Chapter 2 Chapter II The Power of a Dissonant Sonata

Walking on an unfamiliar road at night, and in a desolate area where there are few pedestrians and bad guys often haunt, it can't help but make people feel frightened.At this moment, the four performers are facing such a situation.The French are brave, everyone knows this, so our four compatriots tried their best to prove that they are not cowards.However, there is a line between "brave" and "reckless" that no reasonable person will cross.In short, if the train hadn't run into the railroad and been submerged by a sudden flood, and if the carriage hadn't overturned 5 miles from Frascher, our musicians would not have had to risk their lives on this uncertain path at night. up.Let's hope nothing more annoying happens to them.

It was already around 8 o'clock in the evening, and Sebastian Zorno and his companions were walking straight to the seaside according to the coachman's instructions just now.With only a light and trouble-free piano case on his shoulders, there is nothing to complain about, so whether it is the wise Frascolin, the jolly Pancina or the visionary Yvernay Don't complain.However, the cellist was carrying his cello case, which was like a big cabinet on his back!Because of his character, it was understood that he had reason to be angry again.Sure enough, he "ah" for a while, "ah" for a while, and "hum" for a while to vent his full of resentment and grievance with onomatopoeia.

It was already dark at night.Thick dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a narrow gap appeared in the clouds from time to time, revealing its shy face coyly when a crescent moon hooked up.The golden yellow was not lucky enough to win the favor of Sebastian Zorno, unless it was because he had a bad temper and was easily angry, otherwise, it was hard to figure out.I saw him waving his fist at the moon and shouting loudly: "Hmph, what are you trying to do with that stupid half of your face out there!...I've never seen it before! I don't know what's more stupid than this piece of half-baked melon that's still walking around on it!"

"If only the moon were looking straight at us," said Frascoran. "Why?" Pancina asked. "Because that way, we'll be able to see better on the road." "Ah, chaste Diana!" At this time, Yvernay was very poetic and couldn't help chanting casually, "Oh, the messenger of tranquility in the night! Oh, the pure white satellite of the earth! Oh, lovely sweetheart!  … " "Have you finished your poem?" cried the cellist. "Whenever these first violinists play the ballad, they always..." "Let us hurry," urged Frascolin, "or we may fall asleep looking at the beautiful stars."

"If only there were stars... and I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep up with our recital in San Diego!" Pancina reminded. "Hmph, yes, that's a pretty good idea!" Sebastian Zorno snapped, shaking the piano case at the same time, and there was a whining sound from inside. "But, man," said Pencina, "it's all because of you." "because I?" "Of course! Why don't we stay in San Francisco? There's a lot of Californians out there who've got their ears set on our music!" "Again," the cellist asked, "why did we leave? . . . "

"Because you want to leave." "Well, I should admit I had a bad idea there, and if..." "Ah! . . . my friends!" said Yvernay, pointing his finger to a point in the sky where a faint ray of moonlight pierced a dark cloud, as if to It has a white border. "What's the matter, Yvernay? . . . " "Look, does that cloud look like a dragon with outstretched wings and a peacock's tail, even the dots on the tail are decorated with hundreds of eyes?" I'm afraid Sebastian Zorno doesn't have the magical vision to magnify things a hundred times, let alone distinguish them from things.Because he couldn't even see a deep rut on the road, he just stepped into it with one foot, and fell down and gnawed at the mud.At this time, he was still carrying the piano case on his back, and he looked like a big turtle crawling on the ground.

This time the virtuoso was really pissed off (it was really irritating), and then he angrily blamed the first violinist.At this time, the latter was still admiring his aerial monsters. "It's all Yvernay's fault!" Sebastian Zorno said angrily, "If I didn't want to see his damn dragon..." "It's not a dragon, it's now an amphora! No matter how poor your imagination is, you can still tell that you're holding it to pour fine wine!..." "Be careful that there is a lot of water in the fine nectar." Pancina said with a smile, "and be careful that your precious goddess doesn't make us drown!"

Just when everyone was talking non-stop, the sky really changed, and it seemed that it was going to rain.In this way, if you want to avoid getting wet, you must speed up so that you can find a place for Frascher to hide. The group pulled the furious and resentful cellist back to his feet.Enthusiastic Frascolan volunteered to help him carry the instrument... It was a Ghent and Bernardel cello, which can be said to be half of his life... But he still agreed, so this precious "half" On the back of the helpful Frascolan.The latter entrusted Zorno with his light case. Everyone is on the road again.They walked about 2 miles in stride.Nothing worth mentioning happened.The night was getting darker, and it could rain at any moment.In fact, a few thick raindrops had already fallen, apparently brought by cumulonimbus clouds high in the sky.However, the lovely Hebe of Yvernay did not pour out more of the "juice" in her jug, so our four nocturnal gods will hopefully reach Flecher quite dry.

However, they always have to be careful everywhere so as not to fall.The road, washed into a deep ditch by the rain, is pitch-black and often turns sharply.Because of their different temperaments, the situation and scene in Yvernay's eyes are full of poetic charm, but in Frascolin's view, they are full of crises. Walking on those roads in Baja California is not only rough, but also always worried about not encountering any unpleasant things that threaten the safety of passengers. All the weapons of the "quartet" are: two violin bowstrings, a viola bowstring and a cello bowstring.Self-defense by these is obviously useless; you know, they are in the same country that invented the Colt revolver, which was almost perfect in that era.If Sebastian Zorno and his companions were Americans, they would already be wearing jeans with this little thing in the special pocket on the waistband.A real Yankee wouldn't go on a train from San Francisco to San Diego without carrying a six-shooter like this.However, the French are completely unaware of how necessary it is to go out with a gun.It can even be said that they have never thought about it, maybe they will regret it.

Pancina walked in front, his eyes constantly inspecting the slope beside the road.At this time, the slopes on both sides are very steep, and there is almost no need to worry about sudden attacks.Because of his nature to be amusing, "His Royal Highness" couldn't help but want to play tricks on his companions to frighten them, for example, he stopped suddenly and murmured in a trembling voice pretending to be frightened: "Oops! Then...over there...what do I...see? Ready...to shoot...shoot!" However, at this time the road had penetrated into a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees.These fir trees are as high as 150 feet, and they are the king of trees in the California area, known as "the Lord of the World".Seeing this scene, he immediately gave up the idea of ​​joking.Ten people can hide behind each of these unusually thick trees... A strong light flashed, and then there was a cracking explosion... followed by the whistling sound of a bullet... Could it be possible to see This kind of scene? ...Can't you hear this sound? ... Such a place is obviously conducive to night raids and very suitable for ambushes.If you are lucky not to meet robbers, it is because such worthy figures have completely disappeared in the western part of the United States, or they are busy with financial transactions in the markets of the old and new continents! ... Alas, such an end for the descendants of Karl Moore and Gene Sborga!Besides Yvernay, who else has so many ideas? "At the end of the day"—he thought—"it's the setting that doesn't put on a good show!"

Suddenly, Pancina stopped and did not move. Frascoran, who followed closely behind, also stopped. Sebastian Zorno and Yvernay followed immediately. "What's the matter?" asked the second fiddler. "I seem to see something..." the viola replied. This is by no means a joke. There was actually an object moving in the woods just now. "Man or beast?" asked Frascolin. "I have no idea" Which is better, man or beast?No one spoke rashly.Everyone was close together, motionless, silent, watching carefully. The moonlight now poured down through a gap in the dark clouds into the dark forest, through the branches and leaves of the giant sequoias, and fell to the ground.Under the moonlight, one can see things a hundred paces away. Pancina's eyes had never deceived him.It wasn't some hallucination, it was an object much larger than a person.This behemoth could only have been a stout quadruped.What about quadrupeds? ... a beast? ... Undoubtedly a beast... But what kind of beast is it? ... "A toed!" Yvernay saw clearly now. "What the hell animal!" Sebastian Zorno complained impatiently in a low voice. "Yvernay, if you talk about an animal, I think you are! Can't you talk like everyone else? Toe toe." Animal, what kind of animal is that?" "It's an animal that walks on the soles of its feet!" Pancina explained.Sure enough, it was a bear, and it was a very big bear.In the woods of Baja California, neither lions, tigers, nor leopards can be seen, only bears are frequent visitors.Dealing with them, however, is generally not very pleasant. Our Parisians all thought of making way for the toe-toed animal.This is no surprise.Besides, it's on its own turf...so the group got closer.Facing the bear, they retreated calmly and slowly, not daring to appear to be running away. The beast followed with small steps, waving its front paws like a rocking handle, twisting its waist like a flirtatious Spanish girl strolling in the garden.It approached step by step, and its actions became full of deliberation; it let out a few hoarse roars, its mouth was already wriggling, and there was a chilling chewing sound. "Shall we escape separately?" "His Royal Highness" suggested. "Don't do that!" said Frascoran, "and then one of us will be caught by it and sacrificed for the others!" This rash proposal was not adopted.Obviously, if this is done, the consequences will be disastrous. The "quartet" just piled up like this, and retreated step by step to the edge of a slightly brighter forest clearing.The bear was getting very close, maybe ten paces away from them.Does it think this is a good place to attack? ... Possibly, because its growl quickened and it walked faster. They hurried back, and the second fiddler urged them all with more urgency: "Be safe, my friends, be safe!" At last the clearing was over, and they retreated among the trees again.But there, the danger is not much less.As they dodged tree by tree, the bear was most likely to jump on it suddenly, which caught people off guard.And at this moment, it was about to do just that, because its terrifying roar had ceased, and its steps had slowed down... At this critical moment, a refreshing music sounded under the dense shade of trees.This is an adagio expressing emotion, which vividly shows the soul of an artist. It was Yvernay!The violin had been taken out of its case, and he was making it hum excitedly under the strong touch of the bow.What a stroke of genius!Well, why don't musicians turn to music for help?Aren't those stones gathered around Thebes automatically under the inspiration of the sound of the zither?Aren't those ferocious beasts tamed under the influence of the passionate lyre, and prostrate at the knees of Orpheus?Then, under the influence of atavistic genes, this bear in California will also have the same artistic talents as its legendary counterparts, because its wildness is disappearing, and its instinct for music is controlling it. As the "Quartet" retreated in an orderly manner, it followed along and let out a soft cry like a music fan, almost shouting: "Wow!" ... A quarter of an hour later, Sebastian Zorno and his companions were standing at the edge of the woods.They walked out of the woods, Yvernay playing the violin all the time... The bear stopped.It seems that it doesn't want to go half a step beyond Lei Chi.It clapped its two front paws like clapping. Then Pancina also seized his instrument, and exclaimed: "Let's play a bear dance, and make it brighter!" Then, while the first violin riffs on the familiar theme, the viola blends in a harsh, rambunctious bass in the lower mids... So the beast danced and danced. It raised its right foot, raised its left leg, jumped up and down, twisted its waist and hunched its back, allowing the four artists to escape along the way. "Bah!" said Pancina dismissively, "just a circus bear." "It's nothing special!" Frascoran echoed, "The idea that this ghost Yvernay had at the time was really real!" "Let's slip away..." the cellist urged, "Don't look back!" At about nine o'clock, the four disciples finally arrived in Fracher safely.Although the toe-toed animals stopped following them, they still didn't dare to neglect and finished the last part of the journey briskly. About forty houses, log cabins to be precise, are scattered around a square planted with beeches. This is Flecher, a small remote village two miles from the sea. Our artists passed quietly between the houses shaded by large trees and came to a clearing.Looking around, I can vaguely see a simple church at the end of the open space, with a simple bell tower above the church.So, they formed a circle as if they were about to play a piece of tune for the occasion, and then stopped, intending to discuss it. "It's here! Is it a village?..." Pancina said in surprise. "Don't you still want to find a big city like Philadelphia or New York?" Frascolan retorted. "But the village you're talking about is asleep!" retorted Sebastian Zorno with a shrug. "Don't disturb a sleeping village!" Yvernay sighed melodiously. "Instead, wake it up!" Pancina exclaimed. Indeed, unless one intends to spend the night in the open air, this is the only way to go. Besides, the clearing was utterly desolate, and there was a boundless silence all around.Not a single windshield was opened, not a single window shone with light.A company can be built on this piece of land that is completely silent. "Er? . . . Where's the inn? . . . " asked Frascorin. Yes, . . . the inn the coachman spoke of?What about the inn that he said could provide good food and lodging for these distressed travelers? ...And what about the store owner?He should hasten to send for the unfortunate coachman. ... Could these things have been just the poor man's imagination? ...Or, make another hypothesis: Have Sebastian Zorno and his companions lost their way? ... This isn't Frascher Village at all? ... These assorted questions demand explicit answers.Therefore, it is necessary to ask a resident of the village to inquire.To do this one had to knock at the door of a small house, or, if one was lucky enough to find one, at the door of an inn. The four musicians moved at once, making out the house around the dark clearing.They passed by the gates of one house after another, trying to find a sign hanging in front of a certain door...However, there is no sign at all, who knows that it is an inn? Well, even if there is no inn to be found, as long as there is a house in the village open to entertain them. , then act in the American way.What Frascher would refuse a dinner and a bed for a dollar or even two apiece? "Knock," said Frascolin. "Knock on the beat," added Pancina, "!" How did they know that the result would be the same even if they were struck in three-quarter or four-quarter time.Not a single door nor window opened.Still, the Quartet knocked on a dozen doors hoping to hear back. "We have made a mistake," declared Yvernay, "... this is not a village, this is a cemetery. Here, if you sleep, it becomes eternal rest... so our knocking gone." "Amen! . . . " "Your Highness" answered in the loud, forceful voice of a church choir. Since the people in the village are determined not to break the boundless silence, what should we do?Going on the road to San Diego? … They were exhausted, starving, and unable to walk any longer. ... Besides, without a guide, and in this dark night, God knows which way to go? ... Then find a way to go to other villages! ...Which village is it? ... When I asked the coachman, he said that there were no other villages along the coast. ...Besides, doing that will just lead to getting lost again and again. ... Better to wait for dawn! ...but with no shelter, a low sky with big black clouds, and the possibility of a downpour at any moment, sitting around and waiting 6 hours until dawn is not good advice, even for Artists are also not worth mentioning. At this point, Pancina had an idea.While his ideas aren't always the best ones, they're full of them.Besides, this time he won the approval of the thoughtful Frascolin. "My friends," he said, "why don't we try what we did with the bear? If we succeeded against a bear, wouldn't it work against a village in California? . . . Just make that toe-toed animal bow its head and ears,... Now let's wake up these country folks with a hard and powerful piece! There are allegro and forte passages, and must be drawn out..." "It's worth a try," Frascolin responded. Sebastian Zorno didn't even wait for Pansina to finish his sentence before he took his cello out of its case and placed it on a steel tripod.Since there was no place to sit, he stood, bow in hand, ready to unleash all the sounds stored in this great sounding box. His companions were ready almost at the same time, just waiting to follow him to the last repertoire. "Quartet in B-flat," he ordered, "and go... give away a beat section for free!" They have already memorized this Onslow quartet by heart, and good players don't have to see clearly to use their nimble fingers back and forth on the fretboard. Therefore, they let their inspiration gallop in the world of music.Perhaps they have never played with such brilliance and passion in American casinos and theaters.The air above the village was filled with a passionate and harmonious melodious sound, and who, unless the deaf, could resist its charm?Even if it is in a cemetery as Yvernay said just now, under the influence of this charming music, the tomb will open, the zombies will stand upright, and the skeletons will clap their hands... However, who would have expected that the door of the house was still closed, and the sleeping person did not wake up!The movement ended in a majestic and powerful melody, but Fracher seemed to have no response at all. "Ah! That's what it looks like!" Sebastian Zorno yelled angrily, "Shouldn't they just plug their savage ears with a piece of nonsense music like they did with their bears?  … ...Okay! Let's do it again. But you, Yvernay, you play in the key of D; you, Frascorin, in the key of E; you, Pancina, in the key of G; Alright, now pull hard!" What a mess of sounds!How loud and harsh!It's literally recreating what it's like to lead a makeshift band in a strange village in Brazil!It really makes people think that some terrible symphony is being played on the "" violin!It turned out that they were playing a Wagner piece from the back to the front! ... All in all, Pancina's idea was brilliant.What the pleasing performance just now failed to achieve, this messy one actually achieved it!Frascher began to wake up.Lights shone from behind the glass windows of many houses, and in two or three the windows were fully lit.Since there is a response, it means that the villagers are still alive; since they heard and are still listening, it means that they are not deaf! "!" Pancina said when it reached a rest.Although the tune of the music was chaotic, everyone still played strictly according to the beat. "Hey! Great... eat them then!" replied the practical Frascolin. After speaking, under the command of Sebastian Zorno, they started Latin again, and they had more fun than before.At last, when they concluded their performance in a forceful "perfect consonance" in four different tones, the artists paused. It was so unexpected!It wasn't apples that were thrown from twenty or thirty open windows, but applause, applause, cheers, yes!another one!Never had such music wafted to the ears of the Fraschers!Now there is no doubt that every household is ready to welcome these incomparable musical talents. However, just when they were complacent and thinking wildly, thinking that their performance had aroused the enthusiasm of the villagers, a new audience member took a few steps forward.They did not perceive when he came.After getting off an electric car, the person stood in a corner of the open space.In this dark night, what can be judged is that the person who came is tall and quite fat. At this moment, however, our Parisians are wondering: after the windows are opened, will the doors of those houses be opened to receive them? ...looks uncertain to say the least.The newcomer took the opportunity to step forward, speaking in pure French, and said kindly: "Gentlemen, I am a music fan. I am very honored to applaud you just now..." "For the last piece?..." Pancina asked mockingly. "No, gentlemen . . . for the first verse. I have seldom heard this Onslow Quartet played with more talent than you!" Needless to say, this man is a connoisseur. "Sir," replied Sebastian Zorno on behalf of his companion, "thank you very much for your compliments. If the second piece hurt your ears, it is because..." "Sir," said the stranger, interrupting what must have been a long sentence, "I have never heard anyone play such an incongruous tune so perfectly. But I understand why you do it. It is for Wake up those lovely villagers of Fracher. But now they are asleep again. . . . Well, gentlemen, allow me to give you what you are trying to obtain in this desperate way." "Accommodating us?" asked Frascolin. "Yes, you are entertained with more hospitality than the Scots. If I am not mistaken, standing in front of me must be the famous 'Quartet'. You know, our entire proud America has no conditions I'm crazy for you." "Sir," Frascolin thought he should say something, "you've been honored. . . . and . . . thanks to your help, I wonder where we can... " "Two miles from here." "Is it another village?" "It's not...it's a city." "Is it a big city?" "of course!" "Sorry," Pancina noted, "we were told there were no cities along the way until we got to Santiago." "It was a mistake... I really don't know how to explain it." "Wrong?..." repeated Frascoran. "Yes, gentlemen, if you will come with me, I guarantee you the welcome that artists of your caliber deserve." "I agree to accept the invitation," Yvernay said. "I agree with you," Pancina said firmly. "Wait a minute...wait a moment," Sebastian Zorno said loudly, "Don't rush to talk, the band conductor hasn't expressed his opinion yet!" "You mean...?" asked the American. "There's someone waiting for us in Santiago," Frascolan explained. "In Santiago," added the cellist, "we've been invited to give some daytime concerts in that city. The day after tomorrow, which is Sunday, we must begin our first performance." "Oh!" The person made a perfunctory sound, and the tone of his voice clearly showed great displeasure.Then he added: "That's all right, gentlemen. In one day, you'll have time to visit that city worth seeing, and I promise to send you to the nearest station in time, so that you can get to Santiago in time!" No doubt the offer was tempting and popular.Now the "quartet" could surely find a good room in a good hotel, not to mention the respect that this enthusiastic person promised them. "Gentlemen, do you agree?" "We agree." Sebastian Zorno replied, hunger and fatigue made him accept the invitation without thinking. "Then it's done," said the American. "We'll just walk away, and we'll be there in twenty minutes. And, I'm sure, you'll thank me!" Apparently, after the last applause from the chaotic performance had died away, the windows of the houses were closed again, the lights in the windows were extinguished, and the village of Fracher fell back into sleep. Four artists followed the Americans to the front of the electric car.They put the instruments in the car and sat down in the back of the car, at which point the American stepped up and sat next to the driver.The joystick was pulled down, the battery was working, and the car started slowly.Then, it immediately increased its speed and headed west. A quarter of an hour later, a large patch of faint white light appeared in front of my eyes, like scattered beams of moonlight that dazzled people.There is a city, our Parisians cannot doubt its existence. The electric car stopped at this moment, and Frascolan just said: "Actually, we are at the beach!" "Beach..., no," the American replied immediately, "this is a stream we are going to cross." "How's it going...?" Pancina asked. "Take the ferry, and the electric car will drive up." Sure enough, there was a train ferry parked there, and there are many such train ferries in the United States.So, the electric bus went up with its passengers.There is no doubt that the train ferry is powered by electricity, as it does not emit any smoke, and it only takes two minutes to reach the other side.The ferry docked at a dock deep in the harbor. Electric cars are on the road again.It crossed some lanes in a field and entered a garden.Some electric lamps poured a strong light from above the garden. There was a door at the garden fence, which led out into a wide and long street.The pavement is paved with slabs with excellent acoustics.Five minutes later, the artists alighted in front of a cozy hotel.Here, I do not know what the Americans said, and they were immediately greeted with hospitality that boded well.The four artists were then brought to a table covered with sumptuous meals, and they ate and drank with relish.This is completely conceivable. After the meal, the head waiter ushered them into a spacious room.Incandescent lamps brightly illuminated the room.Just flip a switch to turn this light into a soft sleep light.In short, since we have already come here, let’s leave these strange things until the next day to discuss them.Putting aside all doubts, the four artists collapsed on the four beds arranged in the four corners of the room, and quickly fell asleep.In their sleep, even their snoring sounds were unusually consistent.You know, the "Quartet" is famous for this rare harmony.

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Notes: The moon god in Greek mythology, also known as Diana.