Page 29 of Replay
“He’s not much younger than you are,” she snapped back at him, fearless in her defence of her friend.Spook had always appreciated that quality in a woman.Hell, in anyone.
Various fors and againsts were suddenly being voiced.Spook had to admit, he wasn’t loving the idea of Captain Bubblebutt joining them on stage, but sometimes you had to work with what you’d got.And he didn’t actually have anything against Ronnie, who seemed reasonably smart, pleasantly loyal, and a decent bloke to have around, if a tad overshare-y.
“I could do it,” Flynn Hutton stepped into the spotlight as if he was presenting them with a surprise trophy.That instantly silenced the chatter about Ronnie.
“You?”Ash chuckled, sharing an eye roll with his missus.“You’re not exactly rife with rocker vibes.”
“I’m at work,” Flynn deadpanned.“I do have other clothes.I also play keys.It’s what I trained to do, and I know your stuff.Been playing it regularly for years.I doubt Ronnie knows more than a single song.In fact, I’d be amazed if he knows any of your stuff.It’s hardly his scene.”
He knew Ronnie.How did he know Ronnie?Were there flipping Hutton connections everywhere?
“Absolutely no fucking way!”
Shit!Apparently, he’d said that aloud.Everyone turned to stare at him at once.Surprise, curiosity, a smattering of amusement on their faces.All except for Flynn.He burned with righteous indignation.Alle looked shocked.Concerned.Agitated.Definitely shocked.
“Spook,” she squeaked.
“Sorry, that was a little over-forceful, but everyone was talking at once.Look, Flynn, I’m sure you’re very able.I just don’t know that… That it’s necessarily a good idea.I think we should go with Ronnie.Like Alle said, the guy’s a musician.He’s used to crowds.He’s part of the industry.”
Flynn started saying that he was also used to performing.What did they think he did?Cruise ships put on entertainments every single night, but Spook continued to talk right over him and was relieved when Rock Giant weighed in on his side.
“Hate to say it about a pop idol, but the kid’s got the chops.I’ve heard him play.Also, he’s a mate.And it’d be mutually beneficial.He dropped a single today.We could dress it up as a planned collaboration.”
“Also, it’s not just tonight we need to think about.”Spook was thinking on his feet, but he was thinking fast.“We’re also due to play in Gothenburg.It makes sense to have whoever is stepping in cover both the outward and return journey of the cruise, and the gig in the middle.I don’t think, Flynn, that you’re in a position to do that.Also, slick thinking, Paul.”
Flynn didn’t seem quite so ready to have his dream punctured.“I’m sure I could have a word with the captain.Explain.”
“I vote Ronnie,” Rock Giant stated.
“You don’t even know if he’ll agree to do it.”Ash pointed out.“Also, I don’t suppose it’s occurred to you that using him will mean us all being cooped up in here for the rest of the day, working our arses off, if we want to walk out on stage tonight and put on a show worthy of this band.At least this dude knows our tunes.”
Shut up, Ash.Just fucking shut up!
The last thing he needed was Alle’s brother breathing down his neck.
“Ash, we’re gonna have to rehearse no matter who steps in.”Spook wasn’t backing down on this one.In any case, Flynn saying he knew their stuff, didn’t mean that he actually knew it.Plus, playing alone and playing in time with a band were two entirely different things.Until actual notes were involved, there was no way of knowing how long it’d take them to synch up with one another.One only had to look at their experiences with Iain Willows to know how difficult meshing five people’s actions into one synchronized sound could be.
“What if we did an acoustic set,” Xane sighed.He looked ready to fall over.The dark circles beneath his eyes seemed to have grown more livid in the last few minutes.
“How the fuck does that help?”Rock Giant muttered.
“I don’t know.I’m just throwing out suggestions.”
It wasn’t a bad idea.“Maybe, not for the whole gig, but we could do some tracks like that.It would certainly lessen the load.Fewer tracks for us all to practise.”He and Xane, or Ash and Xane could manage a few acoustic numbers without the need for a major practise sesh.
“Okay, look—” Xane had apparently reached exasperation level.Whatever he’d been about to say got interrupted by an enormous yawn.“Paul, go and talk to Ronnie.Spook, you and Ash, figure out set listing.Yes, let’s do some of them unplugged.Luthor, me and you are going to get some fucking shut eye.Wake me up once we have a keyboard player who can play whatever songs you decide we’re performing tonight.I can’t fucking think with my head full of marshmallows.”With a sleepy swagger, half leaning upon, half dragging Luthor he headed for the exit.
“Are you sure sleep is what you’re planning, given you’re taking your playmates with you?”Rock Giant mumbled, as Xane passed by his shoulder.Their lead singer shot him a death glare, which he followed up with a half-hearted, two-fingered salute.
“Believe it or not, I am too fucking tired to fuck.Look, just get Ronnie, this guy, whoever, up to speed, then come and wake me.”Turning to their chief roadie, Cave Troll, he added, “No more than two hours.Break the door down if necessary to haul my arse up.”
“Will do boss.”Troels gave him a salute.
Once Xane had gone, Rock Giant left too, and Alle’s brother scuttled off a few seconds later after it dawned on him that his services were no longer required.Ginny muttered something about merchandise, and glided off too.That left him and Ash, and Allegra, whom he was doing his best not to stare at.
Having pulled up the set list that Rock Giant had taped to the floor, Ash ambled over to him and flopped down at the front of the stage, with a grubby inch of pencil he produced from a pocket.He set the wood between his teeth as he looked over the listing.“If we’re assuming he knows nothing, what’s easiest to learn?Is it even feasible for him to learn more than a couple of tracks in the time we have?”
“He’s good and he’s a quick learner,” Alle remarked.“But if you’re worried, maybe you should use both Ronnie and Flynn.Have them do a few tracks each.”
