The Spaces Between (A Drunkard's Journey) by Martin Gibbs Read Free Book Online

sounded funny. Then I tuned the sutan. Much better.
    I can’t reach him. I’m sure he talks to me—he may even think I talk to him, but I cannot get through to him. Where some of us are gifted in some things, others are not. Your gift is special. People make fun of you, but you have a gift in speaking with those who are gone.
    “I learned a new chord!”
    I, did you…? Ah! That is nice, Bimb, very nice, I want to hear it.
    “You take the little finger, here on this box. Middle finger goes up over on this box and string, then pointed finger way over…” It was hard. “Here! Like this!” I played it then moved to another chord, then back.
    That is—
    “He is an amazing player, isn’t he?” Fa asked.
    “Ach!” They scared me! I almost dropped the sutan. I hoped it would not go out of tune.
    “Sorry, son, to scare you. We heard you playing and we wanted to hear. Play that again, that is very nice.”
    I started playing. Ugly Nose was there with the stranger. The stranger looked like a bunny. He hopped but said nothing. I looked down and played. I did not want to see Ugly Nose. If I looked away, would he see me?
    I stopped after a while. “Have you ever played in the temples?” Ugly Nose asked.
    “N-No. People laugh at me.”
    “They would not in the temple. Your music is sweet and it is very holy. It fits well with temple music. I would consider it.”
    I tuned the sutan.
    “What do you say, Bimb?”
    “T-thank you, sir.”
    “I’m sure he’ll think about it. Maybe I can convince him…”
    “Very nice, Bimb. Come, we have much to discuss.”
    They talked more. I heard “leave here soon” from Ugly Nose. That made me happy. I played another happy chord. I was glad Ugly Nose was going away.
    Please, you must help him.
    “How can I help?” Oh! This chord sounds nice! It was eight, four, six…eight…four …then seven . Yes, very—
    Please. He is in danger and could get hurt. I think these strangers are going to go someplace far away. I want you to follow .
    “But Fa…”
    He is going to go with them.
    “Why?” Why would Fa leave me? Did he not love me anymore? Only Ma and I would be there. She would cry. No more spicy drink. No more fun running in the fields.
    This will be something he must do. Do not worry, I want you to follow him. He is going to be close to where my son is. You must follow—as such you will not be away from him. But I’m sorry he cannot know you are there. You and he both will return home soon. This one thing must be done for all of us. ALL of us.
    “Ma too?”
    The whole world.
    I played my new chord. He talked like Ugly Nose. Like preachers in the temples. They talked about the world. They said if we didn’t do what they said, the world would go away. I didn’t want the world to go away. I wanted to play my sutan and sit with Fa.
    Fa was leaving. “Why does he have to leave?”
    Something needs to be fixed. Far away from here. My son is also going far away from here and he needs more help than your Fa. Your Fa is going to help these men do great things.
    “I am scared of Ugly Nose. What if Ugly Nose hurts Fa?”
    He will not hurt your father, I am sure of that. If you follow quietly, you will be able to be close to Fa, but you will be helping me. And my son.
    I did not want to go. I did not want Fa to go. Ma would be here and cry. She cries so much I don’t like it. So I play my Sutan and talk to Lyn…that is the name of the man. His son is named Zhy. He is dead, and sometimes he says his son is dead too. But he doesn’t mean dead for real. He can’t talk to his son. I would be sad if I could not talk to Fa. And now Lyn is saying I can’t talk to Fa, just hear him. I did not want to go. “I don’t want to go.”
    Please…please. You have your Fa, my Zhy has nothing. Only two companions who are trying to kill him. Please…
    “Listen to my new chord!” I played it louder.
    PLEA—
    He was quiet a long time.
    That is very beautiful, I—
    “I will go.” I