Twice on the introduction and it was needed. Murdo watched and listened and eventually he could come in; that bit trickier than earlier. Chess was watching till when Murdo had it he returned to the beginning so they could play it through together, fully.
So it was right for Clara. It was Clara. Of course it was Clara! Murdo could have laughed. Everything was Clara. Chess needed Murdo there for her. It had to be right for her. Of course it did.
Then it was.
Her singing and nobody else.
In the story she sang she came to the place and what kind of place was it, she was singing the place; a place for the beautiful souls. So it was another hymn, like the last one. Murdo knew them now as hymns so if they were like songs, actual songs, the other name for them was hymns. This was people’s hymns. What are hymns? hymn? “a hymn”?
He didnt catch the words. He wasnt bothered about them. Beautiful souls. Memories and cheerio, goodbye beautiful soul goodbye, lost souls and finding souls.
Murdo was playing the song and when the song ended he waited, guitar on his lap, while people clapped. Clara was smiling up to Aunt Maureen. Murdo looked for Dad but couldnt see him. Declan Pike was coming towards him. Murdo stood up to lift the strap up and over his head. Declan patted him on the shoulder. Hey! he said.
Murdo handed him the guitar. It’s a beauty, he said.
Declan took it from him. Yeah.
What is it?
Huh?
What kind is it? said Murdo.
Declan growled: The good kind.
Is it got a name?
No sir, it aint got no name. Declan said quietly, Hey now what about Clara Hopkins? Aint she the lady? Man, she is something. Aint heard her sing in a long time. How d’you manage that! Clara dont sing nowadays! You got her singing son! Declan patted him on the shoulder again then prepared to leave.
Aw, are you going? asked Murdo.
Yep. I been playing a while. I need a beer. Declan repeated this in a growclass="underline" I need a beer. There’s a tent back there doing barbeque and they’re getting me a steak. I’m talking a steak. You eat steak?
Steak?
You dont know what a steak is?
Murdo grinned.
Declan studied him a moment then wagged his finger at him. Now boy I asked your father that same damn question and he said the same damn thing back to me: Steak? That’s what he said, steak. I says, You eat steak? Steak? he says, Steak? You boys from Scotland and you dont know what steak is! Declan stepped back a pace to study Murdo properly. You dont know the history of steak in this country?
The history of steak?
Shame on you! Declan chuckled, turning away. He gripped the guitar-case and saluted the people sitting around. Some acknowledged this, others didnt notice. The old guy in the fancy waistcoat gave him a clenched fist salute and called: I worked on that railroad son. I worked on it!
Oh you did huh?
Sure I did. And you know what? they didnt murder me.
Declan laughed. He had a cigarette in his mouth already. He paused to speak with Chess and Clara for a few moments, then headed to the exit. Aunt Maureen was closeby, sitting with people. She saw Murdo looking across and waved to him. Murdo waved back. His jacket was lying on a chair. He didnt even remember putting it there.
*
The dance proper began at 8.00 p.m. It wasnt late but when ye were hanging about it was like the distant future. If Murdo had been with guys then okay but he wasnt. Nobody to talk to and nothing to do. That is how it was. Find a chair, sit on the grass, go for a walk. He had gone for a walk a few times, got to know people’s faces, and they looked at him. How come he’s here again?
The stalls and tents shut long ago. Only actual foodtents were open and more for meals than snacks. No sign of Dad. Maybe he was in with people. Folk had bottles of wine and it looked expensive. He would have preferred a bag of chips or a hamburger maybe, something to eat while ye walked. Maybe ye didnt get chips.
Younger people were over by the field but not the two girls from Clara Hopkins’ foodstall and he wondered if they had been at the session. Maybe they had gone home. Probably they had, if their parents had been there; no choice. Time to go home and ye went. That was the unfair thing about it, if ye wanted to meet people, ye werent able to. They come into yer life then go out.
He had reached the exit by the parking area. This was outlaw land; ye could imagine their hide-outs in the mountains; secret canyons. The road coming here was dirt and stones; probably a trail from the old days. If ye didnt have yer own transport ye couldnt come. How did people manage? That was the thing with America, how did ye get places?
A family coming towards him; a man, a woman, a boy and a baby. The baby bounced along on the man’s shoulders. They wore ordinary clothes but the woman had a tartan shawl across her shoulders, pushing the baby buggy with the boy hanging onto the side of the handle. Murdo moved aside to let them pass. He wasnt going any farther, otherwise he would exit past the pay-to-enter table. Although nobody was there taking money so he could just walk back in again. He returned along the path. Declan appeared, with the woman who had been talking to Dad. The guitar-case was slung round his shoulders. The woman was talking and gesturing with her hands, but stopped when she saw Murdo. Declan shook hands with him. How’s it going? You doing okay?
Yeah.
Doing good huh? You know Linda here? My driver?
Linda ignored him and gave Murdo a little wave.
Declan said, Linda here dont approve of the Gathering. Declan chuckled. She dont care for the kilt.
I care for it, said Linda.
Not on men you dont.
Certain men.
Certain men! Men with thin legs?
Murdo smiled.
It’s not a joke, she said.
Murdo flushed.
Linda said, Sorry, not you.
Declan said, She dont like being here Murdo.
Not with them I dont.
Declan said, How about you now did you enjoy the day? Bit of fun huh? Declan swung the guitar-case to one side and brought out his cigarettes.
Yeah…the music, what you did, it was strong.
Thanks. Declan gazed at him, then nodded and lit a cigarette. Thanks, he said again.
Linda groaned, closing her eyes. These people hated what you did!
Hey now! Declan raised his hand.
What you said and what you sang. Every last word! You know who I’m talking about.
You’re talking some and you got some everywhere. I dont take “these people” Linda, “these people”. These some are my people and they are your people.
Oh God. Linda shook her head, stepped farther along the path, before stopping.
I get worse down Texas any night of the week. Any night at all. Declan glanced at Murdo. They throw knives down there.
They hated what you said! called Linda.
They did huh! Got to be doing something right then huh! Declan smiled. He said to Murdo: They still dress like that in Scotland Murdo?
Murdo smiled. Declan raised his eyebrows.
No, said Murdo, no. They dont. Maybe some right enough. Usually it’s just guys at a football match or rugby maybe like international games. Or else like weddings: guys wear them to get married.
Special events huh?
Yeah.
Do they carry the fiery cross? called Linda.
I dont know. I think it’s just traditional. Christenings as well. Murdo smiled.
Declan had shaken his head. Linda said, Hey I’m sorry. That was real fine playing.
Murdo gazed at her.
Real fine. Linda smiled. She turned from them and continued walking.
Declan said, Accordeon you play huh?
Yeah.
Your father was saying. Declan nodded and made as if to say something more, then nodded again, looking after Linda; he raised his hand in a farewell.
Murdo started to speak and stopped. Declan waited. No, said Murdo, I was just wanting to ask eh I mean have you ever heard of a music kind of event in a town LaFayette?