I Want to be Me Page 10
‘One is French, and the other one is Italian. Look at the wood! It’s absolutely beautiful.’ They walked past old pianos, some of which had scenes of the countryside, or of people dancing in a park, mounted above the keyboard. Julia suddenly became interested in a particular violin. She turned it upside down and around and looked at it very closely. ‘It’s a Stradivarius,’ she called out. ‘My goodness me, it’s a Strad!’
‘Why is that so important?’
‘Because it has a special sound – it has a bell-like sound. In the hands of a good violinist, it can be the most beautiful sound in the world.’
‘I hear something. Someone is coming!’ Claudia had exceptional hearing and had picked up the faint sound of footsteps on the stone steps somewhere in the background. Quick as a flash, Julia raced over, closed the door, locked it from the inside and turned off the light. She fumbled for her torch, finally got it and, taking Claudia’s hand, led her to place behind the central pile of instruments.
She moved several instruments aside to make a space, and they both squeezed into it. She then moved a bassoon in front of the space so that they were quite well hidden.
Their worst fears were realised when they heard the old iron door being pushed open. It was quite noisy. Then they heard footsteps and voices getting closer and closer. When a key was put in the old vault door and turned, Claudia gasped out loud.
‘Steady on, Claudia, we’ll be okay.’ As the door handle was being turned, however, Claudia had the last say.
‘We won’t be, unless you turn that torch off!’
From the hiding place, they heard two male voices at the door.
‘Turn the light on, Sloan,’ said one. ‘The switch is just over there.’
The light went on. It was Dr Sloan and the registrar, Mr Jenkins, who stepped into the vault.
‘The overseas group has been fully informed about all of this, Sloan. When the time is right we will need a catalogue, and now – this is very secret; I’m told there’s a lot of something in that other room at the end of the corridor that is even more valuable, although I must admit I have never seen it.’
‘And then?’ asked Sloan.
‘International recognition, exhibitions all over the world in famous museums, lectures, invitations, you name it! And, of course, all that money!’
‘And me?’ asked Sloan.
‘As director of the new music centre and museum, you will of course go with the exhibition when it travels, give public lectures, go on TV, and probably become an instant celebrity.’
‘Marvellous – just marvellous,’ Sloan exclaimed, rubbing his hands with glee. ‘I can’t wait. I just can’t wait.’
‘It won’t happen unless you win that competition, Sloan. This group won’t invest in a second-rate music centre, or anything second-rate for that matter. You must win or lose everything! And don’t forget: the master has a lot to lose as well. They’ve promised him a lot. He especially stands to gain a great deal.’
‘I’ll win. I’ve got the best violinist in the world in this Chin Li. I’ve only just read him the Riot Act, you know, to sharpen him up a little bit.’
‘He’s only very young. I hope you weren’t too hard on him?’
‘Oh, he blubbered a bit, you’d expect that, but I can’t afford to take a risk. I think he got the message. That other lot could get up to just about anything.’
‘It’s all down to you. You have to get the job done no matter what it takes,’ Jenkins said, looking Sloan hard in the face. ‘The master knows, but he doesn’t know. You follow? If you lose, I doubt that he’d keep you on here as a porter.’
‘I’ll win – I will win!’ Sloan was clearly flustered. He decided to change the subject. ‘By the way, can I ask what is in the vault at the end of the corridor there? I’ve never been in there. Only heard the odd vague rumour.’
‘I can’t show you,’ said Jenkins. ‘The master has told me about it, but he is the only one who has the key. He is very, very secretive about it. You’d better keep your mouth shut.’
‘I have to go to a meeting. We have to go. I’ll take the keys back,’ said Sloan.
Jenkins handed them over. ‘When I picked them up, I didn’t notice the second set that’s usually there,’ he said.
‘Oh, that would be Helen Brown. She is always fossicking about down here, and everywhere else for that matter. She is always sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted.’
‘I can see that you don’t like that woman. I don’t like her either,’ said Jenkins. ‘If things go right for us, she’ll be the first to go.’
‘I couldn’t agree more, and the sooner the better!’ Sloan said with a nasty sneer. ‘And you can add that porter at the front gate to your list of early retirements!’
The light went out. The door closed and the lock turned. Julia and Claudia were still huddled under the pile of instruments. They heard the sound of footsteps receding. Then the old iron door was closed very noisily. Julia switched on her torch and they scrambled out from their hiding place, knocking over three or four instruments in the process.
‘It’s over. We’re safe.’ Julia looked at Claudia, who was still quite white-faced. ‘I must say, well, you’ve got a lot of ticker, Claudia.’
The compliment made Claudia feel just slightly better. ‘We’d better tidy up,’ she said. They had caused quite a disruption to the stack of instruments in the centre of the room. They agreed to put it all back to what they thought the way it was. They pulled out quite a number of instruments, and also some boxes that had been in the centre of the stack.
Again, Julia’s curiosity got the better of her, and she opened one or two of the boxes. For the most part she found old music sheets and letters of various kinds. One box was an old make-up kit for the theatre. However, there was one long box that caught her attention. The catch was very stiff. It obviously hadn’t been opened for a long time. Inside was a collection of what seemed to be old legal letters. The one that caught her eye was addressed to the chairman of the council of Old College.
‘This is most interesting, indeed,’ said Julia opening the letter. ‘It refers to a deed of gift of a collection of old instruments and museum pieces. The deed, according to this letter, is held by Walton and Walton, solicitors of London. The letter is signed by G.K. Gilchrist, 18 November 1889. Where’s my pen? I’ll just write this down.’
‘Julia, we really have to go – those keys will be missed.’
‘Okay, we’re off! Watch carefully as we go.’
As they moved towards the door, they both suddenly froze at the sound of a noise in the corridor. It sounded like a scraping noise. It seemed to come from the direction of the other door. Then the noise stopped. They waited a few minutes. Nothing happened.
‘It was probably a rat, or maybe something to do with the plumbing. In any case, we have to take a risk and scoot,’ Julia said. They left the vault as quickly and as quietly as they possibly could and went up the long flight of steps to the clock tower.
‘How will we get the keys back?’ asked Claudia. She was breathing in the fresh air after the horrible, stale smell of the dungeon below.
‘Give them to me,’ said Julia. She simply walked over to the porter’s office and handed him the keys.
‘I found these over by the clock tower. Do they belong here?’ she asked boldly.
‘Ah, yes – goodness me – that Dr Sloan!’ muttered Herbert the porter. ‘If it’s not one thing with Dr Sloan it’s another. Thank you very much, young miss – I hope you enjoyed your visit.’ They were both delighted to get out onto the street, where they breathed a deep sigh of relief at having got away with their little escapade.
They went back through the park, walking very quickly, as Claudia was now going to be very late getting home. When they parted at the gates, Julia asked Claudia and not to tell anyone what they had seen and heard.
‘Okay, that’s no problem.’ Claudia was simply relieved to be on her way home, after her experience in the dungeon under the college. As she stepped away, Julia turned to speak to Claudia.
‘And by the way, Claudia,’ she said, ‘if you can do what you did this afternoon, you can certainly handle playing in our orchestra – and then some!’
Back at Old College, Dr Sloan was hurrying off for his meeting with the master. As he walked across the square, he encountered Li and nodded and smiled to him. Li did not return the compliment. He was still angry with Sloan for the way in which he had spoken to him.
He felt that he and his family had been grossly insulted, and he had just come down from his room, where he had been consoling himself for the last hour, by looking at pictures of his family back in China and reading the Thoughts of Confucius. This always made him feel better when he was feeling down. He had made up his mind to repay Sloan when he could. He thought of what he had read up in his room: ‘What the superior man seeks in himself, the small man seeks in others.’ Sloan, he thought was a small man.
Dr Sloan was actually feeling pleased with himself after his meeting with Jenkins. The afternoon had gone very well. To his surprise, he found the master, Dr Fennell, in an equally happy mood.
‘Come in, Sloan,’ he called out from across his huge study. ‘Just been talking about you – to our Canadian friends.’ Sloan went in and sat opposite Dr Fennell.
‘Yes, they’re sending someone over to check out our project. They want to be sure of the project – and of you, Sloan.’
‘Me?’ Sloan was surprised.
‘Oh yes – you’re a key player in this. You’re the proposed director of the proposed new centre. They want to be sure you’re sound, Sloan.’ Sloan didn’t reply to this. He already saw himself in the job.
‘Will I get a bigger and better room when this is all done, Master?’
The master was a little surprised at this particular question. He decided to humour him.
‘Oh, certainly, Sloan, if that’s what you want. Do you have anything in particular in mind?’
‘I fancy Dr Brown’s room. After all, she’s unlikely to stay on, is she?’
‘I get your meaning, Sloan. My word, you are a devious fellow. Must remember to stay out of your way. Yes, most regrettably, I suppose you’re right.’
‘Her room then – it’s agreed?’
‘All things being equal, Sloan – all things being equal. By the way, if things work out, I’ll be overseas a lot, I imagine. I’ll put someone sound in here while I’m away.’
Sloan expanded visibly. He must mean me, he thought. He got up and went to the door, smiling as he went.
‘Oh, Sloan,’ the master called out. ‘At least while our visitor from Canada is here, it might help if you give up that swimming and fishing. You’re not very good at it, you know.’
Sloan’s smile turned into a sneer, and he barely stopped himself from slamming the door on the way out. Perhaps he still had some way to go to convince the master that he was the man of the future. He hurried back to his room. Mozart would be hungry. It was past his dinner time.
After the events on Wednesday, Claudia found it rather difficult to settle down to anything. Kate must have noticed because after dinner on Friday night she asked Claudia straight out if anything was bothering her. It was the new deal, and Claudia responded positively.
‘No, Kate, everything is fine. I’ve got exams coming up next week, which is a bit of a bother. However, I think I’ll do okay. I did have a couple of run-ins with Stella. Would you like to hear about that?’
‘Of course, Claudia, I would.’ Kate was avoiding using her usual terms of ‘dear’ and ‘darling’ because she genuinely wanted Claudia to speak to her as an equal. Claudia explained how Stella had tried to make fun of her in the playground because she was reading a book.
‘I simply told her that she was being ridiculous. I read what I like and when I like. That’s what I said! What do you think, Kate?’ Kate was still getting used to being called Kate. However, she swallowed, and replied.
‘Claudia, I would have said exactly the same thing. You’ve decided to be above it all, because it’s childish. I quite agree.’ They talked on for quite a while about one or two other smaller incidents. Kate then asked about Claudia’s music.
‘I think I’m improving. My teacher says so. She says I’m starting to find a good sound, and that I’m showing that I know the music, whatever that means.’
Their parting on the stairwell was a little strange, at least for Kate.
‘Good night, Kate, sleep well, see you in the morning.’
‘Good night, Claudia’ Kate replied. As she went into the kitchen, she was smiling broadly, and felt very happy. This might be different, she thought, but it was so much better.
8
The First Battle
Claudia was up early on this special Sunday morning. It was going to be a beautiful day. She went downstairs, got some breakfast and went out into the back garden. As usual, the bottom of the garden and the canal were a hive of activity. She saw two beautiful white swans sail elegantly past. She had been asked to be on the meadow early today. Elfie had explained the rules of the contest. In both the preliminary and the final, each team had to play one compulsory piece and one piece that was a free choice.
There were four teams in the competition; two had played on the Saturday and two were playing this Sunday. Each team had an allocated time, and her team was to be the first to play. She was still quite anxious about the whole thing, but over the past three or four weeks she had become more confident. When she played now she felt that she was actually part of the music. Her music teacher had specially noted the improvement in her playing. Kate came out to join her with some tea.
‘I thought we’d have some tea together, Claudia’ she said ‘It’s such a marvellous morning. I suppose you’re off to the meadow again today?’
‘Yes, Kate,’ she said. ‘I’m going over to play my flute. I have a nice spot there and it’s a good place to play and practise some pieces.’
‘Would you like me to come with you?’
This request caught Claudia by surprise. ‘Kate, that’s awfully nice of you, but I just need time to work something out – with the music you know? Also, I am meeting with Julia.’
‘Understand fully. Would you mind if I drove over to Jane’s? She asked me to come if I were free.’
‘No, but give her my love. Tell her that the sunglasses are just great and I wear them all the time.’
‘And they suit you!’ Kate exclaimed. Claudia noticed how relaxed and pleasant Kate was to be with. She couldn’t help thinking how much Kate had changed in such a short time. Difficult as it was to leave her comfortable chair in the sun, it was definitely time for her to go. She collected her flute, her hat and her sunglasses, some fruit for lunch and, having said goodbye to Kate, went off down the canal, the long way, garden hopping all the way down. One old man, reading his Sunday newspaper at the water’s edge, looked up in surprise as she tripped by. He frowned and growled and obviously disapproved of the garden invasion.
Claudia really didn’t care. She felt good. She wanted to see the birds. The Traps was even noisier with birds than usual, and she made her way through the trees, and over small wooden bridges, until finally she emerged onto the meadow and looked across to the Isis, which was shining in the morning sun. The sky was clear, with just a few white clouds in sight, and to her great delight she saw the falcon – she was sure it was the same one, in its full, glorious flight. It soared
on the wind, higher and higher, circling over the river as it went.
Today she felt just like that. She climbed a small rise, and looking to the south she saw several striped tents, tables and chairs and a whole host of colourfully dressed people with their various musical instruments, well off in the distance. It was a feast of colour and movement, and they seemed to be just opposite the old ruined abbey. It looked so exciting that she could barely stop herself from running all the way over to the old abbey.
Julia greeted Claudia when she arrived. ‘Let me fill you in on what’s happening,’ she said. ‘Each orchestra has a colour. We are blue, and were on in about an hour and a half. That’s the panel over there.’ Julia stopped and expressed some mild annoyance at the drums section of blue and yellow orchestras, which were parading up and down, military-style, giving little drum rolls and being quite silly. ‘That’s the judges’ panel over there. Guess who’s on it? Helen, the chief librarian from Old College, is on it, and then about seven others, including the mayor and a professor of music from London. There are two teams in this side of the draw and one of us goes through to the final next week. The bad news is that, in the other side of the draw, held yesterday, Old College went through and is in the final.’
‘I’m just feeling so nervous. I only hope that I play reasonably well,’ Claudia said.
‘You will find that the butterflies fly off in a flash, and once you get going there will be no stopping you. It’s good experience for the final next week.’
‘If we get through.’ Claudia was still a little tentative.
‘Confidence, courage, and go!’ Julia laughed. ‘We’ve got nothing to lose.’
‘Have you told Elfie?’
‘I have. He is even more shocked than he was before, and I think he’s going to talk to Helen after lunch. He’s so concerned about Sloan that he’s asked one or two people to keep a lookout for any nasty tricks.’