The Opera's the Thing/Chapter 2

Dimi and some other dancers were already on stage, rehearsing another number. Dressed as gypsies, Dimi stood on a table beating the crap out of a tambourine while the other dancers wove around, the dresses of the women flaring out, making them look like overgrown orchids. The men flung capes around in circles. ‘’Reminds me of a Rokarian Fighting Fish.’’

“So glad you two decided to join us”, Bjorn shouted. I rolled my eyes at Gando, and he returned an eye-roll of his own. “Now we can rehearse the opening number. Cut!”

Dimi’s glare was unmistakably aimed at me as she stepped off the table. When the director called for places she never took her sight off me. ‘’She really ought to be queen of the galaxy. It seems such a shame to waste all those dirty looks and all that snootiness.’’

As we formed ranks backstage, some of the other actors glared at us. Gando squirmed under their scrutiny. I just readjusted my tight military dress-style jacket and glared back. You don’t mess with a Coruscant underworlder and get away with it. It made me a sort of lone wolf, but I could be just as sociable as anyone else.

We began marching as the director called action. We marched out just in time to hear a number of shrieks and see most of the dancers fall through trapdoors in the stage floor.

“Cut! What happened? Why weren’t those doors closed?” Bjorn rushed over to the edge of one of the doors. Seeing that his rising starlet was in good health on the foam below, he instead turned his attention to the door itself. It had broken free from its hinges and hung limply in the netherworld beneath the stage.

“Honestly, can’t we go five minutes without an accident? Whoever built the stages and rigging here needs to be taught a thing or two about sound construction. You nearly died a second time, my dear! Are you sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine, Bjorn. Just get me out of here”, came Dimi’s faint voice. ‘’As usual, they’re in their own little world and couldn’t care a fig for the wellbeing of any of the other dancers’’. I found a regular door leading to a stairwell down to the under-stage area. I helped a few of the other dancers out, leaving Dimi to fend for herself.

“The least you could do it get Dimi out first, Kopal”, called Bjorn. ‘’Kontad, but what do you care what my name is? I’m just ‘Troop number four’.’’ “She is such a delicate creature.” I nearly laughed at that. I roughly brought Dimi to her feet and gave her a push in the general direction of the door. She sniffed, before stomping to the door. I rolled my eyes.

When all the dancers had finally been helped out of the foam pits that had broken their falls, Bjorn called practice done for the day. We went back to the changing rooms (There were four; one for the actors, one for the actresses, and one for each of the leads). I finally got to shed the constricting jacket and pants of my costume. Feeling circulation finally returning to my legs, I slipped into some black shorts, a light green sleeveless shirt, and left the locker room. Korlit, the guy playing Tormendor, the captain in charge of our little army outfit, blocked my way. Three of the larger actors flanked him; all three recently out of the refresher, judging by the towels around their waists.

Trying to act casually, I leaned on a nearby locker. “So what’s new, guys?”

“I can’t tell you what’s new, but I can tell you what’s fresh”, replied one of the big bruisers, folding his burly arms over his chest.

“Oh? What’s fresh?” I asked, my anxiety rising steadily.

“You are, that’s what”, replied another one. “Your sloughing off is going to put us all behind schedule.”

Managing to keep my face calm, I turned to Korlit. “Did you bring these guys along to talk for you, or are you going to say something?” Brushing past him, I managed to slip out the door before they broke into a run after me. Luckily for me, Bjorn had been walking past with a few wealthy patrons of the theatre. I walked past him, evoking a dirty look. The big bruisers charged into the hall, where Bjorn stopped and reprimanded them.

“Honestly, charging into the hall clad only in towels? You are an embarrassment to the production!” He was shouting. I managed to slip out the back door while they were thus occupied.

‘’That was a close one. The first place they’ll look is back here. I’m gonna slip back through the front door before Bjorn is done with them. They’re too stupid to look in there again. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to examine that rope and those trapdoors.’’

Slipping through the main entrance in my street-clothes brought only a few curious glances. I made my way to the main auditorium, and then climbed up to the catwalk far above the stage. Finding the snapped cable, I took a close look at it. It wasn’t frayed like the technician had said, it was cut. I wonder if he had anything to do with that. It sure would explain why he looked so scared right after it fell. I went back to the auxiliary auditorium. The gaping holes in the stage also showed signs of having been sawed through. ‘’That’s creepy. Maybe I should get the police. This could be deliberate.’’

“Kogan.” ‘’He never will get my name right.’’ “May I ask what you’re doing here? Perhaps you’re wishing to further sabotage this production?” My head snapped up to see Bjorn standing over me, an angry scowl on his furred face.

“No, I just wanted to see what happened. If you look closely, it looks like it was-”, but Bjorn cut me off.

“This is none of your concern. They’re just a few stage accidents. They happen all the time. I suggest you leave and occupy yourself with something more important, like learning the songs you’ll have to sing. I don’t suppose you’ve even looked at the lyrics, have you?” Bjorn looked entirely serious while he made this little speech, but something wasn’t quite right. I don’t know. Call it a suspicious mind, but something just didn’t sit right with me.

“Yes, I know the lyrics. But I’m telling you, we need to contact the police. Something’s awry here.”

“I am perfectly aware of that, Mr. Kogil.”

“You are?”

“Yes. I am aware of the fact that you are in a hazardous area. This stage isn’t safe. I’d hate to see anything happen to you. I will get an usher to escort you out of this theatre at once.”

“No need for that, Bjorn. I was just leaving.” I walked to the door, and turned around. Bjorn was still there, watching my every move. I smiled and waved, then left through the door. I made my way home so I could think.