Book Review: 'The Last Unicorn' - "Chapter 3"

Schmendrick and the unicorn. Source

 I gotta say, after reading the first few chapters, I really appreciate how on point the characters in the animated movie are with their book counterparts. Take Schmendrick pictured above. He has the pointy hat and the childish face, just like how he is the story. Just a thought. Anyway, back to the book review with "Chapter 3."

"Chapter 3"

Schmendrick meets the unicorn in the cage before dawn. He tells her that Rukh has been assigned to watch over him per Mommy Fortuna's order. Thankfully, he told Rukh a riddle and thus was able to escape since Rukh takes an entire night to solve riddles.

The unicorn asks him why he never told her that she had a spell put on her. He answers that he assumed she knew already, then backtracks and says she would never think of that. The unicorn says there has never been a time that no one knew about unicorns. The poor creature. Then Schmendrick goes on a spiel about how people are not always as they seem, which is one of the major themes of the book. The unicorn states she wants him to free her, and he answers that she is his last chance because he, too, wants to escape.

As morning arrives, one by one, the animals awake. Only the harpy has been awake all night, and Schmendrick remarks that if the harpy frees herself first, they are screwed. Rukh runs up to Schmendrick having solved the riddle he had been thinking about all night. Schmendrick tells the unicorn that he will try to rescue her that night and leaves the area of the cage. 

More spectators come in to see the show. Rukh leads the audience members to look at the various cages, and Schmendrick does tricks while standing on a box, while the unicorn watches in wonder. Rukh names each creature and gives the backstory of each one to the audience except the harpy, which he only glosses over to the harpy's delight.

Soon the day is over, and everyone retires for the night. Mommy Fortuna looks over each cage. When she stops by the harpy's cage, she whispers "Not yet" in a very doubtful tone. She looks at the unicorn and mutters "Well, one day more."

Schmendrick appears later, eager to free the unicorn from her cage. Schmendrick told Rukh another riddle that has no answer so he would be distracted again. 

Schmendrick snaps his fingers, and the unicorn suddenly finds herself in an area of trees, apparently one of his tricks at work. She tries leaping up, but soon realizes that she is still in the cage. Schmendrick apologizes and tries again. He mutters some words and states the bars are now easy to penetrate. He then reels back, and notices his fingers are dripping blood due to a minor error in his accent. In his third attempt, a large gray creature with a grinning mouth arrives and tries to crack the cage and the unicorn. He orders it to leave, but it does not. The harpy nearby ruffles her feathers and the grey creature leaves. In his fourth attempt, the cage begins to shrink, only stopping when he orders it to. 

After multiple failed attempts to break the cage, Schmendrick decides to open the cage with keys that he stole. As he unlocks the cage and the unicorn steps out, Mommy Fortuna speaks through the keys as if she knows what is happening. Rukh arrives still puzzled at why a raven is like a writing desk (Alice in Wonderland, much?). The unicorn slips away, leaving only the magician and the empty cage. Rukh feels in his pocket and realizes his keys were stolen. Angry, he runs for Mommy Fortuna's wagon. Schmendrick orders the unicorn to run, and he lunges at Rukh, pinning him down on the ground. Rukh stands up and attempts to strangle the magician. 

While they fight, the unicorn unlocks cages of the lion, ape, snake, crocodile, and dog, freeing the creatures inside them. As the unicorn begs the spider to leave, the harpy beats her wings and laughs. The unicorn goes up to the cage while Schmendrick screams not to open the cage, lest she be killed. She opens the cage anyway, and the harpy tries to swing at her. The harpy lunges again, this time at Mommy Fortuna nearby. Schmendrick tells the unicorn to run, and she answers he must come with her.

Both of them leave the carnival. The unicorn warns the magician not to run from anything immortal. Schmendrick and the unicorn both walk away as the harpy destroys the carnival, Mommy Fortuna, and Rukh. The last thing they hear before the area is out of sight is the spider crying.