Ed looked over and saw the two plump gentlemen in similar black jackets with white silky neck handkerchiefs, one with a pronounced grey beard with white moustache, the other a little skinnier and clean shaven with a strange looking white wig. They both stood almost motionless apart from their heads which subtly jolted from side to side, occasionally looking at one another, nodding and smiling. He glanced up and around the dome as the music welled up like a stupendous and emotional tidal wave, sweeping around and around, toying with the innermost emotions and feelings.
“They’ve been here longer than me,” whispered Donald into Ed’s left ear.
“They are quite private chaps, but my goodness, that’s talent on a whole different level,” concluded the young man as the choir came down to a whisper and stopped all at once, perfectly synchronised. Ed had no idea how long they had been singing. He had been lost in time. A little bit of murmuring and chattering commenced as the majority of the group started to make their way up the spiral walkways like a bizarre mobile fancy dress party.
“Can we say hello to them? I mean Brahms and his mate?” queried Ed.
“Not now. They like it if you really have something meaningful to say. They don’t waste their time with chitchat like us. Let’s go and say hi to some of the others. You want to meet someone who knows about the Viking. I want to introduce you to Yedida. I saw her in there somewhere,” replied Donald as the two men got up and walked over towards the dispersing group.
“Why do you carry that gun around with you, Donald?” queried Ed, looking down at the scary-looking item.
“Habit really, but I always take it down to the Transient tunnel. It can help me nudge people into the net. I’ll drop it back in my room later. I don’t have it with me always. Anyway, it’s not loaded or dangerous. I don’t think about it much anymore. If I loose it then it just reappears in my room the next day. Very strange”
“Okay. I just wondered, that’s all,” replied Ed, as they walked nearer the group.
“Yedida, Yedida,” cried Donald, as he caught sight of a young lady in a white trouser suit looking the other way. She heard the cry and quickly turned around to see the two men approaching.
“Yedida, I want you to meet Ed, he’s a new Transient, just arrived today.”
“Hi, Ed, I’m Yedida, I am black, a female and Jewish, and I am fucking proud of it!” she exclaimed, slightly startling him and putting him on his back foot. An awkward silence followed, soon interrupted by Donald.
“She’s pissing with you, Ed. It’s all true, but she likes to confront people like that when she first meets them.”
“Come, I won’t bite. I’m Yedida,” exclaimed the young lady in a much gentler tone with a smirk. As she reached her arm out, Ed caught sight of an ominous looking tattooed number on her inner forearm. He knew what that meant, but pretended to not notice it as he took her hand and warmly shook it, up, down, up and away.
“Hi, Yedida, I’m Ed. Ed Trew from England.”
“Nice to meet you, Ed. Did you enjoy the music?”
“Absolutely. To be honest I’m still in a bit of a trance. It seemed to penetrate deep inside me. I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
“Yes, they’ve got it down. They know all about emotions and music. Did you close your eyes?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well next time, close your eyes. They have it so deeply developed that it generates a whole colour show internally, like a kaleidoscope of calming fireworks. It’s an outstanding journey. Apparently they compose on the spot in colours. Not sure how they do that.”
“Sorry, Ed, I forgot to tell you to close your eyes. Anyway, Yedida, Ed wants to know about the Viking.”
“The Viking eh! He knows about the Viking? Well that’s interesting,” replied the young lady as they made their way through the emptying open space and up one of the spiral inclines.
“Yes, I was in another place like this before and got to hear about him. Before I commit to staying one place or another, I want to find out as much as possible about what options I have,” replied Ed, as they reached the first landing.
“Indeed you do! Bring him over to my room later, Donny, and we can have a chat about things. You come as well and join in the conversation.”
“Okay, will do. See you later then,” replied Donald as she headed off in the opposite direction.
“Donny! That’s sweet. Are you two an item?”
“Sadly, the term ‘no sex please, we’re British', really comes to roost here. ‘No sex possible, we’re Transients’, is the actual reality of things”.