A Note of Madness by Tabitha Suzuma

Author:Tabitha Suzuma [Suzuma, Tabitha]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Young Adult, Contemporary
ISBN: 9781446431399
Google: j6oB9TrQBkUC
Amazon: B005Q6AJKY
Barnesnoble: B005Q6AJKY
Goodreads: 1822182
Publisher: Definitions
Published: 2007-03-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

ON THE STEPS of the Royal Albert Hall. The elliptical building bulged with importance, its curving stone and terracotta façade with its domed skylight jutting out against an overcast sky. Flynn had walked past it unseeingly every day on his way to university, been inside it for countless concerts, yet today he saw it for the first time, monstrous in its importance like a Roman amphitheatre, ready to have him fed to the lions.

He walked slowly up the wide flight of steps, his shoes making a gentle shuffling sound against the concrete, his legs moving with a will of their own, as if transporting him to his execution. He saw himself as from a distance – a lone figure making its way towards Prince Albert on his pillar, moving automatically, body functioning of its own accord, ferrying him to his doom. But it didn’t matter, because his body knew what it had to do and it continued steadily up the steps and in through the doors, down the hall and past the deserted ticket offices, past the cloakrooms and up the stairs, his footsteps suddenly muffling into the carpet. The bag containing his score and a bottle of water was on his shoulder. His expression, a little on the serious side, was carefully set to give nothing away.

Professor Kaiser was waiting for him outside the stage entrance, dressed in an impeccable dark blue suit, his steel-rimmed glasses perched importantly on the bridge of his nose. Strains of the closing bars of Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’ drifted out of the auditorium. Katherine Morden, Yehudi’s top violinist.

‘They have been rehearsing now for two hours, so they should be finishing soon. The orchestra will be nicely warmed up, so for you it is perfect to be second.’

Flynn managed a wan smile.

‘Did you sleep well?’ Professor Kaiser seemed to startle himself by the force of his tone.

‘Yes, of course,’ Flynn replied automatically.

He relaxed. ‘Gut, gut. You need to have much energy for this. Radin is a very brilliant conductor, but of course his expectations can be high. Don’t forget what I said – if he asks you to do something and it’s not completely clear for you, you must ask, always ask. He makes many quick, sharp decisions. If you don’t understand something, don’t get worried if he seems a little annoyed, just take a deep breath and ask him to explain it again, ja?’

Flynn nodded, silent.

Professor Kaiser’s expression relaxed for a moment. ‘And try not to look so fearful, Flynn. This is a rehearsal only, ja? It is not supposed to be perfect.’

Flynn excused himself and went to find the toilets – there was a lot of talking going on inside the auditorium and it sounded as if Katherine’s rehearsal might be coming to an end. After washing his hands, he scooped water onto his burning cheeks, acutely aware of his shallow, rapid breathing, the painful thudding in his chest. He gripped the side of the counter and tried to slow his breathing. Calm down.

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