Days Of The Carnival: The Muse
By: Wolfa Moon
The day before a ship came with a full complement of performers. This night was their first performance for them. The whole town had gathered in the square.
"Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair." The main ringleader of the group yelled to them from the fountain top. "Well not exactly." He jumped down to the ground. "Our show is for the very young to the very old. To the very beautiful," He kissed Tessa hand. "To the very.." The jokester laughed when Montoya gave him a dirty look. The show went on for several hours. Grisham got outshoot by a clown. Vera was chosen to be the victim of knife throwing. Tessa and everyone were enjoying the show. Except she did not notice the doctor. Marta leaned over next to her.
"Something wrong?" Tessa shuck her head no. Marta knew better though. She had known her since a child and cared for her as if her own. Tessa looked around the crowd again. In one of the back corners of the crowds there he stood.
"Now ladies and gentlemen we would like to present to you are muse. A lady from far lands and small unknown islands. Her Voice has made men crash into shores a many of nights. Our Lady muse, Linthia." A hooded figure stepped forward. Tender fingers moved up and removed the hood. Her head bowed. The audience was silent. She looked up finally. Her eyelids were painted gold. The rest were silver streaks that painted their way across them. The crowd looked at her guessing her age, guessing what she's gonna sing. Guessing what was behind the make-up. The girl's eyes looked over the crowd. They stopped when the fell upon Dr. Helm. She gave him a smile.
"Hello." The crowd said hello back. Tessa noticed her accent of French. "Now I wish you to close your eyes and relax." Everyone mostly closed her eyes. Tessa watched over the crowd. Helm keep his eyes opened and watched her. The Muse began to sing.
"She walks in beauty like the night
of cloudless climes and starry skies
And all that's best of dark and bright
meets in her aspect and her eyes
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
which heaven to gaudy day denies." The music seemed to fade as Tessa watched the Doctor. He seemed to be uneasy. Tessa looked back to the singer. Her voice was a sweet soprano. She had finally shut her eyes, held the note then ended. Everyone began to clap around her and stand up. Tessa stood up not to applaud her put to see the doctor. As she looked where he was standing he was no longer there. The Queen's counterpart looked at the singer. She looked directly into her eyes and tilted her head. The Muse looked back around to the crowd. Tessa watched in wonder at the motions of the girl. The ringleader came out and twirled her around. As soon as she was set back down her eyes looked for the Doctor. Tessa had a bad feeling about this.
TBC