Brass Neck: Book 3 of the Saddleworth Vampire Series by Angela Blythe

Author:Angela Blythe [Blythe, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2018-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

13 - Parade

There was no traffic sound. No people going about their business of an evening. No shops open. Nothing else going on, whatsoever. From a great distance away, the group in the hardware shop began to hear the brass band, approaching from afar.

At first, they could not tell how harmonious the playing was. It was just the distinctive sounds of a brass band playing. The sound of the bass drum carried through the cold night air. Booming through the snowing village, the brass instruments distant but growing stronger.

‘That drum is out of time,’ Bob said almost immediately. As the band got closer, they could hear how tuneless the players were.

They were trying to have a crack at Carol of the Bells, which is usually quite a quick melody. But with no music to read, no musical direction, and people trying to play with vampire teeth, they woefully could not manage this carol. The cacophony increased, and they entered the High Street. Most of the occupants of the shop crowded behind the metal shutters, their eyes to the slits in the metal. As the noise got louder, second by second, they started to see what all the racket was about.

Christine and Michael held the embroidered banner that said Friarmere Band. Norman stood behind them proudly conducting the band. Peter was playing the bass drum but could be seen just banging his beater, every so often, with no intention of rhythm. There was also Colin on tuba, Keith on trombone, Stephen on baritone and a few of the other ex-members. A couple of new eager players had got involved but didn’t look like they could even buzz the mouthpiece, let alone hit a high C.

‘It looks like Diane is on Principal,’ Andy said to the others, who could not find a spare slit to watch through.

‘She couldn’t manage Carol of the Bells even on second cornet when she was alive, never mind on Principal,’ Pat said and sniffed. ‘I bet she is well chuffed at getting that seat!’

‘Aye, she will be,’ Wee Renee said casually.

Sue wasn’t looking through the shutters, so didn’t realise that Christine was wearing her gold sequined beret.

‘Oh, God. Look at Vincent’s eye!’ Danny commented. The people that could see out of the shutters turned their gaze to the Tuba player. He had a hole instead of one of his eyes. Inside the hole, framed by the white dead skin, it looked silvery. The skin had moved around the lip of the mouthpiece. Inside his head, the suction held it fast. There was just now a deep channel to his brain. A thin line of black issue glistened in the street-light.

‘Oh no, look how deep that baby is in his head. That is disgusting!’ Liz exclaimed as quietly as she could.

Joe was quite amused about Vincent’s new orifice and was stifling laughter without much success.

‘Eh, Joe. That’s him we were talking about,’ Andy said, pointing out Michael Thompson. ‘He is the only living one in the group.’ Joe scrutinised the man through the shutters, then turned around to Pat before he spoke.

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