I Want to be Me Page 7

The master looked at him with some disdain.

  ‘Some rats leave the ship, Sloan; others go down with it!’

  The message was absolutely clear. At that moment, Elfie knew that Sloan would stop at nothing to win the competition. Sloan went red in the face. He tried to shift attention away from himself. He turned to Elfie.

  ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before, Professor Oakley?’ he asked. Elfie had a sinking feeling. He was sure that this was the time to run.

  ‘Professor Oakley was at the St Petersburg conference,’ chimed in Helen Brown. ‘He came to my talk,’ she said, smiling at the master.

  ‘Yes indeed! It was a brilliant talk,’ Elfie said generously.

  Helen Brown had saved his bacon, just in time.

  ‘Everyone thought so,’ he continued. ‘The North Americans were particularly impressed.’ It was the least he could do, even though he had never heard of the St Petersburg conference.

  Sloan squirmed in his seat, as the master nodded approvingly.

  ‘One of our better scholars,’ the master droned.

  Elfie made up his mind to look up this St Petersburg conference in case it came up again. However, one way or another he had survived. Or had he? At least he had met the master.

  ‘I must go.’ Elfie stood up ‘Thank you very much for lunch.’

  ‘You are coming to the performance tomorrow, Professor?’ asked the master. ‘Sloan is putting his best overseas student on display. I am confident it will be good – quite confident.’

  On the one hand he could have escaped by saying no, yet on the other hand this was a great chance to see and hear Chin Li.

  ‘I’d be delighted,’ he replied. What else could he say? He left the hall and began looking for Finn. What had he been up to?

  When he had left Elfie, Finn had bumped into two of his fellow college porters.

  ‘You’re new here, aren’t you, what your name?’ they asked.

  ‘I’m Michael’ said Finn, making it up on the spot. ‘I’ve just joined.’

  ‘What are your duties?’

  ‘At the moment I’m supposed to show a visiting professor around – music, you know – he’s interested in old manuscripts and at the moment he’s up in the library.’

  ‘Not all that’s old is up there,’ one of the porters replied, winking slyly.

  ‘Not by half!’ said the other.

  ‘I’m supposed – I’ve been told to show the professor our old stuff, but being new I just don’t know my way around.’ This was a clever attempt by Finn to find out more from the porters, who clearly knew something.

  ‘Who told you?’ one of them asked. Finn thought quickly.

  ‘The boss, the chap in the big office!’

  ‘The master!’ said the older of the porters, looking uncomfortable. Finn thought that he sounded nervous. His attitude changed quite dramatically.

  ‘I’m Herbert, and it would be a pleasure to show you around, Michael.’

  The mere mention of the master seemed to have an instant effect on them. They suddenly became quite friendly. They took Finn into the clock tower and then down a long flight of stone steps. They came to a small iron door that was rather hard to open.

  ‘Where are we going?’ asked Finn.

  ‘We’ll show you something that might interest your professor. Hardly anyone gets to see this but, when you show your professor, tell him to put in a good word with the master, okay?’

  Herbert led them down another flight of old stone steps until they came to a much larger door. It was huge and made from a very old, gnarled dark timber. Using an old iron key, Herbert got it open. He switched on the lights, old lamps that hung from the ceiling, only two of which worked. Finn could see a long, wide passageway, with what appeared to be stacks of wine bottles down one side, almost floor to ceiling. Was this the college treasure? Finn wondered. At the very end of the corridor there was another large and very old doorway.

  ‘We don’t go through that door!’ said Herbert. ‘Nobody goes through that door. Not me, not anyone – we go this way.’

  He walked about halfway down the passageway and turned right, where there was another door, equally old, with an equally old lock.

  ‘You can show your professor in here,’ he said, using the second key on his keyring to open the door.

  Even though only one lamp was working, Finn could hardly believe his eyes. In this large, cave-like room there was a large number of musical instruments, but not ordinary ones. It seemed to be a collection from every period in history.

  ‘The college’s best-kept secret,’ said Herbert. ‘Worth a fortune! Only some are numbered and classified. There’s a lot of work yet to be done on that lot.’

  Finn walked over and picked up an old violin. He dusted off and looked very carefully at the markings inside and out. ‘It’s a Stradivarius!’ he thought. He then looked over some violas, harps, violincellos, violones and other instruments. Some were actually signed by their makers. He was amazed.

  ‘I’m sure the professor will be interested in this lot,’ he said.

  ‘Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll be over in the porter’s lodge and I’ll bring you down,’ Herbert replied.

  They walked back towards the corridor. One of the lights flickered.

  ‘I hope that’s not the ghost!’ said Luke, the other porter.

  ‘Take no notice of Luke,’ said Old Herbert. ‘That’s just an old college story.’

  ‘I have seen it!’ said Luke, not to be put off. ‘I was down here late one night getting a bottle of wine for someone and I saw a shadow down near that door! And I heard a scraping noise.’

  He pointed in the direction of the other old door at the end of the corridor.

  ‘College plumbing,’ said Herbert.

  ‘I saw it,’ said Luke, not to be put off.

  ‘What I would say to you, young Luke,’ said Herbert, ‘is – three monkeys!’

  ‘Three monkeys? – What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,’ said Herbert.

  ‘You’ve seen the ghost!’ said Luke, with a broad smile.

  ‘All I got to say to that, young Luke, is – three monkeys! That’s why I’m head porter. If you want to be head porter one day, just remember that. Come on now, we’re keeping the professor waiting.’

  Finn found Elfie waiting for him in the square. When he told him about the instruments, Elfie sighed. ‘There were rumours when I was here as a student. The story was that a curator or a collector from a long time ago had gathered a collection of very valuable items from all over Europe. I never found out what they were, where they were or even if they truly existed. I’m sure that the true value of what is there is known only to a few people. Anyway, now it’s part of this conspiracy to get money from an overseas group. Well done, anyway. Let’s go and find Herbert – I’m keen to see this collection.’

  They found Herbert at the lodge, and back down they went. Elfie was absolutely amazed at what he saw and spent a considerable amount of time wandering around and holding and fingering various instruments lovingly. He now understood what the stakes were. He would have to think hard about all of this.

  The concert showing off Chin Li was being held the following day, Saturday, at 11 am in the college hall. It was actually a mini concert that Sloan had set up in the dining hall for the express purpose of impressing the master. Professor Oakley and his porter, Michael, dutifully turned up, although both were beginning to feel that their good luck was likely to run out sooner rather than later. Elfie especially wanted Finn to hear Chin Li and pointed out a place where he could discreetly watch and listen.

  ‘There’s a little alcove at the end of the hall behind the stand that they put up. No one will notice you there.’

  Finn dutifully moved off to find the alcove, while Elfie looked ar
ound for a place to sit. There was a friendly wave from Helen Brown. He moved over to sit next to her. She gave Elfie a friendly smile.

  ‘Glad to see you again, Professor,’ she said.

  Dr Sloan got up to introduce Chin Li. Elfie thought that this young man from China could not possibly have been more than 16 years old. He was slim and good-looking, with black hair brushed back, and he smiled as he came forwards with his violin.

  ‘Chin Li will play “The Lark Ascending” by Vaughan Williams, to start the concert,’ Sloan announced smugly. As Chin Li began to play, Elfie knew immediately that this was something special. He played with passion, style and great finesse, and when he finished the audience stood and clapped loudly for a long time. He was undoubtedly a very talented virtuoso. Elfie listened to the next two pieces with growing admiration. Talent was talent, and this young man had plenty of it. Elfie decided to leave. He had heard enough.

  ‘I have to go,’ he said to Helen, almost forgetting his Canadian accent.

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ said Helen. They both got up.

  ‘That was quite remarkable. He seemed so young. How old is he, Dr Brown?’

  ‘Dr Sloan has him down as 16, but if you believe that you believe in the tooth fairy,’ she said rather cuttingly.

  They walked out to the gate. Helen looked him straight in the face.

  ‘I hope you enjoyed your visit to Old College, Professor,’ she said with a twinkle in her eye and a smile. ‘I know for a fact it is not your first, and can I say, most sincerely, perhaps even hopefully, that it won’t be your last.’

  As he walked out of the front gate, Elfie considered her words. Did she know? Perhaps she’d known right from the start. Was there a message there that she was looking for support? In any case the important thing was that it seemed he had a friend on the inside, even if his cover was blown.

  Elfie had agreed to meet up with Finn at the Red Cafe, a French coffee shop just outside the town centre. They found a small alcove in the quietest part of the cafe and settled down to talk about what had happened.

  ‘Herbert the head porter was getting suspicious. I only just got out in time. He must have looked up the paperwork and couldn’t find me there. Anyway, I got the job done.’ He was quite depressed. ‘Chin Li was absolutely brilliant. I can’t play that well, and I don’t think I ever could. If you’re relying on me then we’re finished,’ he said glumly.

  ‘I would never lie to you, Finn,’ Elfie replied. ‘You’re good and you’re going to get a lot better, but that young man from China is absolutely outstanding. I can’t believe how young he is. In a concert I think Ferdinand could be as good if he played with a great deal of heart and commitment, but as things stand we don’t have him, and we’ve got to think of other options.’

  ‘What are you thinking of?’

  ‘Well, first things first! We have to get through the preliminary round in two weeks. That will at least give us some time. I think we should use the element of surprise by trying something quite different.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘I think we can get an advantage by using our most talented people. One thought that I had was that in the free choice we could use a quartet somewhere, and then we could try to feature our best soloists. But that is only one possibility; I’m open to ideas from anywhere.’

  ‘That’s a great idea,’ said Finn. ‘Julia is a superb viola, and Roger is one of the best clarinets in England. And I have to say that people have been talking about young Claudia.’

  ‘I agree with them. It’s a great sound, but she’s so young and she’s had so little experience. I don’t think it’s fair to put that young girl under that much pressure.’

  ‘On the other hand,’ Finn replied, ‘she could be in a group, and everyone would give her a lot of support. Personally, I think it’s worth thinking about.’

  ‘I’ll think about it. My great hope is that we can persuade Ferdinand and Elaine to come back, but I know in my heart that is extremely unlikely.’

  After an hour also of talking music, and of how things might go the following day, the two got up and left the cafe and went their separate ways home.

  6

  The Pike

  On Sunday morning, Claudia was quick to get away. She took the shortcut, hopping gardens to follow the canal down to the Traps, and then, almost running through the Traps, she came onto Port Meadow. She was quite a distinctive figure, with her sunglasses, white floppy hat and flute, and almost as soon she arrived on the meadow she got a wave from the bank where the orchestra normally met. It was Julia, in a long, white dress, holding her viola in one hand and waving what looked like a sheet of music with the other. When Claudia joined her on the bank she immediately noticed that there was no one else there.

  ‘Hi, Julia. Where is everyone?’ she asked.

  ‘I waited here to tell you. We’ve had to move. There’s a group of people in our area. They’ve come up from the canal boats, or maybe even from those caravans over there.’ Julia pointed in the direction of Walton Well Road.

  ‘Anyway, they beat us to it, so Elfie’s taken our lot across the meadow – over there, much closer to the Isis.’ Julia turned and pointed down the meadow towards Wolvercote, a long way across the meadow and almost as far down as the old ruined abbey.

  ‘You can just about make out our group. See there – this side of the river, just beyond the lock.’

  ‘I can see them quite easily. That’s where Father used to take us for picnics,’ Claudia replied.

  ‘It’s a bit of a walk, but others will be late as well. Let’s go,’ Julia said.

  They walked off the bank onto the meadow. They both thought that they saw a figure move about behind some bushes, but assumed it was one of the picnickers.

  ‘It couldn’t possibly be that Sloan character again, surely. He must have learned his lesson,’ said Claudia.

  Julia laughed. ‘He certainly should have, but some people just never learn. By the way, how have things been with you, Claudia? Everything going well?’

  ‘This is my big chance – if I don’t ask now I never will,’ thought Claudia.

  ‘I have – well – I think I have a little problem – but I don’t know. I’m very confused about something,’ Claudia ventured, crossing her fingers and hoping that Julia would not just cut her off.

  ‘Well… you can tell me if you want to… we’ll walk and talk. You can trust me not to tell a soul; I’m very discreet.’

  Claudia decided to take a risk. There was no one else, so it was Julia or no one. ‘It’s Mother – at least, I think it’s Mother, although it could be me,’ she began. She noticed that Julia smiled ever so slightly, but at this point she could not hold it back. She had to let it all out. She told Julia about her problems at school, about how upset she’d been for quite a while, her mother’s concerns, and about her mother being cross all the time and crying at the slightest thing.

  When she had finished, Julia was quiet for a minute or so, and then asked, ‘Have you noticed when your mother is happy, or at least half happy?’

  That was a very interesting question for Claudia. ‘Well – she seems to be happier after she’s been on the phone to Aunt Jane, although not always – but she does seem to be a lot better when Aunt Jane visits.’

  ‘And do you talk to her often, Claudia? You know… like you to talk to me for example?’

  ‘Well, not much,’ admitted Claudia. Then she added, ‘but she’s always at me over things – even little things. When she starts up, I just get away as fast as I can.’

  They crossed the halfway point on the meadow where some horses were grazing. After a long pause, Julia spoke. ‘Here’s what I think. Now, I might be quite wrong – please keep that in mind, but I think your mother is lonely. Your father is away, and she is by herself all the time, and often small things get blown up when it’s like that. Your mother – c
an I call her Kate? – needs a friend – someone that she can talk to. I think that’s you, Claudia.’

  ‘Me?’ Claudia drew a deep breath.

  ‘Yes, you! Why not? You’re talking to me, aren’t you? Not only does our lot accept you but they’re actually very impressed. You see, Kate thinks you’re still a child. She probably hasn’t noticed how quickly you’re growing up. Why – I’ve noticed a difference just in the last couple of weeks.’

  ‘What should I do?’ asked Claudia, surprised at the thought that she might have changed in such a short time.

  ‘Here’s what I suggest,’ Julia said. ‘Choose a good time, when things are quiet, and ask Kate to sit down with you because you have a problem, not her. That’s important. Tell her you need to talk about this problem because it’s worrying you. That should get her attention right away.’

  ‘Exactly what problem?’

  Julia smiled at this. ‘Well, the big problem at school would do. Just talk to her about how Stella and her lot are making life difficult for you. You know, just for starters. Tell her that you’ve got a new friend and about how you’re dealing with the situation. Then ask her what she thinks, and can you keep talking to her about it. See how that goes. The only other bit of advice I can give you is to try and make sure that all of this is the start of something new at home. I speak from experience. By the way, again speaking from experience, there are Stellas everywhere. There’s usually something wrong with them.’

  The mention of school hit home. Claudia knew this was the thing that had to be dealt with.

  They had almost arrived at the new practice spot. There was Elfie, colourfully dressed as usual – pink shirt, blue trousers, and bow tie – and he seemed to be in a good mood, smiling all the time as he directed people to their different positions.

  ‘Thank you so much, Julia,’ Claudia said, just before they got there. ‘But can you tell me how you think I’ve changed?’ Julia laughed. She had half expected that one.

  ‘Well,’ she said, ‘you’re playing your flute now the way you really want to play it. Isn’t that enough?’ It was all a little confusing still. She had hoped for a little more from Julia, but this would have to do.