He wished it would stop.Siggy Axelmeyer was before him on the balcony of Cane-brake House. He was playing his mouth-organ, his back to Sukui, a microphone cable trailing down over the crook of his right arm.The two of them were alone, except for the voice ringing in Sukui's head, the Good Lord Salvo booming, 'It's me or him, Kasimir. Me or him!'The balcony railing came only a few centimetres higher than Axelmeyer's knees and now Siggy was leaning out, playing one-handed and gesturing to the crowd with his other hand.'Me or him, Kasimir!'Why could the Prime not be quiet? Sukui knew that Salvo wasn't here, on this balcony at Canebrake House, yet the voice was so loud inside his skull.He took a step toward Axelmeyer.He knew what would happen next. He had lived this dream before. He took a deep breath, raised his hands in front of him.And Axelmeyer turned, his eyes swelling, his mouth dropping open, his harmonica tumbling away and lodging itself in the clematis that must be all that held the balcony's railing in position.
