Through the Shadows by Barnett Karen;

Author:Barnett, Karen;
Language: ara
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2016-03-14T04:00:00+00:00

17

Elizabeth stood at the window as Yoke Soo played through the hymn a fifth time. A shiver raced through her heart, like a bird breaking free of a dense thicket. “You always play it differently. Why is that?”

Yoke Soo shrugged. “I don’t feel the same as I did a few minutes ago.”

“What’s changed?”

“I’m hungry.”

Elizabeth laughed. How often had she made similar arguments to her tutors? Eventually they’d succeeded in explaining the intricacies of the written music to her, though she still enjoyed playing by ear. “Yoke Soo, the music you play—it’s like a treasure.”

The child bobbed her head. “Yes, Teacher.”

Drawing a chair close to the piano, Elizabeth smiled. “If you want someone to be able to find a treasure, what do you do?”

Yoke Soo scrunched her nose. “I can play it for them.” She laid her fingers on the keys.

Elizabeth lifted a hand. “Not right now. Let’s imagine it’s a buried pirate treasure. How would someone find it?”

“A map?” Yoke Soo swung her legs back and forth.

“Right.” Elizabeth picked up the hymnal and let it fall open in her hands, the pages ruffling. “Each of these songs is a treasure. If you want to discover them—just like the person who wrote them—you have to follow the map.”

Yoke Soo fanned the pages. “So many.”

“People have composed music for as long as anyone can remember. These are just a few special ones people wrote for God.”

Yoke Soo swung around, spinning the stool toward Elizabeth. “I have songs.”

“You’ve learned many songs, as best I can tell.”

“No. My own God songs, from here.” She patted the front of her smocked blouse. “Can we write down my songs? Then if someone steals me away—like they almost did with Tien Gum—my songs won’t get lost, too.”

“We won’t let that happen. Miss Cameron is watching out for you. So am I.” A quiver raced through Elizabeth’s stomach. When had this gentle lesson gone awry? Children shouldn’t have to live with such fears. “I can help you write down your songs. But first you must focus on reading music.”

Yoke Soo grasped the hymnal and thrust it onto the rack, turning to the first page. “Teach me.”

Elizabeth leaned against the old instrument. “I will. And then you’ll be able to play every song in the book, whenever you want.”

“Let’s play them all.”

***

Charles wove through the busy lunch crowd at O’Malley’s, aiming for the small table in the back. After the late night and hectic morning, the smell of food set his blood humming.

Henry sat in the rear booth, a chicken leg in one hand, a copy of The Call in the other.

“I thought you’d be here.” Charles grinned. “Where’ve you been all morning?”

His friend gestured at the empty seat with the drumstick. “Join me.”

Charles slid onto the bench, discreetly patting his pocket to check on his billfold. Henry had yet to pay for a meal.

The clerk swiped a napkin across his face before answering. “I’ve been stuck at the Hall of Records. They’re still dealing with all the paperwork lost in the fires.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.