Part 14 -David convinces the others

“I could never leave the Abbey” Marcel sat shaking his head
David knew this would be his first reaction.
“No one said anything about leaving the Abbey indefinitely Marcel” said David “It’s only so we can record some songs maybe tour about and use that freedom and may I add free travel to figure out our real purpose”
This made Marcel look up and take notice
“What real purpose David?”
“The notes James and I carry around haven’t you ever wondered why we carry them and what they me?
“Well.. Actually, yes I do” replied Marcel
“Well so do we Marcel. James and I don’t have a clue why we have them. It’s eating at our souls, we need to find out”
“What note David?” James who was sitting in the corner observing David suddenly asked.
“This one” and David handed James the ripped receipt with the key and locker numbers.
“Notice anything similar?”
“James studied the David’s piece of paper intensely then turned and handed it and his own note to Marcel.
“He has a point Marcel”
Marcel studied the notes and looked over at David.
“I’ve always felt something familiar with these letters and numbers, if James thinks it’s important I will go” Marcel said
“I think its important Marcel, I’ve grown to love the Abbey and consider it my home now but something in my dreams and my very being gnaws at me to answer this riddle” said James taking the note back off Marcel.
Inside his head David was doing a merry jig.
“What do we need to do David?” Marcel asked.
David had it all planned and explained his course of action.
David would join them as Manager/member. He would take care of the organizing.
The brothers wouldn’t even have to show their faces, this way the general public wouldn’t trace them back to the Abbey and then cause problems for St Benedict’s.
David was an expert at double dealing, everything he said to Marcel and James was also in his best interest though in a different context to theirs.
David – who always had an aptitude with machines -was more than willing to look after the tape side of things if James wanted to play on the backing tracks.
David offered to play some violin but it was discovered he was terrible.
James listened to the backing tapes and his musical ear instantly identified all instruments regardless of distortion and even commented how many were out of tune and off key.
James approached David in regard to the backing tracks and expressed concern if Marcel (though he had a mighty voice) could compete with this noise and whether he could actually sing with it. James said he was having a difficult time himself.
David had already thought this problem through.
His solution: earphones with low organ piped in to the same time as the music.
Marcel and James would be singing to one thing while what was being heard would be totally different. Genius.
Leaving the Abbey was never a problem as none of the Brothers were compelled in any way to stay within its walls as none were studying for the priesthood. It took David little under ten minutes to convince the Deacon of the Abbey that it would be in everybody’s best interests when he showed him Mr. Sincerity’s projected sales and marketing charts.
The boys were off to the studio.

Part 13 -Mr. Sincerity & David's dilemma

Mr .Sincerity sought out David through the Engineer and arranged a meeting.
He was shocked when David arrived at the meeting dressed in his monk robes complete with hood covering his face.
Mr. Sincerity explained the importance of his record company SHIDOT PRODUCTIONS signing the group of musicians he heard on the tape.
TO Mr. Sincerity it was the greatest thing to happen to popular music in last 5 years.
The more Mr. Sincerity raved, the more ideas and solutions to potential problems bounced around inside his head.
They could be rich, powerful and popular except for some important points.
Marcel and James would never leave the Abbey.
The additional track was not even them playing.
How would David incorporate himself into the group?
How would they stay anonymous?
How would he make all this work?
After the meeting with Mr.. Sincerity of Shidot Records David started researching all his options.
Mr. Sincerity had asked how many were in the group? David couldn’t tell him two marvelous voices and an ancient backing tape.
Did they have an angle? He thought the outfits were a nifty marketing angle.
Did they have more material? He could arrange studio time at a moments notice.
All these problems were of no major concern to David because coming from the back of his mind was one over riding sound:
“KA- CHING”
He’d find a way.

Part 12 -The hidden message in the notes. What do the notes mean?

James note was found clasped in his hand when he was discovered unconscious on the Abbey grounds by Marcel.
The message seemed somewhat to familiar to Marcel.
To James it meant nothing since he had lost all recollection of his past life.
It didn’t stop him from having recurring dreams about it.

When David woke up he had a massive headache and no recollection of what he had done with the stones.
In his pocket he found a ripped note.
His only clue to what he may have done with the contraband.
Why couldn’t he remember?
David will recognize the similarity of the notes and convince James to record and go on to tour to help discover who he really is and what his real purpose in life is?
Marcel will hopelessly follow.

Part 11- The Epiphany Stone

The mythical Epiphany stone has the potential to see a weakness in the holders enemies. It is also believed to have a will of its own and can manipulate the people and situations surrounding those who wish to own it.
David stole it from Mr Blanc and promptly lost it – or did he.
Mr Blanc’s brother Edward disappeared in the search to recover it and David.

Part 10 -James dreams (No.2)

James dreams didn’t always involve numbers and letters sometimes they represented a flock of birds bearing down on him with a single white dove to aid him.
These were never construed as nightmares.
As long as the dove was present he felt he could win.


Wonderful background art by Scott Robinson

Part 9 -James (lost soul) return to the Beginning

James was found unconscious in the grounds of the Abbey clutching a note with a weird Alpha – numerical code written on it.
Marcel – who discovered James – felt a certain familiarity when he read it.

Part 8- The concerns of Mr Blanc

Mr Blanc and his brother Edward ran the family crime business together, but everyone knew it was Mr Blanc who was the brains behind it all.
Mr Blanc knew certain sections referred to Edward as “Deadwood” but never to their faces.
Edward had his own talents – he was considered a prodigy when he was younger – he just didn’t have the spirit to be a crime boss.
When he needed to think Mr Blanc would retreat to his Gallery and admire his “Modern Masters”
Before he went missing Edward would play simple lullabies on his violin that were so beautiful and haunting they could almost make Mr Blanc weep.
He desperately missed that now.