Chapter 19
A T & L TELEGRAPH
BEGIN: MBRG TO GVL
TO: HEATHER MASON
ADDR: TROMMLER RECORDS
FROM: MARLA LINDER
DATE: 18 DEC 1635
MESSAGE:
HAVE A ONE SONG SPECIAL YOU REALLY OUGHT TO BUY UP STOP
WILL EITHER WRECK MY CAREER OR TOP THE CHARTS STOP
ATWOOD COCHRAN WILL RECORD STOP
YOU IN OR OUT? STOP
MARLA
END
A T & L TELEGRAPH
BEGIN: MBRG TO GVL
TO: ATWOOD COCHRAN
ADDR: LOOK IT UP
FROM: MARLA LINDER
DATE: 18 DEC 1635
MESSAGE:
YEAH THIS IS ONE GOOD CAUSE STOP
PITCHED DEAL TO HEATHER AT TROMMLER STOP
EXPECT THEY WILL BUY STOP
RECORDING DATE SATURDAY JAN 19 STOP
THIS WILL BE THUMB IN THE EYE OF THE POWERS THAT BE STOP
YOU IN OR OUT? STOP
MARLA
END
Marla looked at the two telegrams the delivery boy had just left with her, and smiled.
The first one read:
A T & L TELEGRAPH
BEGIN: GVL TO MBRG
TO: FRAU MARLA LINDER
ADDR: SYLWESTERHAUS MAGDEBURG
FROM: ATWOOD COCHRAN
DATE: 19 DEC 1635
MESSAGE:
CANT PASS UP CHANCE TO JAB THUMB IN EYE STOP
IN STOP
WILL TAKE CUT OF TROMMLER DEAL STOP
ATWOOD
END
And the second:
A T & L TELEGRAPH
BEGIN: GVL TO MBRG
TO: FRAU MARLA LINDER
ADDR: SYLWESTERHAUS MAGDEBURG
FROM: HM AT TROMMLER RECORDS
DATE: 19 DEC 1635
MESSAGE:
WE ARE IN STOP
SEND DETAILS ASAP FOR CONTRACT STOP
HEATHER
END
Marla looked up at her husband.
“You are really going to do this.” Franz didn’t ask a question. He knew who he was talking to; he made a statement.
“Uh-huh.” She wrapped her arms around herself. She felt cold all of a sudden.
Franz said nothing more, but wrapped his own arms around her. She nestled in his embrace, and drew strength from him.