Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music (7 page)

“Leah and I want to look in the gift shop,” said Amanda.

“Go ahead, sweetie. Meet us here in a few minutes or at the bus.” Amanda's mom pointed to the tea room. “Don't be late.”

Amanda stopped in front of the half-open door. “Let's see what's in here.”

“Do you think we ought to?” Leah looked unsure and stepped back.

Amanda entered the dim room that smelled of
rotten vegetables.

Leah followed her reluctantly. “Ew. I don't like it in here. I think we should leave.”

BANG!

The door slammed shut. They were left in total darkness…

A
manda felt something on her arm and screamed.

“It's just me, silly.” Amanda heard Leah beside her. “Yeesh, now what are we going to do?”

“Shhh. Do you see that?”

A flickering light appeared in the distance. The girls watched in terror as it came closer and closer, floating on air. They held on to each other and backed toward the door. Amanda turned around and tugged on the handle. The door wouldn't budge.

The light was almost upon them. Leah covered her face. Amanda gasped. The candle, held by a hooded monk, flickered a ghostly light onto his face.

“I am sorry to have frightened you,” said the monk in a low, creepy voice. “You need to know you are involved in something very dangerous. I believe you have a valuable item in your possession. You must not give it to the wrong person. A young boy's life depends on it. Tomorrow, bring it to Vienna and give it only to me. I will be in the
Burggarten
by the statue
of Mozart. Do not tell anyone of this meeting.”

The monk reached his hand towards the girls. Amanda and Leah lifted their arms to cover their faces, scared of what he might do to them. Reaching behind them, he unlocked the door and blew out his candle, falling back into the darkness. They clamoured out of the room and crashed into the courtyard, landing at Christian's feet.

“What were you doing in the root cellar?” he exclaimed.

“The…the root cellar?” Amanda rubbed her eyes.

“Yes, the root cellar. This is where the monks store the root vegetables they grow for the winter.”

“We—we went in by mistake,” Amanda stammered.

“That door should be locked.” Christian frowned. “The gift shop is over there.” He pointed the way. “You can buy a nice bookmark to remember your visit.” He smiled at Amanda. “I can tell you are a lover of books.”

“Thanks. We'll do that.” Amanda smoothed her clothes with shaky hands.

Leah couldn't stop trembling. Amanda took her by the hand and led her to the gift shop. There she bought some postcards and a bookmark for herself and one for her great-aunt Mary in Calgary. They boarded the bus at the same time as their parents.

Once settled on the bus, Leah said, “That was rather unpleasant, Amanda. Now, what are we going to do?”

“I'll think of something,” replied Amanda. She gave her friend's arm a reassuring squeeze.

After lunch,
The Sound of Music
wound its way through the beautiful Wachau Valley. The Anderson and Ross families took in the spectacular view on the top deck, as Michael shared stories with the passengers about the many castles and villages they passed. Amanda imagined herself living in one of the castles.

Michael pointed out a castle ruin tucked on the side of a forested hill. He relayed the story of how Duke Leopold held King Richard I of England in the dungeon for fourteen months.

Leah commented to Amanda, “I know how that feels like.”

“It wasn't that bad,” replied Amanda.

“Yes, it was. It was dreadful. I couldn't even text for help, it was so dark in there.”

“Look at that one!” Amanda sprang up from her seat as a huge castle appeared around a corner. It had many towers and a green dome on top that looked like an onion. She ran to the side of the boat and started snapping pictures.

“Wouldn't it be fun to live in that castle!”

“I rather think it would be cold and draughty, and most probably smelly.” Leah wrinkled her nose. “There wouldn't be a mobile phone signal either.”

“Like that would be important.” Amanda snorted.

“Like it would be important if you were in danger or locked in a dungeon like that Richard bloke.” Leah looked at Amanda and laughed. “Or with you!”

Amanda laughed too. Then her smile faded. “Seriously, where do you think David is?”

Leah shrugged. “I don't have a clue. But you know who we haven't seen lately?” She looked around. “Klaus and his wife. They are usually here, taking in the scenery and history.”

“You're right. We haven't seen them all day. Not even at the Abbey!”

“Yummy, this apple strudel is delicious.” Amanda took another bite of the flaky crust stuffed with apples and cinnamon. “A great way to end that fabulous meal. I don't remember ever eating so well.”

“I'm sorry, honey, but I work long hours and don't have time to make all these fancy dishes.” Amanda's mom looked hurt.

“Of course, Mom. I didn't mean your meals were bad. This is just like eating at a fancy restaurant
every night, that's all.”

“I must say, it is nice to not have to cook, and to be waited on hand and foot,” replied Mrs. Ross.

“We certainly don't eat like this at our house either.” Mrs. Anderson wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I agree with Amanda, that was an excellent apple strudel.” She looked out the window in front of them. “Oh look, it appears we have arrived at Vienna.”

The twinkling lights of the city pirouetted in front of the boat, as if guiding them to the port.

After dinner, many of the passengers met in the lounge to listen to Michael do a presentation on the Hapsburgs, the Austrian royal family. Jozsef, the musician they had met at the start of the cruise, ended the evening by entertaining them with his violin.

Amanda couldn't wait to explore Vienna the next day. She just had to figure out how to get the violin off the boat and delivered safely. David's life depended on her.

I
can't believe I'm going to spend the day in Vienna!” Amanda's mom's eyes danced with excitement. “This is a dream come true. Ever since I took the History of Classical Music course in university, I have longed to see the Vienna Opera House where Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss performed.”

“I didn't know you took a course in music. I thought you studied accounting in university,” said Amanda.

“Accounting was my major, but I wanted to study other things as well so it wouldn't be so boring,” replied Mrs. Ross.

Amanda spotted Jozsef walking through the dining room with a violin case under his arm. She jumped up from the table and ran after him. “Jozsef.” When he didn't hear her, she called again, “Jozsef! I want to tell you something.”

The musician turned around. “
Ja, fräulein
.
Was ist
? I mean, what is it?”

Amanda caught her breath. “I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your music last night.”

“
Danke schön
, thank you. I am pleased you took pleasure in listening to me play my violin.”

“Are you coming with us on the bus tour of Vienna?”

“No, I have lived in Vienna a few years ago and know every part of it well. I will spend the day with my daughter who is studying here.”

“Are you taking your violin?”

“No, I am just about to put it in the boat's vault.”

“Is it valuable?”

“Not as valuable as some, but I would be unhappy if it was lost or stolen.” He patted the violin case. “Enjoy your visit to the city of music.”

Amanda grinned. “Enjoy your visit with your daughter.”

She returned to the breakfast table, just as everyone was getting ready to leave for the early morning tour.

“I'll meet you at the bus. There's something I need to get.” Amanda darted out the door and down the hallway to her room.

A few minutes later, Amanda boarded the bus with everyone.

“What have you got there, sweetie?” asked her mom.

“It's a violin that Jozsef asked me to take to the Opera House for him.”

“Really!” Leah's eyes almost popped out of her head. “He is trusting you with his violin?”

“Oh, it's not his good, valuable one. This is just a practice violin.”

Shocked, Leah stared at her friend. “What do you think you are doing?” she mouthed.

Amanda shrugged. “I know it looks bad, but it's not as bad as you think.” She carefully placed the violin under the seat and settled back to view the sights.

“Now I am convinced you are barking mad!” Leah leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

The bus took them around the beautiful city of Vienna. The tour guide pointed out the home Beethoven lived in, the ornate Parliament buildings and the grand Opera House.

The attractive guide explained, “In Vienna, there is music everywhere. It is best known as the land of the waltz. We have our very own ‘Waltz Kings', father and son both named Johann Strauss. Johann Strauss II, you may know as the composer of the famous
Blue Danube
. Music is regarded not only as entertainment, but as an important part of everyday life here in Vienna.”

Amanda, pleased to see the calm smile on her
mom's face, noticed her parents holding hands as they sat on the bus gazing at all the old buildings.

She turned to Leah. “Thank you so much for inviting us on this trip. My parents so needed a break from work. Look how happy they are. I haven't seen them this relaxed in a long time.”

Leah glanced at Amanda's parents. “Your mum and dad are brilliant. You are so lucky.”

“Your parents are pretty cool as well.”

“Right. Except for my dad always making a big deal of me texting my mates.” Leah scowled.

Amanda glanced out the window as the bus passed a gorgeous garden. “Look! Look! There is the statue of Mozart!”

“So, what is the big deal about that?” asked Leah.

Amanda leaned over and whispered, “That is where we are supposed to give the violin to the monk.”

“How do you know we can trust him?”

“Well, he is a monk. Don't they take a vow to be honest?”

“Maybe he is just pretending to be a monk. You can be so naive sometimes, Amanda.”

The bus stopped at Hofburg Palace, the immaculate, wedding cake-like winter home of the Hapsburgs. Amanda picked up the violin and followed everyone off the bus to look around the lavish
setting.

She noticed a sign over a doorway:

Home of the Spanish Riding School

“May I go and look in there?”

“Yes, you can,” said the tour guide. “You might be able to see the Lipizzan horses. They will have just completed their practice for today.”

“I love horses and I once went to a performance of Lipizzan stallions in Calgary with my great-aunt. They were totally awesome!” She motioned to Leah. “Let's have a look.”