[CHAPTER 5 — DARK WESTERN BALLAD — 76 BPM — E MINOR] [LOW MALE BARITONE NARRATOR — CLOSE, CONTROLLED, CLEAR DICTION] [BARITONE ACOUSTIC GUITAR — SPARSE BASS — BOWED FIDDLE DRONE] [NO DRUMS INITIALLY] [SINISTER BUT INTIMATE] [INTRO — 8 BARS] [LOW GUITAR, SINGLE NOTES] [DISTANT METALLIC SCRAPE] [VERSE 1] The Iron Sierra closed around them, Snow above and stone below; They found shelter in an old mine No living map appeared to know. Deep that night the mountain shuddered, Timbers cracked and lanterns fell; Billy Baggs went through the flooring Into darkness like a well. [VERSE 2] He woke alone among the tailings, Head still ringing from the fall; Found his lantern smashed beside him, Heard black water down the wall. Then his fingers touched some silver, Cold beneath his searching hand— Just a tiny blackened trinket On a broken little band. [INSTRUMENTAL] [VERSE 3] It was shaped a little strangely, Nine sharp points around its face; At the top, a tiny eyelet Showed where something held its place. Billy slipped it in his pocket, More from instinct than from greed; Then somewhere beyond the darkness Something heard him start to breathe. [2 BARS SILENCE] [VERSE 4] Silas Grinn had lived below there Longer than he cared to know; Skin gone pale as winter ashes, Hair hung thin and dirty low. Once perhaps he'd been a miner, Once perhaps he'd had a name; Now he trapped blind fish in darkness And talked softly to the same. [LOW FIDDLE SCRAPE] [VERSE 5] Silas whispered to the darkness, "Something breathing. Something new." Billy called, "Who's there? I'm lost, sir." Silas answered, "So was Grinn too." Billy heard bare feet on gravel, Then two eyes caught distant light; Silas laughed somewhere beyond him— "Lost things stay with Grinn at night." [VERSE 6] Billy backed against the stone wall, Found his little pocket knife; Silas smelled the air around him Like a wolf deciding life. Then Grinn asked him, almost kindly, "Does the lost one like a game?" Billy asked him, "What kind, mister?" Silas said, "The guessing kind." [SUBTLE MUTED GUITAR BODY + BASS] [VERSE 7] So they traded little riddles, Things of horses, rain and bone; Billy played to buy direction, Silas played to keep his own. For a while the thing seemed almost Like two drifters passing time— Till Grinn reached beneath his shirtfront And his smile became a whine. [VERSE 8] Silas pawed through empty pockets, Searched the stones beside his feet; First he cursed and then he whimpered, Then his voice went small and sweet. Grinn cried, "Pretty little darling, Little star that stayed with Grinn." Billy felt the charm inside him— And the dark seemed to close in. [LOW THREE-NOTE MOTIF] [VERSE 9] Silas asked him, "Did you find it?" Billy answered, "Find you what?" Grinn said, "Little silver pretty." Billy said, "No, I did not." Silas stopped his crying sudden, And the mine went still as death; Billy couldn't see him moving— Only heard the change in breath. [INSTRUMENTAL] [VERSE 10] Then Grinn told him, "Grinn can guide you. Grinn knows every road below." Billy asked him, "What's the payment?" Silas answered, "Things you know." Billy said, "He has no money." Silas chuckled somewhere near— "Grinn ain't hungry after money." Billy understood the fear. [BRIEF PERCUSSION ENTERS, FLOOR TOM] [VERSE 11] Billy ran along the black water, Silas scrambling close behind; One could see the road before him, One had travelled every blind. Billy reached a split in tunnels, Put one hand against the stone— And the charm inside his pocket Turned as cold as mountain snow. [HIGH GUITAR HARMONICS] [VERSE 12] Billy chose the left-hand passage, Though he couldn't tell them why; Silas screamed behind him, "Thief now! Grinn will eat you by and by!" Then a pale hand caught his jacket, Billy twisted, kicked and tore; Silas tumbled toward the water Billy ran and heard no more. [RHYTHM DRIVES FOR 8 BARS] [ACOUSTIC GUITAR + LOW TOM + FIDDLE] [VERSE 13] Near the dawn he found an airshaft, Saw a thread of morning blue; Climbed through roots and broken timber, Found the western sky in view. Far below, the camp was stirring, Someone shouted Billy's name; Billy laughed and started downward— Then remembered what he'd claimed. [LIGHTER GUITAR ENTERS] [VERSE 14] For the finest sneak in Greenvale Had gone missing underground, Passed a creature in the darkness, And come out without a sound. Billy reached inside his pocket, Felt the little silver star And decided not to mention What he'd found or where they are. [FINAL CHORUS] Some things lost are best forgotten, Some things found are better still; Some lie buried under mountains, Waiting on another will. Silas Grinn went back to darkness, Billy walked into the sun With a little piece of silver [INSTRUMENTAL CODA — 6 BARS] [CHARM MOTIF ON SPANISH GUITAR — THREE DELICATE NOTES + RESOLUTION DENIED] [ONE LOW FIDDLE NOTE] [HARD GUITAR CHORD] [END FULL INSTRUMENTAL] [FULL VOLUME NO SPOKEN OUTRO NO FADE]
