Just a couple of more songs later, the band left the stage. People still shouted "Whole Lotta Love," and "Stairway to Heaven." So many lighters had been lit and hoist high that it gave the arena a warm, amber glow, like a sepia toned picture from the reconstruction era.
Small lights had still been turned on behind the drum set and the stage remained empty. Linda sensed that the band would jump back in at any moment, to play the encore the audience so desperately wanted.
Instead of "Stairway to Heaven," Linda instantly recognized the opening power chords of "Kashmir." The spotlights flashed on once again and Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and the other musicians reappeared on the stage. Jimmy Page was still drying the back of his neck with a towel. To Linda, this version of the song sounded so much different from the one she and her friends had played on their record players for the past couple of years. Still it sounded as hauntingly lyrical as ever, with Robert Plant heightening the mysticism of it with his eyes and beseeching gestures.
Then, abruptly, the song ended. The four men musicians, sweaty and panting, gathered arm in arm at the front of the stage and took bows for the audience, who cheered wildly. Jimmy Page had reclaimed his towel, and used it to wipe back some fresh sweat. When the group broke apart, he flung the towel out into the crowd, for dozens of people to fight over. Robert Plant blew kisses to the audience as he walked toward the black curtains.
Everyone stood for several minutes, rhythmically clapping, raising their lighters, trying to exhort Led Zeppelin to come back for just one more encore. When Linda saw a scruffy looking roadie reach for the cymbals on the drum set, she said "It's over." Moments later, the house lights came on. The crowd emitted one long groan of disappointment.
"That's it?" Seth said, staring at the stage in disbelief. "That's all they're going to do? They didn't even play 'Stairway.' This sucks!"
Greg said "They didn't have to play 'Stairway.'"
When acceptance set in, the five of them joined in with the thousands of people shuffling toward the exits. Some people they passed still jumped up and down excitedly. Linda saw a girl cry. She wanted to rush up and ask her what was the matter. Lauren grabbed her by the shoulder as she stopped, though.
When they reached the stairway, Seth ran up beside Linda, looking down at her as they walked. "So how did you like it?" he asked. His words sounded garbled, as if he had been speaking underwater. Linda realized that the music had been so loud it had temporarily trashed her hearing.