2. Learning magic
The freak show shed is
open just at night. In the day, I was among my other companions
chatting or eating together. But, at those times, I did not remove my
mask under any condition.
"You, what is your
name?"
One day, the woman
necromancer asked.
"Whatever name that
serves you."
"Anyone can have a
rough expectation. I shall apply my fortune-telling."
The necromancer kindly
decided to forecast such as me, and sat me down on the necromancy
stand, and said, on the crystal ball: "I understand. Your name is
Erik."
It is a very good name.
In any case, it is possible for me to have a good name. It means that
my friends can have good names too.
The necromancer taught
me various things. I learned magic tricks that use coins and tramps.
After a while, my magic tricks were better than the necromancer's
Besides the
necromancer, there was also an entertainer called the rubber man. His
feet and bones can tie like string, because I can see that he has no
bones.
It was also possible to
make the body small like lead by making the body go round and round.
After that, being bound
with a rope, it is possible for him to sneak away even when the key
is being attached to a chain. I was also taught the method from the
rubber man.
Everyday was pleasant
to me. In the day I was taught magic tricks. There were many things I
would like to know. Rather than going to school, it is better to
directly remember various things.
At night, I appear on
stage to scare the customers. I was accustomed to the work, so I get
a very good feeling.
I was simply lonely. I
love the necromancer and the rubber man, but there is not even one
person who loves me.
When I become lonely, I
escaped out of the tent and sing songs alone. Only songs can console
me.
One day, I decided to
move to the other freak show shed. That one was larger, and I can
receive more money.
In the new shed, I was
sold as "Erik the moving skeleton". Although my pay was higher
than before, this shed was just as popular.
I made a new friend who
uses magic. I was taught magic where I turned off and remove objects
in air. The fact that the secret door is made helped.
Delilah was a sorcerer.
Delilah wears a purple feathered hat, and on her knees was a big
doll.
One day, I was
listening to Delilah.
"How do you chat with
the doll?"
"Well, Eric, you
inquire about no such thing! That is an important secret."
However, I was not
disgusted, and asking many times, finally was able to inquire about
the secret.
Delilah taught me the
method of having my own voice audible even at a faraway place.
It was very
interesting. I was able to make my own voice echo from anywhere. As I
saw the dog singing, the man suddenly cries…
Unnoticed, I can use
this magic better than Delilah's.
Delilah, regretting
telling me her secret, often told other people that she revealed her
secret to me.
"When you speak to
Erik, he will steal your skills."
Soon, everyone stopped
talking to me. I was confused.
Although I wanted to
study various things, I was labeled as a thief… Then, I stole
skills from everyone!
I escaped that shed.
Even if there was a lot of work. I changed freak show sheds one after
another. Each time I saw a new skill, I imitated that, it is possible
to try by myself.
I stopped being "the
skeleton that moves". I became the magic-using Erik. I can turn off
and remove objects in the air. When a woman bound me with a voice
like a donkey, I can untie the rope and escape… I learned to have
self-confidence.
My name gradually
became famous, I was a big star in the freak show, my name was in a
large font in the posters. People would come, however faraway they
are from, to see me. My skills could always surprise everyone.
One evening, a Persian
came to my place.
"Your name has travelled to faraway Persia. The king would like to invite you to the palace. With Persia, it seems like a good dream.