Undaunted

Mystery

I made my way around the rest of the festival, still considering my mom's idea of the circus. I listened to another band (who fortunately was not country), dunked one of my teachers in a game, and talked to a few of my friends. While it killed some time, the night was still young and I didn't want to return to the cabin just yet, so I got a hold of my mom and told her I'd catch her later at the circus.

After some more wandering around the town, I decided I'd head over to the circus tent and see if I could get a seat or catch a glimpse of some of the troupe members. When I got into the park, I spotted the tents set up outside the main ring, but there wasn't anything interesting over there, so I went inside.

I was early, so I waited as more and more people trickled in. Excited chatter sprung up every once in a while. Many Averians hadn't gone far outside of the town and hadn't seen anything like this. I wasn't overly eager, as my parents had taken me to a few carnivals and fairs before when I was little. A few minutes before the show was set to start, my mom arrived and picked her way through the bleachers to sit next to me.

The lights dimmed, save for a few spotlights that raced over the crowd, receiving a few cheers and whistles. From a large opening to my left, a sharply dressed ringleader stepped out, his red and black suit and top hat causing him to stand out. He held up his white gloved hands and shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the Black Hills Circus! Prepare to be amazed by our stellar crew and amazing feats!"

The man stepped aside to let some horse riders race out into the ring. The acrobats flipped and balanced on the backs of the creatures with ease. They performed a few more tricks before the next act came out. The stunts went one after another, from risking the trapeze to lion taming. The people were particularly amazed by the cannon acts and magicians. And while it was interesting, I didn't think it was any more spectacular than any other circus.

The ringmaster stepped back out. "And now, something I'll bet none of you have ever seen before!" A large box was rolled out. It was painted like someone had reached up and stolen a patch of the galaxies and had many hatches and doors. Walking behind it was a normal woman waving at the crowd and a horse.

"Now I know this doesn't look like much, but just you wait!" the ringmaster promised. He tapped the side of the box. The girl opened one of the panels and stepped inside while the horse was led into the other. The magician closed both doors and whistled. A few strongmen came out and began to spin the box around in circles, going faster and faster.

The master watched for a few moments before clapping. A puff of glittery smoke escaped from the cracks of the box and the crowd gasped. The men slowed the box and returned it to its original position.

"And without further delay, I shall open the box!" The ringleader stepped up to the box, but instead of reaching for the doors that held the girl and the horse, he grabbed another panel and pulled. The entire face of the box slid open and a large shape leaped out. My eyes widened and my mouth fell open. I couldn't help it. The sight had the entire crowd spellbound.

The girl and the horse were gone. Instead of two individuals, it was like they had been smashed together. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was staring at a real life centaur. That, or it was a very good illusion. The centaur trotted around the ring for everybody to see. She was amazing. She had long, unbound brown hair and warm eyes the colour of pure honey. The horse body was chestnut coloured, with sharp white overo markings. She ran like the wind.

"Now isn't she pretty, folks?" the ringmaster asked. The crowd roared, the cheers louder than ever before. He held out a baton and the centaur caught it, twirling it around deftly and tossing it into the air. She made a few more passes before slowing to a walk and heading back towards the box. "But now I think we'd better split the two up, don't you?" The centaur got back inside the box, despite the dismay of the crowd. The door slid shut once again and the girl and the horse appeared once again.

The crowd stood up to applaud as the rest of the troupe went out to stand in the ring. "Thank you very much, people of Avery! Thank you for your hospitality! Thank you and good night!" the ringmaster finished, and they all bowed. The show was over.

But I still couldn't believe what I had seen.

"Mom, that was amazing!" I exclaimed.

She laughed. "Wow, Drew, I didn't think you liked circuses that much. Maybe we should have taken you to see them a few more times, then."

I blinked and shook my head. "Not that, I meant the centaur thing! How do you suppose they did that?" My heart had begun pounding and it still hadn't calmed down since then.

"Drew, how on earth do you think I would know that?" she sighed exasperatedly. "Isn't that part of the whole circus thing? Keeping amazing secrets of your act and letting the people wonder?"

I let out a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm still just so fascinated by that."

She smiled tightly and remarked, "Well, now, I think we can leave now. Are you going to stay at the festival for a little while longer?" She regarded me curiously.

"Probably not. It's kind of late and I've been running around all day," I decided.

"Then that's all I needed to know. You take care, Drew, and I'll see you later." She waved at me before getting up and leaving.

I watched her leave the tent, but I lingered a bit longer, watching the box make its way back outside to the tents until it disappeared out of view. I was overcome with an insatiable desire to know how they did it. That centaur looked like the real thing, and it couldn't have been a costume. But no matter what I brainstormed, I couldn't come up with a logical explanation or one that I was satisfied with.

I left when they began taking down the tent. The sign out in front of the striped dome said they'd be leaving sometime later tomorrow, but I knew I wouldn't have a chance to talk to them. Mom wanted me to run some errands, so I wouldn't have the time. So that meant I was out of options. Unless...

"Drew, you're not seriously thinking of sneaking into a circus, are you?" I snapped at myself, getting a weird look from a few people, but I ignored them. I knew I'd never get a chance quite like this. "And besides, it's only a serious problem if you get caught."