I admit I was rather curious, and set off after Mr Chipchase. He was crossing the showground at quite a pace.
‘So who’s this Gabriel person, sir?’ I asked, once I’d caught up with him.
‘He’s from Wellbeloved’s, but don’t let that concern you,’ he said gruffly. ‘He’s one of their finest performers. I can’t imagine why he’s here.’
But I could. Or was beginning to. I’d got a cold sinking feeling inside.
As he saw us approaching, Gabriel Swift greeted us with a smile. Mr Chipchase shook him by the hand.
‘And what brings you here, young man?’ He sounded almost wary.
Gabriel smiled some more. ‘Mr Chipchase, sir, I’d be honoured if you’d consider me for your show.’
I groaned silently, my fears confirmed. So much for him being a flattie.
Mr Chipchase looked intrigued. ‘Really?’ he said, stroking his side whiskers. ‘Hmmm, I see.’
He made a play of considering it, but I saw the glint in his eye. And with Kitty’s wail still ringing in my ears, I knew there was little chance now of Mr Chipchase choosing me; I was just another person in the showstopper queue.
Yet why hadn’t this Gabriel Swift person answered the advert by post, like he was supposed to? What made him so special?
It wasn’t hard to answer. He had such a graceful, upright bearing; Jasper had it too. Or had it once. Now all he had was a broken leg and a very uncertain future. Meanwhile, Mr Chipchase’s whole face had lit up; I knew he was thinking about money.
‘Very good, young man!’ he said, now rubbing his hands rather than his whiskers. ‘And Mr Wellbeloved knows you’ve left?’
‘Oh yes. That’s been resolved.’
My heart sank another notch.
‘May I ask how?’
Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. ‘He’s doing more shows in America these days.’
‘America, eh?’
Mr Chipchase seemed impressed. And so was I. America . . . America! Even the word made me shiver.
‘Very good,’ said Mr Chipchase, all smiles. Then his face fell.
‘Is there a problem, sir?’ Gabriel asked.
Mr Chipchase shook himself as if waking from a doze. ‘What? Oh, no . . . Only,’ he paused, ‘Mr Wellbeloved doesn’t know you’ve come to us, does he?’
‘Why no, sir.’
‘Good. It would be better if he didn’t. In fact, we should give you a new stage name altogether.’
Now I knew about circus ways, that you didn’t poach another show’s star turns. And Mr Wellbeloved was a big name, capable of causing big trouble.
‘A new name, a new start,’ said Gabriel.
‘Splendid!’ Mr Chipchase clapped him on the shoulder.
That was it then. The deal was almost done.
What Chipchase’s Circus needed was someone with star quality, and here was just the person, offering himself on a plate. And he’d come to us – little old us – from a circus as grand as Wellbeloved’s. There was no point in me asking Mr Chipchase anything now. My chance of being a showstopper had gone.
‘Show us what you’ve got then, Master Swift!’ he said.
I’d still no idea what Gabriel Swift’s talent was. Despite everything, I decided to stay and watch.
Inside the big top, bright sunshine turned the canvas into a glowing dome of blues and golds. It looked magical. A tingle spread upwards from the soles of my feet and I began to feel a tiny bit excited. Finding myself a quiet seat in the corner, I waited for the action to start.
Marco and Paolo were ordered to set up a rope. They hurried up and down ladders. Mr Chipchase shouted instructions till his face turned scarlet. There was no sign of Kitty; I supposed she was sulking somewhere else. Gabriel, however, watched everything. So did I. Very soon I realised what was happening.
It couldn’t be. Could it?
There was no mistaking it.
What I was looking up at – oh my heart – was a tightrope. And Gabriel was about to walk along it.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Hot, angry tears they were too. For how dare this boy come from nowhere and steal my place? It was like pouring salt on a wound. Yet I couldn’t move from my seat. I kept staring upwards, transfixed by the rope, all the while thinking, he’d better be good. Because if he wasn’t it would make it ten times worse.
Gabriel stood in the centre of the ring. From his bag, he took out what looked like lengths of a fishing rod. One by one, he connected them together until they made a curved pole that was easily fifteen feet long. Then he held the pole lightly in both hands and placed one foot in front of the other, walking like he was already on the tightrope.
I slumped down in my seat and folded my arms. Huh! And he had fancy equipment too!
Blondin used a pole in all his stunts. It helped with balance. But balance poles cost money. And ticket sellers like me didn’t earn thruppence, so I had to make do with spreading my arms wide and hoping to heaven I didn’t fall.
Gabriel warmed up for another few minutes. And then, when he finally looked ready, he knelt on the ground and kissed it. I sat forward. A good luck ritual. It made me think of Jasper. And though I wanted to, it was one thing I couldn’t scorn Gabriel for. It showed he knew the risks.
Moments later, Gabriel was at the top of the ladder. He knew we were all watching him. It fed him somehow, made him grow bigger, stronger. I understood that feeling. I’d felt it myself when Ned had watched me. And as he stepped out onto the wooden platform, the excitement made me shiver. I couldn’t help it.
Everything went quiet. Gabriel’s power came from his feet, laid toe to heel on the rope. He barely lifted them at all. Instead, they seemed to slide like he was skating. His knees were slightly bent and he held his arms a little away from his body. He faced forwards, eyes not moving from a spot up ahead. The pole moved in slight dips and sways. Gold and blue sunlight flickered off him through the big top canvas. He looked as sure as a bird. He wasn’t a job stealer anymore; he was a creature of magic.
When Gabriel reached the other side he stepped onto the platform and gave a bow. Then he walked backwards along the rope to the point where he’d started. I was transfixed. Any second now he’d spin round or do a stunt with props. Or even something madly daring. Something with the whiff of death.
He didn’t get the chance.
Mr Chipchase boomed ‘Bravo! Bravo!’ and I realised I’d forgotten to breathe properly.
Gabriel sat on the tightrope, one leg tucked under him and the other dangling downwards. He might’ve been sat on a wall.
‘What tricks can you do, young man?’ Mr Chipchase said.
It wasn’t enough just to rope walk anymore; not since Blondin with his cooking routines, his wild animals, his walking inside a sack. Once he’d even carried his manager across Niagara Falls. Though I didn’t think Gabriel would manage to carry Mr Chipchase – the rope would snap first.
Gabriel’s leg stopped swinging.
‘Certainly I can do tricks,’ he said, though he didn’t exactly sound keen.
It was on the tip of my tongue to cry, ‘Show us then!’ But it seemed Mr Chipchase wanted to draw things to a close.
‘Perfect. Let’s get you signed up,’ he said, dabbing his face with a handkerchief. ‘What’s good enough for Gideon Wellbeloved is good enough for us.’
In Gabriel’s shoes I’d have punched the air and whooped, but he simply shut his eyes and breathed deep. He looked sort of . . . relieved.
‘And you’re sure Mr Wellbeloved doesn’t know you’ve come to us?’ Mr Chipchase said again.
Gabriel opened his eyes. ‘Absolutely, sir.’
‘Marvellous. When can you start?’
As Gabriel climbed down the ladder, the spell broke completely. Proper pain spread through me. I watched as Mr Chipchase shook Gabriel’s hand. I didn’t notice Ned slip into the seat next to me.
‘Great on that tightrope, wasn’t he?’ he said, sounding a bit off.
I glanced at him. He was chewing the inside of his cheek.
‘Gabriel was terrific,’ I said. ‘You don’t seem so sure.’
‘You’re better.’
I smiled weakly. It was a kind thing to say but it wouldn’t help now. ‘I missed my chance,’ I said. ‘And so has Kitty. She won’t be happy either.’
Ned shrugged. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
‘What’s up with you anyway?’ I asked.
‘Nothing.’
‘Don’t believe you.’ For he honestly looked like someone had stolen his last penny.
Ned huffed about in his seat a bit more. He really wasn’t himself. More to the point, I still had half an eye on Gabriel and Mr Chipchase. And Ned sitting here grumping was blocking my view.