Fables Chapter 1 - The Persons of the Tale

Robert Louis Stevenson (0:00)

Section 1 of Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Persons of the Tale After the thirty-second chapter of Treasure Island, two of the puppets strolled out to have a pipe before business should begin again, and met in an open place not far from the story.

Good morning, Cap'n, said the first, with a man-of-war salute and a beaming countenance. Ah, Silver, grunted the other. You're in a bad way, Silver. Now, Cap'n Smollett, remonstrated Silver. Duty is duty, as I knows, and none better. But we're off duty now, and I can't see no call to keep up the morality business. You're a damn rogue, my man, said the captain. Come, come, Cap'n. Be just, returned the other. There's no call to be angry with me in earnest. I'm only a character in a sea story. I don't really exist. Well, I don't really exist either, says the captain, which seems to meet that. I wouldn't set no limits to what a virtuous character might consider argument, responded Silver. But I'm the villain of this tale, I am. And speaking as one seafaring man to another, what I want to know is, what's the odds? We're you never taught your catechism, said the captain. Don't you know there's such a thing as an author? Such a thing as an author? returned John derisively. And who better than me? And point is, if the author made you, he made Long John, and he made Hans, and Pugh, and George Mary —not that George is up to much, for he's a little more than a name— and he made Flint, what there is of him, and he made this here mutiny, you keep such a work about. And he had Tom Redruth shot, and—well, if there's an author, give me Pugh. —Don't you believe in a future state? said Smollett. Do you think there's nothing but the present story paper? —I don't rightly know for that, said Silver, and I don't see what it's got to do with it anyway. What I know is this, if there is such a thing as an author, I'm his favourite character. He does me fathoms better than he does you. Fathoms he does. And he likes doing me. He keeps me on deck most all the time, crutching all. And he leaves you measling in the hold, where nobody can't see you nor wants to. And you may lay to that. If there is an author by thunder, he's on my side, and you may lay to it.

I see he's giving you a long rope, said the captain. But that can't change a man's convictions. I know the author respects me. I feel it in my bones. When you and I had that talk at the blockhouse door, who do you think he was for, my man?

And don't he respect me? cried Silver. Ah, you should have heard me putting down my mutiny George, Mary and Morgan in that lot, no longer in a golden last chapter. You would have heard something then. You would have seen what the author thinks of me. But come now, do you consider yourself a virtuous character, clean through?

God forbid, said Captain Smollett solemnly. I am a man that tries to do his duty, and makes a mess of it as often as not. I'm not a very popular man at home, Silver. I'm afraid. And the Captain sighed. Ah, says Silver, then how about this sequel of yours? Are you to be Captain Smollett just the same as ever, and not very popular at home, says you? And if so, why, it's Treasure Island over again by thunder. And I'll be Long John, and pew'll be pew, and we'll have another mutiny as like as not. Or are you to be somebody else? And if so, why, what the better are you? And what the worse am I?

Why, look here, my man, returned the captain. I can't understand how this story comes about at all, can I? I can't see how you and I, who don't exist, should get to speak in here and smoke our pipes for all the world like reality. Very well, then, who am I to pipe up with my opinions? I know the author's on the side of good. He tells me so. It runs out of his pen as he writes. Well, that's all I need to know. I'll take my chance upon the rest.

It's a fact he seems to be against George Mary. Silver, admit it, musingly. But George is little more than a name at best of it. He added brightening. And to get into soundings for once, what is this good? I made a mutiny, and I'm in a gentleman of fortune. Well, but by all stories, you ain't no such saint. I'm a man that keeps company very easy. Even by your own account, you ain't. And to my certain knowledge, you're a devil to haze. Which is which? Which is good, and which bad? Oh, you tell me that. Here we are in stays, and you may lay to it.