Salvation Read Free Page B

what was in Tom’s hand, he asked, ‘So, you have something to show me?’
    Awkwardly, Tom proffered the book. Lamotte took it, but as he scanned the opening pages, a frown came over his face. ‘Notes for a journey to buy cloth in Antwerp?’
    Tom wished the earth would swallow him. ‘Those are my father’s. My work comes after them.’
    Lamotte flipped over a few pages. ‘Ah, I see.’
    ‘It’s a play, but I’m afraid it may not be much good,’ Tom ploughed on. His cheeks smarted.
    ‘Then we’ll say farewell and you can take it home with you,’ Lamotte shut the book and held it out.
    Tom’s spirits sank then he noticed the twinkle in Lamotte’s eyes.
    ‘You won’t have to be so serious if you want to get on in the theatre, lad, that’s the first lesson. By the way, do you have a name?’
    ‘Tom Goodluck, sir.’
    ‘And how old are you, Tom Goodluck?’
    ‘Nineteen, sir.’
    ‘Ah, to be so young again, the world yours for the taking,’ Lamotte shook his head and sighed. ‘But you haven’t come to listen to my meanderings. Give me a moment while I glance at your play.’
    He opened the book once more. Tom waited, watching his face intently, not daring to speak. His pulse raced. Perhaps this man was not going to dismiss him out of hand.
    ‘ Perseus and Andromeda , eh?’ Lamotte said when he reached the bottom of the first page. ‘Well, no one’s tried it yet, at least as far as I can recall, and it’s a good tale. There’d be a fair bit of skill and trickery needed though, have you thought of that? Your gentlemen writers can poetise to their ladies for pages on end, but if you want to pull in the audiences, you need to show them the action. I’ve been fifteen years in this business and I know what I’m talking about.’ He laughed. ‘If you’re to succeed, give audiences what they want, even if they don’t know at the time what that might be. A storm when Perseus sets off on his quest to destroy the Gorgon would be a better beginning than you’ve got here. A storm always pleases the groundlings – cannon and fireworks for the thunder and lightning – costly, but worth it.’
    He stroked his greasepaint-streaked beard. ‘I’d need to read more, of course, and I’d want to see plenty of drama – drama and horror,’ he rolled the words off his tongue with relish.
    He nodded to another player passing nearby. ‘There’d need to be some ugly mugs for the hags who show Perseus the way to the Gorgon’s lair, but that will not be hard in our company, we’ve plenty will suit.’ The other player grinned. ‘They could burst up from Hell in a flash of lightning,’ Lamotte went on. ‘That usually raises a gasp from the pit.’
    ‘From Hell?’ Tom asked, puzzled.
    ‘Through the trapdoor in the stage. You do have a lot to learn, don’t you? And Perseus will need his winged sandals to fly across Asia to rescue Andromeda. Do you intend to knit those?’
    Tom’s flush deepened. He should never have come after all.
    ‘Only a little pleasantry, you mustn’t take everything so to heart,’ Lamotte said more kindly. ‘Well, I’ll make you an offer. We stay here a few more days to play for the Countess of Pembroke. I’ll read the rest of your play and tell you what I think before we leave. Will that please you?’
    A surge of delight went through Tom. ‘More than I can say. Thank you a thousand times.’
    Lamotte grinned. ‘I’ve not given you my opinion yet. Save your thanks until I have. Come and see me the day after tomorrow. We lodge at the Blue Boar.’
    As Tom left the tent, his blood tingled. He found Adam still snoring under the alder tree and shook him. ‘Home now, if you can stand, that is. I’m not carrying you.’
    Adam coughed and spat out a gobbet of phlegm. ‘Awright, doan shout.’
    Tom sighed. It was going to be a long walk.
    They stumbled through the dark streets, Adam weighing down Tom’s shoulder. Long before they reached William Kemp’s house in New Street, his