All Kindreds

5: Thunder and Lightning

A chime rang.

The angry employer lurched upright again. "You, Furry-head!" he barked at Liz. "Clear the platform before they drop another cocoon on your scrawny bones. Follow me. And you--" He glared at the other minotaur. "Tell me how I am supposed to get a replacement at this late hour."

Liz trotted to keep up as the pair of them tromped down one corridor after another.

"Since you consider it such an honorable role, why don't you play it yourself?" the actor demanded.

"You idiot!" the master snarled. "I'll be narrating and running the special effects! You think I can be in three places at once?"

"Special effects-- What marvels have you prepared to dazzle the audience's senses?"

Liz caught the sarcasm in the minotaur's voice, unhindered by the barriers of language and species.

The producer reared and shook his horn-crowned head. "Thunder and lightning and jets of flame. Quite impressive, considering what short notice I had to pull this all together."

"Thunder and lightning." The actor snorted and stomped. "Is that how you imagine it will appear?"

"That is how I suppose the audience imagines it."

"You yourself do not believe."

"My beliefs are of no consequence. All that matters is that the audience desires this. And for all we know, the presentation may well feed their beliefs. It is even possible we could spark a spiritual revival. And you refuse to participate."

Liz stopped to catch her breath, leaning with one arm on the corridor wall. However long she'd been doped for transit, she'd gone without food. She felt light-headed with hunger. Her former sponsor had let her help herself to provisions in his pantry, but this new setup-- What was this, a traveling show? When and where did they eat?

She gritted her teeth and ran to catch up.

By the time they arrived at their destination, the two minotaurs had hammered out an agreement. The balky actor would play his part in the opening performance, donating his pay to charity since he wanted no profit from this farce. The producer would then have a full day to find a replacement.

"A quick run-through. Stand here, Furry-head," the sponsor said, pointing out a spot on stage.

Liz took her place. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Just stand there, look noble, and do not flinch when the flames burst out. You, oh pious one, stand beside the scrawny creature and make sure you do not block it from view."

As the other minotaur took his place beside her, Liz glanced at the surrounding walls. "Pardon my ignorance, but where will the audience be?"

"Down below."

"Where are the other two?" the minotaur actor asked.

"I oriented them yesterday. They know what to do."

"But--"

"You have no lines, no interaction. There is nothing to rehearse, idiot! Now brace yourselves." The producer stepped to the wall and threw a switch.