The Adventures Of Ms Joelle: The Castrati Cages

This story sorta came up while chatting with Shuku. We actually considered drawing it, but realized that it'll take far too long for us to commit proper work to draw it properly. And we intended it to be just a quick short story, rather than a proper one so what we're gonna just do is cut-paste and edit bits of it.

Shuku: Prettyboys.
Janvier: You're watching prettyboys? Castrati? Locked permanently in a cage. Always having to sing for his meals.
Janvier: Dressed only in a simple white gown...whenever the master comes home...he must sing.
Shuku: Not quite so extreme, thankfully.
Janvier: When the master is lounging in the garden sipping drinks reading...he must continually sing.
Shuku: ...you're scaring me. I could turn that into a story very easily.

So anyways we've just took what we wrote in the chat, editted it slightly and dumped it here:

"Ah, Ms Joelle. So good of you to visit."
"Of course Monsieur Poe. The Academy is very appreciative of your generous donations."
"Only a trifle."
"But what we find more impressive, Mssr Poe, is your vast collection of castrati chorals."
"Ah. Perhaps you'd like to come in to see? There's no need to chat here by the gates."
"Most gladly!"

As they walk through the garden they are accompanied by voices singing.



"Here. Come into the sitting room."

Mssr Poe sits Ms Joelle in a comfy chaise-lounge, and proceeds to tap a password on the security panel on the far wall. As he finishes, a wall panelling slide back to reveal an iron bar cage only as high as Mssr Poe's waist. The cage is filled full with young boys.

The image of chickens in a coop came to Ms Joelle's mind. The boys look cooped but not uncomfortable. All of them wear white smocks, and looks as if they've been brought up all their life in a cage.

Mssr Poe taps the cage twice with a ringed finger. A boy, someone in the back of the cage, starts to sing.

6/19. Miserere mei, Deus - Beasley-Murray, Timothy; Finley, Gerald; Choir of Kin

"Just marvellous, Mssr Poe!"
"Come, Ms Joelle, we shall dine here while my boys sing for us."
"Enchanted."

Mssr Poe wheeled in a tray, and set a table near the fireplace. The boys continued to sing.



"The dinner is sumptuous, Mssr Poe. I cannot identify the sauce, but I must say the meat is tender."
"A family secret, Ms Joelle. I'm glad you enjoy it."
"One question, Mssr Poe...I noticed that all your boys are of various age, but none seem to be older than twelve..."
"Of course, a voice cracking is horrendoes to hear."
"What happens when they grow up, then?"

Mssr Poe leans forward across the table and smiles broadly at Ms Joelle.

"Why, how are you enjoying your dinner, Ms Joelle?"

Hmmm, some notes about the story:
The children never learned how to speak - only sing.
They have to sing for their meals too. If not they don't get to eat.
There are boys in cages everywhere in Mssr Poe's mansion. Hidden away so that no one else can see the source of music.