Category: Serialised

---

Previous – Book1 Page238 – Next

---

MISSFORTUNE
(MISSFORTUNE scans all the musicians, making fleeting eye contact with each one of them, inciting them to maintain their focus. They have to deliver only the first 90 seconds of this piece, and she wants to close it on a psychological high for everybody. Especially for ANGRYBARD. Yet he is steadfastly refusing to look up. A pained look of concentration is now ingrained on his face. His hands are at rest, but the third and final drum roll is due any moment.)

ANGRYBARD
(On cue, not that he looked up for the cue, ANGRYBARD starts a mild rumble, as the brass and strings perform the first demi fanfare and hold the high note. The intensity of the mild rumble increases, as the volume of the high note reduces, and then the drums seem to quieten. Deceptively, it looks as though the music will slowly fade, but again the musicians ramp it up a notch. MISSFORTUNE is focussed only on ANGRYBARD who obligingly looks up just in time to see the delight on her face as he commences the second demi crescendo to close the piece.)

ORCHESTRA
(All eyes are on MISSFORTUNE. Her eyes are on ANGRYBARD. His eyes are now fixed on the kettle drums as he strikes them with the mallets. MISSFORTUNE is enthusiastically waving her baton. The musicians are following her cue. ANGRYBARD isn’t. He’s totally immersed in the moment, getting the rising drama of the kettle drums just right. Everybody is holding the high note waiting for MISSFORTUNE’s signal. MISSFORTUNE is waiting for ANGRYBARD to pay attention to the conductor!)

ANGRYBARD
(The final mild rumble is escalating, the depth and the volume are rising. It’s supposed to be a fully fledged drum roll, but without the final double strike. ANGRYBARD knows this, and

---

Previous – Book1 Page238 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page236 – Next

---

(MISSFORTUNE waits for ANGRYBARD to nod slightly indicating that he’s ready. With almost no delay, he nods gently.)

ORCHESTRA
(MISSFORTUNE taps the lectern three times and the marines deliver a low C with a solemn, modest volume. The volume rises with a majestic sostenuto taking it to G and then up to a higher C. MISSFORTUNE brings in the string section, with a resounding few notes which symbolise a sunrise.)

AUDIENCE
(There are some deep gasps of pleasant surprise from a few members of the audience who recognise the piece after just eight bars. Others, impressed by the rich, resonant sound, and the harmonic tension already building, are smiling at one another. Still struggling to identify the music, many audience members are nonetheless impressed that two marines and eight school children are delivering a familiar and iconic piece with such dynamism.)

ANGRYBARD
(As the brass and string sections lower the intensity, ANGRYBARD starts a modest drum roll, rising in tempo and volume, and creating a profound smile on MISSFORTUNE’S face.)

FULLYCHARGED
(Sitting in the front row, FULLYCHARGED looks on in awe.)

ANGRYBARD
(Seeing the emergent smile on MISSFORTUNE’S face, ANGRYBARD’s confidence rises fourfold. Maintaining his concentration, and with perfect timing and a rising drama, he brings the first drum roll to a clear conclusion with a double strike on the middle drum.)

---

Previous – Book1 Page236 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page235 – Next

---

OPENMIKE
(Animated and characterful.)
Let’s try that again, and louder this time … are you ready for this?

AUDIENCE
(Participating widely.)
Yes, Mike!

OPENMIKE
(Ebullient.)
That’s better! Let me hear you put your hands together for the Orchestra of MissFortune!

SCENE 2
(A musical piece with no dialogue.)

MISSFORTUNE
(MISSFORTUNE stands just below the stage, facing the orchestra, with her back to the audience. She lifts a baton and taps her lectern smartly. Her students sit up straight, quite alert, and watch as each of the marines picks up a French horn.)

ANGRYBARD
(On his debut appearance thirteen year old ANGRYBARD knows that this is the first signal. Nervously, he rises to his feet, standing in the back row of the orchestra, poised at the kettle drums.)

MISSFORTUNE
(MISSFORTUNE smiles at him sympathetically and encouragingly, willing him to give the sort of robust performance which she knows he’s capable of. In return ANGRYBARD displays a half hearted smile which cannot disguise his sense of foreboding.)

---

Previous – Book1 Page235 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page234 – Next

---

“If they all turn up,” says AuntSylvie, “we’re going to have seven acts tonight.”

As the marines take their places at the extreme edges of the orchestra pit they’re watching MissFortune, the music teacher, who’s busy encouraging the newcomer to settle into his seat. AngryBard is nervous. He’s the only boy in the orchestra, and although he’s rehearsed this a few times at school with MissFortune playing a French horn, Karen and James were only able to practice with them once.

“You’ll be fine,” she says to AngryBard, “Karen and James will let you set the pace. You can do this, I know you can.”

Anxiously, AngryBard looks at Karen. She gives him a quick wink and a smile, and a thumbs up for good luck.

The Talent Contest

SCENE 1

OPENMIKE
(Addressing the audience.)
Ladies and gentleman and non-binaries!

Welcome to the Noble Coliseum.

My name’s OpenMike, and oh do we have a spectacle for you tonight!

Are you ready for this?

I said are you ready for this?

AUDIENCE
(About one quarter respond)
Yes, Mike!

---

Previous – Book1 Page234 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page233 – Next

---

Chapter 28
Talent Contest

On an ordinary Saturday night the Noble Coliseum stages “OpenMike Night”, an amateur variety show, with song, dance, music, and other acts. However, once every quarter the show distinguishes itself by doing something special. This time it’s a talent contest. It’s a little tongue in cheek, because “talent” is not a prerequisite to take part! Everybody is welcome. The amateur nature of the event is maintained, the judges are good natured, and the prizes are distressingly trivial! The performers and the guests come along to enjoy themselves, and the Noble Coliseum makes a little bit of extra money to help it function.

The “pay what you can afford” approach works well. Even the poorest people in town will add a penny or two to the collection box. There are some wealthy benefactors who put several sovereigns in the box every Saturday.      Mr Rafone and AuntSylvie are the co-conspirators, ably assisted by a collection of volunteers young and old. Tonight, there are six judges, Hayley and FullyCharged are sitting in the middle of the front row, flanked by two adults on either side. The school orchestra is here too, with special guests Karen Hall and James Powell, two of the musicians from the Garrison. Wearing their bright scarlet tunics Karen and James outclass CandiCrush who naturally is wearing civvies on a Saturday night. She introduces them to Mr Rafone.

“Welcome to the Noble Coliseum,” he says, “I’m so glad you could join the team this evening. This is Sylvie and I’m Mike. You might have seen us around before? Sylvie, better known as AuntSylvie is the boss here.”

“Delighted to meet you,” she says, “please call me Sylvie. Though many of the kids just call me Auntie. The older residents call me all sorts of things!”

“Almost everybody calls me Mr Rafone because I’m a school teacher. But on a Saturday I’m OpenMike, and the young ones are allowed to call me Mike!”

---

Previous – Book1 Page233 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page231 – Next

---

“You need to have a shower more often!”

“You mean fish? The smell? I’ve not been near a fishing boat for a few days now.”

“It’s not fish!”

At that precise moment, the circuits in his brain make the connection.

“Oh for the life of me! What did Conning say? She said I smelt of fish!”

“Fish?”

“She didn’t actually mean fish … Barmy, do you have a moment? Can I ask you something?”

---

Previous – Book1 Page231 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page230 – Next

---

BarmyWaffle hands him the crossbow, “weapon clear.”

The look on his face demands an answer.

MaxChaos responds, “seen clear.”

“I’ve never used a crossbow. I wouldn’t know the difference between a normal one and an experimental one. What’s so special about this one?”

“Well first off, we’ll get Commander Crush to authorise some training for you. On a standard crossbow of course. Then we can discuss how to improve it. Then it’ll all make more sense to you.”

“In any case,” says BarmyWaffle, as he points to the flat plates connecting the limbs to the riser, “these are larger cantilever springs than normal. Usually they’re made of metal. Metal is good, but brass is too flexible and iron is too stiff. We’re looking for the Goldilocks’ solution. Something that’s just right. This prototype has a bone composite, we’re trying to make it easier to use, so that we can improve reloading.”

MaxChaos understands the pointing, and most of the parts, but he doesn’t understand all the words. He looks confused.

“Don’t worry about the terminology … don’t worry about the words … you’ll get used to it as you spend more time with us. Of course, I’m assuming that you’re going to be here every Wednesday afternoon for side project time?”

Finally, MaxChaos and BarmyWaffle have clicked.

The dock worker and the scientist have something in common. They’re both interested in crossbows, even if it’s for different reasons.

Forty years separate them, so BarmyWaffle is old enough to be his grandfather! BarmyWaffle also feels the need to say something else, and he feels that he’s in a position to say it. Taking a fatherly tone he changes the subject.

“Max, do you live in a shared house? All men?”

“Yeah I do. How did you know?”

“And the kitchen’s always a mess? And the bathroom’s always a mess? And you tend to avoid them?”

“Yeah, whatcha getting at?”

---

Previous – Book1 Page230 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page229 – Next

---

“Just brainstorming new ideas. Like you said, I’m not sure where it might take us.”

“Mr Waffle?” says MaxChaos.

“Call me Barmy, not Mr Waffle! My name’s Emmett Williams, but just call me Barmy, I’m used to it, and it makes life easier for everyone.”

“Yes, Barmy, can I take a closer look at that crossbow?”

“Sure. But first you have to understand the etiquette, the ‘Safe Handling Rules’. When I pass a weapon to you, and later when you pass it back to me there’s a procedure. I’m not a marine, but we’ve all had this drummed into us. I point it at the ground and I pass it holding the stock. You keep it pointing at the ground and you take hold of it by the stock.”

“The general weapon safety rules are …”

1. Treat every weapon as if it’s loaded.
2. Never point a weapon at anyone unless you intend to kill them.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re ready to fire.
4. Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

“Tom’s an ex marine. Tom, what does the instructor always say?”

TomTom does his best imitation of a stern instructor, “you do not pass a weapon unless it’s proven clear, action at rest, arrow track checked. You show it’s clear, you say it’s clear, you get confirmation it’s clear. You follow the rules, or you’re out of the Garrison.”

MaxChaos nods.

BarmyWaffle picks up the crossbow, and shows it to MaxChaos, “this action is at rest, this arrow track is clear, now I say ‘weapon clear’ and you can take hold of the stock. I won’t release my grip until I know that you’re holding it firmly and I’ve heard you say ‘seen clear’, understood?”

“Got it. One hundred percent.”

---

Previous – Book1 Page229 – Next

---

---

Previous – Book1 Page228 – Next

---

“Max is a character! And he works hard. He can lift more, and work longer than many of the dock workers. I guess that means he has muscles. I saw him single handedly lift a fully grown deer once, and sling it over his shoulders to carry it home.”

“And he smells,” says CandiCrush, “and he’s not bright. What’s he doing here? The Inventors Club is for brainstorming new ideas!”

“Maybe he’s an idea generator? Maybe I am too, why am I included?” KristalClear pauses for a moment. “Didn’t Constable Walker suggest that you include Max? They get along together.”

“Yes, I know. I wonder why?”

“Good and evil! They share the same ethos. I’m told that Max would make a good police officer. His heart is in the right place. Except he has no qualifications.”

“And he has no sense of smell?”

“Maybe you have an extra sensitive sense of smell?” says KristalClear, “we all notice him, but it’s not overwhelming.”

“It is overwhelming! At least I won’t have to spend Wednesdays in the lab with him. I feel sorry for the rest of you!”

—o—

            “HayWire, what’s up?” asks BarmyWaffle.

“Oh, sorry! It’s just something I do to test the nature of materials. I place them between my teeth, I don’t bite them, I just touch them lightly to sense what they’re made of. At first, my GuildMaster was confused as well. I thought it was normal, but I’ve learnt that I’m the odd one out.”

“And what does the test tell you?”

“This wolf bone is definitely stronger than the llama bone, but it’s going to be easier to carve. You could also work with thinner slices of it.”

“How might that help us?”

---

Previous – Book1 Page228 – Next

---