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The Devil's Opera(182)

By:Eric Flint and David Carrico


“That it has.”

* * *

As the overture drew to a close, the curtain opened to the first scene, where Arthur, played by the baritone Dieter Fischer, was trying to have a council of war with his captains and knights, only they kept making ribald jokes at his expense because of his upcoming marriage. The music was fast and light, and the musical repartee was witty and flew back and forth at a fast pace. The refrain was particularly infectious.





The king is getting married,

Call the bishop out.

The king is getting married,

And not to some old trout.

The princess is a beauty,

A thing of grace is she.

Oh, the king is getting married

Under the dragon tree!





Friedrich laughed right away, and as the song progressed there was more and more laughter sounding around him. The audience gave generous applause when it ended.

* * *

Marla entered from stage left as the applause died down. Amber sat up straight. There was a difference now, an air about Marla that she had never seen before. She stalked onto the set like a predator. There was an edge, a precision about her movements that was almost lupine. The audience saw it; felt it. The susurrus of conversation died away, even from the box seats. Everyone was fixated on the young woman in the red and gold costume, ignoring even the men who followed her as her captains.

Whatever it was, even the other singers and actors felt it. Amber saw Dieter stand straighter and taller as he stood forward as Arthur to welcome Marla/Guinevere. He sang an extended aria welcoming her to his court. She sang an extended aria thanking him for receiving her. The other actors sang a rousing chorus praising the wisdom of the two rulers, and urging them to get on with the marriage. That got a few chuckles from the audience.

Arthur and Guinevere moved downstage toward the audience and the lights dimmed behind them, giving an illusion that they were secluded. Their duet that followed had a formal title in the libretto and score, but Amber thought of it as “The Pre-Nuptial Agreement Song.” Arthur and Guinevere circled around each other musically and physically, testing each other’s commitment, and striving to retain their rights as independent rulers.

It was interesting, Amber thought, that even during the dress rehearsal Dieter had always come off as slightly less than Marla in every scene they shared, even though he was physically larger. It would be hard not to, of course; good singer though he was, Marla’s pipes were just that much better than his. But tonight, standing there in his costume of tin armor and imperial purple cape, Dieter was holding his own. Or, just maybe, tonight Marla had moved to a higher plane and dragged Dieter along with her.

Either way, as they moved closer physically, musically, and relationally in the plot, Dieter tonight had a dignitas that was serving him well.

The duet ended with them enfolding each other’s hands, admitting their love and pledging to each other.

More applause. Amber beat her hands together like everyone else, although she did draw the line at cheering. There were those around her, though, who felt no such compunction.

* * *

On stage, Arthur and Guinevere joined hands and walked toward the figure of a bishop who progressed from the rear to join them. The opera chorus joined the characters in celebrating the marriage of Arthur and Guinevere in high style. The music sounded very liturgical, but was richer and more resplendent. Everything climaxed in an awesome display of harmony and counterpoint as the chorus divided into an eight-part choir and sang a short fugue on Alleluia as Arthur and Guinevere both knelt before the bishop and he placed crowns on their heads.

The chorus ended in a resounding Amen as the two rulers stood and faced the audience and Arthur drew and raised his sword.

Friedrich wasn’t a musician, but he could recognize great art when he heard it. He clapped until his hands hurt. He wasn’t the only one.

The lights blacked out for the scene change.

* * *

Gotthilf looked around as Karl Honister and Dr. Schlegel joined him and Byron to watch the fishers they’d rousted out to retrieve the body of Schardius before it vanished downstream.

“Yes,” Dr. Schlegel said, “my assistants will have it on the way to the morgue just as soon as it gets on land and they get back from taking your patrolman to the hospital. Nasty wound in the thigh he’s got, but nothing life-threatening.” He looked over the bridge railing. “And as far as this one is concerned… But based on your evidence, I doubt I’ll need to do much of an examination of him. It’s pretty obvious what he died from, and you were there when he died.”

The fishers managed to drag the corpse into the boat with them without capsizing. They worked their oars to turn the boat, then headed for the pier where they were standing.