“I guess so.” The admission embarrassed him for some reason, and he changed the subject. “Well, stand back. I gotta wash out these cages.” He turned the hose on and aimed the spray at Butch, who plunged his head into the water and turned around with obvious pleasure. “Some tigers are scared to death of water, but some love it—like Butch here. And elephants, now, they love water of any kind. They’d love to have a bath every day, but then they love to get out and roll in the dirt, and then they have to be washed off again.”
Joy listened attentively, soaking up everything he said as they went from cage to cage. When she stepped close to one particular cage, Chase grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Don’t get too close. That’s Sultan.”
“Is he bad?”
“Yes, very bad. They should have gotten rid of him after he—”
“After he what?”
“This is the one that—” He broke off and shook his head. “He’s just a bad tiger.”
Joy swept his face with a quick glance and saw pain in his eyes. This must be the one that mauled him so badly. She did not ask Chase then but determined to find out later exactly what had happened.
They were almost to the last cage when a voice rang out. “Hello! How are they this morning, Chase?”
“All right, Karl. They all look healthy.”
“How are you this morning, Joy?”
“Just fine, thanks.” She smiled broadly at Ritter, for he had a winning way about him.
“Looking over the cats?” he asked.
“Yes. Chase was just telling me some things about them. I don’t really know anything about tigers.”
Ritter slapped Chase on the back. “Well, he’s the man who can tell you. He wrote the book on them.”
Chase shook off the praise and said, “Princess has got a touch of asthma, I think.”
“Do tigers get asthma?” Joy asked with surprise. “I thought that was just humans.”
“No,” Karl said. “They’re strong, but they’re delicate. That’s why the cages have to be washed out every day. If they’re not, the urine fumes aggravate asthma in cats. Are you just looking around?”
“Yes. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Well, if you’re through here, why don’t you come with me and I’ll introduce you to some more folks.”
Joy liked the trainer and said, “All right. I’ll see you later, Chase.”
“All right, Joy.”
Ritter said to Chase, “I’ll be back pretty soon. I’ll have them set up the cage, and we’ll have a practice session and get you back into the old routine.”
“All right, Karl, I’ll be ready.”
Joy walked alongside Ritter, and when they were out of earshot, the trainer shook his head sadly. “Too bad about Chase. He was the best there was, and he hadn’t even reached his peak when the trouble came.”
“Were you with the circus then?”
“Not with this one, but everyone in the circus world knew about it. It really tore him up. I guess that would hurt any man.”
“It must be hard on him, Karl.”
“I expect it is. I’m surprised he came back.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, he was a star. Now he’s cleaning out cages. That’s bound to hurt.”
Joy did not answer. She spent a pleasant hour with Karl Ritter. He was witty and outgoing, and when he left her, he said, “Those were good pancakes this morning. You made them, I guess.”
“Oh, I just helped Annie.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Annie needed some help. I told the colonel she was being worked to death in that cook tent, and so was I with the animals. So you and Chase are like a gift from heaven.” He smiled and said, “Welcome to the circus.”
“Thank you. This is going to be much more exciting than working back on the old farm.”
“Come around later on, and you can watch how tigers and lions get trained.”
“I will. Thanks for showing me around.”
****
Karl’s words about Chase stuck in her mind. She knew there was truth in the tall trainer’s remarks. It certainly must be hard to come down from being a star to cleaning out animal cages. She was thinking of this as she was taking a meal tray to Colonel House. They had been told he was under the weather. “Most likely a hangover,” Annie had grunted.
Reaching the trailer, Joy knocked on the door, and Stella opened it almost immediately. “Here’s the colonel’s food, and yours too, Mrs. House.”
“Good. Oh, by the way,” she said, taking the tray, “you’ll be in the spec today.”
Joy stared at her. “The spec? What’s a spec?”
Stella laughed. “I forget you’re really a private person.” Joy looked puzzled. “Well, I guess I am. I’m not very outgoing.”
“No, a ‘private person’ is what we call somebody who’s not a member of the circus, but you’re not really that anymore. A spec—well, that’s the parade before the performance. We have one opening every performance and another closing it.”
“Why, that’s just for performers, isn’t it?”
Stella laughed. She appeared to be in better humor today. “It’s for everybody, Joy. Go find Mamie—she’s our costume lady—and tell her I said to put you in a costume. One of the harem costumes. And then tell Pete that you can ride Ruth.”
“You mean the elephant Ruth?”
“Yes.”
“Why, I can’t ride an elephant!”
“Yes you can. Gypsy Dan will help you. There’s nothing to it. Just don’t fall off.” She shut the door, then without further instructions, Joy turned away, filled with consternation. “Me ride an elephant?” she murmured. At first the thought was alarming, but then she was intrigued by it. She remembered Ruth’s gentle manner. She straightened up and smiled broadly. “All right, I’ll ride an elephant.”
She saw Oz coming toward her and asked, “Oz, where do I find a lady called Mamie?”
“Oh, that’s Mamie Madden. Come on, I’ll take you to her.”
As Oz scurried across the lot, talking as fast as his legs moved, Joy grew more and more excited. He stopped and motioned toward a tent. “She’s probably in there. You gonna be in the show?”
“Mrs. House said I should ride Ruth in the spec.”
“Great! You’re a real kinker.”
“A kinker?”
“Sure, that means a circus person. Now, go on and tell Mamie I said to do you up right.”
“All right, Oz, I will.”
Raising the tent flap, she stepped inside and saw an obese woman with black hair sitting at a sewing machine. The big woman looked up and said, “Who are you?”
“My name’s Joy Smith. I’m—”
“Oh, you’re Chase’s woman.”
Joy was sick of explaining her situation, so she ignored the remark. “Mrs. House wants you to give me a costume. I’m supposed to ride an elephant in the spec.”
Mamie Madden had several chins, and they all quivered with indignation. “How does she expect me to do all this, I ask you? She don’t have no respect for my art.”
“I’m sorry,” Joy said contritely. “Maybe I could come back when you’re not—”
“When I’m not so busy? That ain’t never gonna be. Well, let me see what we got.”
“She said something about a harem costume.”
“Oh, well, that’s easy enough.” A smile creased the woman’s face, and she got up and shuffled through a collection of costumes hanging from a steel rod. “Let’s see.” She ran her practiced eye over Joy and said, “This one oughta do.”
Joy look with astonishment at the garment Mamie was holding up. “Why, I can’t wear that!” she gasped.
“Why not? It’ll fit you perfect.”
“It’s not that. It’s . . . it’s so revealing.”
Mamie’s eyes closed, and she shook as laughter passed through her. “Of course it’s revealing. Why do you think men come to the circus? To see elephants? Not much! Th
ey want to see girls in scanty costumes.”
Joy took the garment and stared at it doubtfully. It was composed of an abbreviated top and bottom of a bathing suit under a pair of filmy pants and a top that puffed out and tightened at the wrist and ankles.
“Go on. Put it on, and let’s see what you look like.”
Joy swallowed hard. “Don’t you have anything else?”
“Sure, I’ve got an overcoat you could put on. You think that would thrill anybody? If Stella said a harem costume, you’d better put it on. I found out it pays to keep that woman happy.”
Joy felt trapped, but then she decided, I can do it. Nobody knows me here except Chase, and he’s used to circus things.“Where can I change?”
“Why, change right there.”
“But—somebody might come in!”
Mamie chuckled, sending the fat rippling across her array of chins. “Well, they wouldn’t see nothin’ they ain’t seen before. Look, honey, there ain’t no privacy in the circus. What we have to do is just have good manners, and when we walk in on somebody half dressed or even worse, we just pretend we don’t see nothin.” Seeing the young woman’s alarm, however, she softened. “Well, go back on the other side of them racks. I’ll station myself here. I’m so big nobody can get around me to see you.”
Joy followed Mamie’s advice, undressing and pulling on the costume as fast as she could. She came out barefooted, since her black shoes did not go with the rest of the outfit.
“Well, ain’t you pretty now!” Mamie exclaimed. “Believe it or not, I looked just about like you when I was your age. Now there’s enough of me to make three of you.”
“Do I go barefooted?”
“No, we got some slippers here. Let me see.” Mamie rummaged through a trunk and pulled out a pair of soft gold slippers. “How’s that?” She straightened. “You better hurry up if you’re gonna be in that spec. The crowd’s a-comin’ in. Sounds like a straw crowd too.”
“What’s that? A ‘straw crowd.’ ”
“What we call a full attendance. You better git now.”
Feeling indecent, Joy stepped shyly outside. The costume tent was attached to the smaller tent where the parade was made up. She saw Gypsy Dan Darvo and ran to him. “Dan,” she said hastily, “Mrs. House wants me to ride Ruth.”
“Well, don’t you look pretty! Sure, I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’ve never been on anything but a horse and not too many of those.”
“Don’t you worry,” Dan grinned. His white teeth flashed against his dark complexion. He was wearing a splendid costume with the loudest possible colors and a turban on his head. “Come on, you’ve already met Ruth. She’ll remember you.”
“No, she won’t.”
“That’s what you think! You heard about having a memory like an elephant? Well, it’s no lie. I don’t think they ever forget anything. She’ll know you all right.”
Indeed, Ruth did seem to remember her. When Darvo stopped in front of her and said, “Ruth, you remember Joy?” the elephant reached her trunk out and tentatively brushed it across Joy’s shoulder.
“See, I told you so.”
“But how will I get on, and what keeps me from falling off?”
“Gettin’ on is easy enough. Ruth, leg.”
Ruth obediently lifted one leg, and Darvo said, “Here, step on this leg. I’ll give you a hand. Just swing your leg over her neck.”
Joy had little choice. Dan practically picked her up, and in one swift motion, she threw her leg over the big animal’s neck. There was a wooden collar there, and she grasped it with both hands.
“You’re all right. Just hang on. Ruth knows this drill better than anybody.”
Darvo wheeled and left her alone on top of Ruth. Joy found herself trembling—but partly with excitement. She had never done anything like this, and she looked around curiously at the rest of the parade.
Everyone she had met was there in costume, and then she saw Chase. He was in a chariot pulled by two beautiful white horses. He grinned at her and waved, and she waved back and called out, “Hi, Chase! Look at me!”
“You look beautiful, Joy!”
Joy flushed at his compliment and then suddenly the flap of the tent opened, and she felt Ruth move under her. It took her only a few paces to get the rhythm of the elephant, and she was delighted at the sensation. She patted Ruth on the head and said, “Good, Ruth. Good girl.”
The parade was a blur to her, but she soon forgot the brevity of her costume and her nervousness about the spectators. They were applauding, and she found herself waving at them and smiling.
The spec did not take long, and as soon as they were back out of the main tent, Darvo appeared again. “Leg, Ruth,” he said, and without being instructed, Joy slipped down, stepped onto the animal’s leg, and jumped to the ground.
“You did fine—fine! I’ll make an elephant girl out of you if you’re not careful. You could do it too. You’re not afraid of animals, are you?”
“No, I never have been. Not unless they’re mean.”
Joy turned and started toward the costume tent to change back into her regular clothes. She was almost to the flap when a hand seized her and turned her around. The young man with nearly white hair held on to her arm painfully. “My name’s Benny,” he said. “Benny Yates. How about you and me steppin’ out sometime?”
“No thanks.” She tried to pull away, but the man was stronger than he looked. “Aw, come on, I heard about you. I know you’re Chase’s girl, but you need a little variety.”
“Let me go!” Joy tried to pull away but did not succeed.
To her even greater surprise, the man rose almost magically up in the air, and his grip on her arm loosened. Joy did not understand at first what had happened, and then she saw that Yates was being held by a massive black man, who held him by his neck with one hand and his belt with the other. The big man was well over six-four and must have weighed at least two hundred fifty pounds.
His voice was deep, like a threatening rumble on a stormy night. “Now, Benny, this here young lady is a particular friend of mine.”
Yates reached up and grabbed the giant’s hand to support himself. “Hey, I didn’t know that, Doak. You shoulda told me.”
“Of course you didn’t know, but you do now.” The giant set the young man on the ground and dusted him off. “Now, you run along—and you pass the word to the other young men of our fine establishment. Miss Joy here is a good friend of mine, and I’d purely hate to have trouble with anybody.”
“Oh, you won’t have no trouble, Doak. I’ll tell ’em,” Yates said nervously. He disappeared, and the big black man turned to say, “Sorry about that, Miss Joy.”
Joy looked up into the man’s face and realized he was as black a man as Joy had ever seen. “We haven’t met.”
“No, but my name is Doak. Doak Williams.”
“Thanks so much, Doak.”
“Why, I always aim to stay on the good side of the cook.” Joy found herself liking this man with a gentle smile and a handsome, pleasant face. “You deserve a reward. I’m going to make you a pie of your very own. What kind do you like?”
“How ’bout apple?”
“That’s my specialty. I’ll have it for you at supper tonight, Doak.”
****
When Joy entered the costume tent and began changing her clothes, Mamie interrupted her. “No point in that. You’ll just have to change back for the closing spec. Here, put on this robe instead.”
Joy took the tan satin robe, slipped it on, and went back to watch the performance.
She loved all of it but was especially interested in Karl Ritter’s act. She had never seen a wild-animal act before, and she froze in anticipation when he stepped into the cage with six lions and six tigers. Any one of them looked capable of destroying him, and she gasped as he put them through their paces. She was also aware that Chase and two other men were stationed outside the cages with long sticks, and one of them carried a gun.
Ritter was very energetic. He held a chair in one hand and a whip in the other, and had a pistol at his side. More than once he’d pull the pistol and fire it at a lion or a tiger that seemed to be ready to charge. He fended them off with his chair, cracked his whip, and shouted a great deal.
When the act ended, Joy felt weak with excitement.
She had no time to speak to Chase, for she had to get right back to Ruth and be ready for the closing spec.
****
By the next day, Joy was already getting more proficient at fixing meals for a large crowd. She had learned the names of many of the performers, and most of them were friendly. She finished the supper dishes in time to go back for the evening performance and enjoyed her ride in the spec again.
At the end of that performance, everything exploded into action.
“We’re pulling down!”
She remembered then that they were taking the tent down and moving on. She flew back to the cook tent, and for two hours helped Annie get the kitchen gear packed and ready to be loaded onto a big truck. She was vaguely aware of the shouts and activities as the big top was being pulled down. Everyone worked feverishly, and as the trucks were being loaded, it seemed like utter confusion to Joy. She learned, however, that the circus workers and performers knew their jobs so well that it all fell together without a hitch.
The big diesels were beginning to roar when she saw Pete stop to speak with Annie. Joy was close enough to hear him say, “We’ll just have to leave him here.”
“You can’t do that, Pete,” Annie protested. She noticed Joy standing nearby and looked her way. Joy approached the couple to ask what the trouble was.
“It’s Chase. He’s dead drunk. He was drinking tonight before the performance.”
Joy saw the anger in the big man’s face. “Do you know where he is?”
“Somebody said he was over where the menagerie tent was.”
Joy took off in that direction, and Pete called after her. “We’ll leave him here. He’s no good, Joy!”
But Joy ran quickly, dodging and threading her way through the activities. She found Chase curled up on the ground, unconscious, reeking of alcohol. She shouted at him to wake up and shook him hard, but he simply curled up tighter.
The Fiery Ring Page 15