Page 51 of The Mission

The other kids and their mums sat on the couch and on the floor in front of the couch. The furniture had been moved to make more space and four chairs set out for the cellists. The other players were standing up, only the children had music stands.

“No music for the rest of us?” Conrad asked.

“Just screech in tune,” Arlo said.

“I barely progressed beyondRow, Row, Row Your Boat,” Conrad whispered.

“We’ll start with that then. Hey, Rurik!Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

Rurik rolled his eyes but started to play the children’s roundel. One by one the rest of them joined in, including the children. Conrad joined in too. He loved the rich sound that came from this cello. He liked his own better, but this was a quality instrument with a beautiful tone.

“You can play!” Arlo said.

“A bit.”

Rurik called out carol after carol and Conrad was impressed that everyone could play so well. The children didn’t join in with every carol, but if they had the music for it, they did. Arlo was mesmerising, his bowing style fluent and powerful.He loves the instrument just like I do.

Two of the children sangAway in a Mangerwith Benedikt accompanying them on the violin and they sounded like angels. Everyone joined in to sing and playStille Nacht, heilige Nachtand Arlo’s mum shed tears when it was done.

“Don’t make any jokes about us being like the von Trapps,” Arlo whispered.

“Who are they?”

Arlo froze, thentskedwhen he realised Conrad was joking.

“The Lehner family Christmas is a hodgepodge of Austrian and English traditions,” Arlo told him. “We didn’t wait until tonight to switch on the Christmas tree lights, but this is the first time that ‘Silent Night’ has been sung. That’s very Austrian.”

“Do you have anything you’d like to play?” Rurik asked Conrad.

“I’m so rusty.”

Rurik and Arlo made scoffing sounds.

“What grade did you get to?” Arlo asked.

“Eight.”

“Of course you did. Distinction?”

Conrad shrugged. “I studied at the Royal School of Music. I only went into accountancy because there’s no money in cello playing. Well, there is, but you have to be one in a million. I’m not.”

“Oh yes you are,” Arlo whispered in his ear.

11

“One last piece,” Arlo’s father said. “Conrad can choose.”

Arlo glanced at Conrad. “You look as if your mind’s gone blank.”

“I’m trying to decide between Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante and Barber’s Cello Concertoin A minor.”

All the string-playing adults laughed.

“What’s so funny?” asked Lorna.

“Probably the two most difficult pieces for the cello,” Arlo said.

“I like this better. More appropriate.” Conrad put his bow to the strings and within a couple of notes Arlo knew exactly what he was playing and joined in.

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