The next thing he notices are the sounds. The music is no louder, but somehow it commands more of his attention, to the point that when the young man says something Joss pays no notice, barely even hears it.
It’s harsh and abrasive. It almost hurts his ears. There’s nothing special about it–thumping beat, multi-layered repeated loops offset just enough to keep the listening experience moderately interesting and slightly trance-inducing, gibberish vocals that sound like someone singing in tongues and probably is. But it commands his attention in a way he’s not used to. He tries to dismiss it, to focus on the young man who is still talking to him. Despite more effort than usual, he can’t quite manage it.
That’s his first clue to what’s happened.
Tags: A Night Out, Bassarids, postcard stories
