Massive Attack – Mezzanine (1998)

Chad and Theo had been hunting prey in Cologne since the Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus was first built.  Both were merciless hunters. Theirs was an  ancient and unholy curse.  The time of regret had long past and they settled in and shared their damnation together.

The Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) was the perfect location from which to face eternity.  It attracted almost 20,000 unsuspecting visitors every day.  The duo had their choice of victims from which to feed. They had only one steadfast rule;  that “True Love” should never be their victim.  Despite their primal needs and hunger, Chad and Theo remained believers in a romantic love. 

Only once they had exercised that belief: an elderly Italian couple visiting the Catholic Sanctuary were shown mercy unbeknownst to the couple on December 25, 1842.  As they sat outside the Cathedral, Chad and Theo were just preparing fo their attack when they heard the couple pray for their recently departed daughter. Chad and Theo shed a tear and spared the couples lives and souls.

“Sei la mia anima gemella – You are my soulmate”, Chad said to Theo as they walked away from the unharmed prey.  

Hundreds had gone missing since that tiny, tender act of mercy.  Sometimes they argued about its reasons. Chad said it was the death of the couple’s daughter that exposed that truest of love.  Theo said it was the way the gentleman held his spouse and said, “Sei tutto per me – You’re everything to me”.

They often debated the topic.  Usually on Christmas Day,  sitting on a bench outside their gothic monolith. 

by Shawn Ciavattone