Phyllo Cane and the Circus of Wonder by Sharn W. Hutton

Author:Sharn W. Hutton [Hutton, Sharn W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Star City Press
Published: 2021-02-01T22:00:00+00:00

The Introduction went swimmingly well, many of the audience gasping when the Ringmaster was revealed by the spotlight and Phyllo had to smooth goose-bumps from his arms as they skipped out of the tiers for the show to begin.

But still he couldn’t settle, and squinted out at the crowd every few minutes, scanning compulsively for trouble. When the Clowns came on, he peered out to assess Emmett, but Emmett failed to make an appearance, Nubbins, Sprockets and Greedy Gus carrying on without him. The act followed similar lines to its usual story line, but leaned into a more spiteful humour with far more slapping and foot stamping than usual. The crowd laughed in all the right places, but Phyllo found it rather grim.

Then finally, the call for the Fabulous Volante came. They could get out into the ring at last. Once their act was over, he could try to find Emmett, find out why he’d not come out with the others. Far from the enthusiasm he’d felt earlier, now he just wanted to get on with it.

From the moment they stepped forward through the luscious velvet curtain however, Phyllo felt altogether different. It was clear that the Circus of Wonder had been working its magic upon the audience. The air was thick with anticipation and the audience was packed with row upon row of wide-eyed faces. They whistled and applauded, welcoming them into the ring and Phyllo, who was last to skip in, felt the troupe expand on the glut of positivity. The lights dimmed and Phyllo took up the fabric to play his part as a wave, watching the others around the ring for synchronisation. The music began and, as they swayed and rolled together, he became aware of an understanding settling in his mind, a jigsaw piece slotting into place: together they were stronger. They were a solid ring of protection. Ezio could not fall. Phyllo gazed up to watch him climb the silks, to walk on air, to fly out above the audience. Phyllo had to want to keep him safe too because now he was part of the force that held him there.

Phyllo let his eyes crawl over the audience just as Ezio’s routine reached the part where he tumbled, frighteningly fast, toward the ground. Expressions changed from wonder to alarm, some raising their hands in front of their faces, gasping, others unable to tear their eyes away. The tension thickened the air with enthralment that helped Ezio climb in an impossible sweeping curve, away from the ground, cheating gravity.

Phyllo now understood that the energy of the flyers was amplified by the intensity of the audience. Ezio and Columba danced in the heights of the big top with more grace and athleticism than Phyllo had ever seen. He watched the entire act with fresh eyes. The energy lifted the hairs on his arms, the final applause a thrill through his chest. When it was over, Phyllo bowed hand in hand with the rest of the troupe, feeling enormously proud.

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