Book2 Chapter 2.

Catbads return.

This show is getting old. 

It's even looking older than he was and that's saying something. 

Catbad reckoned he could squeeze out the last few million bucks from it this season and that's it.

Before the lift doors slid open he already had his professional smirk on his face. He strolled into the melee that was the  waiting film crew and reporters as confident as a man who owned the place (which as off this morning he did).

"HELLO it's Steven CATWELL!"

Announced excitedly Hip Boy past winner and now  co presenter of X Star.

"So welcome to the back stage of The O2 Dublin.  How do you and the other judges like auditioning  in Ireland  for the first time?"

Asked Hip boy shoving his hand mike in front of Catbads face.

Catbad pushed the mike back and wished in this body he had a bit more magic to be able to turn this jackass into a jackass. 

"Not much really. But Liamie  insist his Ireland overflows with talent." Catbad smiled.
"Me I'm not convinced.  Should have stayed on the mainland."

Catbad, followed by camera crew and hip boy strolled over to one of the make up chairs. 

He sat down and a young make up Girl placed a gown over him and started playing with his hair.

There wasn't much she could do.

His hair and make up was done upstairs long before he got in front of the waiting cameras.

This was all for show.

As was what follows next.

"STEVEN!  STEVEN!" Shouted down Liamie Wally getting his make up done three chairs up.

"I'm telling you Dublin is going to blow your socks off!"

"Waste of time coming here." Sighed Catbad back. 

"I seen the crowds outside. Don't look like any of them could make me blow my nose.  Never mind my socks!"

"You'll  see.  Ireland won't let us down. 
The talent here is amazing.  The people are amazing.  It's gonna be amazing."

"That's amazing Liamie!" Smiled Hip Boy laughing at his own joke. No one else did.

"Look here comes Karen Awesome and cherri Cola and their looking amazing!"

Hip boy moved fast and ambushed the female judges at the lifts.

The film crew barley catching up with him.

"On in ten minutes. Mr Catwell." Spoke a crew member passing on a message he revived from his headphones.

"Thank you." Replied Catbad and the roadie moved away leaving Catbad with his thoughts.

The make up artist was still playing with his hair. Catbad stirred at his image in the mirror and Catwell stirred back.

Hard to believe it's been over forty years since he possessed this body.

Catbad remembered been tied to the stone in ancient Ireland and the spear flying towards him.

He remembered the pain as it pierced his heart.

As the last of his life left his body. 

As he watched  Abbie and Cu Culainn escape.

He felt something. 

Something that he hadn't felt in a long time.

He felt good.

But he wasn't sure if he liked it.

His eyes closed for the last time. 

Then in the darkness he heard.

"Can you tell us who you are?"

When he opened them again he was no longer tied to the stone.

Strange? He was in a semi darkened room lit by candles.

Sitting on an armchair?  

A woman with a round face stood over him and once more asked.

"Can you tell us who you are?"

Catbad didn't panic. 

She was speaking English so he knew he was somewhere in the future.

"I am Cathbad. Chief Druid of Ireland."

Someone behind the woman laughed another person told  them to remain quite.

There was an audience in the darkness.

The round face woman continued.

"You are a Druid cough bad?"

"I am a CHIEF Druid and my name is Cathbad"

He wondered why people in the future had trouble pronouncing his name.

"-Who are you and how is it I am here?"

"Sorry cough.. bad..,, I am Margaret I have hypnotised you or I should say Steve Catwell the body you are now occupying  in order to  get in touch with  his past life's.. and.. well, here you are!"

"What year is this?" Catbad asked.

"1973!" Smiled the woman. "What year do you come from!"

"By your Christian Callander around 400 or so." Answered Catbad.

The person behind her laughed once more in disbelief.

He was hushed once more.

"400!" The woman said shocked.

"400 AD"

"400-" replied Catbad. "BC"

"Oh Come on!" Roared the voice from the man who was laughing.

"Catwell is pulling our legs if he's a Druid then I'm one of the Beatles."

The whole room burst out laughing at this.

The woman looked shocked at this mans mocking disbelief.

"You should not jest Mick at things you don't understand."

"Is that right luv. Then let him answer me this!"

He said stepping out of the darkness.

He was thin faced with long haIr and big lips.

He stood beside the round face woman.

"If your an ancient Druid from ancient pagan Ireland then how come you speak English not Irish? and how do you know the "christen" calendar considering your from a time 400 years before Christ was a twinkle in gods eye."

Catbad watched doubt creep into the woman's face.

The man with the big lips waited for an answer. 

Catbad could have told him he was a Druid.

He could have told him they believe in reincarnation and that time is a circle so  when he  mediates he can  see not only past lives but future ones as well.

That's how he knows English and the christen calendar and all future events .

He could have told him that but he didn't.

"I am Cathbad. Chief Druid of ancient Ireland and I have come with a warning."

"Please Cough bad. Chief Druid of ancient Ireland. What is your warning?" Asked the round face woman.

"People of 1973." Announced Catbad.

"You must warn Elvis to cut down on the burgers.  Or his fate  will be to end up dead on the toilet and his daughter married to a Jackson "

Catbad smiled.

The room burst out laughing.

The woman wasn't. 

Anger consumed her

"Everything is just a joke to you CATWELL!!"  She screamed.

"It's just a laugh luv!"" Smiled the man with the big lips trying to calm her down."

"You know what you- TWO!  can do with your- 'just a laugh'-.  

She spat and stormed off switching the lights back on.

Catbad could now see that the room was filled with party people.

A 70's London party with long hair, flares and smoke.

"Come back!" Cried Catbad. "You have to take me out off this hypnotic state or I'll be a mad bad Catbad Druid forever."

He smiled sarcastically. 

"Get Mick to start singing that would scare away any unwanted spirits."

She yelled back and slammed the door behind her.

She never came back.

Never returned to bring back Steven Catwell to his body.

A body that now belonged to Catbad for over forty years.

A body he took good care off with a bit of magic and exercise he was able to slow the ageing process by half. 

"Your on now Mr Catwell"  Spoke the roadie coming back over.

"Good. Let's get this over with."

He sighed standing up.

Catbad smiled into the mirror.

He knew somewhere behind that face the real Steven Catwell was screaming back.

------------------------------------------

Please vote if you enjoyed it. Thanks.

Happy Easter all. So our mad bad Catbad is back.  Forty years in our time from 70"s rock star to modern reality judge. There's a whole book in that story alone. 

Next week chapter three.

The children of Lir.

*In 1973 Steve Catwell was a rock legand. He had it all. His Album "Caught out" had 4 number ones.