A sea of chatter filled the air around:

the shouts and laughter–turbulent and loud;

and Bartimaeus, sitting on the ground

raised his voice to shout above the crowd.

The darkness pressed like noise upon his eyes.

His heart, suspended, barely touched its beat.

And yet he shouted, focused on the prize

and would not stop, nor now admit defeat.

And then a silence—deafening as wind.

the floated voices of a man, he heard.

His heart was pulsing, all his blood had thinned

he strained his ears and prayed to catch a word.

And then that sound of footsteps—that, he knew.

“Take courage. Come. The master calls for you.”

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