Josie Chrimes leveled the knife, holding it by its blade. She felt its weight shift towards the handle, the cool steel pressing on her forefinger and thumb as she extended her arm. The Great Cardamom stood twenty strides away. It could be twice as far and I'd still be able to send the blade through him, she thought.
Josie never missed. She reached her arm back, then snapped forward and, with a confident flick of her wrist, sent the knife whirling towards its target.
The sound of the audiences 's gasp mad her smile. The knife flashed across the stage until - with a thunk! - it pinned the Great Cardamoms top hat to the cork board behind him.
Knife after knife had described the outline, so close that Josie had seen the front rows of the audience craning forward, wide-eyed and eager to spot a trickle of blood. But now this last knife had hit its mark, Cardamom stepped neatly fom under his hat, still pinned to the cork, and smoothed his red hair. With a flourish, he gave a deep bow, looking over at Josie to share a secret wink. The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering.
Josie strode across the stage, narrowing her eyes against the harsh glare of the footlights. Then she took Cardamom's hand and shared the second bow, dipping so low her nose brushed against her skirt.
As the two of them straightened up, Josie glanced over at Cardamom. She was almost taller then him now. Out in the street they would have made a curious sight.
He stocky, with dyed red hair, clipped moustache and red lined cloak, she dressed in leggings and a light shift, her long, blonde hair spilling from under a black bow.
But onstage they made the perfect fit.
Josie took a deep breath, smelling the sweat from the audience and the dust ingrained in the velvet curtains. The music from the orchestra's pit filled the air, vibrating through her bones. This is where i belong, she thought squeezing the hand of her guardian, The Great Cardamom..
'Ladies and gentlemen.' He raised his hand, asking for quiet. 'I give you Artemis the Huntress! Thirteen years of age, a lifetime of talent!'
YOU ARE READING
Mortlock
AdventureJosie is a knife thrower in a magician's stage act. Alfie is an undertaker's assistant. They are both orphans and they have never met, but they are about to be given a clue to the secret of their shared past. A past which has come to seek them out. ...
