The four meerkats and Smo Ka watched as the sun set behind the Taj Mahal. The Clan of the Scorpion had bid farewell to the Shaolin Monkeys and the Eye of the Monkey outside the big top. They had then scoured the city for the Ringmaster, but he and his circus troupe had disappeared without a trace.

“Will the monkeys return the Eye to the temple, do you think?” asked Jet.

“No, it is no longer safe there,” said Chuck. “The temple’s secrecy was its best form of security. They will take it to a new hidden location.”

“Where’s that then?” asked Bruce, who was tucking into a chicken korma.

“It’s a secret, Bruce,” said Donnie. “That’s the point.”

“Oh. Right,” he said.

“What will happen to Ali Up?” asked Jet.

“Yeah, I liked him,” said Bruce.

“Bruce, he trapped you in a box and tried to skewer you with swords,” said Donnie.

“I know, but he did the right thing in the end,” said Bruce, his mouth full.

“Ali Up will not be able to return to his theater for fear that the Ringmaster will find him,” said Chuck. “But I daresay he will continue to work as a magician elsewhere.”

“He should be behind bars, not on stage,” said Jet.

“It’s hard to imprison a man who can disappear in a puff of smoke!” said Smo. “And even though I was on the wrong end of it, I was still impressed that he could perform the Indian Rope Trick.”

“I can do that, no problem,” said Donnie. “Watch this.” He pulled out a piece of rope from his backpack. “Sham shala bong!”

The rope shot up straight in the air.

“Very clever, Donnie,” said Chuck. “But can you climb it now?”

“I’ll do it,” said Jet, leaping up.

“That’s not a good idea—”

But Jet had already grabbed the rope and started climbing. All of a sudden, the rope wobbled, then collapsed, and Jet tumbled down, landing headfirst in the middle of Bruce’s curry.

“Ninja-bhuna!” cried Jet, bursting out laughing and wiping curry sauce from his eye.

“I don’t see what’s so funny about you spilling my chicken korma,” Bruce said sulkily.

“Come on, it’s only a curry,” said Donnie. “You should korma down.”

“Oh well, at least you had rice with it,” said Chuck, looking at Bruce with a smile. “It means Jet had a soft pilau to land on.”

The others groaned.

“Come on, Bruce,” said Jet. “I’ll find you another curry. We’ve got to keep your strength up. After all, who knows when our next adventure will come along!”