Thank You
Jade watched Slash onstage, lost herself in the swiftness and skill
with which Slash's fingers moved on the guitar strings. Lost herself in
gazing at his long, thick, dark curls, gazing at the beads of sweat
trickling down the smooth bronzed skin of his lean, muscular arms and torso.
Gazing at the expression on his face. His eyes closed as if he too, were
held captive by a spell. She lost herself in the energy with which he
played. She raised her hands skyward, savoring the feeling of rapture his
music evoked within her. Jade wanted to meet Slash, she wanted the chance
to tell him how much his music meant to her. It had been a while since
she'd been been to a rock concert, but she remembered how crowded and crazy
things got, especially after a huge show like this one. It was for this
reason, that she preferred club shows a bit more, somehow you felt a
stronger connection to the music, that you just didn't feel when you were
lost inside a concert hall.......
*****************************
She remembered seeing another guitarist whose music she had loved, back
in 1965 at the Cafe Wha named Jimmy. She especially loved it when he would
just jam, play whatever he was thinking of, whatever he was feeling. Once
he had returned from England, as "Jimi" things were somehow never quite the
same. She saw him at different concerts, but the ones that stuck out in her
mind, were Woodstock, and the Isle of Wight Festival. She had sensed his
sadness, weariness, and frustration. She had wanted to help him, wanted to
take his pain away, but she was learning there were some things that were
just not in her power to give. She still wrestled with the question of
whether or not offering the choice to him, the choice of immortality would
have been a blessing or a curse. She had never even told him what she was,
but there were moments when she was sure that he knew, but he never treated
her any differently for it, and that made the loss of Jimi Hendrix that much
harder on her.
For her, no other guitarist since played with that same type of
feeling, that same type of energy, and she was convinced that there never
would be until she'd seen seen Guns N'Roses at The Troubador in 1986. She
had seen the lead guitarist in other bands, she had been certain, because
there could be no mistaking his sound, there was definitely something about
it, and from then on she was hooked.
************************
The end of the show snapped her out of her reverie. After the
concert, Jade finally got the chance to meet Slash. She was rather
pleasantly surprised to find out how down-to-earth and agreeable he was,
despite how tired he must have been. Jade even got the chance to meet
Slash's girlfriend, who was not only very beautiful, but very gracious as well. They
spoke briefly about the show, and musicians they enjoyed. Slash noticed
Jade's silver snake armband, and asked her about it. She came up with some
type of suitable response. If she really told Slash where the silver snake
with the ruby eyes coiled around her arm came from, he and his girlfriend would
either laugh at her in disbelief, or Slash and she, Rod, Ryan, and everyone
in the vicinity would haul ass to get away from her, and she didn't think
she could handle either of those possibilities very well. She remembered
the night she'd been changed.............
*******************************
It had been 1479 B.C. in the month of Athor, season of water plants,
and she had been leaving a temple dedicated to the goddess Sekhmet after
leaving an offering. It was just after dusk, when out of nowhere appeared a
stranger whose appearance was unlike that of any man she'd ever seen. Jade
knew he was not a temple priest, because priests had to shave off all of
their
body hair. And yet, she sensed very strongly that this being belonged
at this temple. Draped about his neck was a great snake, and at his feet
crouched a black panther, it's blue-black coat luminescent in the moonlight.
The stranger had with him a string instrument, with a flat back, and
rounded sides.
"What is it you're looking for?" he asked her.
"Release." she had whispered.
And with that one word, he had somehow known and understood. Felt the pain
she had endured listening to her parents yell hurtful things at one another,
knew how Jade longed to travel beyond Sakkara's city limits, knew her love
of music. What her spirit cried out for, and what her heart desired,
Sekhemkhet, son of Sekhmet, gave to her that night. It had been so long
ago, yet it was still as fresh in her mind as if it had happened yesterday.
**************************
Jade thanked Slash and left, but somehow, she just could not rid
herself of the thought, that somehow just saying "Thank You" seemed
inadequate.
Back at the hotel,she thought for a while,and after recalling some articles
she had read,an idea sprung to mind, now if only she were able to track it
down and it still existed. Jade hurried to the phone, and began dialing,
she had lots favors to collect on, and not much time.
**************************
After the show, on the last night, shortly before they were due
to head out for the next stop on the tour, there was a knock
on Slash's tour bus door. "What now?" a bodyguard muttered, as he opened
the door and peered out, ready to take care of business. Just as he was
about to step down from the bus, he looked down on the ground and noticed a
guitar case. Cautiously he looked around and once again looked carefully
at the guitar case. "Does somebody want this signed?" he called out.
Nothing, no reponse. Shaking his head, the bodyguard, opened the guitar
case, and inside was a B.C. Rich Mockingbird, obviously used, but still in
good condition. "What's wrong?" asked a familiar voice from the bus
doorway. "You might want to take a look at this." the bodyguard said,
showing Slash what was in the guitar case.
"No f**cking way." Slash said in disbelief once he had gotten a
good look at the guitar. Hardly able to believe his eyes, he carefully took
the guitar he thought he'd never see again in his hands. "Wait, there's a
note with it.", The bodyguard said with surprise. "What's it say?" Slash
asked.
The bodyguard read the note:
This is thank you.
For restoring to me
something I thought I'd lost,
And so, in return,
I am doing the same for you.
Jade
No one was able to recall seeing the slender young woman, with the medium
brown shoulder-length hair and reddish brown skin who had dropped the guitar
case off, and proceeded to make her way into the night with an unnaturally
cat-like grace and swiftness.