The Orphan's Tale

Chapter 5

You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. Psalm 5:6

"Are you unhurt?" James whispered in my ear.

"I'm fine," I muttered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"If you say so," he said, giving his head a little shake.

I don't know if my partner believed me or if he only pretended to due to the watching eyes. Then I remembered that there was still the next trick to do. I was captured under the gaze of a million eyes. Paralyzed, there was no escape for me.

James put an apple on the top of my head and I held very still, my eyes squeezed shut. I did my best to still the trembling in my body. The drum began to beat quickly again as the crowd made nervous sounds. Part of me remembered James' reassurances that his family was hunters in the Americas and that he was a crack shot, but the other part of me couldn't stop thinking about the article I had read that morning about the murder. Or what if there was something wrong with the flintlock and he missed. Or about Jacko.

Whatever happened, it would be over quickly in that I took comfort. I heard the sound of the shot and felt the apple shatter from James' pistol. Grateful that it had been the apple and not my head. The audience cheered wildly. Some of them were even on their feet. Shakenly I tried to sweep the apple bits off my kerchief. But my hand trembled, and I couldn't stop. But surely, the crowd was too far away to see that.

Lost in my thoughts I returned to the shadows of the tent, where Delia fussed over my nicked ear. But it was Momma Ana that put some sticking plaster over it.

"Silly girl, what made you move? You and James have done that trick a thousand times." she scolded.

I couldn't help glancing at Jacko by the lion cages. How they snarled at him and batted.

"Jacko!" snapped Momma Ana. "Don't torment the poor brutes!"

He glanced at her and gave that charming smile. "Why Mother, I was only teasing the beasts, just a bit of fun."

"I've told you before your 'bit of fun' is less than fun to them! Leave the poor things alone!" she scolded, sharply.

"Of course," Jacko replied.

As Momma Ana turned back toward me, her son doffed his hat to me like a gentleman might to a lady, but coming from Jacko it was more an insult than a gesture of honor. The way his eyes glittered above his wicked grin filled me with dread. I must have shuddered.

"Why land sakes child! Are you ill? Perhaps you ought to sit down!" exclaimed Momma Ana. Taking me firmly by the shoulder, she guided me over to a bench and pressed me into the seat.

"I'm all right." I protested out of habit, but my tone was shaky.

"I'm certain you'd say the same on your deathbed! All right, all right, you most certainly are not all right!" scolded the older woman. She pressed the back of her hand against my forehead. "Pale, no fever," she murmured to herself.

It was then everything abruptly changed. Bobbies calling for the audience to all leave invaded the tent. It was clear that we, the circus members, were in trouble. The current act and the drum stopped abruptly. Momma Ana forgot all about me. Rising in a huff, she strode up to the Captain of the bobbies.

"In all my years, I've never had a show interrupted by such a lot! What is the meaning of this, sir!" she demanded. "You are costing us our customers!"