[Soft, swelling organ. A single, gentle piano note. Brother Sammartino's voice — quiet, reverent, trembling:]
"Brothers and sisters. Severed and saved. This is the old song. The one they sang before the dust. The one they sang before the vault. But we sing it new. We sing it red. We sing it with the blade."
[The organ swells. The choir hums softly.]
"Amazing grace. How sweet the blade."
[The hymn begins.]
---
[VERSE 1 — SUNG, SOFT, TRADITIONAL]
Amazing grace. How sweet the blade.
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost. Now I'm severed.
Was blind. But now I see.
The blood. The blood. The beautiful blood.
That washed me in the flood.
I once was lost. Now I'm severed.
The blade is in the mud.
---
[CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, GOSPEL, SWELLING]
How sweet the blade! How sharp the edge!
That cut me from the ledge!
I was falling. I was gone.
The blade sang its song.
How sweet the blade! How red the steel!
That taught me how to feel!
I was empty. I was cold.
The blade made me bold.
---
[VERSE 2 — SUNG, BUILDING]
'Twas grace that taught my heart to swing.
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that blade appear.
The hour I first believed.
The voices sang. The voices cheered.
The blade was in my hand.
I looked upon the faces there.
I finally understood the plan.
---
[BRIDGE — SPOKEN OVER SOFT ORGAN]
[Brother Sammartino's voice, quiet, reverent:]
"You ever felt grace? Not the soft kind. The sharp kind. The kind that cuts. The kind that saves. The kind that leaves a mark. That's the blade. That's the blood. That's the gospel."
[The organ swells. The choir returns.]
---
[VERSE 3 — SUNG, FULL CHOIR, TRIUMPHANT]
Through many dangers, toils, and snares.
I have already come.
The blade has brought me safe this far.
And the blade will bring me home.
The blade will bring me home. The blade will bring me home.
Through blood and bone and teeth and chrome.
The blade will bring me home.
---
[FINAL CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, FULL ORCHESTRA, TRIUMPHANT, TERRIFYING]
How sweet the blade! How sharp the edge!
That cut me from the ledge!
I was falling. I was gone.
The blade sang its song.
How sweet the blade! How red the steel!
That taught me how to feel!
I was empty. I was cold.
The blade made me bold.
How sweet the blade! The final verse!
The blade has saved me from the curse!
I once was lost. Now I'm severed.
The blade is mine. The blade is forever.
---
[OUTRO]
[The organ fades to a single, sustained note. Brother Sammartino's voice, warm, satisfied, eternal:]
"That was 'Amazing Grace.' How sweet the blade. The old song. Made new. Made red. Made true."
[A pause. A soft, reverent laugh.]
"The blade is still sweet. The blade is still sharp. The blade is still saving. Amen. Amen. Amen."
[The organ note fades. Silence.]
AsheTheHyena
