I’ll know where to come . . .”

*

On the day of the premiere all the orphans (include. O and James) worked near to all of the nite to get things in a state of readiness. The big clock ticking a countdown. The whole thing shadowed by the death of DEAD SOLDIER.

O worked hard and J interrupted every now and then to ask her some question, some query about the difference between life and death. He asked her which is more alive a stone or a lizard? He asked her where do wounds come from? He asked her where is the name of a thing?

But no understanding could bring DEAD SOLDIER back. J and O stayed in the theatre late, when rehearsals were over – J sat silent in the darkened auditorium and watching intently while Olivia ‘let the lights on the stage fade out one by one’ ©.

*

It is a well known fact that there are more snakes than ladders in the great game of life but not even the ‘teacher’ Gormenghast was prepared for the big amount of slithering down a long thin reptile what he was about to do in his artistic career.

Indeed despite the inevitable setbacks of mounting a big dramatic production in a corrupt institution for destitute children and despite having to replace the original Mme Curie on account of unfortunate illness etc Gormenghast was really thinking that his work was nearly done and all very well.

But G fell victim to his own ‘flair’ as is often the case with many of that caste and made some troublesome moments eg his decision that for reasons of artistical veracity he ought to use real radium in the final sections of the play was a mistaken one even if it was a breakthrough in a certain kind of illegal theatrical realism. The audience were already in their seats when he began to pass out the faintly glowing yellow capsules using metal tongs in the gloom backstage and no one had the institutional or moral authority to stop him. From that moment on his fate was sealed.

James stood in the dark and practised the one line he still had to say as part of a chorus scene. “Half-life.” he repeated, “Half-life, half-life . . .”

Gormenghast’s deep shadow. Curtain rising.

*

Act One. Very many of the cast became ill – complaining of headaches, dizziness and nausea even before the little radiation badges they wore began to change colour at an alarmingly fast rate of speed.

Act Two. That sudden feeling when life seems distant or unreal.

Act Three. The cast were soon severely depleted and several of the audience members were also rushing outside, wretching technicolour. Coughing breaking out and fighting in the confusion.

A temporary caesura in the narrative while a medical officer attended to a few of the hydrogen atoms. The little ones dropping like flies. A plea for order. Chaos in the wings. Echoes of Zurich (1916) and The 100 Club. Outrage. Confusion. And the stench of death.