we'd better go back," Isabella said.
They had no doubt the trapped creature was dangerous and while they weren't sure whether they should trust the Noiseless, they did not want to risk releasing the monster. Without another word, they turned and headed back to the RV as fast as they could.
The spirit was still standing in the circle Maryann had trapped it in. "I believe you found the prison?" it wrote.
They nodded.
"How long will your walls hold out?" Isabella asked.
"If they last long enough to cross the threshold of midnight, we should be able cast away before they completely crumble."
"What does that mean?" Nora asked impatiently.
"If the noise does not cease, they will fall. We need but only a little respite and we may be able to make it. However, my brethren have been forced to take more drastic measures."
"Like what?"
"No permenant harm will be done, but many of the music-makers may be too ill to perform their shows. It will pass by sunrise and they will be no worse for wear."
"I'm not sure that's going to work," Maryann said slowly.
"We are running out of both time and options. Can you devise a plan?" it wrote.
"That is the question, isn't it," Leah sighed. "We can't shut down the festival. Believe us, the people are determined to have a good time no matter what."
"Even at the edge of destruction?"
"Especially then," Nora sighed.
It sort of shook its head. "This is why we avoid civilization."
"We could not play," Maryann said.
"The managers will just replace us with another band," Nora countered.
"Okay, so we say we'll play and then pretend our instruments don't work?"
"An air guitar solo?" Leah suggested.
"You're just messing with me, aren't you?" Maryann asked.
"Maybe."
"Ladies," Isabella sighed. "There will be noise no matter who plays. Crowds don't stay quiet during concerts."
"Well, if the band is really, really, really good, they might," Maryann said. "But that like never happens."
The Noiseless started to write. "Could you use your magic?"
"What, literally hold them spellbound?" Leah asked.
"Oh, we can't do that," Maryann said. "I mean, we can't actually do that, and it would be wrong anyway."
"Can you do that?" Isabella asked the Noiseless.
"Wait, we can't use magic in a show! That's wrong!"
"Maryann, this is about saving the world. And like you said, we can't affect people like that."
"It may be possible," the creature wrote. "But I will need the aid of my brethren and time to cast such a spell."
"I guess," Maryann said. "It's for a good cause."
"Then release me," it said. "And I will let you know if this is possible."
Maryann opened the circle.
It bowed to them and slipped out of the RV.
"So if that doesn't work, what's our back-up plan?" Leah asked.
"Well, let's think of one," Isabella said.
But they couldn't think of any good ideas. They eventually had to give up and get ready for the show. As they approached the stage, a frazzled manager hurried up to them.
"You're Nevermore and the Ravens?" she asked.
The band's costumes were meant to resemble ravens, and they felt this should be obvious. However, Isabella quickly replied, "Yes, ma'am."
"Great. The only stage with any working equipment is the Chaos Stage. The Widgets will be done in a minute. You're the only band and you're the last band so please, let's just get through this," she said, looking desperate.
"So this is the worst festival you've ever been part of?" Nora asked.
"Yes!" She escorted them to the Chaos Stage as the other band finished up. The lead singer rushed past them to a trash can and noisily threw up.
"I can't believe he even made it through the show," the bassist was saying as they others went to help him.
"I can't either," the manager said. "Okay, the crowd is really restless but play your best. We want them to come back next year."
"Will you be back?" Leah asked snidely.
"Hell no! But it's a good venue," she said, and hurried off to take care of some last minute details.
The wind suddenly shifted and the stage seemed to glow slightly to the band, who still had Isabella's spirit sight spell.
"I guess the Noiseless did whatever they're going to do," Leah said.
"I just hope it doesn't hurt anyone," Nora said.
"Me too," Isabella said.
They got on-stage and started the show. The crowd was absolutely silent. No cheering, no clapping, no whistles, not even coughing. The uncanny silence was frankly quite disturbing to the band, but they tried to focus and ignore the complete lack of feedback from the audience. Their set lasted a little over an hour and ended ten minutes after midnight. The spell was broken the second the music stopped. After a few moments of awkward silence the audience burst into thunderous applause.
"I hope they got that monster away or the world is going to end!" Leah shrieked to the others.
But the world did not end. They even played an encore. Finally they stumbled back to the RV. In front of the door were words drawn in the sand that read, 'thank you.'
"That's nice of them," Maryann said, yawning.
"Are we coming back next year?" Nora asked as they settled down to sleep.
"It's a good gig," Isabella answered with a shrug. "Except for the bad things."
"We saved the world. How much worse could next year be?" Maryann asked.
Leah groaned. "We are so, so doomed. You totally jinxed us."
"I did not!"
"Ladies!" Isabella said. "Let's get some sleep and then get the hell out of here."
"That is a great plan," Nora replied.
And that's just what they did.
The Lyrics:
It always begins with a hue and a cry
But tends to end as merely a soft sigh
In the middle living is constrained
Until we all go where silence reigns.
When the last actor has left the stage
When the final encore has been played
And the song finishes the last refrain
Here in the dark where silence reigns.
Caught up in the clamor of the daily grind
Never knowing the rest of a quiet mind
There is a place that no noise profanes,
There, in the dark, where silence reigns.
When endless cacophony has ceased
When sound and fury is replaced by peace
Only calm noiselessness has domain
Here, in the dark, where silence reigns.
When the storm has worn itself out
And the howling wind no longer shouts
The rain stops beating against the panes
Here, in the dark, where silence reigns.
Not a whisper; not a breath
Unbroken stillness as cold as death
Only shadows and memories remain
Here in the dark where silence reigns.
When the ninth symphony is complete
And the heart's tempo slows in its beat
Life's essence runs cold in the veins
Here, in the dark, where silence reigns.
The Wrap-up:
Jana: Well, that's every single song. Are you going to stick with the number thirteen?
Lenore: We're three albums in; how likely do you think we are to change that?
Lee: Anyway, it's a lucky number.
Nico: Not normally.
Lee: Well, we aren't normal, are we?
Nico: [laughs] That's true. Everyone we talked to warned us this would be a weird interview, and that's saying something.
Belle: We aim to please.
Jana: Well, that's not true or you would have been more straightforward with your answers.
&n
bsp; Lee: Yeah, you got us there.
Nico: Are you going to keep up this pace? Can we expect another album out next year? That's four years and four albums. That's got to be hell to manage.
Anna: That's what we're trying for, though.
Jana: How do you find time for a personal life?
Lenore: We manage. If you believe everything you read, we've already had about seven marriages and four babies.
Lee: Each.
Jana: [laughs] Well, if you'd answer questions, maybe there wouldn't be so many rumors.
Belle: Oh, come on, you don't even believe that.
Nico: Yeah, she's got you there, Jana. So, Ravens, what does the future hold? Are we going to see another best-selling eclectic mix?
Anna: Actually, we had something else in mind. It'll be way different, and a pretty big challenge for us to pull off successfully, but we're going to try.
Jana: What kind of different? Are you going to give us any other hints?
Lee: What do you think?
Nico: I'm taking that as a "no."
Lee: It's like you know us.
Jana: Alright, well I'm Jana Henrike.
Nico: And I'm Nico Syv. And this has been "Entertainment Now!"
###
Second – thanks to Zac and Dina who keep a lovely castle. Good luck you krazy kids!
Finally – all trademarked and copyrighted characters and references in this novel/collection of short stories are the intellectual property of their respective parent companies and corporations.
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