The show consisted of movements from dramatic pieces over time. There was a feature for each section included, and quite the series of high jumps in the horns. The Bandopian band put heart into their show, hoping that Reid would hear it while staying with his parents back home. The Shadows had flare and style, but not enough emotion. Their show fell flat against the dramatic passion Bandopia's best gave. At the end of the day, the Bandopians were tired but victorious, and deep bitterness ran rapid through the Shadows.
"A fantastic show," Sal said quietly to the group, catching their breath after a run. He wasn't happy, or excited. Proud, but not enthusiastic. "You guys really played well." Jazz sat with his hands over his face, unable to speak. Sal glanced to Lute, who didn't know what to do.
"Reid shouldn't have been sent away," Gliss shouted. Cornett, silent until now, pushed forward and faced the three.
"Reid would have made this perfect! There is no show without a band member, especially Reid!" Suddenly, others agreed. The drum majors found themselves surrounded by an angry mob. The Great Ones, already gone inside to add scores, couldn't hush them now. From a distance, the Shadows could hear their cries.
"Sounds like a real racket," Reb muttered to the retreating line. Art turned to see fists thrust into the air.
"Do you think they heard us planning an attack?"
"Harp said we couldn't," Reb argued, "and I don't think she's in the mood to compromise!"
"What are they doing?" another Shadow senior shouted. "They're attacking us!" The Shadow line turned in horror to see the crowd shifting and growing angrier. They were heading towards the castle, which conveniently lay in their path. Antsy, angry, and confused, the Shadows rushed back.
Cornett stopped at the side of the castle, banging with all his might against its steel foundation. As the rest of the band circled him, Clare noticed the Shadows were a mere feet away. "What are they doing?" Clare asked Bonette. "They're heading right for us!" Tap and Q turned sharply but were knocked down by a wave of malicious Shadows. A fist fight had ensued.
Jazz and Gliss immediately began separating marchers. They didn't want any blood spilled, but someone had cornered Eufo and he was facing four tubas. Freshman fell like faint ghosts, and screams rose up, muffled to the Great Ones. Suddenly, Cornett saw that Liggy was fighting to run from a deranged Shadow Trombone. Stepping in the lunatic's path, the Trombone knocked Cornett down, sending his trumpet sliding across the field. At the same instance, a tuba dropped like a grand piano over it. Cornett's eyes watered as he heard the crashing of metal. The tuba was kicked aside, and a shard of twisted brass lay under it. Slowly rising to his feet, the handsome youth lifted his horn like a lost babe. The bell was cracked in three pieces. He felt his stomach turn and his face drained. Liggy rushed to his side.
"Cornett! Oh great Sousa, your horn!"
The fighting slowly halted as more Bandopians rushed to Cornett's mutilated instrument. A fragment of yellow broke off in Cornett's cradled hands and he felt his head swim. Suddenly, Jazz burst through the few Shadows still wrestling and exploded in a rage of anger.
"You idiots! Look what you've done! Look what you've done to his horn!" Mellody wept uncontrollably. Liggy watched her own tears drop onto the broken bell and slide along side Cornett's. "Get out of here! Go back to the depths of Hell where you belong! Just go!" The Shadows scurried like mice. Harp, a late arrival, glanced over to the crowd. She, too, had tried to keep her order. She couldn't feel her feet as she caught a glimpse of the accident.
"Sousa's lights," she whispered as the Shadows fled about her. "Have mercy on him."