LES MUSICIENS
2008, 2009, 2010
A CROSSOVER STORY
In collaboration with A.W. LeMonte
This is the second part of the Shanghai venture for Les Musiciens and their continual encounters with Aulamerta Academy and Coleridge Academy of Performing Arts. This was an interesting collaboration with A.W. LeMonte whose style I mentioned before differs from my own.
CHAPTER SIX
JULY 2009, WEEK TWO
SHANGHAI GRAND THEATRE, HUANGPU DISTRICT (黃浦區)
[MONDAY, 10:23AM]
Mohammad was directing Vivaldi's Dixit Dominus and he found that his choir has perfected the singing and the tempo that it was set in. All of them, as well as the musicians quickly loved Vivaldi's take on the well-known psalm. He stopped them and looked at the clock, "Okay everyone. We've been practicing since 9am. Take a break for half an hour," he clapped and everyone looked relieved.
As he sat down, his wife was next to him, "How do you feel," she asked and he laughed a bit, "More tired these days. Age is weighing heavy on me," he remarked.
She chuckled and rubbed his left shoulder, "Same here, but you don't hear me complaining, darling," and he chuckled along side her.
As the two adults were talking, Emiko, who was invited to join them today to see their work process got onto the stage and sees the musicians talking amongst themselves. She was given a free day today by Armand to see Mohammad's orchestra and to hang out with Shinji and his friends.
"You guys are really talented and this is a Dixit Dominus I didn't think Vivaldi wrote," she told Shinji as he was sitting and holding his cello and bow in a relaxed way.
He looked up and smiled a bit, "It's a surprise for all of us," he told her and looked at Cecilia, "And she's going to perform the motet by Vivaldi following our break. But in fact, she doesn't need to rehearse that much for this piece. It's like it was written for her specific voice range."
"Indeed. I looked at the sheet music and I have to agree. I suspect Stefania would be great in this role as well," she remarked as she looked around at the diverse group, "And…my friends and I respect the diversity in your group."
Asuka heard her say this, who was just three meters away and walked up to them, "Well, that's true. But the goal of this orchestra is not diversity for diversity's sake. We all had to rehearse for Mohammad and see if we're selected or not. And not everyone here can go to some performances. Since some will have more musicians than others, depending on the repertoire he and his family selected."
She nodded and looked at Shinji who nodded in acknowledgement, "She's right on that. But overall, we do things not many orchestras will do," he told her, "And what would that be exactly," Emiko asked.
"Filming short videos about our experiences and have a few of us seek out a story in the said location. Or stories if possible," Asuka told her.
Emiko was impressed by their ambitions, "And…what to people or other musicians think of your work so far," she asked and Shinji along with Asuka felt a bit humble about, "Well…We don't go out to seek ratings or popularity."
"That's surprising coming from you," Shinji teased Asuka a bit and she smacked his shoulder, "Whatever," she chuckled and he laughed a bit and added to his friend's explanation, "Anyway, she's right on that though…We just do the best we can and well…we're lucky by the reactions we're getting from our audience."
Emiko nodded and smiled at them. For the next half hour, she talked to the other principal musicians of the orchestra and they gave her similar points of view, despite having different stances on life. One of the things she thought was that this was a liberal, progressive orchestra. However, she came to realize that some of the musicians are conservatives and indeed, the orchestra can get into heated political discussions. But when it came to music, it serves as a platform for them to be on an equal playing field.
After their half hour break, Mohammad clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, "All right everyone. Get to your places so we may start," and the musicians got to their places.
Emiko was about to go off stage, Mohammad stopped her, "Excuse me Ms. Takashiro," she turned her head to him, "Yes?"
Mohammad walked up to her and presented her with a woodwind case, "Your conductor Armand told me to give this to you. Your mother bought it," she then opened a case and it was a period recorder. It was made of splendid dark wood and the mouthpiece was colored white.
"This is splendid. Thank you sir," she bowed to him and bowed slightly back, "And before I forget," he went to his seat and handed her music scoring.
She looked at it, "…You want me to perform," she asked and Zane from his position spoke up, "We do," she turned around to face the orchestra.
"We know of what happened to you recently and decided…what better way than to perform some music as therapy," he suggested with an empathetic look, "I got the cameras set up and microphones around the stage hooked up as well."
She looked at them and a smile formed on her face…she was touched, "I…I don't know what to say," she then heard the doors towards the back of the auditorium. She notices her friends in casual clothing of shirts, jeans and sneakers. Stefania, George, Oskar, Hans and Jade arrived with some smiles and abashed looks, "At this point we'll get in trouble with Monsieur Armand," George called out.
"Or vindicated for Emiko's well being," Hans sat down in a seat three rows from the stage, followed by the others, "You really are hopeless," Oskar told him and Hans brushed off his comment.
Stefania approached the stage, "Just have fun today. We'll worry about rehearsing tomorrow," she told Emiko and Jade was at the Italian girl's side, "Just listen to her. Remember, she can be persuasive."
Emiko chuckled and looked at Mohammad, "Well…let's get to it," she said and he smiled, "That's the spirit. All right! Only seven instrumentalists this time! Shinji, Asuka, Ahmed, Dante, Fatma, and Zane, you six will accompany Emiko. The rest of you are free to head for the seats below or sit there until the piece is completed."
All of them decided to sit there and see what will come of this therapeutic session. The piece selected for Emiko was one Les Musiciens has already performed, Concerto in G Minor RV 439 "La Notte" by Antonio Vivaldi.
The seven prepared their sheets of music on their stands and waited for the cue from Mohammad. After a few more seconds, he waved his hands and the piece for recorder had begun…
The piece was in six parts and the transition between them is usually brief and fluid. For this piece, it was for Emiko to showcase her talent on the flute, and the recorder is her favorite. As she played, during the first movement, she noted how there was life and meat in how her new friends play. It was intoxicating so she focused more on the mood of the piece rather than solely on technical perfection.
When the second movement started, they picked things up and she was into the piece now. Rarely she performed Vivaldi concertos for flute or recorder, so this was a treat and then went into the third movement; another somber tone where things slowed down and as she played she looked around, at Mohammad and her audience. The fourth picked up things again and the violins were rather raw, but for now, it worked, especially she again demonstrated her dexterity in her playing and breath control.
Then came the fifth movement, where things really slowed to a crawl. With the cello and double bass really setting the tone as if the night really had entered the auditorium. She now felt like she was back in Japan, but also simultaneously back at the hotel room begging for help. This reminded her of just before Henri came, she nearly lost hope and really thought she would be sold into sexual slavery or worse.
After the brief meditation, the sixth and final movement started. Where they are the night and conquered the darkness of the human heart. Here, she remembers how Henri came to her rescue and then the cops who tailed him. Her playing was now raw and emotional, something she sometimes forgets to add to her playing. She glanced at Shinji who poured his heart into his cello, as do the other musicians. They ended the piece on a good, smooth, fluid note.
[Note: For this rendition of Vivaldi's La Notte, check out the video on YouTube. The ensemble is Ensemble Matheus, led by Jean-Christophe Spinosi. The recorder player who is with them is Sebastian Marq]
The other musicians clapped and Emiko bowed. The others who accompanied her cheered and her friends in the audience clapped, "Way to go! Brilliant as always," Stefania she yelled out.
Jade gave her thumbs up and Hans along with Oskar clapped and gave their congratulations. Emiko smiled and looked at them, but then Mohammad approached her, "That was very good, miss. You have great talent," he held his hand out and the two-shook hands and bowed.
"Thank you sir. And…may my friends and I stay to see the rest of your rehearsal," she asked and he nodded, "Of course."
With that, Emiko stepped down from the stage with her recorder in hand and joined her friends. She sat down, between Stefania and Jade, "You were great," Stefania told her and she smiled.
Then Jade whispered to her Japanese friend, "You did good and we're glad you're recuperating after what happened," "Thank you," Emiko thanked her. Then Emiko's friend eyed Shinji, "You know, I can see why you like him. He was really going at it with his cello in the quicker parts and really went all meditative for the slower movements…I can't imagine how he would be in bed."
Jade nudged Emiko shoulder to shoulder with her last comment about Shinji. Emiko said nothing, but her blush and light smile said volumes. Jade smirked and Stefania looked at Jade and shook her head at her, "Jesus…" and she just snickered at the Italian girl.
Les Musiciens got ready again and the other musicians took out their scheduled rehearsal music and Mohammad settled them down. The Aulamerta musicians looked on and Emiko kept her eyes on Shinji while casually observing the others. Mohammad raised his hands up and began to conduct again.
[12:02PM]
The musicians were packing up and the first few headed out of the auditorium. Shinji was one of the few and Emiko caught up with him, "You guys were great today. We can see how much work you put into your rehearsals," she told him and he smiled.
He bowed his head, "Thank you. After we head back to the hotel, we are off filming," he told her with an exhausted smile, and she smiled in return.
GUANGQI PARK (光奇公園)
[1:24PM]
"所以這是墳墓? (So that's the tomb?)," Zane on camera asked one of their fixers, a 21-year old girl who is majoring in history, "是。而他今天仍然尊重中國。(Yes. And he's still respected today in China.)," she told him.
The group with their fixers was in Guangqi Park and filming in front of the tomb of Xu Guangqi, one of the more influential scientists and ministers during the Ming Dynasty. Like Zheng He, who during the same dynasty, went about to sail the world's oceans before the Portuguese and the Spanish ever built their ships back in Europe. It was a bit of history during their three weeks in China.
"很奇怪西方五百年間是如何登上明代時有機會成為海洋世界強國。發生了什麼事? (It's strange how the West ascended in a five hundred year period when the Ming Dynasty had the opportunity to become a world power on the seas. What happened," he asked her.
"王朝犯了大錯。它變得更加循規蹈矩,並鎖定自動消失。還有,即使是船上有兩個桅杆會滿足你的死刑的法律。而在儒家了一下,以為是從外面太大的影響將是腐敗。而且不要忘了,他住在當數學研究卻在不斷下降的時候。 (The dynasty made a big mistake. It became more conformist and it locked itself away. There were laws that even a ship with two masts would grant you the death penalty. And a bit in Confucianism, the thought was that too much influence from the outside would be corrupting. And don't forget, he was living in a time when mathematic studies was declining.)," she explained what was going on at the time.
"所以,他是明朝的批評的時候? (So he was a critic of the Ming Dynasty at the time," Zane asked and the girl nodded as she adjusted her glasses, "正確。而他的工作有兩個耶穌會教士的時間。 (Correct. And he worked with two Jesuit priests at the time.)," she replied.
"Matteo Ricci and Sabatino de Ursis," Dante remarked off camera, "Yeah, thanks," Zane thanked him and smiled a bit.
The girls also smiled, "還有一件事要注意,長頸鹿是帝國和宇宙內功德圓滿,和諧的象徵。和自己的威信,在世界的頂峰。 (And another thing to note, the giraffe was the symbol of perfect virtue and harmony within the empire and the universe. And the zenith of its prestige in the world.)," she told Zane since he knew full well of his ancestor's history, "然後,當永樂去世,中國海上力量的願景死亡。並有對'為什麼'沒有真正的原因。 (Then when Yongle died, the vision of Chinese sea power died. And there was no real cause for the 'why'.)"
The two continued to talk on the subject and then a good analogy came up, "So…we can compare this to the Apollo program. Formidable demonstrations of power and technological sophistication, but with great cost," he said and she immediately agreed, "I agree. What was important was what you do when you get there. The Chinese demonstrated their superiority during the Ming Dynasty, but did little."
Wilfredo then interjected, "Vasco da Gama then took over the seas. Unlike the Chinese, the Portuguese sailed to cut the middleman out of the spice trade. Instead of demonstrating their power, they were hungry for cash."
The girl nodded and Zane continued, "甄和是英雄的話,像徐冠奇。因為即使明朝很複雜,一件小事帶來了整個事情的下降。 (Zhen He is a hero then, like Xu Guanqi. Because even though the Ming Dynasty was complex, one small thing brought the whole thing to fall," the fixer nodded, "右。因為王朝沒有外部資源,以借鑒。 (Right. Because the dynasty had no external resources to draw on.)"
The group said goodbye to their guide who then went to catch her bus for her job at the Shanghai Conservatory as a librarian. The musicians were glad for this roll of footage on their digital Sony cameras. Zane was talking to Dante and Wilfredo, telling them that their comments will remain in the final cut, since it was necessary.
Yasmin was talking to Liam, who accompanied her, "I wonder if this whole topic on China for three weeks will cause some people back home to say 'What the fuck?'," she chuckled as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
He replied as he aired his neck by unbuttoning his top buttons, "Perhaps. But today, this sort of information is vital. Too much ignorance and its one year after your country had done a great thing," he remarked on the presidential election one year ago.
She laughed, "I know. The world was literally crying in joy for our result. But I think…eight years of neo-conservatism along with unilateralism would suck the joy out of living," and Liam laughed at her statement, "True! Very true!"
After they got to their vans, Zane reviewed their footage with the camera's viewfinder as did the other cameramen, "Should we add this to our other footage? That dump of e-waste we nearly got beaten up for shooting back in the city's outskirts," Wilfredo asked.
"We should. I mean, we came here to cover things other than the music or the historical side of this city," Gilberto pointed out.
Alberto looked at them, "Let Zane decide…He is our boss for this trip," he said with a chuckled and Zane looked up with a slight smirk, "Substitute boss guys," and the boys laughed a bit. The others with them groaned or rolled their eyes at the 'Four bandits'.
Then Juliette spoke, "So are we really going back to the e-waste site? We nearly got arrested or beaten up by the thugs who protect the small illegal businesses," she pointed out what Wilfredo already said.
"Mmm. No, we got what we needed from there. It would be dumb to go back when we nearly got…like what you said," Zane said as he looked at Juliette.
She nodded and Edmond looked at her, "And you're not afraid of this work," he asked, "No…I'm fairly confident about this. Whether we're a success or not, we can at least say we did something different this time around," she told him and he smiled, liking her even more.
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
[TUESDAY, 8:23AM]
Charles was sitting at his table drinking his English Breakfast tea waiting for Armand to show up, "Do you need a refill Mr. Croft for your teapot," the waiter asked, "No thank you. Not quite there yet. But thank you," he thanked the young man and the waiter went off.
At that moment Armand appeared. He was wearing a white crisp shirt with a grey vest over it with dark grey trousers and black leather shoes and his hair combed back. Charles was similar, but he sported blue trousers with a blue vest over his white shirt. He stood up, "Armand. Glad you could come. I ordered tea for us," he motioned him to sit.
Armand nodded silently and sat down, as did Charles. The two were silent as Armand poured himself a cup of tea, "So, what is it that you wish to discuss," he asked in a formal manner, something that told people it better be important or you're just wasting his time.
"Your performance last week for your mentor, Madeline Duchamp," Charles wasted no time to bring it up and Armand looked at him and sets his cup down, "Problems already," he said in a semi-taunting manner.
"She wasn't the only one who mentored you. Or shaped you into the man you are today," Charles told him and Armand scoffed at the remark, "But your beloved Austrian mentor has favored you throughout our two years together in Prague."
"Don't give me that you t…" Charles stopped himself and then continued, "He tried to help you with your gifts. You of all people should know that. But for some reason in your head, you played the victim card," he lowered the tone to a harsh whisper.
"I did not play the victim card. I was the one stuck research old music that dated back to Frederick the Great. You were the one who got all the attention and the in depth classes on conducting and music theory. How do you think I should felt about that," he asked Charles.
Charles folded his hands on the table and tried to compose his state, "I know how you felt then…I was there, but why the rivalry? It makes no sense between us," he pointed out their pointless feud. Rivalry was essential to push each other to be at the top of their game, but not to the point of animosity.
"Because you should have defended me whenever Mr. Wolfgang was belittling my efforts while unjustly praising yours only due to your style of conducting was similar to his own," Armand told Charles and finished his tea in one gulp.
"Now if you excuse me, I have rehearsals to be in charge of," he got up with Charles looking up at him, "You're excused…and give my regards to your lover, Tara," he snidely remarked.
Armand stopped and looked back at Charles who was calmly drinking his tea. He pursed his lips and continued walking. Charles heard the footsteps leading away from him and he looked at the cup, fingering the cup's rim and looked out the window towards the garden, "God…he's a bastard," he mouthed out and was then served breakfast.
GUANGQI PARK (光奇公園)
[11:23AM]
Yasmin and Liam were walking in the park they were in with the musicians yesterday. But today, they were taking a break from filming and focused solely on their rehearsals and just enjoying their afternoon. The two decided to walk in the park to just enjoy each other's company, "The place is really nice to just walk around," she said out loud.
"I agree. Although a bit hot and the smog is just relentless," he commented on their stay in the city, "Yeah…I'd rather be in L.A. where the smog is much more manageable."
He nodded and sees her walking ahead to see the tomb of Xu Guangqi up close. He looked at her backside, 'God…that ass of hers is really…Grow up Liam! She deserves more than that. And besides, you've been there and don't want to get screwed over again. Take…your…time,' he mentally told himself as he struggled over his own feelings for her.
He loved her intellect, her stance on world politics and events and how like his own country and people, her background is intense. A daughter of two parents who went through a period where her country was torn apart by civil war…her beauty was intense with her eyes telling him volumes. Either you accept all of her, or you move on, 'What she needs is not just a man, but a partner who can support and push her to do her best.'
Yasmin focused her Nikon digital camera at the tomb and took several shots. She knew Liam was close by, several yards behind her. And she too wanted to see if she could express her growing attraction to him. She loved his insight on events from a perspective similar to her own, but more grounded and academic. And his looks in her eye had that boyish, but rough around the edges charm in his eye, 'He and I can be great partners and…'
She stopped herself from finishing the though and shook her head, "Say…" she spoke up and he listened, "Yes," he asked.
She mouthed it silently and decided to say, "Want to just sit on the bench and rest a bit," she suggested and he smiled softly, "Of course. Sounds good to me."
The two found a bench nearby and sat down. They noticed people walking about and Liam noticed a tai chi exercise group in the distance and how Yasmin was sitting sloppily and nodding off, "I'll wake you up when its time for lunch," he whispered and she nodded tiredly and closed her eyes.
He smiled at the sight and looked around. What he didn't like was the constant smog that enveloped the city. At certain parts of the day, he would cover his nose and mouth with a simple mask or just stay in the hotel until the evening to walk along The Bund.
Yasmin's head on his shoulder felt right to him. He calmed his heart and puts his left arm around her and she didn't flinch. Instead, she rested more on him and he felt giddy on the inside, but on his face, a simple smile that spoke volumes.
"Looks like I found you," he heard a familiar voice behind him and he rolled his eyes before he turned his head, "Aye. Craig. What are you doing here," he asked his colleague.
Craig Millikan is a budding journalism major like Liam and worked at Aulamerta as a fellow writer and for their PhDs. However, unlike Liam, Craig is Scottish from Glasgow, Scotland. He stood at a height of 6'2" with black hair and blue eyes. His body was athletic with a compact build due to boxing on his spare time. The two are the same age and share a bit of a rivalry.
"I'm here to see the park. And taking a break from the work Armand requested from you," he said with his typical grin that sometimes annoyed Liam, "I meant how the hell you're here in China? Weren't you planning to head to Glasgow," Liam asked again.
"Oh that. I was, until Monsier Laurant wanted me to come to help your sorry ass in covering three orchestras and…" he then stopped to actually notice a woman resting her head on his colleagues shoulder, "And…who is this," he asked with a smirk.
Liam groaned slightly, "She's a good…friend. Yes, friend and colleague," he didn't want to admit his feelings for Yasmin to Craig of all people. The taunting would be endless, "Her name is Yasmin Moradi."
"Ah yes, the Lebanese American journalist from New York. The one you see whenever we're working on our own stories," he said with a smile, "A good one she is."
"That I can agree with," Liam said and Yasmin started to awake, "Huh…" she then looked at the new man in question, "Who are you?"
"Craig Millikan mam," he then took her hand and placed a light kiss on it, "And for Liam to keep you a secret from his own friends and colleagues just won't do," he winked at her.
She chuckled and withdrew her hand, "Really? Why Liam," she asked him and he blushed and stammered a bit, "N-Nothing! Just well…I forget sometimes."
"Sure…whatever you say," Craig said with a smirk and his arms crossed. Yasmin sits up and cracked her neck, "Are you two friends or something?"
Craig looked at her and thought for a moment, "Well…more or less colleagues miss. He and I work and learn at the same academy in France. But as friends…well we do blow off steam together in…"
But Liam interrupted him, "I think she gets it. Right," he looked at Yasmin, "Yeah…more or less," she drawled out and now curious of Liam's curious behavior.
She stood up and grabbed her bag, "I'm thinking we should head back. Not about to skip lunch now," she said and Craig walked next to her, "May I join you two. I wish to get you know you," he told her and she looked at him, "Fine. I don't mind."
"Wonderful," he said and he turned his head to Liam to his right and winked. Liam glared at him slightly, but the three walked back to the hotel without incident.
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
[11:39AM]
The three arrived back at the hotel, "Just let me put the camera away and I'll be back," she told Liam and Craig and headed for the elevator to get back to her room. Craig then whispered to Liam, "She's got a nice arse."
Liam looked at him, "What are you thinking," he asked as he caught the sight of the elevator doors closing, "I'm thinking that if you do not make a move soon, someone might," Craig warned him.
"Oh really? Who that might be," Liam asked the Scotsman, "Myself of course. Her coverage of the US presidential elections last year, as well as the recent global meltdown in the financial sector really does show her caliber as a woman."
Liam listened, "Well…I don't know how am I supposed to digest this bit of news from you. Is this some sort of challenge? Or you're just fucking with me," he told his colleague and Craig chuckled a bit, "Perhaps."
A short time later the doors opened again and she came back, "I got my money and changed my shirt. Let's go," she told the two men, "Yes let us," Craig said out loud.
Liam looked at the back of his colleague's head, thinking whether or not to bash his head in. She caught up and spoke up, "You know Craig, brownnosing is not attractive," he said with a smirk.
Craig lightly glared back and Yasmin looked at the two guys in question and just ignored it.
The three left the hotel and walked along the Bund to head for a restaurant Liam and Yasmin have been eating at for the past week and a half. With Craig in tow, it was interesting to see how the three interacted. When they got to the restaurant, it was packed with people getting a quick lunch before heading back to work. It was a restaurant owned by people who came from Sichuan province, where the cooking is spicy. Yasmin ordered Dandan noodles, while Liam and Craig ordered Mapo doufu. The minced pork was delicious, but for Liam and Craig, it was a bit too spicy, "Come on, it's the moderate version," Yasmin said after she swallowed her mouthful of noodles.
"Easy for you to say. We're still not used to too hot plates," Liam said as he drank his beer to quench the fire, "Babies," she muttered as she continued eating.
Craig and Liam looked at her with curious expressions and then looked at each other. The two shrugged her shoulders and continued eating, even as they fanned their mouths due to the spiciness of the food. They drank their beer a lot more readily than Yasmin who calmly ate her food and occasionally drank her one beer and glass of water. For her, the environment was simple but good. White floored and when it gets dark, it's lit up with bright fluorescent lighting. The traffic outside added to the ambience, "This is a good lunch," she muttered and continued eating.
When they were done, they headed out. Craig and Liam wiped the sweat from their foreheads while Yasmin aired her neck due to the heat outside, "The food helped. Otherwise, we would suffer from fucking heatstroke," she said and Liam chuckled, "I'll be more than happy to revive you."
She looked at him with a playful smirk, "Well in that case, I shouldn't worry about collapsing on the street," she told him and continued walking ahead.
Liam smiled and looked at her ass,but then he sees Craig walking forward a bit to catch up with Yasmin.
"So Yasmin. What brings a pretty woman from New York to this far edge of the globe," he asked playfully and she looked at him, "Well…I'm a journalist for the orchestra and helping to rehearse my father's orchestra. Currently I'm helping Liam to interview the three orchestras about their experiences in China."
"Sounds like a massive effort. Care for an extra man to take up the slack," he offered and she chuckled, "Sure. Just as long as you're not the source of the said slack," she told him and then felt a light smack on her ass.
"Trust me…I'm never flaccid," she stopped and turned her head to him, "Well," instead of her lashing out or smacking him, she made this comment, "If that's the case, then those pants better hold it in. Being too cocky at your own qualities can get in the way," she then walked ahead.
Craig chuckled to himself as he looked at her again with Liam behind the two. He knew Yasmin can handle herself, but as for Craig…
LATER, AMBER PALACE HOTEL GYM
[5:34PM]
Craig and Liam were having a spar in the gym's boxing ring. It was a slow day so not many people working out, but those who worked at the check in desk couldn't help but watch the spar. The rivalry between the two extended to this, boxing, either bare-knuckled or gloved. One evening in a boxing club in Paris, Liam and Craig met up. The two had participated in a few matches, but with Craig who loves the sport, Liam was more reluctant in participating. Not that he abhorred violence, which he does, but it was because he was too good at it.
On that night, he was working out at a heavy bag while he heard Craig and some other opponent going at it. After a few minutes, Craig won and some of the men inside cheered him on. Liam was called on from another friend he knew inside to take him on. On first glance, Craig was someone he wouldn't try to get to know. He was too cocky in his eyes and he never challenged people for the sake of it. Only with his friends back in Dublin, but the look in Craig's eyes, he decided to take it.
During the match, he knew he was dealing with a brick wall. Pushing on it wouldn't do shit and with Craig, the two guys matched blow for blow. Their muscles in their faces and in their arms were being tenderized by the punches and blocking. For Liam and Craig, it was getting annoying. At the end of the match, 15 minutes later, the two collapsed on the mat from exhaustion.
In the present, the two were a bit quicker in their punches and blocking than usual. Especially Liam who was taking his aggression out on his rival/colleague, "You…son…of…a…bitch," Liam cursed out as sweat was pouring down his neck, chest, and back.
"Why…say…that," Craig asked as he blocked and threw a few punches back, "F-Flirting…with…her…like," he made a punch land on Craig's face, "She's another woman! She's special."
Craig readjusted and the two continued with the spar, "If…you're…so…pissed! Ugh…then…do something…about…it," Craig told him as Liam was now defending himself from Craig's blows.
The two continued, sparring for the most part and after thirty minutes, the two stopped and rested on a bench with sweat pouring down their backs, chests, neck and forehead. Liam wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a swig of water from his bottle, "Oye, let me have a sip," Craig requested.
Liam looked at him, "Sure," and handed him his bottle. Craig took a swig and breathed out with relief, "Thanks," he handed his colleague's bottle back, "Thanks," and he sets it aside.
As Liam undid his boxing tape he asked, "Say…why were you acting that way towards Yasmin? She isn't like the girls you bed," he pointed out to him.
Craig looked at him, "Well…I'm trying to push you," he responded which got Liam confused, "Huh?"
The Scotsman sighed and tried to make it clear, "I'm trying to help you out. Even if it takes a boxing exercise to get it through your thick skull," he poked his colleague's skull, "Yeah, yeah."
"I'm serious. Your friends in Dublin, at the academy and myself can tell you have feelings for this woman. And I can tell she is quite a catch. So why not go for it," he pointed out rather bluntly to the Irishman in question.
Liam looked at him and was silent for a moment, "…For two years, we managed to develop this great friendship. And we both had our hearts broken prior to that…just a bit scared she might not accept me like this."
Craig looked at him, "You're right, she won't accept you like this because you lost your balls to tell her how you feel up front," he bluntly told him and Liam was about to retort, but Craig continued, "But I can also see how she feels about you. The way she rested her head on your shoulder earlier today…that alone tells you how she feels about you as a man."
Liam now was silent and grabbed the bottle. He clasped it and played with it, seeing the water sloshing inside, "…You have a way with words don't you," he said and heard Craig chuckle a bit, "What can I say. We may be colleagues in the press and rivals in the ring, but hey, I can always help out when it comes to women right?"
When Craig said that, Liam couldn't help but nod his head. He didn't like it that he was right about all of this, but in his mind, this was how male bonding is: little words, but when it counts, words carry weight. He lightly smiled, "You're right…thanks."
Craig patted his back, "No problem. Now come on and let's hit the showers. No way we'll attract the ladies all sweating and shit," he remarked and Liam chuckled as the two got up and headed for the showers, "Not all ladies. There are some who like the man's natural scent."
The two guys laughed a bit, "Yeah and the girls I've come across have not complained about me," Craig commented and Liam shook his head as he laughed, "Jesus," and Craig chuckled.
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
ARMAND'S SUITE
[FRIDAY, 6:06PM]
Armand was in his suite with a cup of tea in hand while looking at photos Liam and Yasmin had shot together. All of them with various musicians in single shots or in group shots during rehearsals and afterwards. But they weren't just on his orchestra, but the other two as well. The smiling faces of the young musicians from all three orchestras and getting along touched a soft spot inside…and reminded him of his earlier days with Charles when both were in their twenties in Vienna…but also the day that changed his life and his colleague's…
The memory went back to December of 1998 during one day and night in the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien). He was preparing to conduct a piece by French composer, the overture and prologue to Sémélé by Marin Marais and with period instruments, which is something of a departure for him. He is usually at home with classic repertoire from the Classical Period of classical music, but this was something he wanted to try. However, for the past year in Vienna, the professor who was his mentor Wolfgang Fürtwängler has made little inclination to really help him out. Not out of neglect per say, but in Armand's eyes, it was more along the lines of favoritism.
Charles, who was his colleague, was also his friend. But during their time in Vienna, Wolfgang showed more inclination to mentor Charles than himself, and it was disheartening. He worked hard and whenever Wolfgang would come to him, all he gets is more research in musical archives held in old sectors of the university. So at the time, he decided to show Wolfgang how much he's learned by performing something he has been researching and developing his own style.
Later that day, he assembled his ensemble of twenty musicians, who still work with him when he conducts music on his own when not teaching during the summer or winter. After all of them dressing up for the event, that evening they made their debut. It was still rare to hear obscure works at the university, especially music from a French composer who worked in the court of Louis XIV. When he conducted, they performed to the best of their abilities and he felt like he was making strides with his progress. When they concluded the prologue, which is also known as Le Théâtre Représente Un Lieu Consacré À Bacchus (A Place Dedicated to Bacchus), the ensemble and Armand got a round of enthusiastic applause. He saw Charles clapping, but Wolfgang looked stoic as he sat next to who would become his mentor, Madeline Duchamp. Wolfgang's expression said it all…he looked stoic.
Later that night back at the university library, Madeline approached him. He remembered their conversation about how she wanted to be his mentor from here on out. The joy of someone like Madeline, who was a legend in France wishing to mentor him, was just stupendous. The next day, he packed up and headed back to France. Outside of that, some memories were a blur. Sometimes, he wished he had kept his friendship with Charles. But he felt that if Charles stayed behind with Wolfgang, he would turn out just like him. Up to a point, he did but still for the past three years, the two have tried to reconcile their friendship, but knew that old animosities and pangs of jealousy were hard to let go of.
[SATURDAY, 11:23PM]
Asuka was reading her copy of The Talented Mr. Ripley while flexing her left hand. Only dressed in her white sweats and a blue t-shirt and only the humming of the air conditioning was in the air. However, as if only in her mind, she heard distinct footsteps outside her door, "Come in," she called out, but no response.
She got off the bed and headed for the door. She peeked through the peephole to see who was outside, but she saw no one. But she can still feel a presence was still in the hallway. Thinking it was Shinji she opened the door and looked down both ends of the hallway, but to her wonderment, no one was there. In the back of her mind, she half-wished it was Shinji. But since the two aren't at that level in their relationship at the moment, she pushed it in the back of her mind for now.
Before she returned to her room, she heard footsteps again, but they were walking away. The sounds were that of heavy boots. This peaked her curiosity so she grabbed her hotel card key and headed out of her room and followed the footsteps. Then when she stopped at the elevator, the footsteps stopped. Following her instincts, she pressed the elevator button and after a few moments, the doors opened and she stepped inside. She pressed the button for the lobby, the doors closed and she felt the elevator going down. For some reason, she felt some heaviness in her chest, like physical anxiety, but mentally she was calm. Even with her experience way back in Philadelphia regarding Danny and his friends, she still wasn't a believer in ghosts or spirits of any kind. She was still a skeptic, but tonight, something drew her out of bed and now heading for the lobby in her pajamas bare footed.
When the doors opened, she stepped out and headed instead for the front desk but for one of the lounge areas. So she walked down a hallway, not knowing what to find and once she got there, no one. She didn't know what is drawing her there, but she can still feel that presence as she had upstairs outside of her room. It was relatively empty for the night and knew that a few bars are still open right now. But then as she was about to turn back, she heard some music coming from further down the hall. Coming from another lounge a bit further away. She then continued to walk, passing by a few guests and heard the music getting louder.
A few moments passed and she came across the lounge, a jazz lounge that it had closed early for tonight. She sees a man playing at the piano, a very familiar tune, Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach. She quietly walked inside, stepping over the barrier and sat at one of the tables. Asuka noted the peculiar outfit the man was wearing: A black green coat with gold engraved buttons and coattails, a tough leather vest underneath it, a brace of pistols (two on his chest and one on either side of his hips), an engraved gold handled hanger sword and a fighting knife similar in fashion to a dirk hidden in his great coat. And his white trousers tucked into his black leather boots.
His build was that of someone with obvious military training, but unlike the Marines or those in the Army, he had a more elegant quality to him. His slightly curly hair and his stoic profile as he played the music struck something inside her. As if she's looking at a portrait of someone who died centuries ago. But then…he stopped playing and she clapped.
The man turned his head to her. His eyes of a light green balanced with hazel met with her icy blue eyes, "Sieht aus wie mein Spiel hat Sie, junges Fräulein. (Looks like my playing attracted you young miss.)," he told her.
He stood up at a height of six feet and bowed slightly, "Mein Name ist Wolfgang von Abner Gerhardt. (My name is Abner Wolfgang von Gerhardt.)," he introduced himself and she stood up and slightly bowed in return, "I'm Asuka Langley Mercier."
He then slowly approached her, "How did you find me here at this hour," he asked, "Your footsteps caught my attention. I was reading and I felt something…different," she phrased her words carefully.
"Es ist die spirituelle Energie für reanimiert Spirituosen und ... warten Sie eine Minute. Warum sind Sie nicht mehr Fragen, als Sie sollten? Normalerweise würden viele einen Sturm von Fragen in Ihrer Position zu stellen. (It's the spiritual energy for reanimated spirits and…wait a minute. Why are you not asking more questions than you should? Usually, many would ask a storm of questions in your position.)," he told her and she chuckled, "Lassen Sie mich nur sagen, dass ... Ich habe eine interessante 4 Jahre bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte. (Let me just say that…I've had an interesting four years up to this point.)," she told him.
He nodded and then she said something, "And judging from your outfit, you're not a Hessian, but…" she then looked at his face more closely, "I know who you were. I saw your face in a history book a while back. You were of the Gerhardt family in Brunswick-Wolffenbüttel, but died during the Seven Years War in 1760. Correct?"
Abner smiled, "Yes miss. I'm surprised you know of me," he told her and she laughed a bit, "Well, your family crest is on your pistols. You were in the top five of your outfit, mercenary for the Duke of Brunswick. But…that family sad to say, was divided over the years and when WWI came around, that prominent family was officially dissolved."
He sighed, "With that I am not surprised. No family lasts forever," he told her and she nodded, "True…Well, I suppose I should go. But…I do have a question: How in the world are you even here in Shanghai," Asuka couldn't help but point out.
He lightly smiled a mixed smile, "Well…I'm here to serve as body guard for a young woman who came here to visit her boyfriend, Hans Schroeder," and Asuka nodded, "Huh…I didn't know he had a boyfriend. He seemed more of a womanizer."
"True Ms. Mercier," he replied back with a slight groan, "It is getting late. May I escort you to your room," he offered and she nodded, "Sure. I would like that."
He grabbed for his tri-cornered hat and the two headed for the elevators and went upstairs for her room. Once on her floor, she took out her hotel key and she entered, followed by Abner, "Well, this is my room for one more week and…I'm sorry but…" she turned around and walked up to him.
She reached out her hand to touch his face and to her surprise, she is able to feel skin as if he were alive, "How…" she whispered and he grabbed her hand tenderly in his rough feeling hands. He smiled at her with his straight white teeth, but then she noticed a mark just partially hidden in his hand.
He caught it, "Oh, dass. Das war, wie ich in der Ohio-Tal getötet ... halten Sie von unserer Pflichten Frau Mercier wissen? (Oh that. That was how I was killed in the Ohio Valley…do you know of our duties Ms. Mercier?)," he asked.
She shook her head in a no, "Ich irgendwie vergessen haben, können Sie aktualisieren Sie mein Gedächtnis. (I sort of forgot, may you please refresh my memory.)," she asked and he nodded as he sat her down and gave her an explanation.
"Unsere Aufgaben waren Aufklärungs-, Scouting und Scharfschützen. Wir haben auch in militärischen Lücken in unsere Linien gefüllt, wenn gefordert. Unsere Fähigkeiten mit Gewehren, zumindest in meinem Regiment war mal so, dass wir schießen und nachladen in einer Minute und vier Sekunden. Wir waren auch besser als das durchschnittliche Mitglied einer Staffel aufgrund unserer tödlicher Präzision mit zarten, aber genaue Gewehre. Meine Fähigkeiten waren in Treffsicherheit in Mittel-und Langstrecken-Feuer, sowie Fähigkeiten im Kampf. Sowohl in der Hand zu Hand und mit dem Schwert. (Our duties were reconnaissance, scouting and sniping. We also filled in military gaps in our lines when called for. Our skills with rifles, at least in my regiment was times so that we can shoot and reload in one minute and four seconds. We were also better than your average member of any squadron due to our deadly precision with delicate, but accurate rifles. My skills were in marksmanship in middle and long-range fire, as well as skills in combat. Both in hand to hand and with the sword.)"
She was impressed to say the least, the fact that this spirit, like what Wilfredo experienced with Jordi Campa, can still retain his skills even when reanimated. But then again, she has little to no knowledge on the differing types of spirits, "Nun, ich bin ein Geiger. Aber auch, ich bin sehr geschickt in der Hand-auf-Hand bekämpfen und wissen, wie man eine Waffe abzufeuern. Aber in der Tat kann jeder Idiot eine Waffe abzufeuern. (Well, I'm a violinist. But also, I'm quite skilled in hand-to-hand combat and know how to fire a gun. But in effect, any idiot can fire a gun.)"
"You know how to defend yourself? Care to demonstrate for me," he asked, "Really? Well…there is enough room for close quarters fighting," she commented as she gets up and moved the chairs around so the two won't mess the room up.
"I'll be gentle miss," he said as he took off his coat and leather vest. As well as taking off his straps and holsters that held his pistols, "Unless you're still part of the German tradition of producing women who would rather face a tempest rather than surrender."
She cracked her neck in response and was silent. She jumped a few times and faced him, moving her feet a bit. The two looked at each other and the two started a brief spar. He made a punch, but she caught his arm, side kicked him and he fell. She immediately got on top with her knee on his chest and tried to bend his arm the other way. His free arm however smacked her in the left ear and she let go. He got up and then caught her fist, attempting to make contact with his head. He twisted it a bit and she winced in pain, but she then found herself on the floor when he kicked her in the chest and then found his boot on her abdomen, "Yield," he ordered.
But she grabbed his boot and with her strength, slowly lifted it up and with a burst of energy, threw him off balance. He stumbled and she got up quickly to grab his collar and hits him in the face with her right elbow. Then she grabbed him by the head and kneed him in the face.
'Enough of this,' he thought as wrapped his arms around her neck and kneed her in the abdomen. She coughed roughly as she gripped her but, but then felt his hand gripping her by the neck and slowly lifting her up. His grip was firm, but not enough to choke the air out of her when he said, "Yield."
She struggled a bit more, but ultimately relented, "Fine, I surrender," she told him as she relaxed and was slowly let down so her feet touch the floor, "I know when I'm beaten…something I'm just starting to realize," she said as she coughed a few more times.
"You are strong. But your fighting is too primitive and almost savage like," he commented, "Krav Maga leaves little room to be elegant on the field…but I get your point," she remarked as she sat on her bed again.
"Nun, wenn Sie nichts dagegen. (Now if you don't mind.)," he then stood in front of her, "Pflege, mit mir zu teilen Sie Ihre Vergangenheit? (Care to share with me your past?)," he pointed out and she looked up at him, "Nun ... nicht sicher, ob Sie meine Vergangenheit glauben. (Well…not sure if you would believe my past.)," she told him as she rubbed her throat.
He smiled, "I would try to understand," he told her and she breathed out to relax and gave him her story. She started with her birth, her mother's involvement in a science experiment that led to her insanity as well as her suicide. How in that timeframe, she believed a doll was her own daughter rather than she, and also the moments involving NERV that left her nearly broken. Then came her new life and foster family in Hamburg, her involvement with the orchestra that has led to her healing. But then came the European bank and the American hero that got under her skin due to his ignorance, "And…that's all really."
He stood there silently, "And…have you made piece with your mother," he asked and she nodded her head a yes, "Ich habe. Meine beiden Kameraden und ich haben ähnliche Erfahrungen gemacht. (I have. My two comrades and I have had similar experiences.)," she then lied down on the bed, "... Habe ich beschlossen, lassen die meisten davon gehen ... und versuchte sich zu erinnern, wenn sie glücklich war ... (…I decided to let most of it go…and tried to remember when she was happy…)"
He walked around the edge of the bed to face her as she rested her head on her pillow, "Ich wünsche Ihnen ein Geschenk zu geben. Das Geschenk meiner Freundschaft, meinen Rat und Attribute, wenn Sie dies wünschen. (I wish to give you a gift. The gift of my friendship, my counsel and attributes if you so desire.)," he told her.
She yawned and nodded at the first two offers, but the third caught her interest, "What do you mean by attributes," she asked as she adjusted her pillow.
"In accepting, a portion of myself will be melded with you in a sense. My skills in marksmanship and combat will be yours. Remember, this is not a "cup of instant weapon" as youngsters would say in these modern times. This is a way for you to learn and improve your already well-established combat skills."
She smiled a bit, now sleepy, "Okay…I accept," she told him. He nodded and then his finger touched her forehead. Her body became cold, and in her mind, she felt the sensation of falling as she heard the sounds of flintlock pistols firing, the men yelling and the horses whining. While at the same time, heard the faint tune of one of Bach's minuets…
[SUNDAY, 7:23AM]
Asuka woke up in her room and felt no different than the day before. But her mind having a bit of fuzziness to it, 'Ich frage mich, ob das alles war ein Klartraum. (I wonder if it's all been a lucid dream.),' she wondered. However, as soon as she thought that, the familiar voice of Abner appeared in her mind, 'Kein Fräulein. Letzte Nacht war kein Traum. (No fraulein. Last night was no dream.)'
She then thought back, '... Wer Sie wirklich? Ein neuer Freund, ein Mentor oder ein Berater der Arten? (…who are you really? A new friend, a mentor, or a counselor of sorts?),' she thought back and she could here him chuckling, 'Könnte es alle oben sein? (Could it be all of the above?)'
Asuka smiled a bit and thought back to Abner's voice, 'Vielleicht. Aber ich brauche ein bisschen Zeit, um sich daran gewöhnen. (Perhaps. But I need a bit of time to get used to this.),' and he responded back, 'Natürlich. Tragen Sie auf Ihrem letzten Woche hier und vielleicht einmal wieder zu Hause, können wir dies klären. (Of course. Carry on your final week here and perhaps once back home, we can sort this out.)'
She internally agreed and got out of bed to start her day. Thirty minutes later, she arrived in the lobby and can hear the song "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga playing on the radio. She wore a white t-shirt, blue jeans, sandals and her hair in a low ponytail. The only makeup she wore was some chap stick on her lips. She walked to get her breakfast and once there, she sees a girl talking to Hans and behind the girl, stood Abner with his hands behind his back. The two looked at each other, with Abner bowing his head slightly and Asuka smiled briefly before joining her friends.
JULY 2009, WEEK THREE
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
[TUESDAY, 6:47PM]
Hans, George and Oskar; along with Stefania, Emiko and Jade were watching videos of their new friends and colleagues on their website. Currently they were watching one performance from 2007, with Asuka who's also in the choir singing Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux, by Jean-Philippe Rameau from his opera Castor e Pollux, Act II Scene II, where the character TÉLAÏRE who had witnessed her just battle slain lover being dragged on the ground. They were entranced by the tragic mood of her singing and evoking the extreme grief her character was portraying.
[I recommend the rendition done by Marc Minkowski with the soprano Magdalena Kožená during the 2002 Rameau: Vingtième anniversaire des Musiciens du Louvre]
The female choir singers were impressed, more specifically, Stefania, "She has a really good register. She truly does. Although, she does emote a bit much at times. Forsaking technique, but for this piece it works," she said out loud.
"Wow Stefania, you talked good about someone else's talent," Jade told her and Stefania lightly chuckled, "I can critique on someone else's singing thank you. So don't put words in my mouth."
Jade stuck out her tongue and then exited the video and returned to the main video page and scrolled down, "Now…what else is good," she pondered as she looked, "They have so many videos since mid-2005, its nearly crazy."
Stefania looked at the screen and pointed, "How about that one," she asked and Jade clicked on it. It was the Overture and Ballet Suites for the opera ballet "Acis et Galatée pastorale héroïque, LWV 73" by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Performed during the Holy Week back in April, it was a well-received performance in Marseille, France.
[Again, I recommend the rendition by Les Musiciens du Louvre. I love the ensemble okay!]
"I remember I was there visiting friends," Stefania said, "It was a great performance, and to add to their increasing creativity, it was performed on the Château d'If," and this got the attention of Jade.
"Really? So they got some ideas from Dumas's book then," she smiled and the Italian girl chuckled, "I suppose so. And remember, Oskar performed his first opera "Gaston: The Count of Marseille" in the very city the story takes place in. He truly is a great talent," Stefania told her.
"Brilliant and cute. Too bad he's not interested in dating right now. Right Emiko," she told Stefania and then turned her head to the Japanese girl, "Yeah Jade. No need to counsel on my love life," she told her and Jade laughed.
MEANWHILE,
Wilfredo, Fatma, and Cecilia were talking with Delilah Zurer in the garden lounge, and learned that she was like them. She has mystical qualities like themselves, but from what she described to them, it was clear she was more developed than they are. With abilities like the Telepathic Cloak (able to shield her from mystics and the like), Mental Erasure, Spectral Command (able to summon spirits, human and malevolent spirits), Mind Control, Psychic Shielding, and her most powerful of all, the Cursed Seal (by utilizing the symbol of the six-pointed star to not only seal away the aura of a mystic or even a magician but also overwhelming the individual to the point that the physical body is severely affected).
"So you were in the middle of a patrol back in Tel Aviv," Fatma asked Delilah, "Yeah. Well, I do target those who have broken the moral code of society," she explained herself.
"You mean your moral code," Wilfredo countered and Delilah looked at him with a cocked eyebrow, "More or less to the point. I only target those who have been warned of their limited chances to redeem themselves," she told him.
Cecilia then spoke up, "But then…why risk yourself like this? Abusing your spiritual aura like this will have physical consequences," she pointed out and Delilah explained herself, "It's not really a risk. I've been utilizing my abilities since the age of five. And with what my mother has been able to teach me, I progressed on my own and have now, developed my own style of harnessing said abilities and my own moral code."
The three looked at her, "Well, it's similar for us," Fatma spoke, "All three of us have had our abilities present since our early childhoods. I was seven or so when my own came into being."
"Same for me," Cecilia spoke up as well and then Delilah looked at Wilfredo, "And how about you?"
"Five," he replied simply as he took a sip of his red wine, "Blood came out stigmata style," he told her, "Fire for me," Fatma spoke out, "Sea water at the beach," Cecilia added.
Delilah looked at them, "It seems that…all of us are able to use mana energies in strikingly similar but for different purposes."
"But also different reasons. You use yours for administering justice like a vigilante, at least in my eyes. However, what I can tell is that you know what you're doing and not just for kicks," he told her.
She looked at Wilfredo, "And what I can tell, you have an oppressive aura. Strong enough to ward off evil spirits, which depending on your faith do exist," she pointed out his robust aura.
"And we can tell you're suppressing your own. For the reason that yours won't feed off of our own," he commented back and she nodded, "Correct. But I am curious. Even as I mentioned my previous experiences with spirits and able to conjure up demonic spirits, you three barely batted and eyebrow…is it because you don't believe?"
"No, not all. It's just for me," Fatma spoke up, "I feel that my connection to the divine and the demonic is symbolized by colored flames. The more vibrant, the more holy, but the more dim it's the loss of faith."
"Water for me is the symbol of healing and wisdom," Cecilia spoke up, "So from that ceremony on the beach something clicked inside me," she told her. Delilah nodded at their statements and then looked at Wilfredo.
He caught her gaze, "Well…I guess I'm not as symbolically inclined as my friends here. But…overall it's the same principle," he told her simply, "I'll leave it at that."
Delilah looked at the three and thought to herself, '...אנשים אלה הם באמת ייחודיים לגבי החוויות שלהם. כן, אנחנו חולקים כמה קווי דמיון. אבל אני תוהה ... מדוע אנרגיות שמיעתי שונות ו לכאורה חוסר הידע על הטכניקות שתארתי להם? אלא אם כן ... הם לא צריכים להשתמש בלחשים או תפילות לטכניקות מסוימות ... אם זה המקרה, אז אני צריך לבדוק את זה עוד יותר. (…these individuals are truly unique regarding their experiences. Yes, we do share some similarities. But I wonder…why differing aural energies and their seemingly lack of knowledge on the techniques I described to them? Unless…they don't need to use incantations or prayers for certain techniques...if that's the case, then I need to look into this further.)'
[THURSDAY, 6:45PM]
Armand was lying on his bed with his sheets covering his lower half. His lover, Tara Schneider was lying next to him as she rested and looked at his chest, "Armand ... êtes-vous content d'être venu? Vous n'avez pas dit un mot depuis que je suis arrivé ce matin et bien ... fait l'amour dans votre chambre. (Armand…are you glad I came? You haven't said a word since I arrived this morning and well…made love in your room.)"
He breathed out through his nose, "Je suis heureux. Désolé si mon silence vous a mis hors tension. Je suis juste ... perdu dans ses pensées depuis quelques jours. (I am glad. Sorry if my silence has put you off. I'm just…lost in thought for the past few days.)," he explained himself as his left arm brought her closer and his hand played with her left breast.
She moaned slightly, "Armand…what will you do once you return to France in the next few days," she asked and he stopped his ministrations.
He looked at her, "Well…I plan to rest at my country home before the new academic year begins. What about you? What would you do," he asked her and she rubbed her hand on his chest, "May I…spend the summer with you?"
Armand was silent and looked at her with a small smile, "Of course," he told her.
He then gets up from the bed, still nude and went to the table to pour himself and Tara glasses of cognac. Once done, he walks back to the bed and hands her a glass as he took a sip. She sits up with the sheets covering her legs and the two silently looking at each other. It was a moment where they didn't need to say anything to be comfortable. The fact that they are drinking cognac in the nude shows how they are to each other.
"…Love, how are things with the orchestra," she asked him and he looked at her, "Pretty well. We had a situation a while ago, but it has been taken care of," he told her nonchalantly.
"Freut mich, das zu hören. Und was sind Ihre Eindrücke auf die beiden anderen Orchestern. Les Musiciens im Besonderen. Ich habe noch nie von ihnen gehört. (Glad to hear that. And what are your impressions on the other two orchestras. Les Musiciens in particular. I've never heard of them before.)," she said as she held her glass of cognac with both hands.
He sighed and dangled his glass with his right hand; "Coleridge ist wie erwartet, gut behandelt und gute Musiker mit Charles an der Spitze. Wie für die anderen Ensemble mit Mohammad an der Spitze ... soweit ich das auf der Grundlage ihrer Videos und kurze Bemerkungen ihrer Proben können ... sie sind wunderbar zu hören. (Coleridge is as expected, well handled and good musicians with Charles at the helm. As for the other ensemble with Mohammad at the helm…as far as I can see based on their videos and brief observations of their rehearsals…they are wonderful to listen to.)"
She smiled softly and sets her glass on the lampstand, "Glad to hear you're having fun during these past three weeks," and brought her knees close to her body and looked at him, "Care to order from room service for dinner tonight."
He smiled at her, "You read my mind," and then went to the phone to dial hotel services and ordered dinner for two.
[FRIDAY, 6:50PM]
SHANGHAI GRAND THEATRE, HUANGPU DISTRICT (黃浦區)
Les Musiciens were performing Dixit Dominus by Vivaldi with Mohammad at the helm for the past twenty minutes and nearing the end. It was a revelation that Vivaldi wrote it, even though in reality the composer did it for financial means. It was good, but not a great piece. But the musicians weren't complaining though. At 24 musicians and 24 singers were showing off the results of rehearsing nonstop for three weeks and doing previous rehearsing back at their respective homes. So far, things were going smoothly, and since Yasmin helped her father with rehearsals, she got the chance to direct the second piece, Vivaldi's In furore iustissimae irae.
Six more minutes passed and they finished the first of their three-part performance. The audience clapped and Mohammad ushered her daughter to come to the stage. He handed her his baton as he walked off stage. She turned around and bowed as the audience gave her a respectful round of applause. Then it turned silent, she faced the orchestra and began conducting. This piece was more aggressive and Cecilia bobbed her head as she faced the audience with the music staff in front of her and an open music book with the music and lyrics to follow. Then she began singing and it showed the audience why she only needed one rehearsal to learn it. It was suited for her vocal range and the coloratura she loved to sing out.
In the audience, Aulamerta Academy was sitting in the orchestra seating and Stefania observed Cecilia's technique. She made a mental note to ask Armand to see if she can perform this when the new school year starts. Emiko observed the ensemble and admired how Shinji was putting his emotions into the fierce piece. Armand observed Mohammad and Dania talking to themselves along side the Lebanese's mentor, Peter Wright and his wife Catherine who was able to come to the performance. He then looked to the right and sees Charles who also observed the performance. The two men caught each other's gazes and nodded once to one another. There was a silent recognition of the new talent, but also of their own pasts that was similar to the young adults in their orchestras and those on stage, filled with enthusiastic passions and putting it out there.
Fourteen minutes later, the second piece by Vivaldi concluded and the audience clapped. Cecilia bowed and rejoined the choir to prepare for their third and final piece of the evening, Dixit Dominus by Handel. Unlike the first piece that was more upbeat in tone and typically Italian in style, Handel's rendition of the same piece is more mature in its execution. With their rendition, instead of just the organ providing the basso continuo alongside the cellos and basses, the harpsichord was included as well. Bernhard and Dante found this as a good thing.
Their choir and soloists who led the charge alongside the instrumentalists showed their independence of mind and willingness to ignore convention. As they always have done since the orchestra's inception. The audience listened on as the young ensemble gave a surprisingly fresh take on Handel's work, but not for the sake of being different. They're smart about tackling well-known works, striving to keep a balance on being different and maintain intelligence. Mohammad has always stressed this, long pondering on how to tackle difficult works and draw out the best from his musicians. Armand and Charles looked on and can tell how much thought is being put into it.
'Il ya dynamisme en elle. Même sensualité, mais où cela vient-il? Je sais qu'il a été le mentor et formé au Conservatoire de Paris et par Peter Wright. Attendez une minute ... Peter était un étudiant de Madeline et Wolfgang. (There's vibrancy in it. Even sensuality, but where did it come from? I know he's been mentored and trained in the Paris Conservatory and by Peter Wright. Wait a minute…Peter was a student of Madeline and Wolfgang.),' Armand thought as he remembered information he read online on Mohammad and knows full well of Peter Wright who once led the London Philharmonic, 'Pourquoi suis-je pas surpris que. Mohammad partage le même esprit que ces trois. Alliant le côté académique de la musique de pathos est souvent associée à près de la perfection. (Why am I not that surprised. Mohammad shares the same spirit as those three. Fusing the academic side with the pathos music is often associated with nearly flawlessly.)'
Charles thought along similar lines, 'It's like I'm hearing Peter again…if he conducted with an early music ensemble. Mohammad is indeed a great man, insightful and creative. And he treats his musicians in a fatherly way. Very effective and important.'
Thirty fives minutes passed and once the piece concluded, the audience stood up and gave them an enthusiastic round of applause. Mohammad bowed, as did the musicians. They gathered their instruments and headed off stage with the festival's organizer coming up with his microphone, "Very well done! I congratulate you all for your talent and presence. Coming up is our final ensemble of the evening, Aulamerta Academy. There will be a twenty minute recess."
The audience stood up to stretch their legs and headed outside to get some air or some drinks in the lobby. Aulamerta Academy was scheduled to perform Lauda Jerusalem RV 609 by Antonio Vivaldi, alongside Nisi Dominus RV 608 on period instruments something that is rare for them, with the latter sung by a countertenor in the choir.A treat to hear them like this, but they have proven their talent over the years in spades and are usually among the top five in young adult orchestras. Twenty minutes later, the audience returned and Les Musiciens sat in their assigned seating after packing up their vans with their instruments. The only thing that remained on stage was the box organ and the harpsichord. The academy's musicians came to the stage in their uniforms and Armand leading them and the choir. The audience clapped, as did the other two orchestras in the audience. As the orchestra took to their places, Armand turned to them, looked at them, raised his hands and then started their portion of the evening…
[For their rendition, for the first piece I would recommend the one done by The King's Consort while for the second, the Australian Baroque Orchestra with countertenor Andreas Scholl.]
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
[9:34PM]
"You guys were…fucking amazing," Zane told the musicians and choir members of both Aulamerta and Coleridge, "No wonder whenever we go to Europe, we would hear of your schools first. Well, in our age groups anyway," he pointed out.
"And you lot aren't so bad at all. In fact, your performances are always a constant surprise," an British boy Zane's age told him across the large round table, "Refreshing in fact."
The conversations between the three orchestras in two round tables were roughly the same. The performance by Coleridge Academy, that involved Stabat Mater by Antonio Vivaldi and Gloria in D, also by Vivaldi also got their attention. The noise from the young adults was palpable, electric and alive. The former Pilots love this above everything else. Moments like this cemented their beliefs that this was above their former lives; no violence and no EVAs. The three mystics walked to their new friends in Aulamerta and Coleridge, loving their different but enriching interactions.
"The noise is lively," Liam commented to Yasmin as they sat at the bar nearby, "Oh yeah…cheers," she raised her glass to him and he returned the gesture, "Cheers."
The two glasses of whisky clinked and they drank in accomplishment, "And we finished gathering student accounts over the past three weeks. Never thought we could," he pointed out and she smiled as she nodded, "Same here. But thank God it's over. I can go home now and just relax!"
"Here, here!" Liam exclaimed, "Another round please," he told the bartender and he nodded as he poured their glasses, "We're going to get in trouble sir," Yasmin told Liam.
He chuckled, "We'll be fine," he grabbed his glass and winked at her as he drank his whisky. She looked at him with a brief smile and she finished her whisky, "Say, how about we head for the Bund to get some air."
He nodded in agreement. He finished his glass and walked out of the noise of the banquet hall and headed for the lobby. The two stepped out and headed for the riverfront across the street. Liam glanced at Yasmin, remembering what Craig told him. He coughed slightly to clear his throat, "Yasmin…how did you enjoy your three weeks here?"
She looked at him, "Well…I had a great time really. Shanghai is getting press these days for its hurried development, and how my parents got really busy this time around. I loved the hell out of it…How about you," she told him and repeated his question.
He smiled, "To be honest, I didn't want to come. I wanted to go back to Dublin. But…I had a great time. The work I did this time around was more rewarding and insightful on what the kids are thinking," he told her, "And…I'm glad that you helped out…and being here."
She listened and the two stood at the railing of the riverfront, "Liam…" she whispered and he stepped forward a bit, "Yasmin…I…These past two years knowing you have been absolutely rewarding. And I have grown to love our friendship…"
She can tell he was trying to say something else, which in effect, was similar to her own, "I know…same here Liam. These two years knowing you and becoming your friend has been great…"
The two then stood close and only the noise of the traffic filled their comfortable silence.
MEANWHILE, BACK INSIDE
Shinji excused himself as he told his friends he need to get his camera back in his room so he can take a group photo. He took the elevator up to the sixth floor and headed for his room. He opened the door and sees a note on his bed, 'Perhaps from one of the guys or Asuka,' he thought as he let the door close behind him and headed for the bed.
His camera was just behind the note and picked it up and began reading:
To Shinji Manabe,
Your performance today was stellar as for the rest of your friends performing Vivaldi and Handel. I witnessed the emotions you exhibited on your handsome face. I sensed a cry for redemption and an inner sadness I did not see before. A man should not be weighed down by the sadness I sensed from you. And yet, your playing is rich and at times, sensual…if I may be so bold in saying. I am here if you need me more than as your admirer and one day we shall meet.
Your admirer
P.S. I am in this hotel. Remember what I have said before, if you shall try to seek me out, I have no choice but to flee. If you have not figured out who I am by now, that means I'm better at hiding than I thought.
He read the letter again, and folded it to put in his back pocket. He headed out with his camera in hand. He headed for the elevator and once it arrived, he pressed the button for the lobby. Once he arrived, he needed to use the restroom, mentally cursing that he didn't use the one in his room. He headed for one near the lounge that was close by. He then finished and washed his hands and once he headed out and about to go to the banquet hall, he suddenly felt hands coming from behind and hugging his torso.
"Looks like your training in the martial arts has really made a man out of you," the woman said and the tone was familiar but wholly new, "Who are you," he whispered as he felt the girl's hands on his chest.
"Your admirer. Haven't you figured that out yet? I must be better at this than I thought," she told him as she rubbed his chest and his arms, "I guess…those photos of me on Facebook and on my orchestra's website told you of what I do besides music huh," he asked.
She nodded silently as her hands travelled lower towards his abdomen, "Firm, fit…you are indeed becoming a man," she whispered as her hands now travelled to his flank.
Internally, he enjoyed the feeling of her hands. Soft and slightly calloused around her fingertips. When she got to his belt, she lightly dipped her fingers inside his waistband and stopped there, "I've been admiring you for two years now. We have met a few times, and yet…you haven't figured it out yet. I'm glad, but pretty soon, you will know who I am."
Her whispering was soothing, sensual and deeply familiar, "I do wish to know who you are. But can't you…" when he turned his head, she was gone and noticed her hands were gone as well. He breathed in and out slowly and looked at the camera in his hands and walked back to the banquet hall.
When he entered, his friends saw him, "What happened," Dante asked, "Yeah, did you get lost in your room or something," Asuka asked with a chuckle and Shinji smiled a bit, "Went to the restroom and uh…got a little sidetracked."
"Figures," Gilberto commented and then added, "Come on, set up your camera on Zane's tripod and get over to our side," he said and Shinji nodded with a smile.
He then sets up his Nikon on the tripod and sets the timer. He then to his friends in a huddle: Zane, Alberto, Gilberto, Wilfredo, Fatma, Cecilia, Asuka, Dante, himself, Lionel, Eda, Juliette, Edmond, Ahmed, Christina, and of course the Moradi family joining them with the rest of the musicians and choir members. The camera's timer ended and there was a flash.
Emiko rejoined her friends just as when the camera flashed for Les Musiciens. Her mother came to the banquet hall and tapped a wine glass to get their attention. The room was silent, "Ladies and gentlemen. I am deeply proud of the work all of you have put into your performances. And it was indeed an honor to have you all in my hotel. I hope your stay was enjoyable and please, feel free to return whenever you're in Shanghai or elsewhere my hotel chain is present."
The room clapped and cheered.
THE AMBER PALACE HOTEL
[SATURDAY, 12:17PM]
Rin Takashiro was in her deluxe suite she uses whenever she is in Shanghai. Her daughter is staying with her and will stay with her to fly back to Japan on Sunday. She checked herself in the mirror, dressed in her black Armani suit and went to the sitting room where Emiko was, "親愛なる、私はし参加する会議を持っている。短い会議は本当に、その後、私たちは一緒に昼食を持っているでしょう。 (Dear, I have a meeting to attend to. A short meeting really and afterwards, we'll have lunch together.)"
Emiko turned to her as she read, "確かに母親。私は私の本を読んで、ここと大丈夫です。 (Sure mother. I'll be here and fine with reading my book.)," she reassured her mother.
She nodded and exited the room. Rin pressed the button for the elevator to come and once it came she pressed for the fifteenth floor, two floors below. She checked the time on her Swiss watch and looked at the blurred reflection of herself on the polished metal doors. Moments later, she arrived at her floor and got out. She headed down the hall where it was a collection of private offices and a daycare for children when their parents are at work.
She headed for the assigned office and sees a woman setting glasses and a pitcher of water, "小姐,一切都設置為您的客戶在他們的會議。您的會議室在大廳設置了與幾家酒店的經理會議。 (Miss, everything is set up for your clients to have their meeting. Your meeting room down the hall is set up for your meeting with several hotel managers.)," the young woman told Rin.
"非常好。一旦您完成後,繼續您的其他工作。 (Very well. Once you're done, carry on with your other jobs.)," she told the woman and Rin closed the door. She then headed for her reserved office room to put her final touches for her presentation on their mixed year so far.
Meanwhile, as the woman left the other reserved room, she heard the elevator doors open. A group of nine men in different suits, but all of them were of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and Nepalese descent. They carried their briefcases and backpacks. On their breast pockets was a very peculiar symbol, a skull with its mouth agape and inside a mouth, a golden chalice. They passed her and entered the office.
The door closed and the men took to their seats. The HP projector turned on as one of them lowered the screen. The Japanese man connected his laptop to the projector and then sat down so the Malaysian could start things off.
"Baiklah ... mari kita mulakan puan-puan. (Alright…let's begin gentlemen.)"
Finally, I got around to write this chapter. This rounds up what was presented in the previous chapter. The ending is as it is to introduce a new organization to take the place of the Forever Knights. What comes after this is further exploration into the characters, even the reasons for the lesser characters with their presence are unique and always on a equal field with the main cast. I wanted to post this on Christmas Day, but for some reason, the site would not let me in. So…think of this as a belated gift for my readers out there.
As I have said for the performance of Les Musiciens, I recommend the renditions done by La Nuova Musica, with its conductor Daniel Bates.
Read, review, critique and chapter seven will come sooner than this, since I got a good head start on it since my finals. Schooling…important, but sometimes gets in the way of my passion.
Edit: January 26, 2014 (one little detail when Oskar's opera was mentioned. It wasn't his second, it was his first. Sorry for my carelessness)
