What shall he do? Obey that call and follow? Or shall he stay and fight it out with all his sharp-horned strength until the end?
A frenzied murmur issues from the crowd. Slowly the people rise together in their seats, as if a mountain heaved. The bull has turned and now begins to trot toward Carmen's side.
A woman shrieks. Another faints. But proudly Carmen stands, bringing magic rhythm out of her magic castanets. And then she starts to walk away, her wooden clappers coaxing like the Piper's reed and urging Rey to follow her.
He does. The huge beast, like a docile dog, allows the girl with her charm-sound, to lead him out of the arena—out of death and into life.
Little Carmen has won.
| THE PRADO, MADRID |