Episode 10 - Songs

## Songs

A red drawing on a black background of a violin. Behind the violin is a drawing of a white violin bow and sheet music falling. The image has a white border of music notes.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Jonah and Hector run from the horde, Riot keeps rolling on, and Zelda just can't fall asleep. The theme of tonight’s episode is Songs.

***Content Warnings:** Static, kidnapping + abduction, drowning, violence, death + dying, animal death, suicide, abuse*

## Intro - Duet

Nikignik tells the story of a duet of voices chasing the listener through the woods: a high soft voice and a rough baritone. You cannot tell where they are or whether they mean you harm. You pause in a river of dark water and turn to see the shape of man in the fog. Webbed hands wrap around your ankle and it is too late.

Nikignik is running through the woods alongside two German shepherds. They enjoy the feeling of the wind in their hair and teeth.

## Story One - Remember Things

Hector and Jonah are running from froglins in the forest. Hector is tired, but he notices that Jonah is struggling even more. He tells Jonah that they're headed for the tall trees, hoping that they'll be lucky enough to lose their pursuers there. Hector suddenly breaks off to the side, dragging Jonah with him behind a tree. He tells Jonah and his dogs to be quiet. The froglins loudly croak as they search for Jonah and Hector. Jonah's gamble pays off when a Wandering Night-Gaunt, which Nikignik described in Episode 5, snatches up a froglin from high in the trees and eats it whole. The creature is massive, as tall as the tallest trees around them, and has great antlers that it hangs its grisly trophies on. It has large ears and no eyes. The Wandering Night-Gaunt chases the froglins away. Hector realizes that Jonah is pressed close to him, and stays that way long after the threats have passed.

That night, the two set up camp. While eating some of Hector's dried fruit and meat, Jonah sits with his legs over Hector's in the small tent. Both men are comfortable with this, despite the cramped space. Jonah asks if Heidi, Hector's hallowed dog, is okay. He says that he's never seen a hallowed animal that didn't attack everything in sight. Hector says that he reckons hallowed creatures remember things from life. If they remember hunting, they'll hunt. Maybe Heidi just remembers jerky treats.

Jonah asks about Zelda, and Hector tells him that she's fine. He explains that he met her at the Dry Market a few years ago and has been checking up on her every now and again. Jonah thanks him for that. As they lie together, Hector feels relaxed for the first time in twenty years. The two fall asleep entangled together, Heidi keeping watch outside.

### Interlude One - Local Poetry

Nikignik shares a few local poetry groups for any dreamers who harbor a love for the craft. They read a poem by Democracy the Lich that expresses a desire to sleep as the world crumbles, and wake when the universe ends and it has forgotten who it is.

## Story Two - Rolling On

Riot is listening to her mother's music at the Scoutpost on her MP3 player. She doesn't often listen to it, but right now it is a comfort to hear her mother's voice. She watches the Scoutpost residents go about their lives and decides that, despite their kindness and vibrant community, she can't let them into her life. She knows her mother must be worried, and she still needs to rescue Clara. Her arm may be in a sling, but she can walk.

Violet introduces Walt and asks if she would be okay to speak with him about the Instrumentalist. Riot agrees and Walt sits down with her. He pulls out a handwritten book called "Walter Pensive's Hallowoods Almanac," a guide he is creating to help people who live there. Riot asks about the term "Hallowoods." Walt explains that he coined the term, thinking that the Hallowoods seem almost holy, as if God said that that ground was special. What else could you call something that has water that can bring people back to life?

Walt asks Riot to describe the Instrumentalist and begins to take notes. She describes his appearance - an old man with a red coat. She tells Walt that when she lived with her mom, she would listen to their HAM radio and hear people talk about the music they heard at night. She admits that she thought the Instrumentalist would be a woman. She describes the instruments that follow the man and the ghosts that inhabit them. One ghost, a screaming woman, moved in time to the music and hurt Bern badly.

Riot decides that she likes Walt. There's a kindness behind his eyes that was unlike anything she had seen before. She asks Walt if he can keep a secret and he agrees. She shows him the skeleton key that she stole the first time she outran the Instrumentalist. He tells her to keep it safe since it's probably important.

Walt asks Riot what she's listening too and she tells him it's her mother's music. Walt instantly identifies Valerie's music and asks if Valerie is at the Scoutpost. Riot says that she isn't and she actually should be getting back to her mom soon. Walt stands to leave, but turns back and tells Riot that if she ever wants a job, she should call him. He could use the help and Violet knows how to contact him. He drives off in his white hearse.

### Marketing - Terms Of Use

Lady Ethel Mallory alerts Dreamers that the Stonemaiden discography has been removed from the BotCo Music Archive since it violates the terms of use by denying "the benefits of the Dreaming Box" and "encourages negative sentiments towards the Botulus Corporation."

Ethel assures Dreamers that Valerie Maidstone is receiving the best care possible and will return to the Prime Dream when she is well. She also reminds Dreamers to report any Stonemaid activity so the subjects can get the rehabilitation they need.

### Story Two, Continued - Rolling On

Riot leaves the Scoutpost alone, guilty that all she has to repay Violet and Bern for all their help is her MP3 player, which she left for anyone at the Scoutpost who might want it. She walks for a few days to reach the clearing where she last saw Clara, hoping she will be waiting there still. Violet and Bern are waiting for her there. They tell her that they already searched this clearing and told her that there was nothing here. Clara must have left, either by choice or forced to by some danger.

Riot tells them that she has to get back to her mom and they insist on driving her back to the bunker. During the drive, Violet tells Riot that she is always welcome at the Scoutpost, but Riot knows that once she's back, her mom will never let her leave the bunker again. Violet and Bern walk with Riot up to the bunker door and she hugs them goodbye. She turns to enter the bunker.

Immediately Riot is set on edge. The door is open, which it shouldn't be. All of the lights are off and the walls have been stripped bare. She enters the living room, calling for her mother. In the middle of the room is a TV with a small silver box attached to it. It turns on and Riot is greeted by the smiling face of Lady Ethel Mallory. Ethel tells Riot to stay where she is and she will see her mother very soon.

### Interlude Two - Space is Full of Music

Nikignik mentions that one of their best friends was human. They tell the listeners that when they speak to humans, humans say that they think space is silent. This could not be more wrong. Space is full of beautiful music. Worlds begin and end to the movements of a symphony. The songs of the stars remind them of home and the times when they were young and in love.

## Story Three - It Yet Needs Strings

Zelda is strung up in Solomon's basement, listening to him play his fiddle upstairs. She yells for him to stop and he comes downstairs to say that if the Lord didn't wait for daylight, neither will he. She tells him that if he doesn't let her go, he'll regret it. Solomon says that she has a defiant spark that must be put out, since a woman must serve her husband. Zelda says that she shot her husband. Solomon proclaims that if she has no husband then she will serve the Lord, as he does with his instruments.

Solomon turns on the basement lights and Zelda sees a cabinet in the corner. It is very similar to the one her husband had in his study. It must be a gift from the library. Directly in front of her is an unfinished wooden sculpture. Solomon says that it will be a harp. It still needs strings, and something that was taken from him. It also needs her bones for the inlays.

Solomon leaves, turning the light off as he goes upstairs, and begins to play the fiddle again.

## Outro - Songs

Nikignik speaks again about songs. Music can create an understanding that is impossible to create simply with words. They claim to not have an ear for music, but appreciate its power nonetheless. They will miss songs the most when humanity comes to an end.

## Trivia

1. Democracy's poem was written by Kat Wellman; a poet, artist, and stage producer, who can be found at @introvertedunicorn on Instagram.
2. The sheet music on episode's art cover is the church hymn "I Would Not Be Denied," which is Solomon Reed's favorite hymn.