Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Interviews at the Special Inspection Hall
Fan Ning's eyes under his drowsy eyelids stayed for a few seconds longer on the words written down by Teacher Anton.
Then, the mind gradually regained its clarity.
Musical performance...is a ritual? What does that mean?
Can a concert be treated as a secret ritual? Why have I never thought of this idea, nor have I heard others discuss it?
Fan Ning compared some related hidden knowledge in his mind, and suddenly seemed to think of something.
He quickly unscrewed the cap of his pen, opened his notebook, and wrote down his guesses and analysis:
"The secret ceremony has its relatively fixed steps, and the music performance also has various stylized elements: entrance, greetings, lighting arrangements, sequence of the program list, the time sequence of each note of the music itself, audience etiquette, applause, curtain calls,
Encore performance, everyone exits..."
Fan Ning's eyes lit up as he wrote this.
Perhaps, there is some truth!
"Therefore, we might as well think of a serious music performance as a secret ceremony. Then, the performance venue constitutes the altar, the revelation of musical inspiration points to the witnesses, the conductor and performers are the executors, and the audience is the assistant or the influenced
…The inspiration and sweat given by the musicians have become sacrifices, the musical instruments are naturally ritual vessels, and the music itself serves as a prayer. As for the secret atmosphere, on the one hand, it has something to do with the lighting arrangement of the performance venue (altar), on the other hand
, each major concert hall will also freely add different fragrances according to preferences..."
This can indeed be compared with the various characteristics of the secret ceremony!
"An unintentional valuable discovery in the field of mysticism... However, what enlightenment does it have on my current predicament? What is the specific methodology?"
Fan Ning fell into deep thought.
For example, what about the current, more special premiere?
"The most important thing about the secret ritual is to choose the appropriate form and steps. So for the premiere of my "Symphony No. 1", which has such a special meaning, what is the most appropriate form and step?"
What does the premiere mean? - Before that, that piece had never sounded in history and had never been remembered by anyone; and after that, the date, time, participants, listeners, and follow-up of the premiere
The repercussions have become fixed history and are gradually remembered by the world, whether big or small, long-lasting or short-lived.
What are the characteristics of "Symphony No. 1"? - Long-length hints, symbols, foreshadowing, and penetration, all starting from the images of nature... Power accumulates in subtle places, and is ultimately irreversible, overwhelming, until the arrival of divinity at the last moment
.
An idea that was somewhat unrealistic at first appeared in Fan Ning's mind, but as he thought about it over and over again, he felt more and more that it might be feasible.
"Ding-a-ling-a-ling, jingle-a-ling-a-ling..."
The sudden phone call rang in an absolutely quiet environment, startling Fan Ning!
It was pitch black outside the window, the office building was empty, and the clock on the wall pointed to 4:45 in the morning!
"This is Teacher Anton's office. Who called? Someone knows that I come here often recently, but I don't spend the night here every day...at this time..."
Fan Ning watched in amazement as the phone rang repeatedly, then reached out and took off the receiver.
"Hello?" His voice was alert and low.
"Mr. Fan Ning, I apologize for disturbing you late at night." The man on the other end of the phone had a heavy nasal voice.
"Who are you?..." Fan Ning felt that the voice was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was.
The man opposite laughed softly, and then said: "Meyers Benjamin."
Pressing the phone receiver, Fan Ning's entire face suddenly tensed up.
It turned out to be the phone number of the Special Patrol Office!
"Mr. Benjamin, do you have any instructions?" Fan Ning asked cautiously.
"At seven o'clock this morning, please come to the Uvransel branch of the Special Patrol Office. The address is No. 360 Parliament Street, Pushor District."
Without waiting for Fan Ning to respond or ask, the other end of the phone hung up.
Being so straightforward and decisive only shows that no matter how Fan Ning responds, there is no second possibility.
After just two conversations, Fan Ning once again experienced what Dupont once said about the strong style of the Special Patrol Office. The last time he roughly understood it was when he was interrogated by Benjamin at the Police Security Bureau.
"Could it be that Qiong has been taken there? But, what did the Special Patrol Office ask me to do?..."
Fan Ning first wondered if he should make some preparations, but felt that there was nothing to prepare.
A feeling of being out of control surged up inside him again. This was a feeling he hated very much, but every time he came to the Special Patrol Office, this feeling would pop up.
This organization, which represents the authorities and still does not know whether it is an enemy or a friend, is not something that I can question or confront now. Perhaps not even my own father or the guiding school can do so.
I just hope that my strength can grow faster, at least I can have an equal dialogue sooner, and I won't feel so out of control.
Fan Ning suppressed these thoughts, turned off the lights, and lay on the sofa for an hour to regain his energy.
After simply making a phone call to the front desk of the Guidance School, he went out.
The sky is still gray and dark, but the first batch of people working have appeared on the streets, and the food vendors have also started selling.
Fan Ning finished his breakfast on the carriage and arrived at No. 360 Council Street, Pushor District, more than forty minutes later. This is a gray six-story building with the sign of the Police Security Bureau. It is tightly guarded but does not have any other signs.
or words.
If you have a higher perspective, you can see that it is separated from the Ufranser Parliament Building at address 1 by two intersections.
At first glance, the interior of the Special Patrol Office building looks similar to an enlarged version of the Police Security Bureau, at least that's what I can see. The carbonized light is pale and bright, and there are offices on both sides of the corridor.
After explaining his purpose, he encountered no obstruction and was guided along the way by police-looking personnel.
In a talking room, Fan Ning saw Benjamin again. His appearance had not changed much. He was wearing a gray trench coat, a silver-gray soft felt hat, a wide forehead, cold eyes, white gloves, and a crimson pipe in his mouth.
.
"I haven't seen you for half a year, Mr. Fan Ning. You have become a member of the empire's official organization and have been promoted to the middle rank in a short period of time. I am very pleased to congratulate you."
Benjamin spoke calmly and blew out a few smoke rings.
"Mr. Benjamin, do you need any instructions?" Fan Ning was extremely wary of this member of the Special Patrol Department who had leapfrogged and killed several middle-level knowledgeable persons, and he might have been promoted to a middle-level person now.
The man opposite put down his pipe, took out a bank check and a document similar to a receipt confirmation from the drawer, and handed them over together.
"Sign your name and you can take it." The amount of 1,000 pounds was clearly written on it.
"This is…?"
"The personal reward for destroying the meeting place of the secret organization. At the same time, 3,000 pounds have arrived in the public bank account of the branch of the Guidance School. The reward notification will also be sent to all official insiders in Ufranser after work and reported.
Superior." Benjamin said slowly.
"Thank you for your contribution to maintaining law and order in the empire and stability on the mysterious side."
"Thank you." Fan Ning was surprised, but said nothing, took the check and signed it.
Is this the case? A phone call late at night calling me?
"The second thing." Benjamin said with a half-smile under his soft felt hat, "Let's talk about your graduation concert, and by the way, talk about your principal flutist, Miss Joan Nehemiah."