Chapter 14 The Spectacle Machine

Chapter 14
The Spectacle Machine

The sound of cheery music drifted through the green woods. Even the trees swaying in the breeze seemed to move to the echoes of the rhythmical drums.

Friends o’ the whirlwind we are, we are.

A dance with the whirlwind we dance.

One of a kind, under the skies.

One of a kind we are.

Aeroga Spectacle Machine!

Come, let us open your eyes!

Aeroga Spectacle Machine!

Turns geezers and grannies to young gals n’ guys!

Aeroga Spectacle Machine!

Hearts o’ the young we’re winning.

Aeroga Spectacle Machine!

The show is just beginning!

Meena’s face broke into a smile. “It’s the chorus,” she said excitedly.

The woods were deep and the trees so tall one had to look up to see the tops. Wataru and Kee Keema followed after the ebullient Meena, when suddenly they came into a clearing. Wataru shouted in surprise at what he saw.

A giant floating stage rested upon a lake that mirrored the blue sky. Brightly painted banners and furls of fabric had been attached to the framework of the stage. On closer inspection, Wataru saw that the pieces of fabric were actually boys, girls, men and women in bright, flowing clothes. They clung to high rafters and stood atop poles. Some hung by their legs from ropes as they moved quickly and deftly, constructing the stage before Wataru’s eyes. As they worked, they sung in a beautiful harmony. Wataru couldn’t imagine the actual performance being any more fascinating than this already was.

“Look, Wataru. That’s the swing I used to use!”

A swing in the shape of a crescent moon made of thin wires hung from the highest part of the stage.

“What a view!” Kee Keema said in a bellowing voice that seemed to ride on the wind across the lake surface. A boy dressed completely in red looked in their direction and called out.

“Hey, it’s Meena!”

Meena waved. “Puck!”

“Everyone! It’s Meena! She’s come home!”

The boy in red clambered nimbly down the scaffolding. The other people stopped working, and all looked in Meena and Wataru’s direction. The song halted, and in its place came shouts of Meena! and Welcome home! and Where did you go!?We were so worried! Meena ran toward the edge of the lake, and Wataru and Kee Keema followed her into a reception warmer than any they could have imagined.

“I’m so sorry I left without saying anything, I really am.” Meena hung her head, and her eyes were filled with tears.

A large hand, spread like a fan, patted her on the head. “I read the note saying you were gone, but no one could figure out why you left. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Bubuho, troupe leader of the Spectacle Machine, was a large man, larger even than Kee Keema. His eyes reminded Wataru of a pig from his world, but he had a dignified look to him and a broad smile that eased all fears. In realworld years, he looked to be about fifty. He wasn’t fat, merely massive and muscular. There didn’t seem to be a wasted inch of flesh on his body.

Meena and the boy Puck sat next to him on small stools. The boy seemed younger even than Wataru, probably about the same age as a first-grader in his world. His hair was so red it looked like it was on fire, and his face was covered with freckles. Wataru thought he was an ankha at first, but on closer inspection he found the boy had a long gray tail. He looked between Meena and the troupe leader with sparkling eyes, his tail twitching all the while.

“I learned all sorts of new tricks while you were gone, Meena. I was good and practiced all the time,” he declared proudly, when he saw that Meena and the troupe leader were done catching up. “I can even do the triple flip! Well, I only did it once, but it was perfect. Bubuho says I’m still too young for it, though,” Puck said, pouting.

Meena tousled his hair. “Your singing’s really gotten good,” she said, smiling. “I could pick out your voice from far away. You’re not only an acrobat, you’ve the makings of a fine singer too!”

“You think?” Puck said, jumping to his feet. “Maybe I can sing on stage!”

The circus had set up its tents along the edge of the lake. They went first to Bubuho’s tent, where they sat in a circle, while Puck danced back and forth between them. He stopped only when Bubuho sternly told him to get back to work. Reluctantly, the boy left the tent.

“Finally, a little peace and quiet,” the troupe leader said, turning to Wataru and Kee Keema. “It sounds like Meena, and all of us, owe you a great debt. Thank you, kind sirs.”

Wataru shook his head and said it was he who had been saved, and proceeded to tell the story of all that had happened. When he was finished, Bubuho once again gave Meena a pat on the head. “I see, I see, you’ve been through quite a lot. I had no idea you were so determined to get to the bottom of what happened to your parents.”

“It’s not that…it’s just, I didn’t know enough not to trust what the boys told me,” Meena explained.

“And so, you will join this Traveler in his journey?”

Meena shifted in her seat. “Yes.”

Bubuho squinted his tiny eyes and looked at Wataru. “Traveler, you give your permission for Meena to join you?”

“Of course,” Wataru said, nodding firmly.

“Then I’ve no problem with it,” said Bubuho smiling. “But, since you’ve come to us, I demand you spend the night and watch a rehearsal of our show. Opening day is tomorrow, so tonight’s rehearsal will be a preview of the real thing. You’ll be our audience.”

“That’s great! Let’s stay, please, Wataru? Kee Keema?” Meena said, jumping about so energetically as to give Puck a run for his money. “Say I can help you on stage, Bubuho, please?”

“We saw your rope tricks back in the cavern,” Wataru said laughing. “But, if you’ve time to practice, I’d love to see you do your thing on stage.”

“Me too,” Kee Keema added enthusiastically.

“Then you’ll want to talk to the other swing artists.”

Bubuho sent Meena out and showed Wataru and Kee Keema to an empty tent. They settled in, and after a time, an old woman came in, bringing them a fragrant tea.

“Ah, Granny! Many thanks.” Bubuho stood and welcomed the old lady. “This tea will ease your fatigue from the journey. Drink up.”

The old woman was very short, and her face was wrinkled, like tissue paper crumpled into a ball. Her face was that of an ankha, but she had a bit of the look of a frog about her.

“I just came to see our Traveler here,” the woman said, staring into Wataru’s eyes so intently that he became embarrassed. “Tell me, how is Wayfinder Lau?”

Wataru was taken aback. “Huh? What? You know him?”

“For nigh well eight hundred years now. That one couldn’t call a bolt of lightning to save his life back in the day. I do hope his spellcraft has improved?”

Wataru smiled. “Sorry, I can’t say I saw him cast any spells.”

“So you’ve come to see the Goddess, eh?” Granny continued. “But have you thought of what you’ll do if you can’t see her?”

“Well…” Wataru looked at Kee Keema, who was also squirming uncomfortably. “I guess I never considered the possibility.”

It was an honest answer. The old woman snorted. “Then I’ve nothing else to ask you.”

And with that, she left the tent. Wataru blinked, and Bubuho smiled wryly. “My apologies. You’d be a bit cranky too if you were her age.” He turned back to Wataru. “I’ve heard the Traveler’s journey is a difficult one. Now, as you know, Meena is a girl with a special past and a unique destiny of her own. Take her along with you, and your journey may become more difficult still. She told you of Sigdora, yes?”

“Yes, she did.”

“And still you will take her?”

“I will,” Wataru said, nodding firmly. “I don’t know if traveling with me will help Meena find her parents again, but I think we will be able to help each other on our travels, at least.”

“Then I have nothing else to say.” Bubuho smiled gently. “Please, rest until rehearsal begins. The other members want to meet you, I’m sure. You’re free to go about as you wish.”

Wataru and Kee Keema took the opportunity to look around and talk to various circus members. In total there were about fifty people in the circus, and they learned several things: that the Elenora in the circus’s full name was the troupe leader’s deceased wife, and that their show on the lakeshore had been delayed on account of the wildfire.

“The hot winds blew even up here, and the waves on the lake were so bad we could barely go out in a boat, let alone set up our stage.”

Kee Keema had already become fast friends with the waterkin in the circus, and he spent his time practicing their staff-tricks. While they ran about hooting and hollering, waving wooden swords shaped like spears, Wataru continued walking through the camp, asking if anyone had seen, by the lake or in the woods, a little sorcerer in black robes. No one had noticed a thing.

The sun had set when rehearsals finally began. The stage was lit and stars were twinkling in the sky. Music started and dancers appeared, singing the song heard earlier in the day. Wataru was enchanted. It was a show just for two, and he loved every moment of it.

Though she must have been out of practice, Meena was the headliner of the show. In bright-colored clothes she leapt from swing to swing, high above the stage, flitting with light grace, twisting in midair, catching herself just when you thought she was going to fall, and striking a pose for the crowd. Wataru’s palms were sweating as he watched the performance. But when Meena landed safely in the spotlight, he clapped until his hands were sore.

Wataru began to wonder if Meena wouldn’t really be more happy here with the circus than traveling with him.

Still, her past must drive her to find out the truth. Wataru wondered how he would feel in her position. He turned the question over in his mind as he lay down in his tent, still excited from the show. Finally, with stars watching over him, Wataru fell asleep.

About that time, Bubuho returned to his tent to find Granny waiting for him. “Something the matter?” he asked.

The old woman stood staring up at the night sky. Then she raised her arm, and pointed. “See that, Bubuho?”

Bubuho looked up. The starry sky was beautiful, like fragments of jewels scattered on lacquer-black silk.

“Which star do you mean, Granny?”

She looked up again and sighed. “So you can’t see it.”

Bubuho walked over and stood next to her.

“Then it’s the Fellstar of the North, for sure. I can see it. It’s not a trick of my aging eyes.” She sounded somehow sad. “That Traveler is the Half. The Fellstar has come to tell us this.”

“Ah,” Bubuho said quietly. “Then I hope no harm will come to Meena.”

Granny made no reply. She merely stood, staring up at the northern sky.