Ravensong (46 page)

He pushed himself off his stool and
moved in his direction, brushing by Julian. He didn’t want the
assistant manager to get there first. Maybe if he could make eye
contact, he could get him to stay.

“
Hey, Josh, welcome back,”
he said brightly, holding out his hand.

Ravensong accepted it, his eyes roving
over the other band members on stage and the two managers. Elliot
stepped into his line of sight and forced him to focus. “I’m glad
you’re here. I’ve got some stuff to show you.”

He glanced at Joshua’s brother and
held out his hand. “Elliot Evans. Didn’t get a chance to meet you
yesterday.”

“
James Conner,” he said. He
was big and blond and the opposite to Ravensong. “You’re one hell
of a guitarist.”

Elliot beamed. “You play a mean axe
yourself. I heard you on the CD.”

He caught the reaction of
Ravensong from the corner of his eyes. Okay, don’t talk about the
CD. Man, this guy was flighty as a new colt. He turned the smile on
Joshua. They didn’t need a guitarist, they needed a lead singer, a
performer, and a composer.
He
needed a guitar tuner and this guy did it better
than anyone else he’d found.

Glancing over his shoulder, he could
see Julian and David gearing themselves up to take over the
situation. Elliot didn’t want that. He wanted some time to tame
Joshua before the others started putting on pressure.

“
Come on,” he said,
motioning toward his stool. “I have some rough tunes penned down
and I wanted to run them by you. I brought an extra guitar today.”
He started walking, not waiting to see if Joshua would follow.
Soon, however, he saw Joshua keeping pace with him from the corner
of his eyes.

He motioned Joshua to the stool. “Take
a seat.”

Joshua hesitated, staring at the stool
as if he thought it would bite him.

Instinctively Elliot placed his hand
on Joshua’s shoulder. “It hasn’t snapped at me yet,” he said with a
laugh.

Joshua grimaced. “Sorry. It’s just…”
His voice trailed off.

Elliot again moved into his line of
sight. “Talk to me. It’s just what?”

Joshua faced him. “I haven’t done this
in so long, I’m not sure I can anymore.”

Elliot shrugged. “Seems to me you did
quite a bit yesterday. Polished that song and made it ready for
recording. That’s all I want you to do today.”

Joshua’s gaze rose to David and
Julian. “But if this is going to work, I have to do more than just
compose.”

“
We don’t have to go there
right this minute. Ease into it.” He moved into Joshua’s line of
sight again. “You hear me, ease into it.”

Joshua fixed his gaze on him. Finally,
he nodded. “All right.”

Elliot grabbed another stool, passed
his second best guitar to Joshua, and picked up his own. They went
over the rough melodies Elliot had scribbled down and Joshua worked
his magic. When they were ready to turn to the lyrics, Elliot
thought Joshua might be ready to bring Robert in for
collaboration.

Writing lyrics forced them all to sing
parts of the songs as they played the melody behind it. Joshua
resisted at first, but when he couldn’t communicate what he wanted,
he was forced to sing it himself.

Elliot beamed at his fellow band
members. Joshua’s voice was just like the voice on the CD and that
voice had possessed a range that Elliot admired. On the CD, Joshua
had gone from a gritty blues sound to a powerful vocal that any
gospel singer would envy. If the song required a softer touch,
Joshua could smooth out his tone until it was like
velvet.

After a quick break for lunch, Elliot
coaxed Joshua into playing the first song they’d worked on with the
entire band. The song had been written for one guitar, but a few
adjustments allowed Joshua to remain seated on the stool, playing
backup to Elliot’s lead. Elliot brought a microphone stand in front
of Joshua and hooked the music stand with his foot, so he could
easily see the music.

Only Joshua’s brother and the two
managers were seated in the chairs before the stage. Other
hangers-on, roadies and assistants, were milling around in the back
of the warehouse. Elliot hoped the low-key situation would allow
Joshua to gain a little of his confidence back.

“
This is just for practice.
Let’s just see how the song plays, see how our voices blend, okay?”
He spoke to the whole band, but he was mainly speaking to
Joshua.

Joshua didn’t respond,
staring obsessively at the music on the stand. Elliot wasn’t sure
whether he would play with them, but he knew they had to take the
next step if this was going to work. They didn’t have the time to
bring Joshua along more slowly. The recording studio wanted a date
for their first session, and they wanted it
yesterday
.

He began the countdown from five and
turned his attention to the song. The introduction went smoothly.
Joshua was very good on the guitar, almost as good as Elliot
himself, but Elliot didn’t want to spend much time thinking about
that. They needed Joshua to sing.

He realized his heart was
beating as they neared the beginning of the vocals. If Joshua
couldn’t take the lead, even in rehearsal, this was never going to
work. Elliot knew he’d be disappointed. He could already see what
Joshua might bring to
Avalanche
. Then the moment was upon
them. Elliot realized they were all staring at Joshua, holding
their breath to see what he would do.

He closed his eyes, leaned forward,
and sang.

His smoky voice belted out the lyrics
with the skill of a veteran blues’ singer. Elliot felt a chill
snake up his spine. Ralph shot him an appreciative look, his brows
climbing nearly to his hairline. The three men in the audience sat
forward, clearly enchanted.

When the harmony arrived, Elliot noted
that their voices blended with Joshua’s, but didn’t overpower it.
Nothing could overpower that sweet, soulful sound. Elliot was
envious. He loved the guitar more than anything, but to be his own
instrument would be so satisfying. He studied Joshua and couldn’t
understand how someone with such talent had fallen off the
tracks.

Once he was in the middle of the song,
Joshua forgot the anxiety that had made his shoulders tense and he
clearly gave himself up to the music. He wasn’t even aware that the
roadies and assistants were moving toward the stage, gathering
behind the three men in the chairs. But Elliot saw them. He saw
them swaying to the music, nodding their heads to the rhythm, and
Elliot knew they had found their commercial sound. This was a sound
that would sell records, but also allow the band members to keep
their own musical integrity. It was a perfect compromise and
Joshua’s voice was the key.

As the song trailed off, the small
crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. Elliot watched warily as
Joshua’s eyes snapped open and stared at the applauding people with
an unreadable expression.

Taking a risk, Elliot
launched into the next song, hoping the others would pick up his
lead. They did, but Joshua was looking at him in confusion.
Keep going,
he
mouthed.

Panic flared in his eyes, but he
reached for the score on the stand and pulled it to the front. They
hadn’t written a second guitar part, so he was forced into the
vocal position. With the skills of a true performer, he shifted
into his role and his voice filled the warehouse.

Elliot breathed a sigh of relief. They
had a lead singer.

* * *

“
Your first concert
with
Avalanche
.
How does it feel?” laughed David. “We’ve got a packed house
tonight.”

Joshua forced a smile for David’s
benefit, but he felt like he was going to be sick. It was one thing
to play for managers and roadies, but these people had paid to see
a performance.

He crept to the edge of the
stage and peered out. The floor was covered with pulsing, swaying
bodies. A cold feeling rushed over him, making him light headed. He
couldn’t do this. Not now. He didn’t remember how. If he went on
stage now, he knew his voice would desert him and it wouldn’t be
enough to stand behind the microphone. A real audience would expect
him to move.

He swung away from the stage and came
face to face with the other band members. Their happy expressions
shifted and they gave him concerned looks. Joshua pushed between
them, headed for the back door, but suddenly Elliot jumped around
in front of him.

“
Whoa! Hold up a minute.”
He placed his hands on Joshua’s shoulders and brought him to a
halt. “Where are you going?”

“
I can’t do it,” said
Joshua breathlessly. His heart was pounding like a hammer. “I can’t
go out there.”

Elliot drew him closer and forced him
to focus on his eyes. “You can. Just like rehearsal. Just go out
there, close your eyes, and sing, Josh. That’s all.”

Joshua shook his head. “I can’t, El.
Not this. It’s too soon.”

“
It’s been more than eight
months, Josh. It’s not too soon. They’re gonna go crazy for you,
for the music. I promise you. Besides, we’ll all be there with you.
You’re not alone.”

Joshua forced himself to slow his
breathing. Elliot turned him around and faced him toward the stage.
“Once you get through the first song, you’ll be fine. I promise
you. If not, you can kick my ass after the show.”

A laugh escaped him and he suddenly
found himself at the edge of the stage. Without hesitation, Elliot
drew him right into the bright lights and the screaming of the
fans.

* * *

The crowd surged to their
feet, screaming and stomping as
Avalanche
finished the encore. The
reverberation of the guitars was still echoing around the stadium.
Sliding the microphone into the stand, Joshua moved to the edge of
the stage beside Ralph and Michael. Michael threw his arm around
Joshua’s shoulders and they took a bow together.

Glancing at Elliot from the corner of
his eyes, he remembered that first show and how Elliot had kept him
grounded, kept him from fleeing. When they took their bows that
night, Elliot had pulled him close and said, “Like riding a
bicycle.” Joshua remembered the thrill of it. Of performing again,
of bringing people to a frenzy of uninhibited joy like only music
could do. Much of his love for performing came from Elliot’s love
of it.

He grimaced in pain as he and Michael
rose from their bow. The people were still screaming and stomping
and wanting another encore. Turning, he headed back stage with
Michael and Ralph. Roadies met them with towels.

Joshua grabbed one and pressed it
against his face. “Water?” he asked, moving toward his brother and
Elena.

Still the crowd roared.

He made it to the wings and leaned
heavily against the wall. James and Elena both converged on him,
studying him with obvious concern. The roadie handed him an open
bottle and he lifted it to his mouth, letting the blessedly cool
liquid slide down his throat.

“
You okay?” asked James,
griping his upper arm.

Joshua lowered the water and nodded at
him, but James was looking at his hand. Joshua looked down and
realized his hands were shaking again.

“
Josh, I think we need to
have you checked out by a doctor,” said James over the roar of the
audience.

Elliot moved toward him, but Julian
shoved his way into the center of the group. “Let’s give them
another encore.”

Elliot’s gaze met Joshua’s and he
turned to Julian. “No more, Julian. I’m exhausted.”

“
Just one more. Listen to
that.” He threw his hand out toward the stage. “You can’t deny
that.”

“
I’m too tired,” said
Elliot firmly. “Tell them to bring the house lights up.”

Joshua pushed away from the wall and
handed the water bottle to his brother. “I’ll do it, El,” he said.
His legs felt rubbery, but he could force out another couple of
songs.

“
Josh?” scolded
James.

Elena looked miserable.

“
I’m all right,” he said,
then moved toward the edge of the stage.

A spasm of pain took him in the middle
of the back and made him stagger. He grabbed the stage support.
Elliot was at his side, holding him up as his legs threatened to
buckle.

“
He needs a doctor,” he
said to Julian.

Joshua sucked in a ragged breath and
straightened. He pushed away from the support. “I’m fine. Muscle
cramp,” he gritted out and walked onto the stage. The spotlight
wheeled around and picked him up immediately.

* * *

Joshua cast a look around
the room. It was crowded with worried people, staring at him as the
doctor wrote out a prescription and handed it to Elena.

“
It’s just a kidney
infection. This’ll take care of it and put him right again within a
few days.”

Elena accepted the paper, but her gaze
was fixed on Joshua. Joshua wished everyone hadn’t felt it was
their right to hear the diagnosis. He moved stiffly to the chair
Ralph vacated for him and sank into it.