The Sequin Star (10 page)

The next day Claire felt like she was settling into a familiar routine, helping Rosina with the animals. Alf told her that Brownie needed a hand in the cookhouse, where he set her to work peeling a mountain of potatoes and chopping vegetables. As the cook, Brownie had to prepare four meals a day for all the performers and roustabouts on the lot – breakfast, lunch, an early tea and a late supper after the show. It was relentless work.

Late in the morning Claire escaped and went to find Rosina, who was practising in the narrow grassy area between the two rows of caravans. Malia was teaching Peggy, Stella and Leo gymnastics on a wide tumble mat. They waved to Claire as they practised their splits and stretches. They seemed to spend several hours a day learning their circus tricks.

Rosina had two sacks that were stuffed with chaff, lying on the ground, and was somersaulting back and forth from one sack to another. She landed perfectly each time, right in the middle of the sack.

‘That looks great, but what are you doing, Rosina?' asked Claire.

‘I'm just warming up,' replied Rosina. ‘I've asked Alf if I can do my new act in the ring tonight, so he wants to see me rehearse first.'

Rosina landed lightly on the grass next to Claire.

‘Jumping from sack to sack?' asked Claire. Compared to dancing on horseback, it didn't seem very exciting.

‘Come and see for yourself,' invited Rosina with a grin.

Claire followed her into the horse tent where Pluto and Florian were tethered. The two stallions had long, flowing manes and tails that rippled in the light. Up close the horses seemed enormous, one black and one pure white. They whickered in welcome, and Rosina stroked them both on their noses.

‘Who are my beautiful boys then?' she murmured, running her hand over their harnesses to check the tightness. ‘Pluto? Florian? Are we ready to show Alf what good boys you are? Walk on.'

Rosina led them both down the passage to the ring. Claire followed. It was the first time she had been in the tents, behind the scenes. Jem was already in the ring, fiddling with a long rope that hung down from the rigging and doubled back, attached to a belt. Rosina strapped the belt around her waist.

Jem tested it by hauling on the rope, lifting Rosina clear of the sawdust. She swung around in the air, as though she was flying. Jem lifted her up and down, which made Rosina giggle helplessly.

‘This is the lunge, which we use when practising a new act,' explained Rosina. ‘We don't use it for performances. It just means that if I fall Jem can catch me until we get the act perfect.'

Alf strode into the centre of the ring, carrying his long-handled whip. Jem lowered Rosina to the ground again.

‘Claire, you'd better hop it out there,' whispered Jem. Claire obeyed, jumping over the ring barricade and sitting on the front bench. She leant forward, taking in everything.

‘Are we ready to go?' barked Alf, checking his pocket watch.

‘Yes, sir,' replied Rosina. She leapt up onto Florian's back. Jem took up the slack on the safety rope.

Alf cracked his whip and the two horses began to canter around the ring, side by side, with just a small gap between them. Rosina jumped to her feet, arms outstretched as she stood on Florian's rump.

Jem walked around, carefully watching Rosina and keeping the rope slightly slack.

Rosina began her routine, very much like the one Claire had seen the night before – jumping up, doing the splits, spinning in the air and landing safely on the stallion's rump. However, this time there were two horses cantering along. Claire thought back to the two bags of chaff she had seen Rosina practising on. She felt a flutter of nerves in the pit of her stomach.

Rosina steadied herself and jumped, tucking her knees to her chest and somersaulting high in the air. She landed safely on Pluto's back. Rosina continued her routine as the horses circled, somersaulting from one horse to another. After a complete circuit, Rosina somersaulted off Florian's back and onto the ground, where she turned three cartwheels and stopped right in the centre of the ring. Her back straightened, her arms shot up in the air, and she pointed one toe forward. Then she sank into a deep curtsy, the two horses bowing on either side of her, while Claire applauded.

‘Bravo!' cried Alf. ‘Well done. I think we can introduce it into the first act, after the bears.'

Rosina smiled with satisfaction. She patted each of the horses in turn and slipped them each a piece of carrot from her pocket. ‘Good boys.'

‘I've been working on an act too,' Jem began. ‘I can show you my chair balancing –'

‘Not now. Not now,' Alf interrupted. ‘I have to check on the lions. Sultan needs a bath before tonight's performance, so I need you to heat the water and fill the bathtub.'

Alf strode off, nodding his head at Claire as he passed.

Jem dropped his eyes and fiddled with the rope. He scuffed his boot in the sawdust.

Rosina undid the safety belt and handed it to him. ‘Never mind, Jem. You'll get your chance soon enough.'

9
Rosina's Flip-flaps

That night Claire was asked to help in the prop tent, where the performers entered and exited the ring. She helped with quick costume changes, finding and putting away props, and moving animals to and from the ring entrance.

While each act was on, Claire could peep between the curtains to watch the show. She could see Kit sitting in the front row, avidly watching every performance, clapping and laughing as though he was watching for the first time. The audience sat enraptured, children and adults alike, their faces alive with joy.

Behind her, performers waited for their acts, limbering and stretching, or touching up their make-up. Rosina stepped into a box of pale-yellow resin powder and crunched it on the base of her ballet slippers to make them sticky. She then rubbed a handful of it over each of the horse's backs.

‘It makes them less slippery,' explained Rosina. ‘That's why we call the horses for bareback riding “rosinbacks”.'

After the bears, with their tumbling, teasing antics, it was time for Rosina's new act. The band began to play a lively melody. Rosina straightened her scarlet tutu, leapt up on Pluto's back and pasted a broad smile on her face.

‘Curtains,' she commanded.

Claire jumped to obey. The spotlight glared. Rosina clicked her tongue, and Pluto and Florian sprang from a dead stop to a full canter into the ring. Alf stood resplendent in the centre, his moustache ends stiff and his whip cracking.

Claire watched Rosina perform the routine that she had practised in the ring that afternoon. She somersaulted back and forth, landing perfectly each time, as the horses cantered around the ring. Then, as the horses neared the end of their circuit, Claire saw Rosina somersault, land on Florian's back and wobble. Her smile slipped for just a moment, then she vaulted off the horse's back and onto the sawdust, landing awkwardly.

Because Rosina was so close, Claire saw a grimace of pain before Rosina flipped into her cartwheels, adding an extra two to get her into the centre.

Her back straightened, her arms shot up in the air and she pointed one toe daintily forward. She waited until the two horses joined her, then sank into a deep curtsy, with Pluto and Florian bowing on either side of her. She rubbed their noses and fed them their carrots.

The audience's applause was deafening. While Pluto was sunk down on one foreleg in a bow, Rosina sat sideways on his back. He rose up and the two horses trotted out.

Claire opened the prop tent curtains for Rosina, who slipped from Pluto's back once she was inside. She crumpled on the ground and rolled in agony, tears streaming down her face.

‘Rosina. Rosina, are you all right?' begged Claire. ‘What's wrong?' There was no reply, except for a soft whimpering.

Jem ducked in from the band pit. He called to one of the clowns. ‘Get these horses out of here.' The clown obediently led Pluto and Florian away to the horse tent.

‘Rosina, can you hear me?' asked Jem, leaning over her. ‘What hurts?'

Rosina continued to writhe on the ground, biting her lip.

‘Claire, run as fast as you can and get Malia,' Jem ordered. ‘And get some ice from the ice-cream stall.'

Claire found Malia working in the refreshment stall and quickly explained the situation. Malia hurried off to tend to Rosina, while Claire followed with the ice.

When Claire returned, Rosina had been moved to the side of the tent. Malia had cut off the leg of one of her pink tights and was gently probing Rosina's knee. Rosina's face was screwed up in pain.

‘You've strained your knee,' Malia decided as she popped the ice bag on top of the kneecap. ‘I'll give you some asprin, and you'll need to rest it for the next couple of days.'

Rosina bit her lip. Malia gave her two tablets with water, unrolled a bandage from her first-aid kit and began to expertly dress the knee. Two of the clowns hovered nearby.

‘You won't see the bandage under my robes for the elephant ride,' said Rosina at last, holding the ice bag over her knee. ‘Or under my Red Winona outfit.'

‘No, Rosina – you need to rest,' said Claire. ‘You couldn't possibly perform like that.'

Jem and Malia exchanged glances.

‘I'm due on any moment,' Rosina said urgently. ‘The band has nearly finished this tune. We have to hurry.'

Malia turned to Jem. ‘Go and tell the band to give us a five-minute joey gag.'

‘Get out there and juggle,' Malia ordered the two clowns.

They ran to obey, gathering balls and torches for an emergency interlude.

‘I'll get the bulls from the menagerie,' explained Malia. ‘You help Rosina get changed into her harem girl outfit. Just be careful of that knee.'

Claire paused, reluctant to risk injuring Rosina further. ‘But Rosina could be –'

‘And do it fast.' Malia was already halfway out of the tent.

The costumes for quick changes were hanging on a rack against the canvas wall, stored in calico bags. Claire found the filmy harem pants, veil and spangled crop top. Rosina slipped the tutu off and gingerly pulled on the new costume. Claire helped her ease the pants over the injured knee. Rosina leant back against the contortionist's suitcase, her eyes closed and face pale.

Claire could hear the sound of laughter coming from the Big Top as the clowns played tricks, stealing and swapping each other's juggling props.

‘You don't need to do this, Rosina,' Claire urged. ‘You could do some serious damage to your knee and make it worse.'

Rosina bit her lip and opened her eyes. ‘The elephants are one of the most important acts in the show,' she explained. ‘I can't let everybody down. I can't let the circus down. Besides, it's bad luck to miss an act!'

Jem popped back to check on their progress. Malia returned, leading Elsie and Empress, already harnessed in their headgear. Elsie curled her trunk over and blew a raspberry kiss on Rosina's cheek. Rosina stroked her gently.

Rosina smiled wanly. ‘I'm okay, girl. Let's go and wow the townies.
Hup
.'

Elsie lifted Rosina and set her on top of her head. Rosina grimaced as she swung her good leg over Elsie's neck and settled in behind her grey-and-pink speckled ears. Jem ran back to join the band and tell them that Rosina was ready to perform.

Claire peeked through the curtain. She could see Kit leaning forward, looking all around the Big Top as the clowns made a final tumbling circuit of the ring. The clowns charged through the crimson curtain, carrying their props.

‘She all right?' asked Topsy the clown.

Claire shrugged as she took the torches and put them away. The spotlights shone. The drum rolled.

‘Tail up,' Rosina commanded. Empress reached forward and grasped Elsie's tail. ‘Trunk up.' Both elephants curled their trunks up into a salute. Ringmaster Alf boomed out his introduction.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – and now to
amaze
and
delight
you, to
enthrall
and
inspire
you – our very own elephant rider, Princess
Rosina
.'

‘Walk on,' Rosina cried. She pasted on her brilliant smile, raised her arm and the two elephants strolled into the limelight.

The crowd cheered and clapped. Claire saw Kit settle back on his bench, a smile of relief on his face as he saw Rosina riding Elsie.

Claire noticed that the act was subtly different than it had been on the previous night, but none of the townies would notice. Rosina just stayed on Elsie's back and rode.

After Elsie's tightrope act, Rosina did not dismount when Elsie and Empress bowed. The applause thundered. The elephants turned and sauntered back through the curtain and into the prop tent. Jem and another roustabout followed, carrying off the elephant tubs and tightrope equipment.

Jem hurried to help Rosina slither off Elsie's back. ‘You all right, knucklehead?' he asked, taking her arm.

Rosina nodded as she collapsed onto a mattress that Malia had made from rolled up canvas and stuffed chaff sacks. She closed her eyes.

‘Claire, get some more ice,' ordered Malia. ‘Rosina, dear, take some more painkillers. Then you can have a lovely rest right here.'

Jem raced back to his place in the band. Rosina lay there with the icepack on her knee.

During intermission, a fair head popped around the canvas flap leading to the lot. It was Kit, looking worried. He smiled at Rosina and then at Claire.

Rosina seemed to perk up. She wriggled herself into a sitting position and smiled back. Kit wandered in through the flap and stood by the bed. Rosina tucked a curl of hair behind one ear.

‘I'm awfully sorry to intrude,' Kit said. ‘But I asked your friend Jem on the ice-cream stall if everything was all right. I thought you might have hurt yourself in your tumbling act?'

Rosina gestured to the icepack on her knee. ‘I hope it wasn't as obvious as all that,' she said. ‘I had just convinced myself that none of the townies would've noticed.'

Kit grinned. ‘I probably wouldn't have noticed a thing, but Claire and I saw the whole performance only yesterday, and I realised it was a bit different. Plus, I thought I saw you limp.'

‘It's quite nasty,' Claire said, ‘but she still insisted on riding Elsie.'

Kit nodded, looking at Rosina with appreciative eyes. Rosina fussed with the cushion under her knee, moving it into a more comfortable position.

‘That act is quite extraordinary,' Kit enthused. ‘How on earth do you train an elephant to walk a tightrope?'

‘Now that would be giving away a show secret,' joked Rosina, smiling enigmatically. Kit looked disappointed.

‘Oh, come on, Rosina,' Claire begged. ‘Tell us.'

Rosina waved her hand in the air. ‘It's the same as training any of the animals in the circus. Alf and Malia believe in treating the animals well, using lots of patience and rewarding them with affection and treats.'

Kit sat down on one of the elephant tubs nearby. ‘But still, it is incredible to see that huge elephant balancing on a tightrope – raised up off the ground – with you on its back.'

Rosina pointed to the elephant tightrope equipment that was stacked against the opposite wall. ‘For a start, it's not exactly a rope, but a narrow steel plank with rope wrapped around it.' Kit and Claire examined the plank to see how it was cleverly disguised.

‘Then we lay the plank on the ground and encourage the elephant to walk across it. When she is happy walking on the plank, we raise it slightly off the ground and keep practising. In Elsie's case, we gradually raised it until she was as happy walking on it a few feet in the air as she had been when it was flat on the grass.'

Kit grinned. ‘The secret is revealed. I refuse to be impressed after all.'

Claire thought for a moment. ‘So, you don't hurt Elsie to make her do those tricks?'

Rosina looked at Claire with distaste. ‘Would you be stupid enough to hurt an animal who weighs about three tons and could you crush you in a split second? Not to mention one costing about two thousand pounds, so certainly worth more to the circus than either you or me!'

‘I only wondered if –' Claire began.

‘Sorry, I get a bit impatient sometimes,' Rosina apologised, wrinkling her nose. ‘Lots of people assume that we're cruel to our animals, and I suppose that does happen in some circuses, but most of the performers here love their animals like members of the family.'

Claire nodded.

‘In fact, Alf caught Flash Frank hitting our lion Sultan with a whip,' Rosina confessed. ‘And Alf took the whip and used it unmercifully on Frank. He said if he ever caught him hitting another animal on the lot, he would be thrown in the dung hill and left behind without a penny.'

‘Oh, that is terrible,' said Claire. ‘But why whip him? Why didn't he just fire him?'

Kit looked at Claire and shrugged. ‘Better to punish him than leave him to starve on the side of the road, I guess.'

Rosina nodded. ‘Not that the food in the circus is anything to be thrilled about. Usually the animals get fed better than us,' she added with a laugh. ‘They at least are spared the bread and gravy that we get after a poor show.' She pulled a disgusted face.

Kit chuckled. ‘I can't understand why you're com­­plaining.'

A string of performing dogs bounded through the flap in their yellow ruffs, accompanied by Jem, Frank, Roy and Malia. Frank and Roy glared suspiciously at Kit.

Malia also frowned at the stranger in their midst. ‘Intermission is over.'

Kit stood up, holding his hat and nodding. ‘Thank you, ma'am.'

‘Malia, this is our friend, Kit Hunter,' Rosina gestured at Kit. ‘Kit, this is my circus mother, Malia Sterling. Kit came to see if I was all right after the fall. He's cheered me up beautifully.'

‘Glad to meet you, ma'am,' said Kit, shaking her hand. ‘May I congratulate you all on a fabulous program. I just hope that your star performer is not injured for too long.'