CHAPTER I

YOUNG STEPFATHER

Early in the morning, even too early for him, a young puppeteer was woke up by knocking on the door of his wagon, that he lived In. Still half asleep he opened it to see his distant aunt.

"Agnes? What are you doin' here so early?" Only now he felt how horrible hangover he had. But he didn't get an answer. The woman just handed him her little daughter and a piece of paper, and then she ran off as fast as she could disappearing in the streets of Paris. The young man looked at his little cousin, still asleep, covered with her blanket. He closed the door and put the girl on his bed.

'Well, I won't have any more time for rest…' He thought reading a message that he got from Agnes. It was more of a sequence of pictures than a letter, but it was the best way for the Gypsies to communicate, since nobody knew their clue.

"Clopin?" He heard child's voice. "Where's mummy?"

He frowned. Right now the woman was already cached by the guards or her husband got her in one of the darker streets.

"She had to leave for some time, but don't worry, I will take care of you." Only now, when he told her this, Clopin realized that even though he was only fifteen, he became a step-father for his little cousin. A three-year-old girl was now under his care, and whole responsibility for her was on him for God only knows how long. Probably until she will get married.

"Clopin, when mummy will be back?" Asked the child.

"Soon. Now, wanna something to eat? I bet you're hungry."

"No. I wanna go to mum!" She cried.

"Oh, Esmeralda, please." He said taking his cousin into his arms. "Your mamma will be back soon, and till then you'll be with me. Remember, once you said you'd like to have an older brother. Now you have him in me." Said Clopin with a smile, still holding the little girl. Then he placed her back on the bed, and covered the child with a blanket. He went to the door and delicately opened it, to see if there's someone on the streets. There was nobody, but the beaker. The Gypsy came towards the man and stopped him.

"Morning!" He said.

"Oh, Clopin, good morning. You're up early today. How are you?"

"Only few minutes ago I had a hangover, but… oh never mind, I'm already pretty well, thanks."

"Good to know. So, the same as usual?"

"Yeah, and maybe… maybe I'll also take two croissants…" The boy scratched his ear. "I have to take care of m little cousin, and… well, I just don't wanna give her only bread for breakfast."

The beaker smiled, he knew Clopin since the boy was a toddler, and never even expected that this young puppeteer might ever take care of someone, but himself.

"I see. Here you go. A loaf of bread and four croissants, two for each of you."

"Thank you, but I have only this…" The Gypsy said with a sad frown, and handed only couple small coins to the beaker. "I will earn more today, so then I will pay you the rest…"

"Don't worry about this." Replied the man, and gave the coins back. "Keep this for later, in case today won't be a lucky day. Then you'll be able to get your cousin a warm supper in the evening."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you very much." Replied Clopin and ran back to his van. His accommodation, his home, his transportation. As he entered it, he saw Esmeralda sleeping on his bed. The girl was curled like a kitten, and warped with her and his blanket. The only hint that she was under the covers was her black wavy hair, that was sort of flowing on the pillow. This caused a smile across boy's face. He didn't want to wake her up, this child needed some rest. He sat at his table and just looked at his cousin for a while. She was so cute. Right now she had her eyes closed, but when she was awake, her eyes had the color of emerald. He knew that one day this will be the best armor to seduce men. One her look, and ya can lose your head for her. Also her long curly black hair was something amazing. Even though she was only a child right now, Clopin knew that when she will become a woman, many men will want her. And his job will be to protect her. The boy perfectly understood that now the only family this child had was him. Only her distant cousin, who also became her step-father. And then, he noticed one more thing about Esmeralda. She had no toys with her. Nothing, not a single doll even.

'This kid will be bored to death!' He thought, and looked at the materials he had in his box. He was a puppeteer, not only he was making shows for younger children, but all the puppets he had, were done by himself! Now, he decided to do such a toy for Esmeralda. From a wooden ball he made a head, he painted a funny face on it, and pasted some hair on the top. From some old pieces of clothe he made a dress for the doll. As he was finished, he looked at his piece of work. It was pretty good, he had to admit it himself. Finishing it took him maybe three hours, he was already pretty experienced puppet master. And just as he finished the doll, he heard Esmeralda's voice.

"Is mummy back?" She asked. This time he almost felt tears in his eyes. How he was to tell this wonderful child, that her mother will probably never go back? But he forced himself to pretend that nothing had happened.

"No, she's not, my little. I guess she won't be back before next month. You know how long it takes to get somewhere with a tabor."

"Why I couldn't go? Mummy said I will always be with her."

"I don't know why, but I'm sure it was something very important if you couldn't go. Maybe she went to find a new place to stay for the two of you, but she wanted to surprise you? Now, come here, I wanna show you something." He said with a smile. The girl jumped from the bed and walked towards him, and as she was next to him, he lifted her a bit and placed her on his knees. "See, when you were asleep, I made this doll."

"Lovely! She has hair like mine, but brown! Will she be in your new show?"

He smiled. Clopin haven't thought of it, but who knows…

"Maybe… if you will let her. She told me she'd like to be your doll, but, she wouldn't mind taking part in one or two shows. All depends on you." Clopin was very good at creating stories. He was often able to create even couple of them per day.

"So, she can be mine?"

"Of course. Now you will have a friend, who you can tell all your secrets and problems if I won't be around."

"Thank you, Clopin!" Said the girl hugging her cousin. "How you think I could name her?"

"Uhm… I don't know… What name you like?"

"Dunno." Esmeralda looked at her new toy carefully. "Her hair is of the color of this candy mummy had prepared for my birthday… it was funny how hard this was to eat. You were chewing it for long, but you still had it."

"I guess you mean toffee? Agnes really prepares it perfectly… You know what it's made of?"

"No, but I loved it's taste. You think when mummy will be back, she can make toffee again?"

"Sure. If you want, we can try to make it on our own, so when Agnes will be back, we'll show her what we've learned. But where we'll get the caramel…? Or rather what we need to make it…"

"Caramel! That will be the name for my doll! Thanks, Clopin!"

"You're welcome, my little." He replied with a big smile. "Now, maybe you'd finally have something for breakfast? We have milk, bread and… croissants!"

"Yay! Where did you get them, Clopin? I thought they don't make them here… mummy told me so…"

"Well, because the beaker I know is probably the only one in this city who has them!" Another tale created. Clopin knew very well why Agnes told her daughter that in Paris are no such things, it was only to hide the fact that they're out of money. Before, when they lived closer to the sea, they had pretty good situation, because Agnes married a fisherman, so they could buy almost everything. But things are changing, and soon after Esmeralda was born, the situation got worse. Thomas, her father, had less work, and was getting drunk pretty often. At first it was only the problem with money, but later on, the man began to be very bad for his family. Of course, Agnes loved her husband and didn't want to leave him, but one day he was to take care of Esmeralda when her mother went to help one of the women in the village, so she'd get some money, the child went out the house on her own, and almost drowned. Only because of her uncle, Thomas' brother, the child was saved. This caused Agnes to leave with Esmeralda. She knew that Thomas can't take a proper care of his daughter, if he even has no idea when the child went off. The man, however followed them. He got mad that his wife ever dared to leave him. To make sure that they will be safe, Agnes moved to Paris. But after couple months Thomas had found them, and the woman decided to leave Esmeralda with Clopin, and she escaped alone. Esmeralda's father didn't know the puppeteer, so the girl was safe with her cousin.

"Clopin?"

"Yes, my little?" He loved this child like she was his younger sister. Even though he knew her for only a month. It was just impossible to not love this child. Always cheerful, longing for new things. Playing for all the time. She'd be a great dancer, thought the Gypsy boy. Maybe one day someone will teach her how to dance…

"Why you don't live with the rest of our people?"

"Oh, I guess it's just I prefer the life on my own. You see it's just too crowdie in the Court of Miracles. But, we can move there if you want."

"Nah, I wanna live with you. If we'd move, how mummy would find us?"

"Don't worry she will, when the time will come. Now, nosh." He said handing a croissant to the girl. Then he got up, and from a box in the corner he took out a bottle of milk, and put it on the table in front of the child. "Here, so ya won't choke."

"Thanks." She replied with mouth full of food.

"Don't do that, cause you'll really choke!" Laughed the boy and ruffled Esmeralda's hair. "So, what we're gonna do today?" He asked playfully.

"I thought you will make puppet show, as usually…" Replied the child.

"I will, but only in the afternoon. It's maybe ten in the morning…"

Esmeralda made a funny face, which seemed to be a frown that she used to make whenever she was thinking.

"So, let's go and find mummy!"

Clopin rolled his eyes. This kid was stubborn, bit too stubborn as for his patience. But, what he could do?

"But, your mum isn't in Paris now. I told you, she had to go with a caravan. She'll be back in maybe a month. Maybe you'd like to go for a walk? We can go to the Cathedral, it's really beautiful."

"Will they allow us to enter it? Mummy told me that I can go in only when I'm in trouble… She said that the Gypsies aren't allowed to go there…"

Clopin smiled in this funny mischievous way.

"Who said your mother has to know that we went there? Look, your author went out of Paris, maybe even France, she won't know if we'll go to Notre Dame. What's more it's not the truth that the Gypsies aren't allowed to go there. Even more, we've got a sanctuary there. Ya gotta get know Paris better, kid. Come on. I'll show you everything." The rest of the morning and almost all afternoon they had spent on walking along the streets of Paris. Not only on Îl de La Cité, but also Universite and Ville. All they were avoiding was the Court of Miracles. Clopin knew very well that there Thomas might search for his daughter. As they were finally back at Clopin's wagon, the boy suddenly stopped. Someone was near his caravan. It was a young man with black hair grabbed in a ponytail, he wore a yellow shirt, awfully torn on the sleeves. He looked like a typical thief, but Clopin knew him very well, it was his friend, Raul. When the young puppeteer realized who was near his van, he began to walk again, leading his little cousin by her hand.

"Raul! Hi, how are ya?"

"Could've been better. Hope ya have some wine?"

"No, we drunk everything yesterday. And, sorry, but I don't have time now. I gotta take care of my little." Replied Clopin, pointing his cousin.

"Hah, I had no idea ya had a kid! Hey, how's possible you've got so big kid, hah?"

"It's not my kid, you moron. She's my cousin!"

"Clopin, can we go inside? It's starting to rain… and I'm cold…" Now the girl spoke with her sweet voice, and made this frown that was occurring on her face whenever she was upset.

"We're going, Esmeralda." He replied, and excused his friend.

"Hey, Clopin, a brat is more important than your friend? You'll regret it, Clopin!" Said Raul, shocked to see the puppeteer taking care of a little girl.

"It's not a brat! This is a child, who is my cousin!" Yelled Clopin, shouting the door of his wagon. "Don't worry, my little. He's not gonna disturb us." He said calmly to the little girl who looked at him scared.

"You angry with me?" When she was nervous or scared the girl was sometimes forgetting some grammar.

"No, of course not. How could I be angry with such a lovely girl, as you?" He replied hugging the child. "I was angry with Raul, because he was mean to you. I will never allow anyone to be bad for you!" He said holding the girl even stronger. Even though he was looking over her for only ten hours, he already got attached to this child so much, that he couldn't imagine a day without her. As the two entered the van, Esmeralda sat on one of the chests and just played with her new doll. Clopin was at first just looking at his cousin, but then he began to make another marionette.

"Do you think that we can stay in Paris when mummy will be back?" Asked the child.

"Would be great, but probably your mum will want to go back home, to your village. You liked living there, didn't you?"

"No. I was annoying daddy."

"You? I can't believe it! You even don't know how to annoy people! Look, you're here for only a month, but everyone loves you! You're playful, cheerful and talented. You know, I think you could be a dancer one day. Maybe I'll ask a friend of mine to teach you?"

"Really?"

"Sure. I'll talk to her tomorrow. Now, I'm sorry my little, but I gotta work for a while. Will you play with Caramel on your own? Then, we'll take the van and go near Saint Severin to give a show, okay?"

"Yay!" Called out the girl. She loved Clopin's puppet shows. It was lots of fun, and he was telling amazing stories.

"If you and Caramel will be good girls, and you will let me finish everything before we go, you can also take part in the show. You'll be very helpful. You also know many stories, don't you, Esmeralda?"

"I think so, Clopin. Mummy and uncle used to tell me fairytales."

"Good. So, just give me an hour, okay? Then we'll go." With that said he turned back, and began his work with the marionettes. Esmeralda was looking at him with some kind of adoration. An adoration of a little child, who thinks her cousin is sort of a hero, someone who's not afraid of anything, and ready to protect her no matter what. Even though she knew Clopin for a rather short time, she trusted him more than to anyone right now. Only her mother was more important for the little Gypsy girl.

After about forty minutes, they heard loud knocking on the wagon's door. Someone was calling Clopin. Both of them, inside, knew this voice way too well. It was Thomas, Esmeralda's father.

"Daddy!" Said the girl and wanted to run to the door, but the boy stopped her, and placed the palm of his hand on her lips.

"Let's play with your dad. Hide in the box under my bed, okay? I will go to talk to Thomas, and then I'll tell you when to go out to make him a surprise, alright?"

"Okay!" Cheered the girl and did what her cousin asked her to.

"Clopin, come out!" Yelled the man outside.

"Ay, uncle!" He replied opening the door. "How are you?"

"Oh, there ya, Clopin! I'm waitn' for ya. Since noon I'm coming here and nothing, I tried million times. Where have ya been?" Asked the man angrily.

"Oh, you know, oncle, here and there, just like a Gypsy. I never stay in one place for too long. But I guess you're here not without a reason?" He replied closing the door of his van behind him, so now both men were on the street. Thanks to this Esmeralda couldn't hear their talking.

"Clever boy! I always liked ya for that. I'm lookin' for my wife and daughter, I guess they're here…?"

Once more today the young Gypsy had to lie. He hated it, but life is brutal, and most often you have to do what you have to, not what you want.

"True, they were in Paris for last month, but unfortunately, Agnes left with Esmeralda yesterday. Untie said something 'bout going back home… So, I guess she just went to your village… or maybe she meant her mother's house in Germany? Not sure, actually. But, for sure ya won't find them in Paris."

"You're a good boy, Clopin." Smiled Thomas. "Here, that's for the information." Added the man, and paid the boy with three dinars, which was more than Clopin earned for last half a year! "Oh, and, if they'd happen to be back. Let me know. I'll stay in the city for next couple days. Hope they won't kill me if I'll go to the Court of Miracles?"

"No, you're still one of us. You're Agnes' husband, and you've already been there couple times, so…"

"Good. So, see ya scamp." Said Thomas and left. Clopin took a deep breath. Then, for next couple days he has to hide somewhere with Esmeralda, so Thomas won't find them. But where? In Notre Dame? Nah! There was too dark, plus the Gypsies don't do well inside the stone walls. Then the boy thought of one place in Paris where only two people are courageous enough to go to, Raul and Clopin. Maybe not the best to go with a little girl, but what he could do? He had to hide somewhere, somewhere, where his van, won't be noticed. Such a place was only one in Paris, the old catacombs. As for couple days, it wasn't bad. On the other hand… Raul said something about his friend regretting that he refused drinking with him. Now the young puppeteer realized the thing, it was his friend who told Thomas about Esmeralda! So, the catacombs weren't a good idea. The only solution was going out of the town. The boy waited a bit longer, to make sure that his uncle went away for good, and then entered his tabor back.

"Alright, you can go out, my little." He said and only second later he saw as happy smile disappears from child's face.

"Where's daddy?" She asked sadly.

"Esmeralda, he went off. I couldn't give you to him. You see, your mummy told me to not give you to anyone until she will be back. Even to your father."

"Because daddy's angry with me?"

"No, my little, he's not angry with you. But, if something would happen to you, I'd never forgive it myself. Now, what you'd say for a short vacation out of town? We'd go on these hills behind the walls of the city. There's a beautiful little forest, which is a perfect place for a week-long-camp."

"But, will we go to see daddy?"

"Maybe as we'll be back. I'm sure he'd like you to have fun." He replied with a big smile, trying to cheer the girl up. He didn't wait for the girl to say something, he just told her to stay inside the van, and he went out and began to drag the wagon in the direction of Universite. On his way, he met Juana, his close friend, who he hoped to date one day.

"Clopin! Where are ya goin'?" She asked.

"Uhm… Just wanted to take a short rest. I'm moving out of the town for a week or so. Wanna go with me?" He knew very well that Juana was actually an orphan, so she didn't have to ask anyone for permission.

"Sure! I have enough of the city too." She said and helped her friend to drag the van. "So, where are we goin'? If ya take everything with ya it must be far…"

"Nah, just to the hills. I can hide this tabor between trees, so no one will see it." He took a deep breath. "Juana, please, don't tell anyone… Remember my little cousin, Esmeralda?"

"This cute little girl who came here with her mother a month ago? Of course I remember, you love her, hah? Even though she was here for only a month."

"She's inside. Her mother asked me to take care of Esmeralda. You see they had escaped home because of Thomas, Agnes' husband. And now he's lookin' for them."

"Then, glad you met me. I will help ya with the kid. Plus, I can enter the city whenever I want, so I can tell you when ya can be back." Said the young Gypsy girl. Clopin smiled. He liked Juana, not only because they had a lot in common, but also because she was always ready to help him. It was a nice thin girl, with huge brown eyes and long black hair. She was born in Spain, but most of her life she spent in Paris. During last epidemic her parents died, so she was alone. Of course, the Gypsies took her in, and raised as their own child, but nobody really cared now if she was back in the court for the night or not. She knew very well how to take care of herself. That was something he admired the most in her.