Aiden smiled to comfort Dora, but did not get up. I can't agree.
The piano is a classical instrument, too. Why can't it be used to share our culture, too?
And what's wrong with jazz or pop music? Well said. Many parents present obviously
thought that Beryl Eyeless was talking nonsense and applauded Aiden.
However, she was not giving up yet. She crossed her arms and said defiantly, I don't
care. No one is allowed to play the piano today.
Aiden shook his head in disbelief, but then saw the harp that Miss Eyeless had been
playing. He walked towards it. The crowd was surprised.
Was he going to play the harp instead? They were very different instruments. Being able
to play one didn't mean you could play the other. Even Miss Pool warned him.
Aiden, you don't have to do this. There's no need. It's a trick! Miss Eyeless looked at
Aiden contemptuously.
Do you think you'll be able to play a difficult instrument like that? You need to study for
three years before you can play even a simple tune. Aiden ignored her and started to
pluck the strings. A clear sound rang out, but Miss Eyeless continued to criticize.
His fingering is so amateur and his position is all wrong. He has no idea at all. If you can
play that, I'll eat my hat.
Aiden ignored the strange vision, but closed his eyes and felt the strings in his hand,
starting to play gently. All of a sudden, after the first few notes, the timbre changed
suddenly, pure and delicate. Aiden started to play the accompaniment of the song he
and Dora had chosen.
Dora's eyes lit up and, cleverly, she picked up the melody. The notes of the harp fell in
cascades, and the child's voice was clear and true. They sang of mountains, waterfalls,
and bird songs.
The audience could not help but close their eyes and enjoy the peace in their hearts.
When the song ended, there was a moment of quiet before the applause burst out.
Aiden, you are wonderful! Laughed Dora happily, holding Aiden's hand.
She had thought Aiden could only play the piano and had not expected the harp to be so
powerful. They sang and played together perfectly. Miss Pool was so wrapped up with
Aiden's harp playing that she forgot to announce the next piece.
The audience was calling for an encore by Aiden. Miss Eyeless was clearly furious, but
Aiden's mouth twitched upwards as he hid a smile. Perhaps this lady could just say what
instrument she wants me to perform so that she can happily criticize my performance.
Beryl Eyeless looked around the hall. Suddenly, she pointed to a musical instrument
covered with dust in the corner. That's it! If you can get a sound out of that, I'll admit
your strength! People turned their heads and saw the instrument.
They could not help but shake their heads. Miss Eyeless was going to make Aiden play
the contrabassoon! What Miss Eyeless asked Aiden to play
was a large instrument made of wood, curled like a long serpent. It was as tall as he was,
covered in a complex pattern of keys, and played by blowing through a double reed.
Aiden's heart sank. He had seen pictures of the contrabassoon in orchestras and knew it
was a notoriously hard instrument to play, and even harder to make it sound good. There
are very few contrabassoon players.
Miss Eyeless must have been sure that Aiden would not get a note out of this instrument,
or she would not have insisted. The onlookers felt that she was manipulative and advised
Aiden not to get involved. Well, you shouldn't come to the parents' party if you're not
good enough, Miss Eyeless retorted.
It's just embarrassing for your child, she finished disdainfully. Dora didn't feel disgraced.
She thought Aiden was the best and glared at Miss Eyeless.
Little girl, what my darling treasure said was true then. You're a wild child who has no
parents. That's rubbish, cried Dora, so angry that her eyes had reddened and filled with
tears.
A strong arm pulled her into a hug and comforted her. Dora, don't cry, soothed Aiden.
Let me sort this one out.
Lorraine Poole suddenly found that Aiden's eyes had become extremely cold. Gone was
the polite and well-mannered young man. Now she saw a cold, angry boy.
Aiden was truly angry. He had planned to have some amusement at Miss Eyeless'
expense, but when he saw that the crazy woman was prepared to attack a child as small
as Dora, he was determined to punish her. Madam, what if I can play the contrabassoon?
I seem to remember someone just saying that if I could play the harp, they would eat
their hat, said Aiden, a trace of sarcastic smile on his face.
Did I say that? Miss Eyeless' eyes darted from one side to the other, obviously unwilling
to admit it. Yes, you did. I heard you, said one of the audience.
So did I, shouted another. Eat it, the children started to chant. Eat it.
One by one, they all joined in. Eat, eat, eat, until the hall was filled with the chant. Miss
Eyeless' face was ugly.
She opened her mouth and roared, Be quiet, and looked at Aiden fiercely. Even if I did, so what? If you play that contrabassoon, I will eat it. Aiden sneered.
I don't need you to eat these things. I only need you to promise one thing. If I can play
this instrument, you must apologize to Dora and take your daughter out of this class.
Will you do that? And if you can't? Miss Eyeless' tone was still contemptuous. If I can't, I'll
take Dora out of tonight's competition immediately, and no one will compete with you for
first place. Do you accept? Miss Eyeless could find no way out.
Aiden had defied her. Her face was burning, and she agreed directly. Hmm, he must be
bluffing me, she thought.
Challenge success. Challenge ability, plus one. Current progress, one out of ten.
Current level, entry level.
With all eyes on him, Aiden took
hold of the contrabassoon.
It had not been used for a long time and had accumulated a thick layer of dust, lying
forgotten in the corner. Aiden gently blew the dust away and wiped it over with a rag,
allowing the beauty of the wood to shine through. His fingers gently brushed the keys.
This felt like no ordinary instrument. Appreciation of antiques. Appraisal ability, plus one.
Antique knowledge, plus one. Current progress, one out of ten. Current level, entry level.
Automatically trigger entry level authentication capability. Scanning target. Scanning
finished.
After identification, the target is 17th century, German. One of only a few produced by
Schreiber, the finest makers in the world. The target has other hidden capabilities that
cannot be viewed because of the low level of host identification and antique knowledge.
This series of facts nearly blew Aiden's mind. 500 years old. How much of the world's
greatest music has this instrument heard? He was unexpectedly filled with confidence.
Although he knew little about antiques, he did know how rare an object like this was. He
handled it carefully, aware of its fragility. And he knew too how hard it would be to play.
Baroque instruments were rarer and harder to play than modern ones, and knowledge of
how they should be played had all but died out. Something told him how to fix the reed
into the crook, as if he had some hidden ability. He knew he needed to improve his
appraisal level and knowledge of antiques as soon as possible.
Seeing Aiden staring at the instrument in a daze, Miss Eyeless thought that Aiden had
heeded her advice. She held her head high and asked, What's the matter? Are you
scared? Perhaps you should just admit defeat. Aiden pursed his mouth and turned his attention to the instrument.
He picked it up gently and tried to blow through the reed. A dull sound like belching
came out of the bore. An embarrassed silence fell.
Miss Eyeless clutched her belly as she laughed. You were bluffing just now, my boy. Let's
admit defeat quickly.
The audience looked away, secretly regretting their support for Aiden. They had not
expected him to be so feeble. Only two people present retained confidence in Aiden.
Dora, who worshipped him unconditionally, and Lorraine Poole. She didn't know why, but
Miss Poole was convinced that as long as the sky didn't fall, nothing could defeat Aiden.
So, seeing Miss Eyeless' ridicule of Aiden, she was no longer timid, but said decisively,
Please don't interfere with Aiden's performance.
How dare you speak to me like that! I'll have you fired, spluttered Miss Eyeless. But Miss
Poole glared back fearlessly. She was no longer worried and afraid.
Aiden had given her courage. Trust of beauty, character, plus one. Seduction skills, plus
one.
Charm, plus one. Aiden had already emptied his mind of everything else, and was fully
concentrated on the antique Contra bassoon. He closed his eyes slightly, adjusted his
posture, breathed evenly, and blew once more through the reeds.