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“Move it you ghastly beast,” a stocky man wielding a bull hook screeched at Henry. He jabbed at him with the hook in manner that seemed more out of pleasure than necessity, prodding him forward into a long line of slow-moving animals.
Henry recognized him from the train and knew he wasn’t friendly, but he refrained from taking his hand into his mouth to stop him as he knew it would not end well. Instead, he glanced back, searching desperately for Alister and Wildflower. It was early afternoon, and he hadn’t seen them since their arrival at the circus training grounds after they had disembarked from the train and been forcefully separated.
“I said go on, get!” The man said, furrowing his thick, unruly, auburn brows at him; this time he used his foot against Henry’s ribs to move him.
Henry yelped, then snarled viciously. To be sure, the kick hurt, but he channeled the pain into a disproportionately formidable growl to show he was the uncontrollable beast Alister had claimed him to be. Inside, however, he felt very vulnerable.
The handler pulled his foot away quickly and raised his bull hook above his head in retaliation.
“Byron! I told you to keep that dog with the boy. Idiot, hold up!” Mudd’s voice came from behind and the line stopped moving at his command. He pushed Alister and Wildflower forward toward Henry.
Byron froze and stroked his meager chin scruff, his pale cheeks suddenly flushing in embarrassment.
“Leave him alone!” Alister shouted, rushing at him. He had been leading Wildflower by a short rope, and she trotted to keep up. When they caught up to Henry, Alister grabbed Byron’s arm and held it firmly in the air, knocking the hook out of his hand.
Byron tried to wrestle his arm free, but Alister was too strong. He bared his teeth and growled.
Ghant was close by and had seen the scuffle. He sauntered over and roughly pushed Alister’s arm away, stepping between them.
Byron shook his arm free dramatically and spit at Alister, then picked up his bull hook.
“Who do you think you are, ordering Byron around like that? I told him to get that dog through the inspection line, and that’s what he’s gonna do,” Ghant snapped, giving Alister a shove.
“Ghant!” Mudd shouted, suddenly stepping out from behind. They locked eyes. “The boy, the dog, and the elephant stay together. The boy is going to train them, and they’re under my watch. You have a problem with that, you’ll have to get past me.”
Henry moved to Alister’s side defensively.
“Train them? Him?” Ghant scoffed.
“I can handle them,” Alister replied coolly.
“Boss has already been apprised of the situation,” Mudd said to Ghant.
His lip curled into a snarl and he feigned another a swipe at Alister. “Is that a fact. Sir,” he hissed at Mudd.
Mudd remained still.
In frustration, Ghant turned to face Alister again. “You’d better hope those animals can learn some snazzy tricks really fast or else...” he trailed off and motioned his finger across his neck, then laughed wickedly.
“Get outta here!” Mudd boomed.
“I’ve got my eye on you, boy,” Ghant called over his shoulder as he stormed off. Byron scuttled away at his heels.
Alister made note of the interaction between Mudd and Ghant.
Mudd shook his head. “Ghant Louis is a proper menace, always trying to climb the ranks and make trouble. But he’s not wrong; when the boss is mad, it’s bad for everyone. He can be a bit...unpredictable. No one wants to press their luck with him.
“Meanwhile, don’t forget what I said—you’re here to handle and train the dog and the elephant and nothing more. Get in line here so they can process the lot of you, then keep your head down, do your job, and things might not be so rocky for you. Now get moving!” he ended his speech with a shout to keep Alister on his toes. He sauntered off, leaving Alister with Henry and Wildflower to navigate on their own.
Alister stepped forward in line, which led them into a poorly ventilated arena on the outskirts of the circus training grounds. This was where the newest human and animal acquisitions were judged for their potential value. The people, most of whom were intended for the side show acts, were divided up and moved into the sprawling tent encampments. Those who weren’t of use this way, or as performers, became hard laborers to keep the training ground operating.
Meanwhile, the stronger animals and the more unique specimens were fast tracked into cages and assigned to a trainer. The other unfortunate animals, those too ill or weak to perform, or without some sort of potential show value, were made use of in other ways—and those ways were some of the secrets the circus liked to keep from the general public.
Wildflower walked slowly, cowering behind Alister. She had been handled roughly when she had been loaded off the train, before Mudd had placed her under Alister’s care. Her legs trembled, watching how the handlers were treating the animals. Their calls of distress filled the air. Some of the people were visibly distraught, and others were openly crying, but most just looked lost. Now and again a man with a dirtied apron would appear and haul away a wagon loaded with the animals that had been rejected. Those were taken to another barn at the back of the building.
It’s all right, Henry and I are here with you. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you, Alister conveyed to Wildflower. He felt her lean into him. Henry moved closely to her side and together he and Alister huddled around her as they walked.
“Hey, boy! Where’d you get that dog, anyway?” Byron barked as he passed by on his way to fetch another animal.
“He was lost and was wandering through town, so I took him in,” Alister replied.
“Is that a fact. Mudd said you’re the lout who hopped the train. I caught a glimpse of those weak legs of yours flailing around when you tried to get in the car. I was the one who ratted you out.” He grinned a wide, smarmy grin.
“Mighty appreciative of that,” Alister replied smoothly.
Byron moved closer. “Ghant and I could train that dog easily on our own, just so you know. If you don’t watch out, you might find yourself not so useful around here. And what do you want coming to this place, anyway? No one comes here by choice. You a spy or something?”
“No. Mudd wants me here because Henry can do just about anything I ask. Same with Wildflower.” He ignored the other questions.
“Henry and Wildflower, is it?” He lurched antagonistically at them but then had to catch himself from tripping over his own feet when the fur on Henry’s back bristled.
Henry let out a long, low growl. Alister smiled.
“What’s so funny,” Byron snarled, but he noticed Mudd was watching. He signaled to another man to indicate that Alister and his companions had already been looked over and accepted, then he pushed them forward. “Have fun, Mr. Big Britches,” he snorted.
Alister, Henry, and Wildflower were shuffled to a corner to await placement. Henry and Wildflower were destined to be kept in cages, and in Alister’s case, some sort of living arrangement would be made for him in the tent city.
They stood together in silence, observing. The animal handlers were cruel, the environment raw and unforgiving. Wagons moved in and out, picking up animals. Others walked by on foot in a long procession, flanked by trainers. The horses pulling the wagons were skin and bones and whipped hard to make them move. Some of the more unmanageable or dangerous animals were transported in thick iron cages that were loaded onto the wagons.
Lions, tigers, ostriches, bears and bear cubs, alligators, poisonous snakes, and every other sort of animal one could think of, were shuffled around. There were plenty of very young animals in the mix, and they were treated just as roughly as those that were full-grown.
“This place is unbearable,” Alister muttered.
Just then man dressed in tan trousers and a heavy button-down jacket approached. He looked to be in his thirties and was tall and muscular, with dark brown skin. He was walking slowly but purposefully toward Alister, Henry, and Wildflower. “You’re certainly right about this place,” he said to Alister. “I’m supposed to show you around and get you settled. “I’m Nigel,” the man said, reaching out his hand.
Alister took it and they shook. Nigel’s handshake was firm and strong, just like Alister’s. They both nodded to each other.
“Follow me. Bring your dog and elephant with you, and keep your head low, got it?” he said as he led them away, leaving the processing arena behind.
“Usually, the animals are kept with their own kind.” He nodded toward Henry and Wildflower. “Mudd wants you to stay with the dog and the elephant for some reason. But the dog and elephant can’t live with the people, which I guess means you’ll be staying with the animals, too.” He laughed apologetically and stroked his goatee.
“Fine by me,” Alister replied.
“Fine by me,” Nigel echoed contemplatively. He pursed his lips and nodded, surprised by how amenable Alister was to the unusual living arrangements. “All right then,” he added.
They walked silently through the tent city where the circus workers lived when the circus was camped during the off season. The air was ripe with the scent of rotten fruit and musty hay. The people looked exhausted, and empty bottles and trash littered the ground around them. A few of them gazed up at Alister and his companions. They showed no sign of emotion, or that they had even noticed anyone was walking past.
A wave of despair hit Alister and he drew in a deep breath, wondering what he had gotten Henry and Wildflower into.
“Yeah. I know what you mean,” Nigel said, noticing the look on his face. “They don’t have anywhere else to go now, so at least they have a place here. The Boss keeps them content enough, I guess. That’s what I’m supposed to say, anyway.” They continued moving through the camp. “Everyone does get a bit of a buzz when the circus is touring, at least...”
Alister frowned.
“I know, I know. This would’ve been your place.” Nigel pointed to an unoccupied tent slightly larger than the rest. “Would have been a nice spot. Fast Man Dan lived there until the other week, but he’s not—he’s not with us anymore. He did some impressive stunts in his time, but he was getting a little weak in the britches, not pulling his weight, so, well, he’s not with us anymore.” He sniffed and tightened his jaw. “Not worth feeding and housing, I suppose is what they figured.” He wrinkled his nose and sniffed again, running his hand over his short, spiky afro.
“I’m really sorry,” Alister replied quietly, sensing his sadness.
This response really surprised Nigel. He looked hard at Alister, his eyes intensely trying to read him, but the sternness of his gaze was quickly eroded by a gentle smile that formed on his lips. He sighed. “Thanks, kid,” he said, then he continued leading them along on a smaller path.
In the distance through a patch of trees, Alister could see another group of much larger tents—separate living quarters that were notably more luxurious than the others he had seen so far.
“That’s where the Boss and his men and the star performers live. Don’t ever get caught going over there,” Nigel warned. Alister nodded to show he understood.
As they walked out in the open Alister noticed a large shadow seeming to be following them. He looked up to see the Messenger flying above them.
Finally, they walked past a large, red barn. “That’s where you’ll start your training,” Nigel pointed. “Front of the barn is the arena where you’ll go. Back of the barn and the other buildings behind them are all strictly off limits. You don’t want see what goes on there, anyway.”
Alister turned back to give it a good look. He shook his head, unable to fathom Henry had been born into this place.
They strolled for another hundred yards then Nigel led them to a large stable. “The bigger animals and the ones that need more warmth are kept inside here. You’ll have some neighbors—horses, a zebra, and maybe you’ll see the giraffe or musk ox now and again.” He waved Alister, Henry, and Wildflower inside; the sound of a horse’s hoof kicking violently against a stall door startled them.
“That’s Alexander. He’s always angry,” Nigel said, walking over to a dark corner where there was a larger stall that could temporarily house Wildflower while she was young. This was next to two smaller stalls; one was meant for Henry, and the other for Alister. “I would’ve put your dog with his own kind—we’ve got others that look exactly like him, except they’re a bit smaller—but Mudd has all kinds of crazy ideas. He doesn’t want your dog mixing with the others. He thinks they’ll ruin his potential.”
Henry’s ears pricked up at his words. Alister took note, too.
Nigel pointed for them to enter. “He wants you to stay near the dog and the elephant and keep them in your sights at all times while they’re training. He said the dog’s too wily for anyone else to handle.”
“If you don’t mind, Henry and I will stay together with Wildflower in her stall,” Alister replied.
“Henry and Wildflower, is it? Suit yourself. Settle in then, they’ll call you for supper and show you the ropes later. Do your best—Mudd expects them to impress the Boss in a few days.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“You don’t seem as worried as you should be. Just keep an eye out; folks around here aren’t too kind to one another.”
“Why don’t you all just leave if it’s as awful as you say, and it certainly looks as though it is. Anywhere else would be better than this. Except for Craggybog, maybe, but I think I would almost pick that over this place.”
“Huh,” Nigel replied. There was a faraway look in his eye. “I only know a few who have tried to leave, and it didn’t end well for them. Everyone’s either so afraid that they don’t make a move, or else they have some big ideas about trying to please the Boss to move up in the ranks to try to cope. Funny, you just don’t seem to be callous and calculating like most everyone else here.”
“Well, I’m not like the rest of them. It doesn’t seem like you are, either.”
Nigel smiled faintly, but warmly. “Oh yea, well...” he mumbled. “Glad to hear that.”
“You said there are others that look like him,” Alister said, motioning to Henry. “Where are they?”
“Be careful asking too many questions,” Nigel warned, then he paused. “I guess there’s no harm in telling you. You’ll probably run into them sooner or later, anyway. They’re off in the other stable where the dogs and smaller animals are kept. Why, do you think you can train them, too?”
“Perhaps,” Alister said, lying down in a pile of hay. He put his hands behind his head and stretched his legs. “You don’t happen to have a blanket or two, do you?”
Nigel laughed. “A blanket, huh? Now, don’t get cocky—you’re lucky you have a space here at all. The Boss would tear you apart if he suspected you had too many needs.” He walked off, but called back much more gently. “If I find one, I’ll bring it to you, yeah?”
“Thank you,” Alister called after him. “Well, here we are, home sweet home, my friends.” He sighed.
Henry and Wildflower lay down next to him and they quickly began to drift off to sleep. Moments later they were awakened to the sound of the Messenger landing on the stall windowsill. Monkey was behind him, hiding in the woods next to the stable.
Both Monkey and the Messenger were beginning to weaken from being away from the forest for so long, and they were preparing to leave. The Messenger offered to bring news to everyone back home, but Henry asked that he refrain from divulging his location and details of the conditions in which he would be living, fearing the children would come looking for him. The Messenger flapped his wings and bade them farewell, then he and Monkey set off on their long journey back to Kellandale Wood.
“We’ll get out of here soon,” Alister reassured Henry and Wildflower.
As they lay there, Henry began to share more about his human family. Memories of them poured out and washed over Alister and Wildflower. Henry sighed, thinking of the happy times walking through the forest or lying next to the fire with Velvet by his side.
Wildflower trumpeted softly as she listened.
Alister caught a glimpse of Elinora, Tillie, and everyone else at Kellandale in his mind, and it made him smile. “I wish I knew them, too. I can already tell they are good people,” he said wistfully. “I promise I won’t let any of you down. We will get you and your family where you belong, and I won’t stop until we do it.”