Wizards’ World War (s.2) Dispatch 14: London Calling Pt. III

Tweet of the Day: Do You Know the Two Ingredients in a Perfect Ending?

——-

Season 1 – Dispatch (s.2) 1 – Dispatch 13 – Dispatch 15

——-

Ludgate Hill, City of London, UK, 26 July, 04:45 hrs GMT

Gwen drop me off somewhere in the city hours ago. The wind whipped past me east, refugees streamed west. Police did their best to tend to manage the crowds who shuffled along in solemn darkness. A few heads turned to the sound of gunfire or an explosion. A cloying wave of despair flooded my senses. A toxic mix of bitter fear, the sour desperation and the biting anger.  I played with the volume of my music player to push them back. Reminded me of Gwen. She disappeared into the mist and then came back, changed. Her emotional state shifted from cold concentration to hot fury in a heart beat. And I was the last person she wanted to open up to.

By the time I took my bearings I was in front of St. Paul’s. A large crowd spilled from the open cathedral doors through the stairs and into the street. People chatted, shared food and drink, and held each other for comfort. A teenage girl, with metal studs in her face from nose to ear, bandaged the leg of a police officer.

Did that office charged into a crowd of protesters a year ago? Protesters that look like her?

I walked into the cathedral. Votive candles illuminated the interior. Tiny flames danced to surges of hot air from outside. A few portable lights shone bright on a corner where someone set up a makeshift triage station. On another corner a group of musician set up. Somebody thought to cheer the people with a little music. But no amount of happy lyrics would drive the fear away.

Or would it? No, you can’t. You know what happens when you mix the two.

I looked at the keyboard. Reminded me of the piano Dad in the pub. I learned to play it long ago, but I lost control. The music filled me and I filled the air with it, but after I was done, the emotions of those around me flooded back, drowned me. My reward? Excruciating headaches and a sense of of extreme isolation, as the mind sought to protect itself.  But Gwen was of somewhere, doing something and these people needed hope.

I stood behind the keyboard and tested the keys. It had power. One of the musicians nodded at me.

“You know how to play, mate?” he asked.

“A bit.”

He smiled, “Give it a go.”

Give it a go?

I searched my player for an appropriate song. I closed my eyes and let my hands and ears do the work.

It’s Time To Make A Start
To Get To Know Your Heart
Time To Show Your Face, Time To Take Your Place

The music poured into me. The voice in my ear became the voice on my lips.

In Every Speck Of Dust
In Every Universe,
When You Feel Most Alone, You Will Not Be Alone

Just Shine A Light On Me, Shine A Light
I’ll Shine A Light On You, Shine A Light
And You Will See My Shadow On Every Wall
And You Will See My Footprint On Every Floor

The others joined in. Each instrument fell in synch.

It Only Takes A Spark To Tear The World Apart
These Tiny Little Things That Make It All Begin

Voices sang in tune. I let the music flow the music from me across the ether.

Just Shine A Light On Me, Shine A Light
I’ll Shine A Light On You, Shine A Light
And You Will See My Shadow On Every Wall
And You’ll See My Reflection In Your Free Fall

Ooh, Oh Ooh, Ooh, Oh Ooh!

Just Shine A Light On Me, Shine A Light
I’ll Shine A Light On You, Shine A Light
‘Cause When Your Back’s Against The Wall
That’s When You Show No Fear At All
And When You’re Running Out Of Time
That’s When Your Hitch Your Star To Mine

The chorus grew louder. The emotional tone changed to hope. The walls vibrated with chant of hundreds of voices.

We Won’t Be Leaving By The Same Road That We Came By

We Won’t Be Leaving By The Same Road That We Came By

We Won’t Be Leaving By The Same Road That We Came By

We Won’t Be Leaving By The Same Road That We Came By

I opened my eyes. Sunlight streamed through the windows. I saw patches of clear blue sky. This time there was no clash, instead something else, synchronicity. We were one in a sea of emotions, but the fear crept in.

Not this time.

I wan to run….

——-