The Last Samurai (75 page)

He took his other hand out of his pocket and began picking out an arrangement of the samurai theme on two strings.

I did not know what to say. I said

You could play anything you want on the CD

He said

Or I could play something by special request. Any ideas?

I said

Well

Then I said

You could play something by Brahms.

He said

By Brahms?

I said

Do you know Brahms’ Ballade Op. 10 No. 2 in D major?

He said

What?

I said

Brahms’ Ballade Op. 10 No. 2 in D major? It’s part of a set.

He said

Yes I know.

He turned and rested his arm on the curved wooden side of the piano. He said

Do you know the rest of the set?

I said that was the only one I had heard because I knew someone who played it a lot but of course if he wanted to put the whole set on the CD he could because it was his CD and he had complete artistic control.

He said

I don’t know

I did not know what to say.

I said

I could teach you judo.

He said

I don’t know

I said

I could teach you piquet.

I could teach you Lagrangians.

I did not know what to say.

I said

Make this CD and I’ll teach you to play Straight No Chaser.

He said

Done.