The Circus Infinitus Stories Volume 1 Read online

  Up close, the carnie who checked our tickets was an unsavoury sort. Although bright, his coat needed patching and he had a festering scab on one cheek. He leered, displaying missing teeth. “Ah, you’ll be sittin’ right at the front, me fine folks! This way, this way.” He ushered us through a short passage and into the tent, directing us across the metal floor to where hundreds of seats had been set up in a big “C” formation. There appeared to be a lot of cables running this way and that, and I noticed all the seats in the front row had wires underneath. For the show? I wondered. I realized I knew very little about the Circus Infinitus – Edward had said it was unusual, but I never thought it would be this weird!

  We took the seats we were shown and waited. There was nothing in front save a very big curtain. A few minutes later the overhead lights dimmed – were they electrical? – and a tall, thin man in a long black cloak appeared as though by magic. I gasped in awe, and he introduced himself as the Ringmaster.

  The acts truly took my breath away. “Unusual” simply wasn’t a long enough word to describe the show. I marvelled at the so-called “Professor of Mechanology” who threw lightning-bolts around the stage, but Edward simply declared the entire spectacle an illusion, done with mirrors. I gasped when the enormous strong man stopped a runaway carriage, and roared with laughter at the dwarf clowns’ silly antics. The Limboni triplets were fantastically agile, and the boys’ ability to swap arms seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Adella the Amazon crossed the tightrope high above as though the law of gravity meant nothing to her, performing the most amazing flips and leaps. She was six foot two of rippling muscle clad in a bright pink leotard. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a topknot. A catlike mask hid her face. When she finished her rope-act, she simply leapt from it, dropping all the way down onto a trampoline. The audience gasped in amazement, myself included. I heard a similar exclamation beside me, and glanced at Edward, amazed that such a sight could have moved his normally steely countenance. But he was staring avidly at Adella, riveted by her activities. He was fascinated. I had never seen him so enthralled. None of the other shows had enraptured him so.

  Then, with a dreadful sick feeling inside my belly, I realized the truth.

  He was in love with her! No wonder he had wanted to come. Not for me, or the Professor, or the strong man or the clowns – but for Adella!

  Adella bounced and somersaulted, soaring high into the air each time. “She’s remarkably fit, isn’t she?” he asked me.

  “Er … yes,” I managed. Even though Edward sometimes treated me badly, I’d always believed that he loved me. Now it seemed he really was only marrying me for my title. My own beauty, slender and delicate as it was, meant nothing to him. I really was a foolish young thing! Madam Zazuma was right – I had to escape from this match somehow, or endure a life of humiliation and heartache. Helping my family to recover its debts wasn’t worth that.

  Unfortunately I was too distraught to enjoy the rest of the spectacle, with its amazing water show, freakish elephants, and the deformed man who could grow tentacles from his body and swipe food from members of the audience. I said nothing to Edward on the way home in our carriage. But he didn’t seem worried. Probably too busy mooning over Adella!

  A few nights later, after dinner with Edward and Myles, a business associate, I said I was tired and excused myself early. On my way upstairs to my room I realized I had left my shawl, and headed back to fetch it. Outside the drawing-room door I heard raised voices, and paused to listen.

  “I thought you took care of Henry!” Edward’s voice snapped like a whip. He was normally soft spoken, but now he sounded as deadly as a viper.

  “I did, I did,” Myles whined. “But he must have freed himself from the ropes and swum to shore!”

  “Well, did you make sure he was dead before you tossed him overboard?”

  “I hit him over the head like you said-“

  “Obviously not hard enough, you idiot! You know what’s going to happen now, don’t you? He’s going to come looking for us!”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. James Henry was – or rather had been – Edward’s business partner and a good, close friend. What could have driven him to order his death?

  Madam Zazuma’s words rose in my mind: “But all is not as it seems, Edward Gordon. Someone you crushed on the way up will soon be coming to exact his revenge.”

  My heart raced. I could hear my blood roaring in my ears. How had she known? Did she truly possess the gift of second sight? I heard someone slide their chair back and bolted back the way I had come as fast as my legs could take me.

  I spent a long, restless night in my room, unable to sleep a wink. When dawn finally came, I ordered Thompson, my own driver, to take me to the Circus. Even though I arrived early, the carnies were already setting up, bustling around the tents and stalls. Today, a Dr Tumblety was loudly spruiking a Potency Formula which he claimed could cure baldness, improve male virility and enhance intelligence. He had attracted quite a mob. But the tent with its stars and moons was closed, with a little sign hanging in front. “Madam Zazuma is unavailable,” it read, “please try not to divine your own future until I return.” Had I not been so frightened, I would have laughed. Instead I waited in agony, bouncing from one foot to another as customers started to drift onto the circus grounds to try their luck at the various games.

  Then a tall figure in brightly-coloured robes appeared. Was that Madam Zazuma? I hadn’t thought she was so tall! But she had remained seated the whole day yesterday, hadn’t she? She paused before she saw me, adjusting her hair and bracelets. Was all that curly black hair fake? I wondered. Then she saw me, and her dark blue eyes sparkled. “Ah, Elizabeth Montrose – I remember you from yesterday. You look troubled. What is the matter?” She reached out to take my hands in her own large bony ones.

  “Oh Madam Zazuma – everything you said yesterday came true! Last night I overheard Edward all but admit to murder! I came here because I don’t know who else to turn to!” Was I truly so alone? That I had to seek the help of a circus gypsy? But my mother had made up her mind to marry me to Edward years ago, and I knew I would never be able to make her see reason.

  “You made a wise choice, my dear.”

  “Shall I tell you the whole story?”

  “No need, Elizabeth – I already know it. My eyes have seen the full horror.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that! “Please – tell me what to do now!” I begged. “I can’t simply ignore this knowledge!”

  “First, let me show you something.” Madam Zazuma took my hand and led me from the tent, across the dewy grass. Ahead, a line had already formed at the ticket box; eager Londoners wanting entry into the first show of the day. Madam Zazuma pulled me into the shadow of the ring toss stall and pointed a long finger. “Look.”

  I started at the line. “At what?”

  “He is waiting impatiently, about six people back. He has a bunch of flowers in his hand.”

  Then I spotted him – Edward, in his best suit. He was carrying red roses! Somehow he managed to elbow his way to the front of the line and demand something of the gypsy ticket-seller. Then his voice rose. “I have to know which tent is hers! Tell me!”

  “Oh so sir, couldn’t do that,” responded the seller. “T’wouldn’t be proper.”

  “It’s urgent,” Edward insisted.

  “Are you family? No, ‘course yer not. Now buy a ticket or stop wastin’ me time.” Edward slammed down some money for a ticket, then stalked off, his face as dark as a thundercloud. I was glad he couldn’t see me. I turned to Madam Zazuma.

  “Who – who on earth was he looking for?” I gasped.

  “Adella the Amazon. He has been coming here all week just to see her act. The flowers are for her.”

  I remembered how he had gawked at her yesterday. So - that had not been his first sight of her. “But … but he’s supposed to marry me,” I finally managed to gasp.

  “A man who orders his friends k
illed will not let marriage stop him from taking a mistress. In fact, he already has several. I know. I have seen.”

  I suddenly felt unsteady. A dreadful sick feeling filled me but somehow I managed to stay in control. Nice girls did not throw up everywhere. They did, however, faint. I struggled to stop from doing that. I had to stay focused. “This is a nightmare!” I gasped. “Of course I cannot go through with the wedding now, but how will I tell my mother?”

  Madam Zazuma lifted a finger, and I stopped babbling. “Everything will be alright, I promise. But you must leave now, and get home before Edward does. As soon as Adella’s act is finished, he will leave.”

  I gulped. “Very well – if you’re sure.”

  She smiled, and I trusted her. I turned and left.

  When Edward arrived back at the house, only half an hour after myself, I saw that he no longer had the flowers with him. He seemed in a much better mood than before, and actually called a cheerful greeting to me. We had lunch together, and he spoke of silly things he probably thought would interest me. He really did think I was a birdbrain. That afternoon, we went for a stroll and he continued his inane conversation. I didn’t speak more than a dozen words to him, but he didn’t care as he prattled on. I couldn’t tell him the wedding was off – that was up to my mother. After I had gathered the courage to speak to her, that is! The very thought made me feel queasy all over again!

  That night, Edward went out. He never told me where he was going, but I suspected. I stayed up in my room, brooding and trying to pen a letter to my mother. I vowed I would visit her the next day. The house seemed extraordinarily quiet, and I wondered where the servants were. Then someone knocked at my door. Distracted, I called out “come in”.

  A dishevelled man stepped into my chamber, wild-eyed with scruffy hair. I recognized him immediately! It was James Henry, Edward’s ill-fated business partner! I rose to my feet in horror, ready to scream.

  “Don’t!” Henry hissed. He had a revolver, pointed at my heart! “Now tell me – where is that snake-in-the-grass fiancé of yours?”

  “Um – at the Circus Infinitus!”

  “Don’t lie! Why the Hell would he visit such a tawdry place?”

  I gulped and forced myself to admit the truth. “He … he is having an affair with Adella the Amazon, Mr Henry, I swear! I only found out about it today!”

  “Oh very well!” Henry grabbed me roughly by an arm and hauled me from the room. I hoped we would pass some servants on the way, but the stairs were deserted, and he was able to bustle me out into the cold night street without anyone noticing. He had a carriage waiting, and pushed me into the back. Ordering the driver to make with all haste for the Circus, he jumped in after me, and we took off across the cobbles. The coach bounced and rattled alarmingly, and Henry couldn’t keep his gun trained on me all the time. I considered trying to jump, but we were going so fast! And I had never been much of a tomboy. Maybe I could reason with him. “I … I don’t know why you’re so cross with me, Mr Henry – I don’t have anything to do with Edward’s business-“

  “I have no grudge against you, Elizabeth – you are simply my hostage.” He jabbed the gun into my ribs.

  I sighed and gave up. Once again I was simply a piece to be tossed around the chessboard.

  We arrived at the Circus. The last show of the night was just coming to a close to thunderous applause. There were still a few people wandering the grounds, but a couple of very large men in masks watched us intently as Henry marched me quickly across the grass. “Where is he?” Henry demanded.

  “I don’t know! He could be still watching the show.”

  Henry marched me up to the ticket booth, where the painted gypsy woman was just packing away the day’s takings. “Where is Adella the Amazon’s tent?” Henry demanded.

  “Oh, I can’t be givin’ out that information, sir – it’s private!”

  Clutching me tightly so I couldn’t run, Henry shoved his pistol into the woman’s face. “Tell me.”

  She paled. “Oh, of course sir! Since you asked so insistently!” She pointed over her shoulder. “It’s the pink and white one, sir – at the end of the row.

  “Thank you.” Henry marched me away. I wondered if I should scream. There were certainly enough people about. But I didn’t want to risk Henry shooting an innocent person. He was pale-faced and sweating; a man on the edge.

  In the brightly-coloured tents spread out around the base of the big top, Adella’s was instantly recognizable – I had never seen such nauseatingly pink stripes. But as we approached, a terrible howl of anger reached our ears. Henry stopped in amazement as a figure burst from the pink and white tent’s flaps and came sprinting towards us. Another shape ran out after it, calling out in protest.

  We both recognized Edward, and he looked like he had seen a ghost. His jacket was askew, his shirt untucked and his hair tousled. Following behind him was a tall, muscular person, naked from the waist up. It had long dark hair and looked like Adella the Amazon, but couldn’t possibly have been her. This particular person was quite obviously male!

  Could it be? I remembered mother telling me that a lot of female circus acrobats were actually males in disguise! Had Edward beared his heart to a man dressed as a woman? I wanted to laugh despite myself.

  Then Edward spotted us and stopped dead. Still clutching me close, Henry jammed his gun in my temple, making sure Edward could see it. “Alright Gordon – that’s far enough. I have your pretty little fiancé here, and unless you tell me where the stash is, I’m going to blow her brains out.”

  The male, dressed in a pink leotard curled up around his waist, stopped and sized up the situation.

  “What stash?” Edward demanded. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

  “I just want my share of the money we embezzled from the Da Vinci Company!” Henry snarled. “Give it to me, or I kill Elizabeth.”

  “Kill her – what do I care? She means nothing to me!” Edward straightened his jacket and began to walk away!

  “Oh, you heartbreaker!” shouted the acrobat. “You string me along then run over such a tiny thing as my true sex! Then you throw this poor girl to the wolves!”

  Edward turned with a snarl, fist upraised, but Adella caught his arm, flipped him and slammed him onto his back. He struggled to rise, but Adella planted a bare foot on his neck. The toenails were painted bright pink. Then s/he glared at Henry, who was still holding me and wondering what on Earth to do. “Put the gun down, Henry – you don’t really want to hurt Elizabeth, do you? She hasn’t done anything to you.”

  Henry stepped back, holding me tighter. “Keep away from me, you freak!”

  “If you let her go now and leave, I won’t tell the Professor that you were also involved in stealing all that money from him. As for Gordon here, he won’t be so lucky.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted some figures approaching, including the pair I’d seen skulking around before. There was also some sort of quadruped, with a midget riding his back. At least I thought it was a midget. As the creature moved closer, I realized I was looking at a set of Siamese twins, the second twin growing from the quadruped’s back and carrying a pair of machetes. The bizarre pair were wearing comedy and tragedy masks.

  Henry realized he was surrounded. He shoved me from him, and I stumbled into Adella’s muscular arms. Then he stalked off out of the circus grounds. Adella stepped off Edward, and the carnie thugs hauled him to his feet. He struggled against them, but they seemed incredibly strong and quelled his efforts with ease. “You can’t do this to me!” he shouted as he was dragged off towards the big top. “I am Edward Gordon! I own Gordon Steamworks!”

  “Right now you’re a liar, cheat and attempted murderer,” growled one of the thugs in a gravely voice, “and you’ve got to answer to Professor Abbacus. He’s not known for his mercy.”

  Quickly I extricated myself from Adella’s arms. He smiled and extended a hand. “Come with me. You must be quite upset. I have some hot
tea in my tent which should revive you.”

  Which you were no doubt sharing with Edward before he discovered your secret, I thought. But my legs were wobbly and I desperately needed something hot to drink. So I followed Adella to that revolting pink tent. S/he opened a tent flap and ushered me inside. I stepped into a surprisingly warm and pleasant interior, smelling of roses. Curtains draped the walls, and outfits of all kinds hung from racks and were draped across chairs. Adella bade me sit and draped a warm cloak over my shoulders. Then she handed me a steaming cup of herbal tea. “I am so sorry for your distress, Elizabeth,” Adella began. “I should have acted earlier, but unfortunately my vision is not always reliable.” S/he gave a sad smile.

  I gaped in amazement. Then Adella grabbed a long, curly black wig and slipped it over his head, transforming himself into Madam Zazuma! “I don’t believe it!” I cried. “You were her all along!”

  Adella took off the wig, replacing it with a tall top hat. Now he was the Ringmaster! “And him as well!” I gasped.

  “Yes. This is my circus. Well – mine and the Professor’s, but he leaves me to do all the public relations work. He hates coming out of his laboratory.”

  “Is there anyone else you play?”

  He shook his head. “I doubt I could cope with another role on top!”

  “What shall I call you? Surely not Adella!”

  He snorted. “Adam will do. My real name is quite long and unpronounceable.”

  Suddenly I felt quite overwhelmed, and slumped back in my chair. “I cannot thank you enough for rescuing me … Adam … but I am at a complete loss. What happens to me now? Edward won’t be coming back, will he?”

  Adam looked down. “No.”

  “So my family will end up on the street with nothing!”

  Adam smiled mysteriously. “Well, you could always join the Circus Infinitus. You’d be surprised at what talents you’ll find hidden within you.”