Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *28*

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Gaby

Book 27
Smell of the Crowd

by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell

Life has some certainties, birth and death of course, but the rest is a mix of Minestrone and Spaghetti, some of which we have no direct influence over. We can however decide whether we want Parmesan or other seasoning, we can give Gnochi a try, doesn't mean we'll like it but at least we'll know. Gaby has reached just such a point in her life, she knows she likes Pizza, she's not averse to Spaghetti or Lasagne but is Gnochi for her? The Gnochi in this case is doing the singing with BlauHase on a more serious level, as a 'hobby' its fine but could this be a change of career? Well you don't find out without trying so that's just what our heroine is about to find out in this, the 27th book of the Gaby saga.

 

*Chapter 28*
Tragedy

 
A young Police woman was in charge of the road closure, being harangued by several clearly frustrated drivers. It wasn’t that we wanted to join our voices but out of an inate need to find out any news that we hovered close enough to get the gist of things.

"How much longer are we going to be here? I’ve got deliveries to make,” one obnoxious individual demanded.
"We’ll have you away as soon as possible Sir, now please, everyone return to your vehicles.”
"Can’t you let us use the exit?” someone else asked.
"Its being used for emergency access, everyone is working hard in a difficult situation,” the officer stated, "Now please, there’s nothing to see, return to your vehicles.”
"Has someone died up there?” another individual enquired.
"I can’t say Sir, there are multiple casualties that the Services are dealing with.”
"We could be here hours,” the delivery driver muttered.

"Come on,” Stefan sighed, "Best tell the others.
"Yeah,” I added with my own sigh, "Best had.”

I looked up the road again towards the meleé of vehicles and lights, but was distracted by the arrival up the off slip of one of those big mobile cranes, no not the tower things but a self propelled thing with like five axles followed by a flatbed with what looked like huge steel plates on it.

"The heavy brigade,” Stefan observed as they each made the awkward turn from the slip onto the carriageway followed by a black Vito panel van.
"Yep,” I agreed turning away to start the walk back to our own transport.
 

"You been enjoying being on the road?” my companion asked as we walked back through the silent lines of vehicles.
"Its been different,” I allowed, "Miss my own bed tho’, you?”
"I’ve always wanted to do it, go on tour with the guys, different venues, different audiences you know? I wasn’t expecting the Radio stuff, that’s really dialled things up.”
I had to agree, "Yeah.”
He went on, "I didn’t think all the setting up, knocking down stuff, driving to the next town, well its what touring is about but its pretty tiring.”
"And the partying.”
"That as well, I’ll need a holiday to get over it.”

I might not be involved with all the lugging stuff about but I can only agree, touring with a band is hard work. I guess if you are a full on headline act things are a bit different, maybe longer between shows, having others to do the grunt work, maybe better accommodation and travel arrangements, yeah that’d be more fun I guess.

"Its been good,” I offered, "But a fortnight is long enough for me.”
"Don’t give up the day job just yet,” Stefan joked.

"What’s the crack?” Marcus asked as we reached the bus.
"Its a nasty one,” Stefan advised, "Two helicopters and they’ve brought in a big crane, don’t think we’re going anywhere fast.”
"The travel news just said long delays, avoid the area,” Animal told us.
"So much for lunch by the river,” Hilde noted.
"I think that sailed a while ago liebe,” her husband observed.

So much for a relaxing day!

 
It was gone four when the sound of distant engines drew our attention, something was happening at long last. We watched as several Polizei walked between the vehicles behind where we’ve been stopped, speaking to each as the passed.

"What’s happening Officer?” Little Jo enquired when the officer doing our line reached us.

I’m sure he was fed up of explaining but he did so anyway.

"We’re getting everyone turned around to exit the autobahn, which I’m sure you appreciate takes time with all the trucks in the queue, we should get to you in about twenty minutes so if you can stay in your vehicles you’ll soon be on your way.”
"Thanks,” Marcus offered as the policeman moved to the next vehicle.
"You got that map book handy Erd?” Animal asked as we all returned to our seats.
"Er sure.”

I pulled it out of the seat pocket and passed it forward.
 

I suppose it was closer to half an hour before the vehicles immediately behind us started up and were turned around. We had to wait for the stuff in lane three to clear before a traffic cop directed our about face and we slowly headed the wrong way along the carriageway. It was only then that we were able to appreciate the reason for the lengthy process, we had to wait for one of the HGV’s to turn around which involved several shunts back and forth.

Times that by a couple of hundred and what sounds like a straightforward job suddenly becomes a long drawn out process. In my naivety I just assumed they’d take us back to the junction with the Six Seven One but instead we were directed off at the Ginsheim turn just before it.

"Which way?” Animal asked as we reached the bottom of the on slip where nearly all the traffic was turning right.
"Less traffic going left,” Stefan observed.
"I think Gustavsburg is on the way into Mainz on the old road,” I stated remembering my perusal of the map earlier.
"Sounds good to me,” our driver stated.

It wasn’t long before we reached the town, joining the Forty Three which soon took us over the Main and on towards Mainz itself. Traffic was heavy, especially when we reached the bridge over the Rhein. We dropped off the bridge over five hours after we started to cross the river and instead of the waterfront or even the hotel, a fairly straightforward route through the city centre took us to tonight's venue, the Frankfurter Hof.

After going around the block twice Animal spotted the lane through to the venue’s stage door where Robert greeted us as we climbed down to terra concretus.

"Some journey,” Stefan stated.
"But you’ve made it,” Robert noted, "Lets get inside, you eaten?”
 

We’ve certainly played a diverse set of venues on the BlauHase tour, converted railway stations, outdoor stages, even an ice rink. In contrast, the Frankfurter Hof is pretty normal, a reasonable size hall with a gallery around three sides, the fourth being occupied by the stage. You can imagine it being the host to afternoon tea dances and exhibitions but, according to Frank, the venue manager who we met inside, its been host to the likes of Steve Earle and Sinead O’Connor amongst a host of other contemporary artistes.

The tech’s clearly knew their stuff so once our gear was inside, setting up and doing a sound check went remarkably smoothly, disrupted only by Big Jo’s stomach rumbling. Yeah, we still haven’t eaten.

"What’re we doing about food and the hotel?” Hilde asked.
"We usually go to the Augustinerkellar,” Frank suggested, "Nothing fancy and its pretty cheap.”
"Cheap and plain works for me,” Robert opined, "Guys?”
"I’d eat a scabby dog right now,” Little Jo mentioned.
"What about the hotel?” Mist turned the conversation back from food.
Stefan looked to Robert before speaking, "we’re getting a bit tight on time, you girls okay changing here?”
"Guess so,” I replied.
"In that case I suggest we go find this Augustin place and get fed now, we okay leaving the bus here overnight Frank?”
"Sure, its pretty secure.”
"I’m sure we can stretch to a Taxibus later to take us to the B&B eh Robert?”
"It won’t break the bank I suppose. Tell you what, while you’re all eating I’ll take your bags to the hotel and get you checked in, I’m staying there too so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
"Great,” Stefan allowed, "The support should be here by the time we get back so we’ll be all set, everyone okay with that?”
"What are we waiting for,” I stated, my own stomach doing its own mini version of BJ’s loud rumble.

We sorted out the bags for Robert and Frank acquainted us with the artiste facilities, some quite nicely appointed rooms on the floor below the concert hall. Yep, clean toilets, even a shower room, the ‘green’ room even had a pool table and one of those big flat screen TV’s that Frank was keen to demonstrate.

He was just about to turn it back off when the news channel it was tuned to started showing what turned out to be footage of the accident we got caught up with.

"Turn up the volume,” Airnimal requested.

The footage was showing one of the helicopters taking off before moving to shots of the actual incident.

‘… thought that one of the trucks suffered a blowout which sent it careering across the carriageway before overturning.’

The view now panned through the resulting carnage, two more trucks were skewed across the road, there appeared to be a car wedged under the front of one, others littered the road, at the rear of the main mess was a secondary event involving a VW Transporter and two more cars, the Volkswagen on its now crushed roof wrapped around the leg of an overhead gantry which was itself cranked at something less than vertical.

‘Police have confirmed three fatalities with at least two more persons flown to the Universitätsklinik Mainz with critical injuries. The authorities expect the recovery and clean up operation to continue into the night with heavy lifting equipment and barrier repairs being necessary. In other news…’

"Glad we only got caught in the queue,” Marcus stated turning away from the screen.
"Come on,” Stefan chirped, "Times a wastin’, lets get some food.
 

"Your very quiet,” Mist mentioned as we made our way out of the Frankfurter Hof to get fed.
"Just thinking about earlier.”
"As in?”
"The accident.”
"Okay, what about it?”
"If we’d been like five minutes earlier that could’ve been us.”
"Or it might not have happened at all, you can’t go through life second guessing every decision Gab.”
"I know that but even so, when we were up there trying to find out what was happening I saw the Gerichtsmediziner van, you know that they collect bodies in, brings it home to you.”
"How fo you know all about Gerichtsmediziner?”
"When that crane collapsed and squished our car last year.”
"I forgot about that,” Mist admitted.
"There was talk of putting up some sort of plaque,” I told her.
"If you did that for every accident we’d be swamped by Denkmäler, that corner outside Mayschoß would be covered.”

I suppose she has a point. Even so, you see those little shrines, there are a few around Adenau, where friends and family have left flowers, lit candles, left photographs of accident victims. I think most people ignore their existence but I’m sure they are some comfort to those left behind. Would my friends do that if I died out on the roads somewhere? would Misty?

"So, um, last night,” I started.
"Look I’m sorry I was a bit sharp this morning but I was really happy then you started on twenty questions and killed the mood.”
"Should we put up a plaque?”
"Ha de har.”
"So I guess you and Armin?”
"Well I didn’t go for a quick snog.”
"And?”
"I guess it could’ve been a bit more romantic.”
"Tell me you used, you know…”
"I’m on the pill Gab.”
"So am I, doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful.”
"You saying, you and Max?”
"No, just a principal thing, you know why I’m taking it. So how was it?”
"Uncomfortable? Messy and over far too quickly.”
"Probably comes with practice, well that’s what Jules reckons so she and Boris practice a lot,” I allowed with a giggle.
"Must work I guess Tante Gaby!”
"Tante I can live with, its Mutter that I want to avoid.”
"I thought you liked kids? Drea dotes on you.”
"Other peoples are fine, I can give them back.”
"That’s what my Oma says.”

"Girls,” Hilde called from somewhere behind us.

We stopped and turned to see what she wanted, wasn’t she in front just now?

"The Keller?” she hinted.
"Oops!”

Yep, so engrossed in our conversation were we that we’d walked straight past our destination.
 

The Augustinerkeller was everything that Frank had suggested and more. The entrance area was lined with marble but once into the restaurant itself it was a cross between an old school German Kellerie and a Stube, vaulted ceilings, dark wood, Heimats musik, not over the top but traditional enough to mark its identity as German. It was quite busy but Frank had called through so we were soon installed in the Obergeschoss, a sort of upper floor with a balcony looking down to part of the main lower level.

This isn’t Bavaria or Baden though, indeed its not even Hessen, when we crossed the Rhein we moved into the Rheinland Palatinate, albeit the other end to where Schloss Bond is situated. Anyway, that meant the staff weren’t in Kostum, we might go for it a bit in the sticks but this is Mainz, the biggest city in the Palatinate by far, far too cosmopolitan for that sort of touristy schmick. They were pretty slick though, drink orders were taken whilst we were finding our seats and Speisekarte were in our hands before the beverages arrived, like I say, slick.

"Ooo, Flammkuchen,” Mist enthused.

For the uninitiated that’s a sort of cross between a pizza and a quiche from Alsace which, whilst its currently in France, at various times its been German which is reflected in the architecture, place names and indeed the cuisine. Well Mist is welcome to her pizza tart, my eyes were drawn towards number four eighteen, the Rinderroulade, my stomach gave a low growl of agreement.

The food arrived fairly quickly but even so I caught Stefan checking his watch several times, yeah time is not on our side tonight. I wouldn’t have minded coffee and strudel afterwards but it wasn’t to be, I guess there’ll be snacks and stuff in the Green room.
 

"I’ll go sort out the merchandise,” Hilde stated once we’d returned to the venue.
"Got your pass?” her hubby enquired.
"Have you?” she replied waving the bit of laminated card Frank had given each of us earlier.

"Can’t hear the warmup at all,” Marcus observed.
"Maybe they’re already set up,” Little Jo suggested as we entered the concert hall.
"Good, your back,” Robert called from where he was stood with Frank and several others by the suspiciously empty stage area.
"Problem?” Stefan enquired as we headed across the open space.
"You could say that,” our tour manager advised.
"Support running late?” Animal put forward.
"They won’t be coming at all,” Robert told us in an unusual for him, serious tone.
"Shitza,” Marcus stated, "Can’t rely on anyone these days.”
"You’d think they’d be well up for a gig here,” Big Jo added.
"What’s the story?” Stefan asked, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"Lets go downstairs,” Robert proposed.

There was a bit of shrugging but we followed our ‘leader’, Frank joining the procession to the lower level.

"What’s going on Rob?” Stefan demanded once we were installed in the Green room.
"Something’s happened,” Rob started.
"Like?” Marcus queried.
"Rob?” Frank asked in turn.
"Go ahead Frank.”
"The guys were really excited about tonight, I’ve had them on the phone every day this week, they really didn’t want to muck up. Which is why they took today off work and left from Mannheim fairly early this morning.”
"Get to the point Frank,” Robert chivvied.
"Sorry, look there’s no easy way to tell this, the accident, on the sixty? They were involved.”
"That minibus? Oh my god!” I gasped.
"No that wasn’t them, they were in two cars, they got separated, Felix and Paul got to where they were stopping for lunch but the others never arrived. They tried calling their Handy’s, eventually one was answered, not by Heine but by the Polizei.”
"Shitza,” Mist murmured.
"Heine is in the ICU but Doris his partner, she didn’t make it.”
We were, its fair to say, all stunned to silence.
 
Maddy Bell © 01.05.2022



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