Christopher's Song (Indefinite Hiatus)

Chapter 11

Ethan began to hum the melody on the top line of music. It was the same melody the boys sang in the garage when the book mysteriously appeared.

"Why would he go to all the trouble to lock away a song that is the same one we used to open the book?" Daniel asked perplexed.

"I don't know," Ethan replied. Then, pointing to the line of music that was written in the clef below the first that was connected like a score written for two instruments, "This is a counter melody. When we sang in the garage, we sang what came to mind, but we didn't sing this countermelody. At least not that I remember. Maybe we should try singing what is written here."

"First turn the page," Daniel said. "This is a big book. Maybe he just wrote the song down as a start."

Obediently, Ethan turned the pages. For approximately ten pages, the musical score continued. Beyond that there was nothing. Only blank pages.

"Weird," Daniel said. "The book's almost completely blank. I guess we sing."

"Let's familiarize ourselves with the music first," Ethan said. "It would be awkward to turn this many pages while we sing. You check out the melody line. I'll do the countermelody."

For the next few minutes, the boys poured over the music. Each would hum a snatch of their line here and there, but mostly silence reigned in the room. As they scrutinized the written notes, they each committed their part to memory, until finally they ran out of notes to analyze.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan looked into his brother's eyes and said quietly, "Are you ready?"

"Let's do it," Daniel responded, beginning to vocalize the melody line.

This time without conscious thought, he sang with the pure, vibrant tones of a French horn. As Ethan joined him, his voice took on the plaintive call of an oboe. As the two wove the magic of Christopher's Song, once again they were gripped by the music. They forgot where they were or why they were singing. Nothing existed but the symphony they were creating. The strains poured forth from their very souls as though it had been imprisoned there for years and now was allowed to break free. Together their voices soared to awesome heights and then plunged dizzyingly to depths that would have amazed them had they been conscious of the sounds emanating from their mouths. But they were beyond thought in that realm of pure melody, bound by the music on the page and in their hearts; nothing mattered but the notes they sang. The boys were so caught up in the ecstasy of the song that neither noticed the brilliant strands of power building, nor the blank pages of the book turning as though a ghostly hand read the pages written in invisible ink.

Without conscious thought Ethan's mind reached for the strands and poured them into the book. The broad threads of melody began to plait themselves as they approached the page, as though directed by an outside force. The weave was so intricate that even had Ethan been aware, he would have had difficulty following the pattern, let alone repeating it. The strands of woven power glowed brighter and brighter until the room was suffused by the light. And still the music built until the strands were so thick and so dazzling that it would have blinded the boys, but they closed their eyes as they sang, allowing the music to transport them where it would.

As the motif reached a crescendo, a figure stepped from the luminescent stream. It wavered for a moment and then seemed to take on substance. Stepping up to the boys whose song had descended from the heights to a throbbing pianissimo that glimmered with carefully controlled power, he raised his hands and gently touched the lips of the boys, saying softly, "Hush now. You have done your part. I must do mine before the power you have created dissipates."

The boys experienced a slight jolt of electricity on their lips, and as the sound of the voice penetrated their musical respite, the twins opened their eyes. Standing in front of them with the glow of the woven strands behind him was the man from the photo on the living room mantle.