HÄR - Slipgrip.se
Transcription
HÄR - Slipgrip.se
In the seventh year of her life, a young girl was BODY AND SPIRIT FALLS AS WAS PLANNED FOREVER nearing the end of her seventh summer, at a NO-ONE CAN HEAR IT AND WITHIN EACH PRECIOUS MOMENT HEAR US beach house that her grandfather had built on LOST ARE THE THINGS STILL YET TO BE FOREVER the Pacific Ocean, long before she was born. It IN was a beautiful but simple house, constructed ETERNITY high atop the dunes, overlooking a seemingly HEAR US NIGHT IN ITS VESPERS FOREVER DREAMS ARE ITS GESTURES HEAR US endless stretch of pristine, sandy beach. She FOREVER STARS FEAR NO DISTANCE FOREVER believed that her grandfather must have been the HEAR US FEAR NO DISTANCE WHERE OUR HOPES HAVE NEVER CEASED wisest of men to have procured such a perfect FOREVER spot. It was far enough away from the water to HEAR US FOR THEY WILL ALWAYS GUARD YOU be perfectly safe from the crashing waves of the FOREVER THROUGHOUT ETERNITY DEATH WILL EMBRACE US largest storms, when the ocean was at its most HEAR US (Greek Chorus) HOLD AND ENCASE US mischievous, but close enough that she could FOREVER still hear the quietest of breakers, on the calmest WHERE OUR HOPES HAVE NEVER CEASED HERE of nights as they gently lulled her to sleep. TO BE BELIEVE Night Enchanted A NIGHT TIME SPEAKS THROUGH SEASONS DEATH WILL EMBRACE US ENCHANTED GOD SPEAKS THROUGH REASON HOLD AND ENCASE US SEEN KINDNESS COMPASSION (Greek Chorus) TO BE TIME MAY DEFACE US TIME MAY DEFACE US WILL GOD RETRACE US NOT RANDOM FASHIONS WILL GOD RETRACE US HERE HERE TIME SPEAKS THROUGH SEASONS THE HOPES OF GODS ARE PLANTED HEAR BELIEVE GOD SPEAKS THROUGH REASON DREAM YET TO BE A NIGHT KINDNESS COMPASSION ENCHANTED NOT RANDOM FASHIONS SEEN HEAR HEAR REMEMBER YET TO BE REMEMBER HEAR ALL WE DO NOT SEE YET TO HERE YET TO BE THE HOPES OF GODS ARE PLANTED HEAR SURRENDERED DREAM YET TO BE SURRENDERED REMEMBER HEAR ALL WE WISHED TO BE REMEMBER YET TO ALL WE DO NOT SEE (Cassandra) SURRENDERED BE It was the final night of the season and she knew that tomorrow she would be returning home. So, she snuck out of bed, to sit out on her LOST AND FORGOTTEN balcony and gaze at the stars as they appeared OUR AKHENATEN one at a time or occasionally in clusters. She was BODY AND SPIRIT happily lost in her own little world, savoring the SURRENDERED CHILD OF THE NIGHT NO-ONE CAN HEAR IT last moments of summer, when she noticed what ALL WE WISHED TO BE DREAMS DARE ALIGHT LOST seemed like a swarm of fireflies, playfully flying ANYWHERE YOUR HEART DOES WANDER IN over the crashing waves. Looking downward, LOST AND FORGOTTEN KNOW THAT THEY WILL WALK WITH THEE ETERNITY she saw that a man had gathered a large pile OUR AKHENATEN EACH GRAIN OF SAND of driftwood, dried reeds and rushes and was igniting it with a handheld Zippo lighter. As AND MUST SHE EVER JUST LET GO SHE JUST DECIDE was building was even more magical than she the dried rushes caught fire, the summer breezes AS CHILDHOOD DREAMS TO STEP OFF OF THIS could have imagined when she viewed it from fanned the flames until even the largest logs and CHILDHOOD DREAMS CHILDHOOD RIDE a distance. It had large thick walls, surrounded AS CHILDHOOD DREAMS by a deep moat and numerous towers. He had CHILDHOOD DREAMS hollowed out a little room inside the tallest tower planks were burning brightly. Occasionally, one of the bigger pieces of wood would fall, causing WHAT IS CHILDHOOD an explosion of sparks to be thrown high into the SOMETHING WE REMEMBER night air, where the wind was waiting to carry RARELY ONLY SEVEN AS SHE the room glowed with an orange light from them out over the ocean waters. BARELY SITS AND WONDERS within. SOMETIMES IN DECEMBERS LATE AT NIGHT AS a large sandcastle that the man had obviously BUT THEN IT’S KNOWN TO CATCH OUR THE WORLD IT SLUMBERS he was completely unaware of her presence, until been working on for a considerable time. EYE BUT SUDDENLY INSIDE THE DARK quite unexpectedly, the man, who now had his Once he was satisfied that the bonfire was well AND DARE US ALL TO SHE SEES THE MAGIC back to her asked, “Would you like to help?” established, he returned to finishing his edifice ONCE MORE TRY OF THE SPARKS of sand. Now, most children are fascinated AND WITH A CHILDHOOD FAITH BELIEVE AND SO SHE KNOWS presence, she stepped out from the darkness and by bonfires, sandcastles and of course staying AND THAT MAGIC TO RETRIEVE SHE MUST GO DOWN replied, “What can I do?” up late when one should be asleep and this AS CHILDHOOD DREAMS TO SEE THIS WORLD As the bonfire grew in intensity, it illuminated combination of all three was proving near and had placed a small tea candle inside, so that Now, all this time, she was quite certain that Surprised, that he was somehow aware of her “Well, the main gate still needs a drawbridge THAT SHE HAS FOUND and I think that small piece of wood under your AS CHILDHOOD DREAMS right foot would fit perfectly.” there is only sand under my feet.” irresistible. Correction, make that irresistible. CHILDHOOD DREAMS For a moment, she pondered obtaining parental CHILDHOOD permission to go down to look at this castle, CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD DREAMS but asking meant risking the most universal of CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD “Ahh, yes,” he answered without looking up adult replies, a stern and emphatically delivered, CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD from the rampart upon which he was putting the “No!” So, she decided to sneak out on her own. CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD final touches, “but what lies beneath that sand?” Carefully climbing over the balcony railing, she CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD Wiggling her toes in the sand under her feet, quietly crept down the stairs and across the beach CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD she was delighted to discover a small weathered to examine this wonderment close-up. CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD rectangular plank, which she could tell at first Childhood Dreams CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD glance would fit perfectly into the main gate CHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD leading across the moat. Picking it up, she ran DREAMS CHILDHOOD over and handed it to the gentleman, a smile CHILDHOOD beaming from her face. Returning her smile, DREAMS he took the small plank and placed it across the (Erasmus) SOFTLY LATE IN SUMMER FADING STARING OUT THE WINDOW TELL ME WHERE THE YEARS GO ONLY SEVEN She looked down and said, “I’m sorry sir, but moat leading to the front gate. As she neared the bonfire, she could see that the Together, they stepped back to look at the I AM AGING individual, who was casting such a large shadow now completed castle. The man noticed that TELL ME WHAT COULD SHE KNOW BUT SHE DOES NOT THINK SO when silhouetted against the fire, was in reality, parts of the wall had been dried out slightly by THE WORLD WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND HER WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES a thin, but muscular man with shoulder length the heat from the fire, and sitting down, started BUT THEY DON’T SEE WHAT SHE STILL CAN AS FAR AS CHILDHOOD hair. He was wearing a faded black t-shirt with to scoop handfuls of water from the moat to re- WHAT DOES SHE SEE EYES CAN SEE the initials for New York City printed boldly moisten the sand before it crumbled. The child, WHAT DOES SHE KNOW AND MUST ONE DAY on the front in big block letters. The castle he quickly joined him and within moments they had repaired all the damage. Temples of Memphis and Luxor, the Pyramids tried to gather his thoughts as to how he could Lieutenant started back towards his hotel. Now, As the unlikely pair sat back, they gazed in of Giza and the ever-patient gaze of the Great describe to a child, the Times Square area of unbeknownst to my friend, a drug dealer who satisfaction at their creation now back-lit by the Sphinx before entering the Mediterranean. From New York City, at a time when it was known as had been watching the entire scene from across bonfire and enchanted by the sparks that seemed there, it visited the harbors of Alexandria, Athens “Hell’s Kitchen,” an area where the lost souls, the street walked up to him and said, ‘Man, what to hesitate over it, as if in homage, as they flew by on and Rome before slipping through the Straits of drug addicts, winos, criminals and the other is your problem soldier? I thought you were their way to the sea. Gibraltar, where it continued its journey for over unwanted offspring of humanity, had created a never going to ask her out!’ two millennium, before it ended up here, in your little, surrealistic, neon lit, Oz. A sanctuary for hands.” the hopeless and the hunted, right in the middle ‘I was watching you two, from the minute “Really?” she asked. of the greatest city on earth, and how it was in I saw that girl’s eyes meet yours and a blind come to the ocean shores as often as possible,” “What do you think?” he countered. this environment, the last place his friend ever man could tell you were meant to be together. he replied. “It might be,” she replied hopefully. would have predicted, that the Lieutenant first But it was near torture waiting for you to say “Why?” “I think so too.” saw and fell in love with his future wife. something. For a minute I was nearly convinced “Well, I want to visit all the places on earth, For a moment, the child pondered all these In the beginning, he struggled to put together you were going to let that piece of magic slip which of course is impossible, especially for a new and wondrous facts that had just been the words, but eventually he found them flowing right out of your life, but in the end you came person with limited financial resources. But a revealed to her about that single drop of water, easier and easier about the moment the couple’s through.’ friend I once had, told me that when you touch and then, she very carefully, reverently, placed eyes first met from a distance. They were walking ‘What exactly did you think you saw?’ The the ocean, you touch the entire world. For the that handful of water back into the tip of the towards each other, the Lieutenant from the Port Lieutenant countered, in a slightly bemused oceans touch the entire earth. Every continent, next wave that washed up at their feet and said, Authority on 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue voice. every island, large and small, every inlet and “This way someone else might hold it one day. and she from the library on 42nd Street and “On this street, my kingdom, my world, I see peninsula and through all the rivers and streams Your friend must have been a very smart man.” Fifth Avenue. How in the early evening, on that everything,” the dealer replied. “I saw you, I saw “Do you live near here?” the child inquired of her newfound friend. “No, I actually live quite far away, but I ‘Excuse me?’ The Lieutenant asked. that empty into these oceans, they also reach “He was.” crowded street, they both looked away with her, I saw what could be and I saw sparks!” deep into the largest bodies of land.” The man “How did you meet him?” embarrassment, yet they both slowed their pace. then picked up a handful of water and reaching “That, my young friend, is a long story.” How when they were only twenty feet apart, even Sparks out placed it in the hand of the child. “Imagine “I love stories,” she eagerly replied. the drug dealers and street walkers could see that how many drops are in just this small handful of “Well, it began many years ago.” the soldier so badly wanted to introduce himself water. Now, only a short while ago, one of those “How long?” she queried. to this beautiful young lady, but how could he drops was on the shore of the Baltic Sea, and that “Before you were even born.” (Drug Dealer) on this criminally infested street? But then she LINES one was in the Sea of Japan and the one next to it “Wow!” she said, her forehead wrinkled in stopped and pretended to look in a store window OF A TALE came from atop the Andes Mountains, down the contemplation, “That is a long time. Were you and he did the same as they glanced at each CUT IN THE FACE OF A CROWD Maranon and Amazon Rivers, across Peru and kids together?” other’s reflections in the glass. When she finally SENTENCED NO BAIL Brazil, until it reached the Atlantic Ocean.” “No, my earliest memory of his life was when turned and started to walk again, he realized that “And right there,” he said pointing to a corner he was a newly commissioned army lieutenant, if he missed this opportunity he would regret it THERE of her hand, “is one of my favorites, for it has on 42nd Street in New York City, on the night for the rest of his life. So, just as she was about IN THE NIGHT taken the longest journey. It originally came that he first met the young lady he would to pass him by, he introduced himself and she DEEP IN THE BACK from the eyes of the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra, marry.” instantly returned the gesture. After some small THROUGH THE BLACK talk, they agreed to meet the next afternoon for BECKONS A LIFE as she held her child from Julius Caesar and realized that she would never see the great Roman leader again. It fell from her eye, down her cheek and into the Nile where it passed the “Is 42nd Street a park?” she asked in all earnestness. lunch. She wrote down the phone number of his The question was so unexpected, that it momentarily threw the gentleman off. He hotel and then she continued on her way home. TIME After watching her disappear into the crowd, the MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE BUT THEN AT A WHIM AND AROUND instant if they were on their way to work, school military unit to join, the part with the hardest A CHANGE IN THE WIND AND AROUND or home, or if they were looking for an illicit of training. Training that is so tough that most A STORY BEGINS IN ITS MIND AND AROUND substance and what that illicit substance was. men give up before completing it. But my friend AND AGAIN This individual was so amoral that he would sell completed the entire course and shortly after his anyone enough heroin to kill themselves without graduation was assigned as an officer to a unit FOR DEEP IN HER EYES BENEATH THE LIES COME ON a second thought, but somehow he wanted to stationed in Europe. He was only in New York OF THE DARK DO IT IN THE NAME OF LIVING see these two complete strangers meet and have City for two days before he was to fly overseas LEAVING MARKS FOR IF NOT TONIGHT a happy ending. The Lieutenant and the drug and so that is why they got married so quickly. TELL ME WHEN dealer spoke for a while, the dealer telling him The day after the wedding, she drove him to JFK that he was positive the young lady would call Airport for the flight that would take him to his FOR IF NOT TONIGHT him back and the officer promising that if she army unit at their base in Europe.” SHE TELL ME WHEN did, he would send the dealer a postcard from “Couldn’t she go to Europe too?” HAS BEEN STEELED AHHHHH Saigon. A short while later, they parted ways as “Normally, yes, but he knew that he was only SPARKS the drug dealer went back across the street and to be in Europe for a short while before they HEARTS the Lieutenant headed to his hotel with the would be deployed to fight in Southeast Asia. CAN CONFUSE dealer’s address in his wallet and the hope that Their mission was to help the people of a country ONE THAT MESSED UP BUNDLE OF NERVES one day he would be mailing that postcard from called Cambodia fight against a group known as OF A KIND THAT TENDS TO BRUISE Saigon in Vietnam. the Khmer Rouge, a communist backed guerrilla STANDING THERE LOOKING SO TIGHT TAUT AND HIGH-HEELED THE KIND OF A GIRL And the dealer was to be proven right, for army who were trying to take over the country. THAT ONLY A DREAM STILL despite all the Lieutenant’s fears that she might The night before they were to depart, my friend’s COULD DESIGN LAY IT BARE have second thoughts and never call, at exactly entire unit was given a final night’s leave. Being IT’S BETTER TO BLEED THAN TO NEED noon, the phone rang and by that night they young of course, they went in search of the AND NEVER HAVE DARED were married. nearest bar, which happened to be in a little TIME SEEN THROUGH GLASSES OF WINE “I love weddings! Did they have a flower girl?” fishing town not too far from their base. Once there, my friend got fairly inebriated.” NEVER REVEALS CHANCE “I don’t think so.” THE WHY OR THE WHEN A MOVE BASED ON A GLANCE “Was it a big wedding?” HOW THIS STORY WILL END A MOVE BASED ON NO MORE THAN FEEL AS YOU FIND IN THIS UNREAL CIRCUMSTANCE “No, remember I said they got married the day after they met. I believe it was at the city hall.” THAT DEEP IN HER EYES FOR DEEP IN HER EYES BENEATH THE LIES BENEATH THE LIES OF THE DARK OF THE DARK LEAVING MARKS LEAVING MARKS SPARKS “Really? The next day? How did they know they were in love?” “The minute they saw each others’ eyes there was magic.“ “Why didn’t they wait so that their friends SPARKS The Lieutenant found this drug dealer and family could have been there?” fascinating. Here was a man who could probably “Well, you see little one, my friend was in COME ON barely write his own name, but had spent so the army, and not just the regular army, but a CONJURE UP A REASON FOR LIVING much of his life scanning the faces on that street division of the army that is known as Special TAKE ME ROUND for potential customers, that he could tell in an Forces. That is the most difficult part of any “What is inebriated?” the girl asked struggling to pronounce the unfamiliar word. “Hmmm,” the man said while stroking his chin thoughtfully, “He became a little too intoxicated.” The child still looked confused. “How can I explain? Let us just say that he consumed too many beverages with an unusually high alcoholic content that temporarily impaired his better judgment.” “Oh!” the child exclaimed, “He got drunk!” “Very astute for such a small child,” the man chuckled. The child beamed proudly at the compliment as he continued his story. “Now this… getting ocean. Then, as he turned his gaze upwards to mental note as to its location and then started paintings, some ancient weapons of every type, drunk is not the brightest of ideas, but even very see if there was a possible way to scale the cliffs, to try to discover a way to reach it. After trying others strange but oddly familiar mechanical wise men have been known to do it on occasion. he saw an unusual but welcome sight. Set high several doors, he located one that was slightly devices and one that was filled with countless As the evening wore on, my friend eventually atop the rocks, silhouetted in the light of that ajar and with a gentle tug it slowly creaked timepieces and clocks. Several of the timepieces became separated from his fellow soldiers. evening’s full moon, was an enormous medieval open on its rusty hinges. Upon entering, he were still ticking. He was so fascinated by this, Without any money to get a taxi back to the base castle. It was a fascinating collection of walls and found himself within a great hall. It was a large, that only the fear of losing sight of his swift he found himself wandering down the wharf, buildings, ramparts and towers but the sight he cavernous room, with a high vaulted ceiling winged guide prevented him from stopping where he saw a small, two man fishing boat tied found the most fascinating was the orange glow supported by giant stone pillars. Directly across to take a closer look. His instinct to not slow to a dock. Its sails were down and neatly folded of a light emanating from the highest window, in from the entrance, above a wooden throne on down proved correct as he nearly missed seeing with the nets at the bottom of the boat. Deciding the highest tower. a raised platform, moonlight streamed through the falcon fly through an open door that led to a that the owner probably would not mind if he Rationalizing, that where there was light, a large circular window that was missing most series of sharply winding, extremely steep steps. waited there ‘til morning when a bus could get there must be people, and also that whoever of its glass. Large arched windows, bereft of all He reached the top of the stairs just in time to see him back to his unit, he got in the boat, laid had built the castle, must have arranged a way glass, were set high in the walls on either side of the falcon fly through an open arched doorway. down on the sails and within minutes had fallen to get to it from the beach, he slowly started the room, allowing him to clearly see the stars Instantly, he realized that this was the room that asleep to the gentle rocking of the small vessel. to search along the cliff ’s bottom edge. After outside as well as a view of the lit tower room, so he had been seeking. He could clearly see that the Suddenly, my friend was awakened by a small walking only several yards, he noticed hidden in tantalizingly close, but still so far. orange light he had observed from outside was bump. Rousing himself from his slumber, he the dimness, a series of steps cut into the rock looked around and quickly realized that the boat leading upward.” was no longer tied to the dock. Somehow, while he was sleeping, it must have slipped loose of its mooring. The bump that had awakened him was the boat drifting ashore on a small stretch of “What did he do?” the child inquired eagerly. “Well, what would you have done?” the man countered. Unexpectedly, he saw the figure of a snow-white emanating from a large ornately carved fireplace. bird glide through one of the windows and alight The fire was happily consuming a healthy supply on a wrought iron torch holder mounted into the of logs and in return was generously spilling out stone masonry. As he looked closer, he realized its warmth and light to all. that the bird was a falcon. The bird momentarily Night Castle gazed at him and then once more took to flight. beach, surrounded by tall sheer cliffs. He could “I would have climbed up those stairs!” With an airborne dancer’s ease, the falcon flew to see no signs of life and the only light was coming “Amazing, because that’s exactly what he did.” the very top of the vaulted ceiling, before arcing from the cloudless night sky. Now, he was really starting to worry. He had The Mountain no idea where he was, let alone how to get back to where he should be. He worried that if he was (Instrumental) not at his base by morning, he would officially (Lieutenant) back down. Her trajectory had the bird flying so close to my friend that he could feel the wind I HAVE BEEN THIS WAY BEFORE from her wings as she turned and flew towards CHECK EACH WINDOW an old tapestry hanging on a distant wall. There EVERY DOOR the bird suddenly disappeared. Running over FOR A PASSAGE THROUGH be declared away without leave, possibly even “The closer he got to the castle, the more to the area, my friend quickly discovered that THIS NIGHT charged with desertion. If he could not find magical it seemed. The walls appeared more at the spot where the falcon had vanished from THIS NIGHT his way back to civilization, his family would massive, the towers more mysterious. When he sight, the tapestry had a fairly large tear and the not know what had happened to him. No one finally reached the top, he saw the castle’s main remaining tapestry concealed nearly all of an BUT EACH HALLWAY would have any idea where to look for him and gate. It had two large stone gargoyles set in the entrance to an upwardly winding staircase. ENDS THE SAME his worst fear was that some might think that he wall above it, keeping silent vigil over this hidden Following the bird as quickly as he could, it had deserted his fellow soldiers, right before they kingdom but more importantly he noticed its was all he could do to keep her in sight as she CHECKED IN VAIN were to go into combat. large drawbridge was lowered, allowing him to flew up various stairways, down halls both long FOR A WAY TO REACH THAT LIGHT Desperately, he looked about for any signs of easily enter its courtyard. Once again, scanning and short, through rooms both large and small. THAT LIGHT life but all he could see was sand, cliffs and the the skyline, he located the lit room and made a Some of the rooms contained sculptures and EVERY DOOR’S BEEN AS I MOVE IN DEEPER TOWARDS THIS CASTLE’S KEEPER Cautiously entering, it took him several my friend asked with a curious voice, ‘How do objects, like the Fabergé Egg in that corner. you know that I’m young?’ But jewels by themselves are only as valuable as EVERY STAIR SEEMS STEEPER moments to take in all that appeared before ‘I heard your footsteps running up the stairs a child’s shiny trinkets. Gold, in too great of a AM I RISKING MY OWN LIFE him. The room was large and circular, lined as you were following Cassandra but when you quantity, can often just weigh you down. But MY LIFE with overstuffed bookcases. Scattered about came in the room you were not out of breath, do you know what is far better than this work the room were piles of manuscripts, antique which means not only are you young, but also of art?’ the old man asked while picking up the THEN A FALCON IN THE AIR scientific devices, compasses, hourglasses and in fairly good physical condition,’ the old man Fabergé Egg. ‘Stories! Stories, that inspire hope, LOOKING DOWN ancient maps. Overfilled trunks gave enticing replied as he set down his pen and turned around creativity, empathy and compassion. Medicines RETURNS MY STARE hints as to their contents. Jewels and gold to view his visitor. ‘And a soldier, as well, I see.’ that heal the sick, forgotten victories of the WHILE SHE’S CIRCLING AROUND coins were scattered about on various tables as AROUND casually as dust and empty ink bottles. Across ‘Cassandra?’ the soldier asked confused by this new name the old man had just mentioned. human mind that used rational thought, logic and reason to triumph over superstition and the room, sitting at a large carved oak desk, was ‘Oh, excuse my manners. We so rarely get ignorance. I knew another man named William THEN SHE DIVES STRAIGHT TOWARDS A an old man with long white hair wearing a red visitors here. My name is Erasmus and this once, whose stories I constantly send out, who WALL medieval cloak who seemed entirely engrossed in falcon is Cassandra, a close friend and trusted wrote “Our faults lie not in our stars but in THEN SHE ISN’T THERE AT ALL what he was writing. Afraid of scaring the older advisor,’ the old man answered motioning ourselves.” And music! Music, the universal AND IS GONE WITHOUT A SOUND man, my friend stood there silently, waiting for towards the bird, that now flew down from her language of God. Music, a language that never NO SOUND the chance to announce his presence. When the perch atop a bookcase and landed on the desk needs translation. It can soothe the afflicted, old man finished what he was writing, he picked next to the elderly gentleman, ‘and one of my bring peace to the tormented and hasten the I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW up the piece of paper and reaching his hand out more dependable helpers.’ healing of wounds both physical and spiritual. WHAT WAS SOLID NOW IS HOLLOW the open window before him, released the paper STAIRWAYS HIDDEN BEHIND CURTAINS to a waiting breeze, which took hold of it and REALIZING NOTHING IS CERTAIN caressed it gently before helping the missive float away into the night. SUDDENLY UP STAIRS I’M CLIMBING Before the completed page was even out of ‘My name is William, sir and if you don’t mind my asking, what exactly do you do here?’ And the best thing about all these treasures that I have just mentioned, is that they enrich the ‘We, my young friend,’ he replied as he smiled person that they are given to, without making and slipped in a wink towards Cassandra, ‘are the the giver any poorer. But enough about me. As keeper of all things lost and forgotten.’ I’ve mentioned before, I see you have decided THEN THROUGH HALLWAYS TWISTED, sight the old man was starting on another. The WINDING Lieutenant, realizing that he might not have a THIS FALCON ON HER ENDEAVOR better chance to alert the castle’s lone resident of DO THESE STAIRS JUST GO FOREVER his presence without startling him, softly cleared Seeing that the soldier was still puzzled, the old ON his throat and in the most non-threatening voice man continued his explanation, ‘Here we collect he could muster, said, ‘Excuse me sir, I don’t the great works of art, stories, music, inventions, ‘Courage? Courage.’ the old man replied mean to intrude but it seems that I’m lost.’ discoveries and ideas that humanity has created as he mulled over the word. ‘Excellent answer, AND IN THAT ROOM ‘Lost and forgotten things?’ ‘Yes,’ the old man reaffirmed, ‘lost and forgotten things, until they are needed again.’ to become a soldier. What would you say is the most important quality for a soldier to have?’ ‘My army instructors said that in battle it is training but I believe that for a soldier the most important thing is … courage.’ However, the old man was not startled. and then lost or forgotten. Here, we keep those courage matters in any battles or fights you face HE’S WRITING NOTES He didn’t even look up from his writing as he treasures safe, until we feel the call from a man, in life, but what matters far more is what you are AND DROPS THEM IN THE AIR replied, ‘Sometimes in our lives, we are all lost woman or child whose pain could be eased or life fighting for.’ young man. The trick though, is knowing that made better by one of these forgotten treasures “And so started his discussion with the wisest SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE there is always a way back.’ Then he casually and then we arrange for these treasures to be teacher, my friend, the Lieutenant, said that he UPON AN OCEAN BREEZE released another page out the window and into discovered again.’ had ever met. He told me that he learned more WHICH TAKES THEM OUT the arms of the waiting wind. AN OLD MAN SITTING THERE PAST WHERE THE EYE CAN SEE Since the old man had still not looked at him, ‘Treasure like gold and jewels?’ ‘We do have some things here that contain those in those few hours, than he had in all his days, months and even years at school. They talked on a seemingly endless array of subjects. The had a way of studying history that saw hope and took to build can be lost by a single generation’s During the Dark and Medieval Ages, men used old man had a way of taking many of life’s most infinite possibilities for the advancement and carelessness, insouciance or simple indifference. to look in wonderment upon the Roman ruins complicated questions and capturing the essence happiness of everyone.” In 400 A.D., in the Western Roman Empire, and ponder who were these people that could of the answers in sentences so simple that anyone “How?” the child insisted once again. you could travel thousands of miles, from Petra build these great cities. As late as the 1780s the could understand.” “By not only studying history but by carefully in Jordan, to Bath in Britain, on safe roads, British historian, Gibbon, was so awed by the learning its lessons. Erasmus told him to study through cities with lit streets, sanitation systems, ruins of Roman edifices and structures that no “Like, that in life words matter, but deeds and honor the people that have moved humanity and hot and cold running water. During your one could replicate as late as the 1800s, that he matter far more and the results of those deeds forward. Do not dwell on the monstrous journey you could stop in the city of Rome itself, was inspired to write, ‘The Decline and Fall of matter the most. Before you follow men who injustices done by humanity to humanity, since crossing rivers on bridges so well built that they the Roman Empire.’ tell you to destroy something, make them the dawn of mankind, more than you study are still in use to this day. Roman engineers, Erasmus told my friend that in truth there show you something that they have built that is how these wrongs and injustices were corrected. invented concrete, discovered the secrets of are only two types of humans; those of good better. It is far easier to destroy than to create. The study of the individuals and civilizations building archways and domed ceilings. They will, who care about others and those who care For example, it takes thousands of skilled, hard that overcame these evils is the key to mankind had already started to develop the steam engine, only about themselves. The latter like to divide working individuals to build an ocean liner but moving forward. Also, judge individuals, nations but by 475 A.D. it had all collapsed with the the world into us and them. But in the truly great any idiot with a stick of dynamite can sink it. All and civilizations by the times in which they abdication of the Emperor Romulus and the battles of humanity, you fight for everyone or you he has really proven is that he can accomplish existed. It is easy to criticize the child labor of breakup of Europe among the warring barbarian fight for no-one. something that any large chunk of ice floating in the industrial revolution, just as it will be easy for tribes. All the great libraries were destroyed, the Beware those who profit and thrive on chaos, the water can do without even trying. Power, like our descendants to criticize our destruction of aqueducts and coliseums fell into disrepair and anarchy and hatred. Beware of men who twist money is important, but what is more important the earth’s forests, despite the warnings of places humanity would have to go through centuries the truth or accuse the innocent scapegoat is how you get it and then what you do with it. like Easter Island. People who lived in the past of darkness, where life would be, ‘short, harsh without proof, so they may more easily seduce Loyalty is important, but who or what you are are responsible for the past. We are responsible and brutish.’ the gullible, ignorant and desperate to follow loyal to is far more important. Trust, have faith, for now and the future. The unique magic of Humanity would not reach the standard them. Good, spreads its ideas by persuasion and but check the facts because sometimes something being human is that, “if we listen to our better of living that it enjoyed under Rome until over reason, and if it makes a mistake, reason and that was true today will not be true tomorrow. angel” we have the ability to leave the earth a thirteen hundred years had passed. Among the logic cause it to change its path, while evil will And do not ignore inconvenient facts. Beware of better place than it was before we were born. many catalysts of this rebirth, was the rediscovery always cling desperately to its lies. Evil usually “Like what?” the child asked. any individual or ideology that claims to have all To achieve that, one must always be aware of and development of the steam engine which needs the sword to spread its ideas and often can the answers but does not tolerate any questions. evil. Evil comes in many disguises; nationalism, brought about the beginning of the Industrial be stopped by no other way. Jonas Salk did not Beware anyone who espouses the belief that all religion or ethnic and class differences. Quite Revolution in the 1850s. But Rome, like all great have to threaten mothers to use his polio vaccine. your troubles and failures are the fault of others, often it has a brilliant mask and a voice that mixes civilizations, was not an area of land, a population No-one needed a gun to force people to use though such an individual will never lack for a little truth to help distract from its myriad of of a certain peoples, tribe, ethnicity or religion. Thomas Edison’s electric light, John Harrison’s followers.” lies, but in the end, evil’s deeds always force it It was a set of ideals that were constantly being sea clock, Cai Lun’s paper, Guttenberg’s printing to reveal itself. Evil, can also be unbelievably re-evaluated and improved upon. press or Louis Pasteur’s pasteurization. Beware “How did the old man know all these things?” the child inquired. patient, therefore, good and civilization must The improvement of the health and happiness governments that use armies, police and walls “My friend said it was because the old man be ever vigilant. History has too often shown of all humans came step-by-step, using God’s gifts to keep their own citizens contained and silent. studied history! History is the fascinating story that civilizations are at their most vulnerable the of logic and reason, tempered by compassion. And most importantly, like Thomas Edison, of man repeating the same mistakes over and longer they have peace and prosperity. Its citizens, The descendants of the barbarians that destroyed Andrew Carnegie or George Orwell, if you over again. The same mistake, so many times, that had inherited its bounty, then tend to forget Rome, marveled at its ruins for centuries, and do make a mistake in your life, announce it as that many people see only despair and sorrow the sacrifices and efforts their ancestors gave to strived to figure out a way to put back together, loudly as your triumphs, so that others do not in the future. But my friend said that Erasmus get them there. What a thousand generations what they had in their ignorance destroyed. have to make the same errors. Erasmus and my friend could have easily talked handed him a small sealed wooden box about the all night but then a clock in the room chimed size of a fist. ‘I want you to open it when you are the hour, causing the Lieutenant to suddenly rise the most worried and scared that you think you from his seat. ‘My God,’ he exclaimed in a near will ever be.’ panic voice, ‘how am I going to get back to my base?’ Momentarily distracted, he turned the box over in his hands and could hear something ‘Well, how did you get here?’ Erasmus calmly inquired. ‘I fell asleep in a small fishing boat that must have become un-moored and I awoke when it ran aground on the beach below.’ ‘Then I think the best plan would be to get back to that boat. Cassandra, will you please lead the way?’ rattling inside of it. ‘How will I know when that will be? Because right now sure seems like a contender.’ ‘Don’t worry, you’ll know.’ ‘Provided I get out of here, I’m heading directly into a combat zone. Do you think it should be before my first battle?’ ‘Don’t worry, you’ll know.’ As if she had been anticipating the request, ‘Well, sir, if I’m not back at my base by the falcon quickly spread her wings and within tomorrow morning this box will be opened in seconds was out the door with Erasmus and less than twelve hours.’ He then slipped the the Lieutenant following closely behind. The small box into his jacket pocket and said, ‘But unlikely trio made their way back through the I do thank you, it is very kind.’ Once again the myriad of halls and rooms of the castle and the Lieutenant looked across the night ocean. He Lieutenant marveled at the effortlessness of the then sat down on the pile of sails and nets in elderly man’s ability to keep up with Cassandra’s back of the small boat and sighed in frustration. swift flight. Moments later, as they were passing ‘How am I going to get to tomorrow?’ through the clock room, he could have sworn that the clocks ceased their ticking when Erasmus ‘I have found that often the safest way to reach tomorrow is sleep,’ Erasmus replied. entered, and resumed as he exited, but decided ‘I appreciate the words sir, but now is not the that his mind was playing tricks on him. Before time for an esoteric discussion. I need a serious long, they were outside the castle walls, down solution.’ the cliff steps and standing beside the vessel that ‘But I am offering you a serious solution was still aground on the beach with Cassandra young man. I mean no disrespect, but humor me perched atop the mast. for a moment. Lie back against the boat’s side, Gazing at the endless span of ocean before close your eyes and tell me what you see.’ them, the Lieutenant exclaimed sarcastically, The Lieutenant relaxed against the side of ‘Great! This is just great! How on God’s earth am the boat, closed his eyes and after several seconds I going to make tomorrow morning’s roll call?’ said, ‘I see nothing.’ ‘Stay calm Lieutenant. There is always ‘I know you think that you are answering a solution to everything. But if you don’t truthfully but I do not quite believe your answer mind, first I’d like to give you a little gift as a is correct, so if you will tolerate me a little longer, remembrance of our meeting.’ The old man then let us try once again from a different angle. What do you see with your ears?’ The Lieutenant smiled wryly and replied, ‘I see nothing with my ears, sir.’ ‘Ahh, now that, I believe, so please, once more close your eyes and tell me what you see.’ The Safest Way Into Tomorrow By this point in the war, the Communist LETTING SLEEP EMBRACE ITS TASK The next morning, the Lieutenant felt himself Khmer Rouge Army, under the command of Pol MORPHEUS IS AT YOUR SIDE being gently awakened by a fisherman asking Pot had already taken control of huge areas of the OFFERING THE WINGS TO FLY him if he was alright. The Lieutenant, realizing country. They enforced their rule by the use of AND BE THERE how hungover and disheveled he must have unlimited fear and terror. Buildings and books, looked, was extremely embarrassed. Forcing both new and ancient were wantonly destroyed. FREE FROM EARTH TO SAIL ACROSS THIS his mind out of its slumber, he apologized for Not only were captured Cambodian soldiers SLEEP NIGHT having used the man’s boat as a bed to sleep off executed but also countless innocent civilians. DON’T TURN AWAY WHERE the previous night’s over-indulgences. The boat’s Men, women and children were lined up in fields YOU ARE THE SAFEST WAY INTO STARS ARE ALL ETERNAL AND THE MIND owner reassured him that it was perfectly alright and slaughtered by being clubbed to death with TOMORROW DARES but since the Lieutenant still looked a little a metal bar. This method was used because Pol shaken, once again, asked if he needed any help. Pot and his minions did not believe in wasting a PLACING SADNESS IN THE PAST (Erasmus) DREAMS THE EVENING SIGHS ‘No, no, I’m fine,’ the Lieutenant insisted. bullet on them. Fathers were executed in front of IF YOU WILL STAY SO CLOSE YOUR EYES ‘I had a little too much to drink last night, and their families, mothers in front of their children OR AT LEAST THE BEST PARTS LET US AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE had the strangest dreams you could ever imagine and children of any age in front of their parents’ with castles, a strange old man and a falcon corpses. Sometimes, the condemned were forced called Cassandra.’ to dig their own graves but more often than not, BORROW BE THERE DAYS ARE COUNTED ‘TIL THEY’RE GONE BE THERE NIGHTS ARE MEANT TO CARRY ON BE THERE MORPHEUS IS AT YOUR SIDE BE THERE NOW OFFERING THE WINGS TO FLY The fisherman laughed, ‘Must have been quite a night. What were you drinking?’ they were just left on the ground, creating acres and acres of dead bodies that would later become ‘I wish I could remember that as well as the known as the ‘Killing Fields.’ When once asked dream. But speaking of remembering, you don’t to give mercy to a mother and her children, Pol AND BE THERE THE EVENING SIGHS happen to know where the bus to the military Pot replied ‘To keep you alive is no benefit and FREE FROM EARTH TO SAIL ACROSS THIS SO CLOSE YOUR EYES base stops around here?’ to destroy you is no loss.’ NIGHT AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE WHERE STARS ARE ALL ETERNAL AND THE MIND The Lieutenant relaxed a little more into the ‘Couldn’t be closer soldier; just follow the Within his very first day on patrol, the dock to the end where you’ll see a small hotel. Lieutenant and his platoon attacked a squad The bus stops right in front of it.’ of Khmer Rouge soldiers who were executing DARES folded sails and netting. As he was closing his eyes The Lieutenant thanked the man for all his a group of farmers. Having the element of THE EVENING SIGHS he thought he saw Erasmus step back, raise his help and started down the dock while trying to surprise, they quickly won the small skirmish SO CLOSE YOUR EYES cloaked arms outward and then pull them back as smooth the wrinkles out of his uniform. As he and ended up with two enemy prisoners whom AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE if beckoning the tide to come in. Ever so subtly, neared the hotel he felt something in his jacket he interrogated before having them helicoptered he felt the boat gently re-floating on the rising pocket. Reaching in, he came to a complete stop to a prison camp. From these prisoners he SLEEP water and before he could open his eyes to answer as he pulled out a small, sealed, wooden box. learned that according to the Khmer Rouge’s DON’T TURN AWAY Erasmus’ question, he had fallen into a deep sleep, Five minutes earlier, he was certain that it all was policy, it seemed that anything justified the YOU ARE THE SAFEST WAY INTO where dreams, like oceans, have their currents that a dream, but if it was a dream, where did he get murdering of civilians. If they were followers of TOMORROW will take you where they will. the box and what was in it? He was just about any religion, kill them. If they were educated, Mozart And Memories to break it open, but then, recalling Erasmus’s kill them. If they were Thai, teachers, doctors, instructions, he returned it to his pocket and wore glasses or jewelry, kill them. Even if they continued on his way back to his unit. Three believed in a form of communism different than days later he was in the jungles of Cambodia. their own, kill them. And kill, did not only mean DREAMS IF YOU WILL STAY AND CAREFULLY ERASE THE SORROWS (Instrumental) the individuals involved alone, but their family, near the Thai border, where there were reports of was just touching down. One by one they piled AND YOU FIND YOURSELF EMBRACING friends and sometimes even their entire town an enemy build up. The Lieutenant was a little in as the Lieutenant covered their withdrawal. GROUND or village as well. But the thing that shocked more nervous on this patrol because several of As he scanned the jungle, a figure appeared in him the most about his prisoners, was not only his men were new recruits and he would have his sights, but since the figure was bending over AND YOUR FOE IS AS NEAR were they not ashamed of what they had done, to keep a keen eye on them as they learned the a wounded enemy soldier, he delayed pulling AS THE SILENCE YOU HEAR but that they had been photographing every ropes. He would have to teach them in the field the trigger, thinking that he might be a medic. AS HE STOPS TO LOAD IN ANOTHER killing, including infants, as if they were truly how to move silently; to recognize the signs of In that moment of hesitation, a mortar round ROUND convinced that what they were doing was so buried landmines, trip wires and most of all that exploded, riddling his body with shrapnel as it noble that it needed to be recorded for posterity. silence in the jungle is usually a foreshadowing of threw him to the ground. Raising his head he BATTLES RAGING It was as if an entire population had been led by an impending ambush. saw that all his men were already safely airborne IT’S ALL STAGING a handful of madmen, into a collective insanity, Intelligence had informed them that a new except for the few on the last helicopter which ‘TIL YOU REALIZE… so surreal, that it would cause any outsider to enemy build up had just begun and they would was waiting for him. Seeing that he was hit, his ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN DIE doubt their own senses. Doubt whether they be dropped off by several Huey helicopters right sergeant was about to get out to try to get him were awake or asleep within the clutches of a after nightfall. The insertion went off perfectly, aboard. The Lieutenant, knowing how badly he STILL YOU KNOW THEY’RE OUT THERE horrible nightmare. But they were awake and but within minutes of the last Huey departing, was wounded, knew that there was no way that FEEL THEIR EYES, FEEL THEIR STARES the monsters within this nightmare had only just his platoon started taking fire from all sides. his sergeant could get him on board before the THOUGH THERE’S NOT A SINGLE LIFE begun their conjuring. Realizing that they had been dropped right in the enemy would take out the Huey. Making eye CAN SEE For the rest of his tour of duty, the Lieutenant middle of an entire enemy regiment, he radioed contact with the pilot, he signaled him to take would witness an evil so confident, it needed no his situation back to base and then started off. The pilot gunned the engines taking the BUT YOU NOW FIRE BACK mask. This was not war, this was genocide. The moving his division towards a pre-designated helicopter and his men safely into the sheltering FOR THEIR TRACERS LEAVE TRACKS civilians he found dead were not killed by the landing zone where, the Hueys would extract his arms of the night sky. POINTING OUT THE PLACES WHERE THEY collateral damage of a battle but by deliberate platoon. calculated murder. With his staff sergeant leading the way, the Month after month went by as he and his Lieutenant, who usually took point, instead took troops were helicoptered to the areas where they the rear guard position. With mortar shells and were most needed. The fact that he and his men RPGs exploding all around them, he had to keep were making a difference, kept him going. That the new recruits from freezing and becoming an and the talks he would have with his wife by radio every time they were back at base. He and his MUST BE Another Way You Can Die THOUGH A GUN IS TAKEN OUT THERE’S ANOTHER HAVE NO DOUBT (Lieutenant) AND SO YOU MUST CONTINUE THE GAME easy target. Machine gun tracers glowed eerily SO YOU’RE CAUGHT IN THE NIGHT AND YOU KNOW IN THIS FIGHT as they clipped pieces of foliage or lodged in OF A NEW FIREFIGHT THAT THE VALUE OF LIFE men knew they were not saving the world, but tree trunks with a thud. ‘Fire and move!’ the IN A JUNGLE THAT’S SO HOT THAT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS NOT QUITE THE each life they did save, counted. Every murderer Lieutenant screamed, as he yanked a frightened STEAMS SAME he stopped not only saved a life but made other private who was just about to dive into a murderers sleep a little less easy. They made sheltering ditch. When the private still hesitated, AN EXPLOSION JUST AHEAD BATTLES RAGING other murderers know that there were men out he kicked aside some leaves at the bottom of DOES ANNOUNCE THE NEWLY DEAD IT’S ALL STAGING there, who would not look away, and even more the ditch, revealing sharpened punji sticks. IS IT RIGHT TO CALL A NIGHTMARE A AS YOUR MIND DENIES importantly, would confront them. ‘It’s a trick as old as Julius Caeser, now move!’ DREAM ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN... The Lieutenant was two weeks short of Seeing the death he had just avoided, snapped completing his year on the front lines when he the soldier back to reality and he started running AND THE TRACERS PROBE ON I SEE A FIGURE IN MY RIFLE SIGHT was ordered to take a platoon deep into the jungle rapidly towards the clearing where the first Huey ‘TIL A CLOSE FRIEND IS GONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW THAT HE’S THERE warning, his cell door unexpectedly swung open. called my wife and she had told me that she was A man wearing the uniform of a communist pregnant. The child was born a little less than officer entered catching the Lieutenant off half a year ago and I now know that I will never guard while writing in a loose-leaf book he had live to see my child. This may seem odd to you, MY HEART IS RACING salvaged from a junk pile. For a pen, he was using but most American men dream of having a kid to TIMES ESCAPING a sharpened stick that he would dip in a small jar throw a baseball with, take to their first New York AS I FEEL IT SLOWLY SCRAPING BY that contained a mixture of charcoal and his own Yankees game. A child to hold and just watch blood, forming a fairly decent ink. Of course, all grow up as we get to know each other. Since of this was forbidden and was cause enough for the day of my capture, I realized that my child instant execution. and I would never meet, but I found a bunch of AND AS I HESITATE TO TAKE HIS LIFE THE GROUND EXPLODES MY BLOOD IT FLOWS Toccata – Carpimus Noctem (Instrumental) Night Castle – Part II Weak from loss of blood, he saw a gathering of shadows cautiously approaching him. When they realized that he was too shot up to be a threat, the enemy gathered around him and The Lions Roar started to search his pockets and knapsack. Suddenly, the Khmer Rouge soldiers, all stood (Instrumental) up and looked to the east, where they could see The Lieutenant recognized the man old notebooks in a trash pile and I took them. I as General Tran-Do. He had been briefed always imagined myself making up fairytales that about him numerous times since his arrival I would tell my child at night, but since I now in Indochina. Tran-Do had been involved in know that is not to be, I came up with a crazy the Indochina war for many years and had a plan. I decided that I would write fifty short two Huey helicopters approaching, followed by The Lieutenant remained a prisoner at the reputation as a formidable front-line officer. The fairytales, and as each one was finished, I would the distinctive silhouette of an AC-130 Spectre Khmer Rouge camp for over two months. From Lieutenant had seen him at various times giving place my wife’s name and address at the end, roll Gunship giving suppression fire with every the first day he was constantly interrogated for orders throughout the camp but never had any it up, put it into one of the countless Coca-Cola weapon it possessed. The Lieutenant’s men had military information but would never tell them direct contact with him. bottles in the trash pile, seal it with tree bark and not given up on him. anything beyond his name, rank and serial Towering over the prisoner sitting on the then drop it into the stream which I know runs Realizing the massive firepower that would number. During that time, he never received floor, the Communist General demanded to into a river, that runs into the ocean. Perhaps, I soon be raking the jungle as the Hueys and AC- any medical care for his numerous wounds that know what he was doing. The Lieutenant, who thought, with a little luck, a few of those bottles 130 Spectre Gunship tried to rescue the American were steadily getting worse. He believed that the at this point was aware that he was close to death might make it to my family. I may never get to officer, the enemy soldiers grabbed each of the only reason he was not executed was the Khmer’s and that answering the General’s question would teach my kid how to play baseball, but if even Lieutenant’s limbs and started running for the hope that he might reveal something useful give away no military secrets, risked nothing by one of these letters gets back, my child might feel safety of the jungle canopy where their camp was before he died. With the infections that were telling the truth. ‘I just finished a story I was like we’ve met and got to know each other in hidden. Every second they were running with spreading unchecked around the shrapnel still in writing.’ our own way. I’ve already completed and slipped the Lieutenant’s bleeding body brought him his body, he was also aware that his death, was at unimaginable pain and every second seemed to best, only days away. ‘What type of story?’ the General snapped back. forty-nine into the stream. The one in your hand is number fifty. The last and final one.’ last an eternity. There seemed to be an infinite During his time in captivity, he learned to number of those seconds. Rockets and artillery cherish the night, for since the camp had no shells exploded both far and near, until finally, electricity, his captors tended to leave him alone Slightly taken aback by the answer from a deal about American military codes. If your the Khmer Rouge soldiers arrived at a barbed wire in his cell. It was also at night, that a cool breeze prisoner that his best interrogators could get wife was pregnant you could have asked for compound. Finally, feeling safe, they dragged his from a nearby stream somehow made its way nothing out of beyond his name and rank, the compassionate leave. They would have allowed body into a solitary bamboo hut and dropped through his small window and removed the General reached down and snatched the pages you to return home to see your wife and child.’ him on the floor. The last thing he remembered stifling heat that tormented him throughout from his hand. A quick glance confirmed that it ‘That is true. My wife and I did discuss it, was the fading sound of helicopters as they gave the day. Night, became his friend and was fairly was indeed a fairytale. ‘And why would you be but we decided that she was safe, as would be up the search and returned to base. dependable at keeping his captors away, but on doing such a thing, prisoner?’ our child. While here, defenseless women and this night, things would be different. Without any ‘It’s a fairytale called, “The Dreams of Fireflies.”’ ‘About a year ago, when I was back at base, I Tran-Do stared intently at his prisoner. ‘Your story does not make any sense. I know a great children are being murdered so casually that someone needed to help save them. If not the PX and bought a leather Spalding baseball to IN THE SAFETY THE NIGHT TO DO me, who? If in America, an insane group of stay in practice.’ OF THIS DARKNESS AS THE DARK STEPS ASIDE AS IT HIDES ALL WITH THE HOPES WE CONFIDE individuals took control of the country, killed The General smiled and mentioned how me and were going to murder my family, I would several of his officers had argued for hours about TIME HAS TARNISHED AND NEVER BELIEVES hope that someone from another area of the that baseball and its possible significance when THE FORBIDDEN THAT THE DREAMS WE CONCEIVED world that had not slipped into the clutches of they found it among the Lieutenants possessions. UNFORGIVEN WOULD EVER insanity and evil, would come and protect them. Tran-Do then asked why he had gotten married ARE SECURE HERE WHERE NO-ONE NOT EVER COME TRUE So together, my wife and I decided that I would and had a child if he knew that he was going PURSUES try to finish what I had come here to do.’ to volunteer for such a dangerous assignment. AS YOU STAND ALL ‘You did not need to come here to protect The Lieutenant said that he had felt unusually BUT THE NIGHT FADES AWAY ALONE AT YOUR STATION anyone. Protection of all Southeast Asians is our blessed to have been born into the safety of the AND GIVES WAY TO THE DAY WHAT IF GOD DOESN’T intent, our purpose.’ Tran-Do shot back. world of Western Civilization, but many are FOR WHAT ELSE IS THE NIGHT TO DO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ‘A friend of mine, Erasmus, once told me not. So, he decided that he would devote twenty AS THE DARK STEPS ASIDE AS YOU SEND OUT YOUR that there is the morality of intentions and the years of his life to joining the military and try WITH THE HOPES WE CONFIDE PRAYERS FOR SALVATION morality of results. The fields all around us are his best to make the world a better place. After AND NEVER BELIEVES BUT AFRAID THAT filled with dead women and children with their that, he thought he would retire from the army, THAT THE DREAMS WE CONCEIVED THEY DON’T GO THAT FAR skulls caved in by iron axle rods. Your intentions meet some nice girl, get married and raise a WOULD EVER sir, differ from your results.’ wagonload of kids. But true love cares naught NOT EVER COME TRUE ‘They could have been killed by your American bombs.’ ‘Bombs, sir, do not tie women’s and children’s hands behind their backs before killing them.’ ‘Who is this man, Erasmus? A U.S. officer?’ The Lieutenant laughed and then recounted all he could remember from his encounter on that faraway night. He even included the part about the box Erasmus told him not to open about the plans of humans and will appear when it decides. ALONE IN YOUR DARKNESS IS LIFE DIFFERENT THERE’S A TRAIN THAT DRIVES ON AFTER MIDNIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH ITS NEW DAWN AND IF EVERYONE’S AND ITS NEW LIGHT ON IT EXCEPT US and fallen in love in his last days in New York City INCONSISTENT WOULD IT RETURN FOR right before his deployment overseas. AND INDIFFERENT THAT SINGLE LIFE Dreams We Conceive TO THE THINGS (Lieutenant) AS YOU STOOD THERE NEATH THE HALO IN THE NIGHT AIR OF A STREET LIGHT ‘Where did you meet your wife?’ Tran-Do queried. The Lieutenant then told him how they had met WE WERE SO SURE WE KNEW until he was the most afraid he thought he would ever be. SO YOU WAIT ALL IN A CITY AFTER MIDNIGHT Tran-Do, then inquired if he had opened it during his first battle. The Lieutenant smiled IN A CITY WITH SUCH BEAUTY and shook his head no, and replied, ‘I opened it AFTER MIDNIGHT THAT THE STARS STARED back in Phnom-Penh when I was waiting to hear NEATH THE HALO FROM THEIR DISTANCE had one night alone together as newlyweds, it if my child was born safe and healthy.’ He explained that even though they only OF STREET LIGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT seems one night is sometimes all you need. As ‘What did this box contain?’ WHERE THE DREAMS DIE LIKE A DREAM you know, it was barely two months later that he ‘Believe it or not, just a simple wind up music AS THE BLOOD DRIES THAT NO-ONE COULD REFUSE got the call telling him that he was going to be a box that played a piece by Bach. But it did help ON THE WOUNDS WE KEEP HIDDEN FROM BUT THE NIGHT FADES AWAY father. At this point, Tran-Do could see that the keep me calm until I received the good news; ten VIEW AND GIVES WAY TO THE DAY telling of his story had exhausted the man and FOR WHAT ELSE IS the Lieutenant slowly slid down the wall to the toes, ten fingers, and healthy. I went right out to floor, where he passed out from exhaustion. Tran- himself as being so enlightened, convinced THAN YOURSELF. Do, looked down at his unconscious prisoner that he was saving the Southeast Asian people, (Son) still worse, he perpetuated the lies to others. and then at the pieces of paper containing the instead, somehow become their executioner? YES, MOTHER. ALWAYS. American soldier’s final fairytale. Walking out of Meanwhile, this imperialist soldier, that he had the cell, he bolted the door and walked towards despised, had left the safety of his world, to come A jet passes by in the distance and the awaited his answer, refused to disappear. So, he the cooking fire burning near the center of the to the jungles of Cambodia, to save and bring apparition of his mother fades away. The child started to put his thoughts into words, and as camp intending to cast the pages in, but for a the most important freedom, the freedom from turns towards Tran-Do in a non-judgmental but he spoke he began to see a possible way out of reason he himself could not explain, he walked fear and death, to people that he did not even puzzled voice. this night. past the fire, to the edge of the compound, where know. (Son) There Was A Life All this time, he was wrestling with a way to answer the question from this apparition of himself as a child. This child, who still silently he picked up an empty Coke bottle. He then In their earlier discussion the Lieutenant had walked up to the little stream that snaked down told him how Erasmus said, ‘In life, you fight for to the river below, carefully rolled up the final the good of everyone or in truth you are fighting The General looked back towards the story, slipped it into the bottle and used a piece for no one.’ Erasmus also believed that in the apparition of himself as a child who neither of a small stick as a cork. Tran-Do then gently end, ‘God would save everyone, even Satan.’ spoke nor disappeared, but only waited for his THERE WAS A LIFE placed the bottle into the stream. Tran-Do, being a communist, was an avowed answer. Forced to examine the actions of his WAS THERE BEFORE atheist but he found Erasmus’s point of view entire life, he tried to figure out at what point BUT SOMEHOW HERE UPON THIS NIGHT most interesting. he had become the person who would murder IT NOW MEANS MORE The General then stood and watched as it slowly started its journey towards the sea, the HOW DID I BECOME YOU? (Tran-Do) green glass glistening in the moonlight. As Now, even though the General was in good an unarmed man whom was only suspected of he watched it drift away, his mind wandered. health, he had gone many days without sleep, not supporting their cause. At what point did he AND ALL THOSE WORDS The American reminded him of himself and lack of sleep can blur the line between reality become a man able to look away when others SHE TRIED TO SAY and that thought alone made him strangely and dreams, the present and the past. So it did gave the order to murder a suspect’s family, I’VE NOW FORGOTTEN uncomfortable. The Lieutenant seemed well not alarm Tran-Do when in the evening mist then murder the entire village? Is not stopping a OR THEY’VE SOMEHOW SLIPPED AWAY educated, idealistic and had joined the military on the banks of the stream, he saw the ghostly murder, when you have the ability to do so, the for similar reasons as he had. To make the world apparitions of his mother and himself as a young same as committing the murder yourself? a better place. boy being taught the ethics of Confucius. Tran-Do had joined this army to make Southeast Asia a paradise for all Southeast Mother And Son Asians, but had instead personally overseen the Initially, as a young man, he had believed the AND IN THIS DARKNESS IS THERE SALVATION men who told him they would have to do these IS THERE FORGIVENESS inhumane acts, but once they had completed FOR HESITATION these evil deeds, they would have created a killing of thousands of innocent people and his (Mother) utopia for all people, for all time. A utopia, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME organization as a whole had killed millions. How REMEMBER WHAT CONFUCIUS TAUGHT, where all would be equal and the world at peace. CAN SOMEONE SAY WHEN had he, who as a child had been so carefully, ALWAYS BE KIND. He now knew it was a lie. The only equality he THE WRITER OF THIS STORY taught the Confucian ideals of compassion by (Son) was bringing the masses, was the equality of WILL JUST TELL US HOW IT ALL WILL END his mother, become part of this? The Lieutenant, YES, MOTHER. death. The only peace they were bringing, was who was dying did not seem to fear death, except (Mother) the eternal peace of the grave. The entire cause AND SOMEWHERE ON THIS NIGHT in how it would affect his wife and newborn. ALWAYS HELP THE WEAK AND THE OLD. this war was being fought for was a lie. He now THERE’S A WAVE ON THE OCEAN While Tran-Do, who was not in any imminent (Son) knew that, just as the men who had recruited THAT CRASHES ON SHORES danger, not only feared death, but now feared YES, MOTHER. I UNDERSTAND. him into “the cause” must have known. But he WHERE NO ONE CAN SEE life and what each new day would require of (Mother) had so much invested in the lie, that he never him. How could he, who had always envisioned AND ALWAYS HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE allowed himself to admit that it was a lie, and THE TIDES AND THE CURRENTS DECIDE EVERY MOTION WHERE NO ONE CAN SEE FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW THE TIDES AND THE CURRENTS TO WHERE THEY WILL BE DECIDE EVERY MOTION FOR THE DAYS TURN TO MONTHS KEEP ME NEAR KEEP ME CLOSE FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW AND THE MONTHS TURN TO YEARS AND IF I SHOULD DIE FIRST TO WHERE THEY WILL BE AS I SEE THEM ALL NOW COULD I NOT BE YOUR GHOST IT CRADLES THEM ALL FOR THEY ALL ARE ITS CHILDREN WELL IT HASN’T COME YET ON THIS NIGHT TAKE MY HAND THROUGH A PRISM OF TEARS IF ONE DROP DISAPPEARS IT CRADLES THEM ALL BUT DON’T FEAR TOMORROW BUT IF LATER IN LIFE IT IS INSTANTLY MISSED FOR THEY ALL ARE ITS CHILDREN AND DON’T FEAR THE NIGHT WE SHOULD HAPPEN TO MEET IF ONE DROP DISAPPEARS IT’S WHERE GOD REPAIRS SORROWS WOULD YOU KEEP ME SO NEAR IT IS INSTANTLY MISSED THAT ENTER YOUR LIFE YOU COULD HERE MY HEARTBEAT IT RETURNS TO THE SEA AND AFTER EACH WAVE THE REMAINS OF YOUR LIFE THERE ARE REASONS TO LIVE FOR THAT IS ITS ONE WISH HAS JOINED UP WITH THE SHORE LINE THE REMAINS OF THE DAY THERE ARE REASONS TO DIE IT RETURNS TO THE SEA WELL PROTECT EVERY HOUR BUT THE END’S NOT THE END FOR THAT IS ITS ONE WISH DON’T GIVE THEM AWAY WHILE YOU’RE STILL ALIVE BUT IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS NIGHT IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT FOR EACH EVENING WE SLEEP ALIVE IT NOW MEANS MORE TELL ME WHAT DO YOU SEE AND EACH MORNING WE ARISE WILL YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES CHILD BUT YOU’RE NOT THE SAME MAN AND JUST LISTEN TO ME THAT’S THE WAY IT’S DEVISED TO SEE THE WATER THERE WITHIN AND REMEMBER THIS NOW FOR THERE’RE PARTS OF YOURSELF A YOUNG CHILD’S TEAR HEAR THESE WORDS THAT I SAY THE SOUL DECIDES TO KEEP THERE WAS A LIFE AS YOUR STORY APPEARS AND THERE’RE PARTS OF YOURSELF WAS THERE BEFORE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THE SOUL DOES RELEASE AND CLING TO THE LIES FOR MY MEETING WITH DEATH WITH SOME CHANGES SO SMALL innocent lives that had been taken, but he could THAT WE HAVE HARBORED THOUGH IT HAS BEEN DELAYED THAT THEY CANNOT BE SEEN quit this army of evil, do no more evil in this I HAVE RUN MY HANDS OVER BUT DEATH IS LIKE SLEEP army’s name and most importantly, he could THE END OF HIS BLADE WITH A LONGER DREAM save the life of this young lieutenant and get BUT IF WE DON’T DO IT NOW THOUGH THE CUT WASN’T FATAL ARE YOU SCARED OF YOUR LIFE he could easily go to the supply hut, take a DEAR GOD COULD YOU PLEASE COME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEEP ARE YOU SCARED OF YOUR DEATH knapsack of food and medicine, release the DOWN HERE WELL THAT WOUND’S NEVER HEALED THOUGH THAT DAY WILL ARRIVE American officer from his cell and get him to AND TELL ME WHEN AND THE BLOOD IT STILL SEEPS WELL IT HASN’T COME YET the Thai border, where he would be safe. He AS FOR ALL THOSE MISTAKES was aware that at dawn, when they realized not AND AFTER EACH WAVE HAS JOINED UP WITH THE SHORELINE THERE WAS A LIGHT WAS THERE BEFORE TO BE SO CLOSE TO BE SO NEAR AND IN OUR BLINDNESS WHILE YOU’RE STILL A… True, he could not bring back to life the DO WE MOVE ONWARD WE COULD NOT ADMIT ALIVE him back safely to his family. It was still dark; WE WERE MISTAKEN AND SOMEWHERE ON THIS NIGHT ARE YOU SCARED OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU’VE MADE IN YOUR LIFE only had the prisoner escaped but the General THERE’S A WAVE ON THE OCEAN ARE YOU SCARED OF YOUR DEATH MUST THEY STAY AS THEY ARE had deserted as well, they would throw as many THAT CRASHES ON SHORES THOUGH THAT DAY WILL ARRIVE OR CAN WE MAKE THEM RIGHT troops as possible into their pursuit. But he had a plan even for that possibility. If that eventuality and the Lieutenant awoke. Pulling himself up SO TIDES THEY MIGHT FOLLOW the floor, in a fetal position. Setting down the occurred, he would send the Lieutenant down a the bamboo wall, the American looked out the AND SOMEHOW FIND THEIR WAY TO THEE knapsack of supplies Tran-Do softly whispered, secret path to Thailand where the Thai border window at the moon, realizing that somewhere guards would immediately take care of him. on this night, his wife and child would be WHAT CHILD voice, ‘Lieutenant, wake up! I’m getting you out Then he would leave an obvious trail to throw looking at that same moon. He had no regrets THIS NIGHT of here!’ the Khmer Rouge off the Lieutenant’s track, about the results of his decision but he regretted WHOSE WINGS even though he knew that his capture would how it might affect his child’s life, the child he TAKE FLIGHT? probably lead to his own death. was still convinced he would never see. He found it strange that the chance of losing ‘Lieutenant, wake up,’ then in a slightly louder When he still did not stir and knowing that speed was essential, the General gently started to lift him up but the Lieutenant’s body was cold ON EVENING and limp. Tran-Do froze as he realized that the WINDS man in his arms had just died. Died so recently WHAT DREAMS that rigor mortis had not even set in. Stunned (Lieutenant) BEGINS? in disbelief, he gently lowered the body back to in genocide. A murderer, not only of lives, but of WHAT CHILD EACH DAY compassion and tolerance. Still, either way, it did THIS NIGHT BEGETS not matter, the die was cast, the Rubicon about WHOSE DREAMS ITS OWN camp and stood on the edge of the cliff that to be crossed and the Lieutenant saved. TAKE FLIGHT? REGRETS overlooked a deep valley that the river had through the slats on the Lieutenant’s cell door WHAT CHILD DO I years. On the rocks below, there were the bones where the Lieutenant was still peacefully SOMEWHERE DARE WAIT of prisoners who had thrown themselves off to sleeping. In the far distance he could hear the SLEEPS OR JOUST escape their Khmer Rouge tormentors. He had falling of B-52 bombs on an area where he knew UNAWARE? WITH FATE? never thought about them before, but now he aircraft fire was filling the sky and a sudden huge WHAT LIFE TIME FLOATS ON the same. His one hope for salvation, the saving secondary explosion let him know that one of THAT YET AS I WRITE THESE LETTERS of this one good man was gone. This man that he the bombs had found its target. The explosions HAS NO THAT YOU’LL NEVER SEE had known less than a day. This man whom he distracted the guards with its impromptu REGRETS? his own life now worried him far less than the Time Floats On possibility that if they were ever to meet again in the future, would the Lieutenant embrace him as a friend, or turn away from him as a participant the earth and leaving the knapsack of supplies Tran-Do walked across the camp and looked behind, exited the cell. He walked to the very furthest part of the carved into the soft rock over thousands of the Khmer Rouge had an ammo dump. Anti- did and he found himself contemplating doing fireworks display which the General used as felt closer to than men he had known his entire STILL EACH ONE’S GONE life. If he was incapable of doing any good in this a perfect opportunity to enter the supply hut WHAT CHILD PLACED IN A BOTTLE world, why not just end his life? This way at the unobserved. But those same distant explosions WHO KNOWS SO THE TIDES THEY MIGHT FOLLOW very least he could do no more evil. also caused the Lieutenant’s dreams to become WHAT DREAMS AND SOMEHOW FIND THEIR WAY TO THEE more fitful. I’VE CLOSED? Moonlight And Madness He looked and wondered but could only hold throw himself into the abyss and end it all. But TIME FLOATS ON himself up for a short while before he once again every time he was about to take that final step AS I WRITE THESE LETTERS slipped to the ground and fell asleep. During into the void, something stopped him. What THAT YOU’LL NEVER SEE that time, Tran-Do had finished collecting the that something was, he could not figure out, necessary supplies and with perfect timing, as he went over and over it in his mind. Who STILL EACH ONE’S GONE slipped across the compound and unbolted the was Tran-Do? The real Tran-Do? Was he the PLACED IN A BOTTLE cell’s door. The Lieutenant was still curled up on innocent child who once wanted to become a (Instrumental) Meanwhile, as Tran-Do was preparing for the Lieutenant’s and his escape, the B-52s faded away As he stood at the edge of the cliff, the weight of the evil deeds from his past urged him to Confucius monk? Was he the idealistic youth SOMEWHERE ON THIS NIGHT who really believed he could change the world A LIFE IS OUT THERE with every neuron in his mind? The youth AND CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW who readily embraced idealism while ignoring YOUNG MEN DIE AND CHILDREN BLEED SOMEONE’S LOOKING TO BELIEVE AND… AND SOMEWHERE SOMEWHERE the reality of human flaws? Was it the officer HERE ON THIS NIGHT SOMEWHERE who oversaw not only the murder of innocent SO FAR AWAY SOMEWHERE SOME HAVE TOO MUCH WHILE OTHERS humans, but the murder of humanity’s saving BITS OF STARLIGHT SOMEWHERE NEED AND graces of mercy, compassion and forgiveness? FALL WHERE THEY MAY AND THE NIGHT AND THE DARK SOMEWHERE Was it the man who was willing to risk his own life to save the Lieutenant or did that even count, I NEVER WANTED TO GO AND THE HOPES AND THE DREAMS since the intention was never achieved? I NEVER WANTED TO STAY AS WE ALL PLAY OUR PARTS Epiphany I NEVER WANTED TO BE AFRAID WHILE IGNORING THE SCREAMS (Tran-Do) (Tran-Do sees himself as a snake oil salesman BUT STILL CHILDHOOD SEES WHAT CHILDHOOD SO WE LIE TO OURSELVES selling the same lies that he was sold in a WILL AND WE JUST CARRY ON carnival barker’s voice.) BUT NOTHING EVER STAYS THE SAME NEVER STOP, NEVER TURN THE SILENCE (In Khmer) DON’T ADMIT WHAT IS … I FEAR THE NIGHT DON’T GO DOES IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY? CAN’T WE HAVE JUST ONE MORE CHANCE? THOSE WHO KNOW COME ONE COME ALL WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S GREATEST I FEAR THE DARK GONE IN TO THIS TWISTED STORY ENTERTAINMENT SINCE THE FALL OF I NEED THIS LIGHT ALL THESE THINGS SO CLEAR BEFORE ME ROME THAT DISTANT SPARK EVERY PATH WE’VE EVER TAKEN LIFE, DEATH CAN’T ADMIT WE WERE MISTAKEN VICTIMS, VOYEURS I KNOW THAT… THE BEST OF SOCIETY IN THIS NIGHT THE LOWEST OF PLEBEIANS OF MY DEVISING AND TO KEEP IT ALL IN EXTREMELY NEVER LIVE INTERESTING, TODAY’S PATRONS SOMEONE’S LOOKING TO DECEIVE AND AND NEVER DYING COULD VERY EASILY BE TOMORROW’S SOMEWHERE EACH ESCAPE ALL COMPLIMENTS OF THE ULTIMATE I’VE NEVER TAKEN SHOWMAN FATE ALL THAT’S MISSING IS THE COLISEUM SOMEWHERE THEY WILL NOT SAY MUST THIS BE THE FINAL… ENTERTAINMENT DANCE IN OUR LIVES? AS TIME JUST MOVES ON YOUNG MEN DIE AND CHILDREN BLEED NEVER DREAM YESTERDAY’S YEARS AND AND NEVER WAKEN… SOMEWHERE SOMEWHERE AS WORLDS FALL APART SOME HAVE TOO MUCH WHILE OTHERS SOMEONE’S LOOKING TO DECEIVE AND DECISIONS ARE MADE NEED AND (Tran-Do turns away from the apparition ARE TOO QUICKLY GONE of himself as a snake oil salesman, and once more looks into the abyss.) ALL VISIONS FADE BUT THERE IN THIS DARK NOW THERE IN THIS DARK NOW SOMEONE’S LOOKING TO BELIEVE AND… DID YOU EVER WALK UP SOMEWHERE SOMEWHERE TO THE EDGE OF A CLIFF STARE INTO THE ABYSS AS YOUR MIND WONDERS IF KEEP ME CLOSE THIS ALL IS YOUR LIFE NEVER REALLY TOOK MUCH ON THIS NIGHT YOUR LIFE YOU SHOULD TAKE ONE MORE STEP NEVER REALLY HAD TO BREATHE MY AIR YOUR LIFE FURTHER INTO THAT NIGHT ONLY HAD A SMALL CRUSH WELL YOUR MIND SAYS YOU WON’T PROBLEM WAS THAT IT GREW BUT YOUR HEART SAYS YOU MIGHT THIS ALL IS YOUR… ON THIS NIGHT HOLD ME TIGHT IS YOUR LIFE NEVER REALLY TOOK MUCH FEEL MY HEART IS YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU FALL THROUGH THE DARK NEVER REALLY HAD TO BEATING THERE IS YOUR LIFE FEEL THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR ONLY HAD A SMALL CRUSH WOULD YOU EMBRACE THE GROUND PROBLEM WAS THAT IT GREW IS YOUR...LIFE ON THIS NIGHT KEEP ME CLOSE Then he recalled how the Greek philosopher, BE WHO YOU ARE ON THIS NIGHT Salon, once said, ‘You can never judge a life ‘til OR WOULD GOD REACH HIS HAND WHAT YOU WERE BREATHE MY AIR it is over,’ and though Tran-Do was only one AND THAT MOMENT YOU FLY WHAT THEY SEE AND END YOUR LIFE RIGHT THERE OR IF HE CHANCED TO BLINK step away from death, as of this moment, he ON THIS NIGHT was still quite alive. If he could not return the AND THEN, THAT MOMENT YOU DIE FROM ETERNITY’S VIEW HOLD ME TIGHT Lieutenant to his family alive, he could still leave YOU DIE TELL ME FEEL MY HEART this army of evil and with some luck, perhaps YOU DIE WHICH ONE IS ME BEATING THERE… make it to America and let the Lieutenant’s wife YOU DIE ... CAN YOU… and child know that though he was dead, he had DID YOU EVER WALK UP died saving others. He was a hero, who had died STARE INTO THE DARK BE WHO YOU ARE TO THE EDGE OF A CLIFF bringing hope to the hopeless and letting those AS THE ABYSS KEEPS CALLING WHAT YOU WERE STARE INTO THE ABYSS who thought the world had forgotten them TRY TO TAKE A STEP WHAT THEY SEE AS YOUR MIND WONDERS IF know that they were not forgotten. FROM ETERNITY’S VIEW YOU SHOULD TAKE ONE MORE STEP prison cell to get the knapsack of supplies. CAN A SINGLE QUESTION TELL ME FURTHER INTO THAT NIGHT Before he left, he arranged the Lieutenant’s JUST GO ON FOREVER WHICH ONE IS ME WELL YOUR MIND SAYS YOU WON’T body and noticed that a small area of the ground BUT THEN THIS ALL IS YOUR LIFE underneath where he had been sleeping looked It was still dark as he slipped back into the BUT THEN THE MIND KEEPS STALLING AS A SINGLE THOUGHT GOES ON IT’S NOW OR NEVER slightly different. The earth in one corner was ON THIS NIGHT KEEP ME CLOSE YOUR LIFE looser, as if something had been buried there. STARE INTO THE DARK ON THIS NIGHT YOUR LIFE Digging into the ground, he discovered a small AS THE ABYSS KEEPS CALLING BREATHE MY AIR THIS ALL IS YOUR LIFE wooden box containing a hand-wound music YOUR LIFE box. YOUR LIFE Bach Lullaby (Instrumental) TRY TO TAKE A STEP BUT THEN THE MIND KEEPS STALLING ON THIS NIGHT HOLD ME TIGHT CAN A SINGLE QUESTION FEEL MY HEART THIS ALL IS YOUR LIFE JUST GO ON FOREVER BEATING THERE YOUR LIFE AS A SINGLE THOUGHT GOES ON IT’S NOW OR NEVER YOUR LIFE ON THIS NIGHT Placing the box in his knapsack, he finished laying out the body and then left, bolting the door behind him. Calling out for the Khmer good fortune. Tran-Do reached a spot where Rouge captain of the guard, he berated him the river turned wide and more importantly the story.” “No, my child, I wish that I could say that I think many of us deserve them. But they do exist and one of them was your father. To give up all for allowing the American officer to die before extremely shallow. There, stranded in the sandy was that dealer, but I am Tran-Do. And you my to save your brother is a noble thing to do but getting more information out of him. He then river bottom of those shallows were the fifty dear, are the Lieutenant’s child.” to give up all to save your enemy… well that showed him the wooden box he had discovered Coca-Cola bottles containing the Lieutenant’s “But that’s impossible,” she answered in a is something I cannot explain. Child, can you in the cell demanding to know how such a fairytales to his child and at the bottom of each shocked and confused voice. “The man’s child forgive me for your father’s death? Could you… large piece of contraband could have gone story was the Lieutenant’s wife’s address in New was a boy. You said that he could not wait to not hate me?” undiscovered. As the guard started to stutter an Jersey, U.S.A. Running about like an excited teach him how to play baseball.” answer, the General cut him off asking, ‘How child, he collected all fifty bottles, removed all The man then reached into his satchel and she tried to take in all she had just learned. As do you know that he did not also have a small the pages and wrapped them in a watertight, took out something which he gently tossed to the tear fell, it landed in the moat surrounding handheld radio? How do you know that he has canvas poncho before resuming his quest. the little girl. She instinctively caught it and saw the sand castle just as a wave from the incoming A tear started to well up in the child’s eye as not radioed our location?’ Once again before It took him many years, but eventually he it was a worn leather baseball. “That is what tide reached the outer ends of the moat, pouring the guard could answer, Tran-Do cut him off arrived in America, only to be disappointed your father wanted to do with you.” He then water in before temporarily retreating back to and sternly ordered, ‘Captain, we cannot afford when the people who were living at the address reached once more into his satchel and took out the ocean. The little girl looked at Tran-Do’s eyes to take any chances. Tomorrow, we move camp he found in the bottles, said that the family had a stack of pages neatly encased in a manila folder and she could see the pain of regret for an act that further up river but tonight you carefully bury moved out quite a while ago and they had no along with a small music box and handed it to cannot be undone. “I don’t hate you sir. I forgive that officer outside this compound. I do not idea where they were. In desperation, he went the child. “These are the fairytales he wrote for you, and I think my mother will too. Come back want his body accidentally discovered by the to Times Square in New York City to search for you and the music box that holds the melody he with me and you can ask her yourself.” Cambodian Army. And Captain, it is only the drug dealer that the Lieutenant had told him listened to the night you were born.” because of your long service that you are not about. He was lucky enough to find that the “No! No, you’ve made a mistake. You have being buried with him.’ “I don’t think I have that kind of courage. I would like to ask, if as a final kindness, you could dealer still resided at the address the Lieutenant the wrong child,” she insisted. “My mom told Knowing that fear of punishment would cause had placed in his wallet. The dealer immediately me that my father is in heaven but his name is his commands to be unquestionably obeyed, remembered the young officer and offered his Bill. Bill Cozier.” the General, then turned and walked back into assistance in finding out where the Lieutenant’s “Bill, little one, is short for William. He was “It’s hard to explain, but sometimes it is easier the camp headquarters’ hut. There he retrieved family might have moved. The dealer enlisted the Lieutenant William Cozier. I’ve been down here to ask forgiveness from a child than a grown-up. the Lieutenant’s dog tags, wallet and a well- aid of a sympathetic policeman who helped him outside your home for nearly a week trying to And besides I have to be leaving now.” worn baseball. Then he slipped out of the camp discover the wife’s new location. Tran-Do now gather the courage to ask for your mother’s and “Where do you have to go?” determined to somehow get to America, find felt he had a real chance of completing his quest your forgiveness but was unable to do so. This “Somewhere there is a castle out there that the Lieutenant’s wife and ask her forgiveness. by asking the Lieutenant’s wife’s forgiveness for night, I built a fire and by its light a sandcastle I have to find.” And after a gentle bow, Tran- He did not know how he would get there and, the death of her husband, a soldier who had gone modeled on the one your father described to Do turned and started walking away along the once there, how he would find her. But he was to a far away land to protect the lives of others. me from when he met Erasmus. Then, by some beach. As the child watched him fade away into At this point in the story, the little girl looked miracle, you appeared. Child, many brave and the darkness, she suddenly realized that she was He slipped out of the camp, following the at the stranger’s black t-shirt with the initials great men over the centuries have fought for the outside the house in the middle of the night and river towards the coastline. The river constantly for New York City printed boldly on the front. safety and freedom of themselves, their families her mother was going to be incredibly angry morphed its appearance on its way to the sea. Slowly standing up, she said in soft but nervous or their fellow citizens. But, men who risk all when she discovered that she had snuck down Sometimes it was wide and meandering and voice, “Sir, you are the drug dealer.” to save strangers, people that they have never to the beach. determined to do it. at other times it narrowed into fast flowing rapids. But it was while following this river on his journey that he received his first piece of “Why would you think such a thing?” he replied while also rising. “Because, only he would know so much of ask her for me.” “But you do have the courage! You asked me.” met, to save men that would have killed them Clutching the box, the baseball and her father’s in a second if they had the chance… where do papers she started running up the sand dune such individuals come from? God knows I don’t stairs. She was running so hard, that she nearly fell when she collided with a beautiful young The man was who he said he was. She had BUT HERE IN THIS NIGHT OF NIGHTS TO THEIR MORNING lady in a white gauze summer dress, on one of known that her husband had died in combat, but WHERE YOUR DREAM CARRIES ON OF DREAMS TO THEIR DAWNING the landings. Helping the child to steady herself, had always hoped that it was quick and painless. NEVER QUITE THERE BUT IT’S NEVER the lady asked, “Where, my little one, are you Now that she knew the entire story, she found QUITE GONE WHILE REACHING FOR MOMENTS running to in such a hurry?” herself talking to her late husband. There was a YOU ARE THE STAR THAT IS WISHED UPON THE WORLD HAS FORBIDDEN “I’m sorry I bumped into you, miss. I have to tenderness in her voice that would cause anyone FOREVER THE KINDNESS INSIDE THEM get back home! I shouldn’t be out this late. I’m in who heard her, to know she was certain that the big trouble!” the girl answered as she continued Lieutenant could hear every word. (Then in a sudden, unexpected, visceral voice, scrambling up the stairs towards the house. Father, Son & Holy Ghost she raged against all those citizens of apathy and THE PAGES KEEP TURNING willful ignorance who lived behind the sacrifices BUT NO-ONE IS LEARNING of others.) THEY FEED THEM TO PYRES “Don’t worry,” the lady answered, “you won’t be in any trouble at all.” “You don’t know my mom!” the girl shouted SO CAREFULLY HIDDEN (Mrs. Cozier) over her shoulder. Moments later she walked into TO STOKE UP THEIR FIRES WE THOUGHT EVIL DEAD her living room where her mother was watching YOU WERE THE DREAM THAT SURVIVED KILLED BY OUR OWN SWORD OF IGNORANCE, APATHY television. When she saw her daughter coming LOST IN THE DARKNESS OF ETERNITY BUT EVIL IS PATIENT FORBIDDING CHARITY in from the outside in her nightgown, her feet all YOU WERE THE HOPE KEPT ALIVE ‘TIL THE FUTURE GROWS BORED THE FLAMES THEY GROW HIGHER covered with sand, holding a bevy of objects, her EMBRACED BY TOMORROWS THAT WE ALL mother leapt to her feet and demanded to know COULD NEVER QUITE SEE where she had been. The child then explained COULD SUCH BE DESIRED DO YOU BELIEVE IN NIGHT DOES IT HOLD YOU CLOSE AND CHRIST AND CONFUCIUS all that had transpired that night and at the end YOU HAD A BEAUTY DENIED WHEN YOU’RE AT YOUR LAST CARD ARE ALL THEIR WORDS USELESS handed her the folder of hand-written fairytales. YOU WERE THE MOMENT PRAY HARD, FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST WE QUOTE THEM IN FRACTIONS STILL THE NIGHT ROLLS ON BUT NOT IN OUR ACTIONS The mother looked at the pages immediately recognizing her late husband’s handwriting. BUT HERE IN THIS NIGHT BRINGS YOU TO YOUR KNEES Dropping the papers to the floor, she told her WHERE YOUR DREAM CARRIES ON WHEN YOU LOOK BACK THAT FAR AURELIUS, AND HUGO daughter to stay inside before running down to NEVER QUITE THERE BUT IT’S NEVER EACH SCAR, SUDDENLY JUST STARTS TO AUDEN AND GIBRAN the beach to find this man that her daughter had QUITE GONE BLEED THE WORDS THEY HAVE WRITTEN told her about. YOU ARE THE STAR THAT IS WISHED UPON When she reached the area around the bonfire FOREVER and sandcastle she could see footprints in the SEEM SO QUICKLY GONE THE NIGHT IT KEEPS BURNING WHILE TWISTING AND TURNING FOR SOMEWHERE THERE’S DIRT sand heading out into the darkness. Just as YOU WERE THE ONE THAT BELIEVED ITS WAY TO TOMORROW THAT WAS ONCE REDDISH MUD she was about to follow his trail, another wave LONG PAST WHEN BELIEF WAS A MEMORY ITS JOYS AND ITS SORROWS FROM SOAKING UP LIQUID from the incoming tide swept the footprints THE CHILD TIME WOULD NEVER away. Realizing that to search for him aimlessly CONCEDE OUR SECRETS BENEATH HER in the dark was useless, she looked back at the FAITH AND TOMORROW AND ALL OF THE WE DRIVE EACH STAKE DEEPER BUT BOTH EARTH AND GOD sandcastle being steadily eroded by the incoming THINGS THAT MIGHT BE THEN OFFER TO BARTER THEY HAVE DEEMED TO FORGIVE BUT EACH DEAL IS HARDER SO EACH YEAR IN THE SPRING waves. But the back tower still stood with a small chain hung around it. She picked it up, and by YOU HAD A BEAUTY DENIED the bonfire’s light, saw that it held her husband’s A GLITTERING MOMENT dog tags. THAT WAS A MAN’S BLOOD NEW FLOWERS DO LIVE THE CLOAKS WE KEEP CHANGING WHILE GLIDING THROUGH WEDDINGS AND OF ALL THE AUTHORS YOUR FAVORITE WAS WILDE alright, with the kind of reassurance that only THERE WAS A TIME WITH EACH TIMELESS STORY a parent can give a child. She sang her a simple NOW LONG BEFORE ALL PENNED WITH SUCH STYLE lullaby and then together they both drifted into WE FOUND A WAY a deep peaceful dream-filled slumber. TO CLOSE EACH DOOR Remnants Of A Lullaby BUT IN OUR MINDS OF FAIRYTALE KINGDOMS WHERE OGRES SAVE CHILDREN AND NO GARDENS HAVE WALLS SO ALL CHILDREN MIGHT USE THEM (Mrs. Cozier) The Safest Way Into Tomorrow (reprise) (Lieutenant William Cozier) THROUGH LABYRINTHS DEEP SLEEP LATE IN OUR LIVES DON’T TURN AWAY THOSE DOORS WE SEEK YOU ARE THE SAFEST WAY INTO AND SINCE THAT’S THE ENDING THERE WAS A TIME YOU VALUED THE MOST NOW FAR AWAY AND IN OUR FANTASIES TOMORROW DREAMS YOU CLING TO THAT CARD THAT NOW BELONGS WE TRY TO, FIND THE KEYS IF YOU WILL STAY TO YESTERDAY FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST OR AT LEAST THE BEST PARTS LETS US REACH THE STAIRS BORROW BUT LATE AT NIGHT FOLLOW THEM DAYS ARE COUNTED ‘TIL THEY’RE GONE IF YOU BELIEVE EACH TO WHERE NIGHTS ARE MEANT TO CARRY ON THERE ARE STILL PARTS FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST MORPHEUS IS AT YOUR SIDE SCATTERED THERE OFFERING THE WINGS TO FLY ON THE GROUND AND BE THERE BEYOND OUR MEMORIES EVERYTHING FREE FROM EARTH TO SAIL ACROSS THIS PAST WHERE THE EYES CAN SEE LOST IS FOUND NIGHT WELL DISGUISED WISHED ON COINS STARS ARE ALL ETERNAL AND THE MIND BUT HERE IN THIS NIGHT WAITING THERE CHILDHOOD WINGS DARES WHERE YOUR DREAM CARRIES ON DREAM DEVISED CAROUSELS THE EVENING SIGHS STILL TURNING SO CLOSE YOUR EYES FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST YOU CAN RETRIEVE FATHER, SON & HOLY... WHERE NEVER QUITE THERE BUT IT’S NEVER QUITE GONE SAFE FROM TIME’S YOU ARE THE STAR THAT IS WISHED UPON ENDLESS REACH WAITING THERE PATIENTLY EVERYTHING REMNANTS OF A LULLABYE A CHILD CAN TEACH AND THEE FOREVER AND SPEND THIS NIGHT WITH ME Outside, the bonfire, though dying down, was still sending small armadas of sparks into the night breezes and in the sky, a lone falcon was WHAT TO KEEP Now, nights and dreams are quite common, WHAT TO SAVE but on this night, Morpheus himself, guided she looked behind her and saw that her WHEN TO DARE both mother and child through the labyrinths of Embers daughter had followed her and had witnessed AN OCEAN’S WAVE Nod, to the exact same dream, where waiting for (Instrumental) Finally exhausted from the cathartic outburst, her breakdown on the beach. Running over, she them both, was one, young Lieutenant Cozier. reached down, picked the girl up and carried THERE AMONG LIFE’S MEMORIES her back to the house. There she held her in her REMNANTS OF A LULLABYE AND THEE arms and promised that everything would be silhouetted against the moon The End After The End It was twenty years later and Lieutenant AS THEIR OWN SO AFTER ALL THOSE ONE NIGHT STANDS BUT WHEN YOU HAD TO ADD THEM UP AS THEIR OWN YOU’VE ENDED UP WITH HEART IN HAND YOU FOUND THAT THEY WERE NOT AND FOREVER MORE A CHILD ALONE ENOUGH FOREVERMORE ON YOUR OWN TO GET YOU IN RETREATING AND PAY FOR SINS Cozier’s daughter was now a young lady, married, with three little girls of her own. It was THEIR early in the summer and the littlest child came CHILD OF THE NIGHT REGRETFUL FOR THE THINGS YOU’RE NOT running up holding a bottle that had just washed DREAMS DARE ALIGHT AND ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVEN’T GOT AND FOR ALL THE YEARS YOU BORROWED up on the shore. She handed it to her mother all NEVER FEAR AND NEVER FALTER WITHOUT A HOME AND FOR ALL THE TEARS YOU HIDE excited because she could see that it contained FOR THE STARS CAN ALWAYS SEE A HEART OF STONE LIES BLEEDING AND FOR ALL THE FEARS YOU HAD TO to dislodge the cork and pull out a single page DREAMS THAT ARE SENT AND FOR ALL THE ROADS YOU FOLLOWED letter. It said, “I have found my castle! Love, WITH THE INTENT AND FOR ALL YOU DID NOT FIND I AM THE WAY Tran-Do.” TO CAREFULLY BE BROUGHT TO LIFE AND FOR ALL THE DREAMS YOU HAD TO I AM THE LIGHT Child Of The Night FOR SUCH IS CHILDHOOD’S ALCHEMY LEAVE BEHIND I AM THE DARK INSIDE THE NIGHT REPEATED a note. Lieutenant Cozier’s daughter managed KEEP INSIDE PRECIOUS AS STARDUST I AM THE WAY I HEAR YOUR HOPES CHILD OF THE NIGHT SUCH IS A CHILD’S TRUST I AM THE LIGHT I FEEL YOUR DREAMS DREAMS DARE ALIGHT AND IN ITS SEASONS I AM THE DARK INSIDE THE NIGHT AND IN THE DARK I HEAR YOUR SCREAMS ANYWHERE YOUR HEART DOES WANDER IN ITS SEASONS KNOW THAT THEY WILL WALK WITH THEE I HEAR YOUR HOPES DON’T TURN AWAY FOR THEY WILL GUARD YOU I FEEL YOUR DREAMS JUST TAKE MY HAND EACH GRAIN OF SAND THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND IN THE DARK I HEAR YOUR SCREAMS AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL STAND FALLS AS WAS PLANNED FOR THEY WILL GUARD YOU AND WITHIN EACH PRECIOUS MOMENT BEYOND THIS NIGHT DON’T TURN AWAY I’LL BE RIGHT THERE JUST TAKE MY HAND I’LL NEVER LEAVE AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL STAND AND ALL I ASK OF YOU ARE THE THINGS STILL YET TO BE THERE NIGHT IN ITS VESPERS AS THEIR OWN DREAMS ARE ITS GESTURES AS THEIR OWN I’LL BE RIGHT THERE BELIEVE STARS FEAR NO DISTANCE AND FOREVER MORE I’LL NEVER LEAVE I NEVER WANTED TO KNOW FEAR NO DISTANCE FOREVERMORE AND ALL I ASK OF YOU NEVER WANTED TO SEE BELIEVE I WASTED MY TIME FOR THEY WILL GUARD YOU THEIR CHILD OF THE NIGHT THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE DREAMS DARE ALIGHT YOUR CHILDHOOD EYES WERE SO ANYWHERE YOUR HEART DOES WANDER INTENSE I NEVER WANTED TO GO KNOW THAT THEY WILL WALK WITH THEE WHILE BARTERING YOUR INNOCENCE ALWAYS WANTED TO STAY Believe FOR BITS OF STRING ‘CAUSE THE PERSON I AM THE GROWN-UP WINGS YOU NEEDED ARE THE PARTS THAT I PLAY FOR THEY WILL GUARD YOU BEYOND THIS NIGHT THERE ‘TIL TIME WASTED ME SO I PLOT AND I PLAN BLACKERBY, BJ RAMONE, SEAN ALEXA GODDARD (CHILD OF THE DANIELLE LANDHERR HOPE AND I SCHEME BURNETT, PETE BISCHOFF & JOSHUA NIGHT) JAMES LEWIS TO THE LURE OF A NIGHT RUZANSKY VALENTINA PORTER (CHILD OF THE TANY LING NIGHT) SANYA MATEYAS FILLED WITH UNFINISHED DREAMS THE BAND: IRELAND WILDE O’NEILL AND I’M HOLDING ON TIGHT PAUL O’NEILL - GUITARS GUIDE VOCALS: VALENTINA PORTER TO A WORLD GONE ASTRAY ROBERT KINKEL - KEYBOARDS BRYAN HICKS (CARNIVAL BARKER IN ANDREW ROSS AS THEY CHARGE ME FOR YEARS JON OLIVA - KEYBOARDS EPIPHANY) BART SHATTO I CAN’T PAY AL PITRELLI - LEAD, RHYTHM GUITARS DINA FANAI (NIGHT ENCHANTED) EVAN SHYER YEAH CHRIS ALTENHOFF - BASS ROBERT KINKEL (NIGHT ENCHANTED) ABBY SKOFF LUCI BUTLER - KEYBOARDS ZAK STEVENS I AM THE WAY CHRIS CAFFERY - GUITARS STRINGS: ADRIENNE WARREN I AM THE LIGHT SHIH-YI CHIANG - KEYBOARDS RODDY CHONG SCOUT XAVIER I AM THE DARK INSIDE THE NIGHT RODDY CHONG - VIOLIN CAITLIN MOE ANGUS CLARK - GUITARS ANNA PHOEBE GOSPEL CHOIR: I HEAR YOUR HOPES JANE MANGINI - KEYBOARDS ALISON ZLOTOW KEITH JACOBS I FEEL YOUR DREAMS JOHNNY LEE MIDDLETON - BASS LOWELL ADAMS LUCILLE JACOBS AND IN THE DARK I HEAR YOUR SCREAMS JOHN O.REILLY - DRUMS KAREN DUMKE NATHANIEL JACOBS ANNA PHOEBE - STRINGS LEI LIU SHELIA UPSHAW DON’T TURN AWAY JEFF PLATE - DRUMS CHIZUKO MATSUSAKA JUST TAKE MY HAND ALEX SKOLNICK - GUITARS SARAH SHELLMAN AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL STAND DEREK WIELAND - KEYBOARDS SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE ON NUTROCKER: DAVE WITTMAN - DRUM, GUITAR BACKUP VOCALS: I’LL BE RIGHT THERE AND BASS INSERTS FOR THOSE LITTLE STEVE BRODERICK I’LL NEVER LEAVE THINGS THE REST OF US FORGOT LUCI BUTLER ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTS: JENNIFER CELLA JEFF ALLEGUE - BASS LEAD VOCALS: BRITNEY CHRISTIAN JAY COBLE - TRUMPET BELIEVE JAY PIERCE (CHILDHOOD DREAMS, THE ROB EVAN ALICIA CRAWFORD - BASS Night Castle SAFEST WAY INTO TOMORROW) DINA FANAI JASON GIANNI - DRUMS TIM HOCKENBERRY (SPARKS, BELIEVE) TOMMY FARESE PETER EVENS - TRUMPET JEFF SCOTT SOTO (NIGHT CASTLE, ALLISON FLOM MAX JOHNSON - BASS ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN DIE, DREAMS TONY GAYNOR TREY TOSH - GUITARS WE CONCEIVE, TIME FLOATS ON, CHRISTIE GEORGE CO-PRODUCED BY - ROBERT KINKEL SAFEST WAY INTO TOMORROW ALEXA GODDARD VIETNAMESE DIALOGUE: RECORDING AND MIX ENGINEER - (REPRISE)) KRISTIN LEWIS GORMAN TRUC XUAN LE DAVE WITTMAN ROB EVAN (THERE WAS A LIFE, ERIN HENRY KHANH ONG ADDITIONAL ENGINEERS - ROBERT EPIPHANY) STEENA HERNANDEZ NHATTIEN NGUYEN KINKEL, KURDT VANDERHOOF JENNIFER CELLA (FATHER, SON & HOLY KELLY KEELING NGA NGUYEN ASSISTANT ENGINEERS - JASON GHOST, REMNANTS OF A LULLABY) ROBERT KINKEL CHILD CHOIR: AND ALL I ASK OF YOU PRODUCED BY - PAUL O’NEILL GREG LAKE - BASS The American Boychoir or contact Spiderwebart Gallery at 973-770-8189 SPARKS (O’Neill) for Korg, Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Litton-Lodal Music Director or email Greg Hildebrandt at greg@spiderwebart.com. THE MOUNTAIN (Grieg, O’Neill, Oliva) Tommy Dougherty for TKL Cases, Richard www.americanboychoir.org All images © 2009 Greg Hildebrandt, all NIGHT CASTLE (O’Neill, Oliva) Coco for Labella Strings, Tony Pinheiro for DR Sparks and parts of Moonlight and Madness rights reserved under the Pan-American and THE SAFEST WAY INTO TOMORROW Strings, Bobby Duncan for Roland Drums, Steve were originally recorded by Slowburn at Electric International Copyright Conventions (O’Neill, Oliva) Riskin for Paiste Cymbals, Derek Wolford and MOZART AND MEMORIES (Mozart, O’Neill, Mike Farriss for Pearl Drums, Valerie Corabi, Ladyland Studios Believe was originally recorded by Savatage for ART DIRECTION & DESIGN – Oliva) Mike Hatzinger for Line 6, Randy Hargis for the Atlantic album “Streets” based on the musical David J. Harrigan III ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN DIE (O’Neill, Akai & Gibraltar Hardware, Bryan Lanser for Gutter Ballet PACKAGING MANAGEMENT – Oliva) Muse Research, Terry Day for D’Andrea Picks, Pamela Simon TOCCATA - CARPIMUS NOCTEM (Bach, Kiersten Holland, Dave Paiva, Mark McKinnon O’Neill) at Cube Services, Steve Lobmeier for D’Addario MANAGEMENTNIGHT CASTLE MANAGEMENT INC. – RECORDED AND MIXED AT: THE LION’S ROAR (O’Neill, Pitrelli) Strings, David Lienhard for Dean Markley Adam Lind / Kenneth Kaplan / Adam Seidel / MORRISOUND STUDIOS - TAMPA DREAMS WE CONCEIVE (O’Neill, Oliva) Strings Endorsements, Steinway Pianos, Dick Josh Ruzansky ADDITIONAL RECORDING AND MIXING: MOTHER AND SON (O’Neill) Boak, Chris Thompson, James Mason for Martin ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS - NYC THERE WAS A LIFE (O’Neill, Oliva) Guitars, Steve Christmas for Gibson Custom BAND ARTIST DEVELOPMENT- SOUNDTRACK STUDIOS - NYC MOONLIGHT AND MADNESS (Beethoven, Shop, Chad Brandolini for Vater Sticks, Marco Dina Finai STELLAR PRODUCTIONS INC. - NYC Chopin, O’Neill, Silverstein) Soccoli, Ben Davies for Vic Firth Sticks TIME FLOATS ON (O’Neill, Oliva) LEGAL REPRESENTATION- SERLING, MASTERED BY: TED JENSEN AT EPIPHANY (O’Neill, Oliva) WE TRY TO ANSWER AS ROOKS, & FERRARA LLP– Nicholas C. STERLING SOUND – NYC BACH LULLABY (Bach) MANY LETTERS AS POSSIBLE Ferrara , ESQ. ADDITIONAL PRE-PRODUCTION FOR FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST (O’Neill, SPARKS AND THE LION’S ROAR: PAUL Caffery) TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA SILVERSTEIN REMNANTS OF A LULLABY (O’Neill, Oliva) P.O. BOX 4018 THE SAFEST WAY INTO TOMORROW GRAND CENTRAL STATION NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, 10163 ADDITIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION MOSES AND SINGER LLP – Avi Skoff, Ross Charap, Paul Fakler, Julie Stark ALL SONGS PUBLISHED BY © 2009 (REPRISE) (O’Neill, Oliva) SMITH, CURRIE & HANCOCK LLP - WARNER-CHAPPELL, BMI EXCEPT EMBERS (O’Neill, Ireland Wilde O’Neill) Phil Beck, Maura Anderson, Debbie Pound Carmina Burana, which is adapted from “O CHILD OF THE NIGHT (Delibes, O’Neill) VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT STEARNS, WEAVER, MILLER, WEISSLER, Fortuna” from Carl Orff ’s CARMINA BURANA BELIEVE (O’Neill) WWW.TRANS-SIBERIAN.COM ALHADEFF & SITTERSON, P.A . - Ron Weaver © 1937 by Schott Music (renewed) NUTROCKER (Fowley) JOIN THE TSO FANCLUB AT This arrangement by Trans-Siberian Orchestra © CARMINA BURANA (Orff ) WWW.TRANS-SIBERIANEXPRESS.COM ACCOUNTING- PRAGER & FENTON LLP – 2007 by Schott Music. All Rights Reserved. TRACERS (O’Neill, Pitrelli, Mangini) Robert Bandman / Alvin Handwerker Nutrocker is published by Kim Fowley Music, BMI A&R - Gregg Nadel Believe is published by MCA Music Publishing COVER AND INTERIOR ART – STORY AND LYRICS BY - PAUL O’NEILL Greg Hildebrandt TSO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL ADDITIONAL LATIN TRANSLATION & THANK YOU TO OUR TOURING CREW PAUL O’NEILL’S LATIN TUTOR – AND VENDORS Dr. Clement Kuehn Elliot Saltzman, David Comeau, Jeff Boguski, TSO ENDORSES -– John Walker and Chris Patrick Whitley, Bryan Hartley, Dan Cassar, For information regarding original Hildebrandt MUSIC BY: Cannella for Jackson/Fender Guitars, David Kenny Silva, Jeff Snider, Carl Acampora, Steve art, please visit NIGHT ENCHANTED (Verdi, Delibes, O’Neill) Ellefson, Hartley and Mary Peavey for Peavey, Roman, Andy Omilianowski, Kyle Sabel, Cris http://www.spiderwebart.com CHILDHOOD DREAMS (O’Neill, Oliva) Matt Masciandaro for ESP Guitars, Evan O’Brien Lepurage, Imy James, Ed Halverson, Ronnie Hise , Eric Gormley & All our crew members, Steve Antonella DiSaverio, Lynne Wakefield, Dione Reichow, Laurian Mohai, Bob Daitz, Fred Ryan, Trinkley, Kathy Shatto & Family, Tina Pediford Trudell for Trudell Orchestra’s and Choirs, Marc Dirito, Alan Rommelfanger, Beth Smith, Gary Michael Johnson, Bo Holst, Joe Mueller, Carly & Family, The Lind Family, The Kaplan Family, Raymond, Burton Tenenbein & John Lunio Gunas, Steve Habl, Kathleen Murphy, Andy Vena, Jennifer Plonski, Peter Farkas, Billy Freed, The Vittone Family, The Rodgers family, The for Epic Technologies, Todd Johnson & Harry Secher, Patti Russo, Gary Muchmore, Raymie Glen Bratcher, Marty Rothchild, Ermy Rosales, Efremov family Witz for Claire Global, Doug Adams,Lorenzo Kopels, Clay Marshall, George Simone, Tom Guy Lavalle, Darryl Sage, Kelly Dunne, Mathew Cornacchia & Fiona Thain for Pyrotek Special Morris, Jim Morris, Ryan Seay, Lee Foster, Kevin Kushner, Tommy Booth, Peter Scher, Chris Rich, An extra special thanks to Colin Egan and Pattie Effects & Laser Design Productions, Bryan E Brennan, Michael E. Uslan, Ken Thornhill, Suzi Zwak, Dan Fasciano, Yan Krainert, Dana Jordan and the Loews Theater in Jersey City may White & Eric Pearce for SGPS / Showrig Inc., Chris Rich, Jeff Thompson, Joshua Dick, Tim John, Laura Donkervoet, Louis DiLorenzo, Nik you never have a final night John Wiseman & Val Daukstes for Chaos Visual Baker, Kid Rock & Bobby Ritchie Jr., Joan Jett, Chinboukas, Bryan Pettibone, Jordan Wolosky, Productions, Jack Calmes & Jimmy Page for Kenny Laguna & Family, Dee Snider & Family, Vinny Fodera, Dr. Lauren Nations and Veterinary Rest In Peace Daryl Pediford, Craig Redden, Syncrolights, Bob Hughes for All Access Staging, Meatloaf, Olaf Schroeder, Steven Lee, Steven Healthcare Associates, Sherff Grady Judd & Anthony Gagliano and Jan Callen Paul Potenza for Potenza Enterprises Inc, Allan Rosenberg, Rita Chan, Maja Pollack, Mary Family and The Polk County Sheriff ’s Office, Thrasher for Wildfire Coach Leasing, Jeremy Efremov, Michael Slav, Nick Efermov, Nicole Michael Moeller, Charles “Chip” Inman, Katie Eternal gratitude to Greg Hildebrandt and Jean Schilling for Road Radios, Lew Blevins for Tour Murawsky, Dante Vittone, Robert Hearn, The Petro, Angie Knipfer, Leslie Stewart, Tesh and Scrocco for turning vaguely descriptive words into Supply, Carol Saltzman for Imperial American Willis Family, Michael Rooney, Higginson’s AC, Tina Nawada, Bradley Bartel, Obama Hlalah, magical works of art Express Travel Services, Tommy Booth for TNT/ Sal Cataldi, Kaitlin Lindsey, Jacky Agudelo, Henry Wilson, Curt Harbsmeier, Judy Scott, Ed Relativity Travel, Justin Carbone for Sound Lou Plaia, Matt Masciandaro & ESP, Tommy Ducar, Glenn Parker This album was written Moves, Sue Pye & Marc Metzger for Tourcats Dougherty at TKL Cases, Todd Confessore, Catering, Marc Gratton for Most Excellent Catering Mark Weiss, Lewis Lee, Bob Carey, James Griffin, ABOVE AND BEYOND for Desiree and Ireland SPECIAL THANKS Guy Cerrito, Vic Cipullo and the New York Edgar Bronfman Jr, Lyor Cohen, Craig Kallman, Adam Lind, Kenneth Kaplan, Adam Seidel, Josh City Police Department, Courtney Kuhnz, Dr. Julie Greenwald, Livia Tortella, Sam Schwam, Ruzansky, Elliot Saltzman, Nick Ferrara esq, Clement Kuehn, John Falenki, The Beasleys, Pete Ganbarg, Gregg Nadel, Margo Scott, Jack Dina Fanai, Robin Lewis, Larry Greer, Debby Fred & Shanta Weiss, The Ortiz Family, DL McMorrow, Larry Alessandrini, Matt Engelman, Diamond, Jozef Sabovcik, Scott Shannon, And Marilyn Livinston, Mr. and Mrs. T Bob Adam Abramson, Jonathan Feldman, Camille Todd Pettengill, Mason Dixon, Bill Louis, Dave and Julie Wilson, The Bohannon Family, Henry Hackney, Sheila Richman, Dan Grossman, Jockers, Jon Zellner, Pat Martin, Cornel Bogdan, Wilson, Curt Harbsmeier, Judy Scott, Ed Ducar, Paul Sinclair, Geraldine Chung, Eric Snowden, Tony Gates, Brent Alberts, Doug Podell, Charlie Glenn Parker, The Julianos, Patricia Meyer, Amanda Alferi, David Saslow, Jason Pleskow, Lake, Jon O’Dea, Kevin Vargas, Ken Payne, John Gloria & Herbert Jones, Margaret Britt, David Kevin Weaver, Sharon Master-Cohen, Craig Cooper, Byrd, Bob Buchman, Keith Hastings, Clement, Jackie Folcom, Larry Collier, Vicki Rosen, Vicky Camera, Liz Barrett, Pamela Simon, Scott Schubert, Tom Hanrahan, Jay Nachlis, Schrock, Connee Mac, Libby Gonzalez, Michelle Pam Natale, David Harrigan This album is dedicated to: Lance Graham Angela Dawson Keshia Thomas Sempo Sugihara John Rabe Dirk Willems and the countless others like them Mark Edwards, Brent Johnson, Smokey Rivers, Counter, Josie Montelenoe, Marcie Dershimer, Bob “Kelly” Kelleher, Jules Belkin, Michael Sue Ramer, Mike and Linda Fuqua, Bo and Larry FAMILY THANKS © 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA Belkin, Barry Gabel, Randy Henner, Jack Orbin, Razzano, Katlynn Messmer, The Purvis Family, The O’Neill Family, Charlotte Callen & The International Inc. for Canada and Mexico. All Rights Reserved. A Warner Neil Jacobsen, Dave Chesler, Scott Zeiger, The Robinson Family, Kathy Marks, The Green Callen Family, Eliza Green, Oliver & Gretchen Music Group Company. Printed in U.S.A. 520271-2 Miles Wilkin, Tom Bennett, Felix Sebacious, Swamp 4-H Club, Imperial Polk Obedience Kinkel, Barbara Bronkie, Robert Kinkel Sr., Ute Linhart, Bryan Hartley, Marc Geiger, Club, June Lyness, Jane Mendleson, Carlton Kathy & Nicholas Oliva, The Oliva Family, The paper content of this product contains a minimum of 30 percent post- Mike Rosenfeld, Carol Thornhill, Edgar Jerins, Music, Carolyn Baldwin, Carol and Barney The Pitrelli Family, The Middleton Family, The consumer stock. Warner Music Group has dedicated itself to the cause of Jason Flom, Arnaud Durieux, Jon Nardachone, Barnett, Igor Carcich, Dave Stuart, Elizabeth Caffery Family, The Plate & Tarr Family, Nicolas environmental change since 2004. For more information about our industry Wolfgang Rott, Steve Black, Paul Gargano, Purcell, Gwendolyn Brown, Todd Sands, Brian & Rose Loya & Family, Patty Eisenhart, Bruce leading environmental initiatives, please visit www.wmg.com/wmgreen. Wilde O’Neill