death." "Very well!" "I've understood." "Come and hide, carnage is brewing." "Come." "I'm scared, Mamadi is risking his life." "Risk?" "Risk is everywhere!" "There's as much risk at the front as in town..." "Come and hide..." "Come." "Come !" "Seize her!" "Kerfa!" "Let go of me!" "Sia!" "Don't worry!" "Whatever happens, I will be there with you!" "In the Python's lair!" "My uncle, you have betrayed me." "I've betrayed no one." "You have said your farewells to Sia as was my duty." "Now you have seen her, go back to your post." "I will never abandon Sia." "Then I must arrest you for desertion." "I no longer obey Kaya Maghan." "Mamadi!" "Listen!" "Whatever you do, Sia will be sacrificed." "There is nothing you can do, I've already arrested her." "You dare deliver my fiancée to death with your own hands?" "Sia's death is no less worthy than the death you court at the front." "Sia must die for the entire country." "Sia will not die." "I shall kill the Python." "What?" "Did I hear you right?" "I shall kill the Python to save Sia." "You would kill the Python-God and dare say it to the head of the armies?" "I say it to my uncle." "It's up to you, whether the uncle or the general heard me." "This boy has lost his wits." "Lock him up!" "Do as I say!" "Listen!" "We must take to the streets and say no to Kaya Maghan and his priests." "No way!" "You're crazy!" "Forgotten what we've been through?" "Have you forgotten?" "Next time they'll cut our balls off." "Get out of here!" "You lily liver!" "Kaya Maghan is neither devil nor genie." "He'll not wipe us out!" "He needs us in order to exist!" "Fine, if you want to die, off you go." "Stop blubbering and work!" "We bring grave news." "Fraught with consequences." "Twins, speak!" "Wakhane is preparing a coup d'Etat." "Mamadi has returned from the front to help him." "But they haven't yet made their move." "We spied upon their plot." "We must act quickly!" "Are you sure of your accusations?" "Of course, go to Wakhane's, Mamadi is there." "Wakhane has never been clear." "He must be dismissed." "Balla!" "Go and get Keletigui." "Discreetly." "I appoint him head of my armies." "Let him organise Wakhane's arrest." "At once!" "Good day, where is your husband?" "He's sleeping." "Sleeping?" "You seem pretty worked up." "Wake him." "It's very urgent." "Keletigui, grave news." "Wakhane is preparing a coup d'Etat." "The emperor has named you in his stead." "Quick, to the palace..." " Wait, who's spreading this gossip?" " The twins!" "They overheard Wakhane and Mamadi plotting to kill the Python-God." "This information is false." "In any case, I shall remain loyal to my general, Wakhane!" "It's false, isn't it?" "That's what I told the whole court." "Wakhane could never do such a thing, he's no traitor!" "Release your nephew, you are of the same blood." "We have given enough." "I repeat, the interests of State come before those of family." "Bad news, the emperor is out for your blood." "Why?" "What's going on?" "I'm telling you, it's serious." "The priests accuse you of plotting against Kaya Maghan." "They're sure of it." "The twins told them." "Kaya Maghan has already dismissed you." "You're in real trouble." "Keletigui!" "Free Mamadi." "The emperor has lost his mind." "He's flipped!" "You saw him!" "He wanted to ally with Kerfa the madman." "We are all in danger." "Careful!" "Great Master, from the dawning of time, we have been your griots." "You well know, I wish to die by your side." "Untie him." " Where is Sia?" " There is no time to lose." "Rally our troops and meet me at the caves." "Incredible!" "Never does the vulture sing!" "Never does the hyena dance!" "People of Koumbi, you are cursed!" "I hate your songs and dances." "They stink!" "Blind tam-tams!" "Deaf tam-tams!" "Blind tam-tams..." "Deaf tam-tams..." "Wakhane, Keletigui and Mamadi deserted before my very eyes." "Exactly as we feared." "They must be found, arrested before they act." "Balla!" "I entrust the troops to the twins." "May they bring back Wakhane dead or alive!" "Twins, the troops are yours." "What are you waiting for?" "Follow me." " You want we act together?" " Yes, of course." "It gives me the chance to make amends." "Since they sacrificed "Little-Mother" in her prime," "I have been tormented by a feeling of guilt." ""Little-Mother"?" "Yes." "Who is "Little-Mother"?" "My daughter..." "Your cousin, "Little-Mother"." "You don't remember, you were only a child." "At sixteen, they delivered her up to the Python." "I'll never forget the look on her face that day." "Her distraught antelope eyes, begging." " My poor uncle..." " Let me speak." "There is a time for everything." "Do not console me, I am not to be pitied." "I am an unworthy father." "You know what "Little-Mother" said to me on the day of the sacrifice?" "Do you know?" "She said:" ""Father!" "You always told me that death was invisible." ""I am not afraid of death." ""It is the serpent that I fear..." ""I beg you, Father, blindfold me," ""I don't want to see the Python!"" "Do you know what I did that day?" "Do you know?" "I refused!" "I closed my eyes so not to see her tremble..." "I sinned out of sheer pride." "I didn't want that a girl of my flesh and blood tremble before death." "Uncle, for "Little-Mother" and for Sia, we must kill this monster." "Kaya Maghan named me head of the armies to console me for her loss." "But it is impossible to forget." "My only reason to live is to take revenge upon myself." "Mamadi, listen well." "What I'm about to tell you is capital." "Tomorrow, I will make you Kaya Maghan." " Kaya Maghan?" " Right." "I don't understand." "You want to kill the Python-God." "When one kills the gods, one must reinvent the world." "I don't want to reinvent the world!" "All that matters to me is Sia." "You have no choice." "If you refuse, I lay down our arms, we are arrested, Sia is sacrificed." "Is that your wish?" "So be it, Uncle." "But why not you?" "No, you know how unpopular I am." "I have inflicted too much suffering upon the people." "They'll not forget that." "I've told you before, the people need heroes." "Majesty, the town is on state of alert." "We have the situation under control." "There is nothing to fear." "And my people?" "Are my people worried?" " What do they say?" " Your people?" "Your people is calm." "We've imposed a curfew." "The streets are empty." "Good luck." "Move out!" "So..." "What news of Kerfa the madman?" "You ordered me to protect him." "Your instructions have been respected." "Now... do away with him... and spread the rumour that Kaya Maghan had him killed because of his blaspheming." "Go!" "Let go of me!" "You, you, you..." "This way." "The others, that way." "Remove your caps." "You, that way." "What happened?" "The Python doesn't exist..." "Does it?" "So what happened?" "The priests raped me." "They stole my virginity." "All seven set fire to my belly." "You should have let me die." "I'd rather death... than life." "I am completely sullied." "I want to die." "I want to die." "Catch them!" "Where is Kerfa?" "Kerfa!" "Kerfa promised to die there with me..." "Kerfa!" "Well?" "How did it go?" "Answer me!" "Have you lost your tongues?" "The Python-God doesn't exist." "What?" "What are you saying?" "In the lair, there were only some human skeletons." "No python?" "And the priests?" "They raped Sia." "They were preparing to kill her, we put them all to death." "Here are their soutanes." "Let no one move from here." "Wait for my instructions." "How is she?" "I don't know." "She's not speaking." "Come..." "It is not over." "So..." "We have to keep this news secret." "What do you mean?" "We shall pretend that you killed the Python-God." "You will be "the emperor who dethroned a god"." "But it's not true!" "I've already told you, the people need heroes." "You are a good soldier, a fine master of arms, but your political education is wanting." "I will take care of it." "Some secret!" "All my men know about it!" "Don't worry," "I'll see to them." "The real danger, is Sia..." "Sia?" "Why Sia?" "You have killed the Python-God, in the eyes of the people you will be a god." "Sia must preserve the mystery of this power." "Return by her side." "Go..." "Go on!" "Give that here." "I am proud of you." "You've done a good job." "But... this news must be kept secret." "I will entrust you with another mission." "Wait here." "You, go tell Keletigui to meet me in my cave." "Hurry!" "Greetings!" "Come in, I was expecting you." "The soldiers who were present must die immediately." "They must speak to no one." "As you wish." "Consider it done!" "Off you go!" "Traitors!" "Got what they deserved." "Bury them together." "Do you hear this din around the palace?" "Lay down your arms!" "The Python-God is dead!" "All the troops have sided with us!" "Never!" "Not on your life!" "We'll fight to the last man!" " To arms!" " Live or die!" "What's going on?" "I hear cries outside." "What are my soldiers doing?" "I want to know!" "I'll go see." "Lay down your arms!" "There must be no slaughter!" "Why?" "It cannot be!" "Kaya Maghan has ordered it!" "Lay down your arms!" "Tell the others outside!" "Lay down your arms!" "Kaya Maghan has ordered it!" "Follow me!" "Valorous liberators!" "Follow me!" "Saviours of the people!" "The puppet Kaya Maghan is overthrown!" "Move!" "No power is eternal." "You have long oppressed the people, now it's your turn." "We're arresting you!" "Wait!" "Respect him!" "He was our emperor." "Do not tie him." "Show some tact." "Take him away!" "Do your work!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Sia has been saved!" "What?" "The python is dead!" "Mamadi killed it!" "Incredible!" "Out!" "Understand?" "Out with you!" "Hurry up!" "Let's go!" "Give them provisions and escort them out of the country." "Take them away." "Long live Mamadi!" "Long live Mamadi!" "Let go of me!" "Don't get so worked up!" "This business is far from clear." "You're always so sceptical." " Beat it!" " Same to you!" "Long live Mamadi!" "Everything's ready." "They're waiting for us." "Very well, go and get Sia." "Right away." "Sia!" "Most beautiful of queens, it is time to emerge!" "Sia, I'm talking to you, Mamadi is waiting." "Sia!" "All is ready, the people are waiting." "What's come over her?" "What's wrong with her?" "Come, it is time." "Let's go!" "What is Balla up to?" "The people are calling for us." "The people are getting restless." "Let's go!" "I do not speak of puppet heroes!" "I do not speak of ordinary heroes!" "But of heroes who defy all heroes, who have vanquished the underworld, who have overthrown a god, who have ended the bloodthirsty reign of Kaya Maghan." "Heroes of the people!" "The dog who defies the panther!" "The lizard who defies the crocodile!" "The people are proud of you!" "The new... new..." "Kaya Maghan!" "Your will is our will!" "We salute you!" "We salute you!" "Hero of heroes!" "Wakhane of noble lineage!" "We salute Wakhane Sakho, uncle of the new Kaya Maghan." "People of Koumbi!" "People of Wagadu!" "The murderous god, the Python is no more!" "Kaya Maghan is no more!" "They are dead!" "Henceforth, you are free!" "We shall open all the prisons!" "Our new power is the power of the people!" "Your power!" "Sia!" "Empress Sia!" "We salute her!" "We salute her!" "The new empress is tired after her ordeal." "An ordeal, such as only heroes can surmount." "Let her rest a little." "In a few moments, she will shine like the full moon..." "Here I am!" "Mamadi, what's going on?" "What is going on?" "Sia, listen to me..." "Heroes who tremble..." "When I will have told all you will tremble even more." "It is we who saved your life." "We can reduce you to silence." "You want to perpetrate a lie?" "To change falsehood into truth?" "Sia, do not wreck our hopes..." "I was raped, Mamadi." "I was raped, sullied." "Be patient." "She is not yet over the shock." "Give her a little time." "Mamadi, that's enough." "Now you must choose." "Either she perishes, or we do." "Let me handle this." "Keletigui!" "Take her away!" "Wait!" "Arrest him for cruelty to the people!" "Arrest him, I am the new Kaya Maghan!" "Keletigui!" "I said arrest that girl!" "Is that clear?" "Arrest her!" "Mamadi, my nephew, well played..." "You did well..." "You're a quick learner..." "Ah! "Little-Mother"..." "When I think of my daughter..." "She, who was so scared... of snakes." "Keletigui!" "I name you head of my armies!" "Take Wakhane away." "He was a great leader." "The new Kaya Maghan is dead!" "Dead in the well of endless falsehood!" "Dead from the very beginning!" "That he die..." "That he live..." "What matter!" "Let go of me!" "Don't touch me." "There's no use in dying if you don't know how to wake up." "Keletigui!" "Take this madwoman out!" "Kaya Maghan is dead." "Let her be gone." "She has lost her wits." "Men and women, children and adults, nobles and slaves," "I salute you all!" "I salute Kaya Maghan and his people!" "The night belongs to spirits, the day belongs to doings!" "People of Koumbi, wake up sleep does not rule this world!" "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "Misery!" "Misery!" "He who sows misery, reaps but penury!" "To Wendyam," "Subtitles:" "Peter Leonard" "Processed by C.M.C."