Stormdragons

Chapter 18

The Fabulous Bamboozle Boys drew a huge crowd for their last performance in Aruk. Mehmed had negotiated the use of the main square, an ideal arena for their performance. The Corn Exchange had tall columns and wide steps and the Governor's Palace was fronted with sparkling fountains and a marble terrace. To loud bursts of applause, the boys rode like demons. They juddered down the steps, weaved in and out of the columns and spun around the fountains. Mac's mouth was full of the toughest nougart money could buy.

'See. I'm better when I chew,' he whispered to Clare as he rode past.

Spud included the donkey in his comedy act. Attaching a rope between its neck and his bicycle, Spud pretended to challenge the animal to a trial of strength. The donkey brayed and stood its ground. Spud strained with pretend effort until he fell off his bike. The crowd cheered and applauded the donkey.

For the finale Spud and Mac revealed the skateboards that had been made for them the previous day. With whoops of delight, they shot passed the crowd, performed flips on the library steps and skimmed around the rim of the fountains. The crowd were delighted.

The only person not paying attention was Clare. She was keeping a watchful eye on Mehmed and scanning the crowd for a sight of the hideous monkey or the boy. She saw shadows everywhere. Most of the Palace balconies were full of brightly dressed men and women enjoying the show. But others were empty and dark and Clare couldn't help wondering what lay behind their beautiful closed doors.

Towards the end of the performance, a large, black bird alighted on one of the parapets. It was a crow with hunched shoulders and beady eyes. Clare felt an icy chill. Was there something horribly familiar about that bird or was she just being paranoid? She did not have time to decide. The show was ending and it was her job to rush round collecting the coins thrown by the spectators.

'The crowd loved me,' said a hot and sweaty Spud, sponging his face.

'Almost as much as they loved the donkey,' said Clare.

Mac grinned, exposing several pink-coloured, sweet-covered teeth. Spud cuffed him on the shoulder.

'You wait, Mac. It's only a matter of time before some local TV station picks up on us,' said Spud. 'And then, who knows?'

Mehmed approached, leading his horse.

'I have good news. We have been invited to perform before the Caliph at his anniversary celebrations. The Governor has recommended us.'

'Do you think we should accept?' asked Mac.

Mehmed laughed.

'It's an invitation you can't refuse,' he said.

'So that means we are going to the port of Bandar-e-Abbar?' asked Clare.

'We leave immediately,' replied Mehmed.

'I guess we'll need new outfits if we're going to perform before royalty,' said Spud.

Mehmed shook his head.

'I'm afraid we have no money for outfits. The ones you have will be fine.'

'But we've done four shows, we must have taken loads of money,' protested Spud.

Mehmed opened his saddle bag. There were only a few coins in it, less than they would have received for the show they'd just finished.

'I've sent the rest to the Sheik. You know how impatient he is,' said Mehmed.

'He only gets six out of every ten dinars we take. There's a lot more missing than that,' said Spud.

'I counted it carefully, ' said Mehmed.