Jimmy, Cody, Ike, and Buck walked together near the sideshow tents hoping to find something interesting to watch before the show at the main tent began. They walked past many smaller tents, all had a talker on a bally that talked fast and made their show sound like the most interesting show in the world. They even stopped at a few and considered them and then moved on. As they wandered they noticed the mysterious man from the parade. He sat in a chair and looked cryptic. He still made Jimmy and Buck uneasy. Ike was ready to walk on, but Cody was fascinated.
"Step right over here, boys!" the talker on the bally urged Cody, Jimmy, Buck, and Ike. "Right this way! Come see The Great Cagliostro! His powers of the mind will baffle and thrill you. I guarantee you'll never see a show with more mystery and intrigue!"
"What kind of things does 'The Great Cagliostro' do?" Cody inquired as the riders walked up and stopped.
"Son, I'm so glad you asked!" the talker answered. "The Great Cagliostro has unlocked the secrets of the mind. He is prepared to demonstrate his incredible mental powers for your edification and amusement."
"So, what kinds of things does he do?" Cody asked. He was completely drawn in and curious.
"Son, it will cost you a dime to find that out," the man said with a wink and a smile.
Cody smiled back and then turned to his companions. "I really want to see this," he announced, "Can we see this one before the big show?"
Buck and Jimmy were weary, but Ike just shrugged. Cody's eyes were so big and pleading.
"Cody, you said that about the last three tents we stopped in front of," Jimmy reminded him.
"Well, I really mean it this time, Hickok," Cody said insistently.
"Fine," Jimmy said looking at Buck and Ike. "If you two are agreeable we'll go."
Ike looked at Buck and gave him his "sure, why not" look. Buck looked over at Jimmy and shrugged his consent.
The four boys dug into their pockets and each produced a dime to see the show. They paid the man at the door and settled onto the weathered wooden benches that made up the audience seating area.
The room was dimly lit and the air was heavily perfumed with sandalwood incense which was quietly smoldering in the corner. It made the air seem closer but it was almost relaxing at the same time. A violin was playing somewhere that almost seemed distant. The melody was haunting and in a minor key. The tune wasn't familiar to any of the boys. It was pitched low and sounded like it was an ancient song from somewhere in Europe.
Jimmy and Buck were still a little weary of this whole set up while Cody took everything in with wide eyed fascination. Ike just shrugged and followed along.
The violin started playing a different tune as fog started to roll in from the back of the stage. Suddenly The Great Cagliostro was standing in the center of the stage almost seeming to have appeared there out of thin air. Ike and Cody were fascinated, while Jimmy and Buck felt a bit more like they were trapped in a nightmare. Cagliostro's voice was deep and penetrating and his eyes piercing. He claimed that through "Animal Magnetism" he would be able to control the actions of a volunteer from the audience. Cody naturally volunteered. If there was a chance to get up on stage, Cody would take it. Cagliostro had Cody sit down and he seemed to put him into some sort of trance. Buck and Jimmy kept looking at each other nervously wondering if Cody was in danger. Soon their minds were at ease as Cagliostro had Cody doing all sorts of ridiculous things including clucking like a chicken. Cody of course didn't remember a thing when he was released and sat down.
As funny as what Cagliostro did with Cody, it amazed and shocked Cody, Jimmy, and most of all Buck when Cagliostro brought Ike on stage and put him into a trance similar to Cody's. Cagliostro gleaned that Ike was mute before taking him onstage, but once he had worked his magic, he had Ike speak. It was the most incredible thing Buck had ever seen. He looked at both Cody and Jimmy unable to explain his wonderment. Buck felt a pang of regret when Cagliostro released Ike back to his usual silent self. He wished that the man could have left Ike with his returned speaking ability intact.
As they walked out of the tent, Ike looked at his friends as they stared at him curiously. *What?* he asked.
"Ike, you spoke," Buck said almost at a loss for words.
Ike looked around at Jimmy and Cody's faces to confirm Buck's words. He paused and tried to remember. He broke into a smile, figuring they were kidding.
*You guys almost had me going there,* Ike signed.
"It's true, Ike, he made you speak," Cody stated.
*Really?* Ike asked, *What did I say?*
"Well, I guess you mostly sang," Buck said.
*Sang? I don't know how to sing. You guys are just funnin' me.*
"We ain't funnin' you, Ike," Jimmy said. "You sang and pretty darn well, too."
*What song?* Ike asked nervously.
"Teaspoon's favorite," Cody replied, "I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair."
*Very funny,* Ike signed. *Come on tell me what really happened.*
"It's the truth Ike," Buck said with a genuine smile.
Ike stopped and thought a second. *Naaaahhhh,* he signed and followed the others to the main tent.
Cagliostro watched the boys leave. 'Yes,' he thought, 'this one will be perfect.'
"So, what did you think of him?" Laurent asked as he appeared out of the shadows.
"He will do quite nicely, Laurent," Cagliostro answered. "I planted a small seed just to see how suggestible the boy is. He doesn't even remember he was in a trance. None of them ever do."
"But he'll do something and then you'll know if it will work," Laurent asked.
"Yes, I will observe him tomorrow. His friends may pose a problem though."
"Well, we'll deal with that when it comes up. I have to go to the main tent and start hawking the show. We'll speak of this later."
"Yes, we will," Cagliostro said smiling. He had never tried to dominate a mind for longer than a few minutes before. This would be a challenge and one he was looking forward to. If he could pull this off, he could be set for life. He would never have to travel with a rinky dink circus again. He could command theatres in large cities and pack every house. Or, he could be useful to powerful people that needed expensive favors. He had a gift and he was tired of wasting it on back water hicks, but he needed to build his reputation somewhere. This was as good a place as any.
Jimmy and Cody followed by Buck and Ike walked up to the main tent just a few minutes after they saw the rest of their friends enter. The two men at the door looked pale, like they had seen a ghost. Both men turned and ran inside. The boys all looked at one another and hoped nothing was seriously wrong. They all shrugged and went about looking for their friends.
Jimmy saw Teaspoon and Rachel first. Rachel waved them over. It looked like they had seats waiting for them. As they all headed for their seats, one of the men from the door rushed past them followed closely by the other.
"Juliette?" the man asked standing right in front of Lou.
Lou looked around her to see if there was someone else he was talking to. "I'm sorry, no, my name's Louise, not Juliette."
"You look just like my Juliette," Laurent said as tears started to form in the corners of his eyes.
"I'm sorry ma'am," Gilles said as he caught up to Laurent. Although he meant to lead Laurent away, Gilles just stood and stared for a second before catching himself. "Come on, Laurent; let's leave these fine folks alone so they can enjoy the show."
Kid put his arm protectively around Lou's shoulder as the men left. He didn't feel right about the way those men looked at Lou. He just wanted Lou to be safe and he wasn't going to let her out of his sight until this circus was long gone.
Laurent slammed the door to his trailer. The circus had shut down and he had finally sunk into his favorite chair. This was the worst show Cirque de l'Enfer ever put up. He was constantly distracted by the woman that looked like Juliette. He couldn't concentrate and looked like a rank amateur announcing the acts. Some ringmaster he turned out to be. Gilles couldn't catch a thing. Jules Leotard had nearly fell from the trapeze when he saw Juliette's likeness in the audience. Bill and Agnes Lake were the saving grace of the night –especially Bill. That man used his clown persona to distract the entire audience and he darned near saved the entire night. He was just lucky Bill and Agnes had never met Juliette. They really came through.
Laurent couldn't stop watching the woman who called herself "Louise." He followed her and the boy she was with all around the circus grounds. He was at a safe distance and he didn't think they noticed him. Everything about her was just like Juliette. Right down to her laugh. Her deep throaty laugh was exactly like Juliette. Her smile was the same, the sparkle of her eyes the same, and mostly the look of love on her face was the same look his Juliette held for him. He was being haunted by her in the cruelest of ways. She didn't even know who Laurent was. His Juliette was back from the dead and in love with another.
Laurent reached into the drawer of his small desk and pulled out a whiskey bottle. The welcome aroma flooded his senses as soon as he released the cork. He was about to pour a glass when a knock came at the door.
"Go away!" Laurent called from his chair. He was going to get good and drunk and really didn't want to be disturbed right now.
The door slowly creaked open and Cagliostro appeared in the doorway. "That would be unwise," he said cryptically and came inside. He sat down in another chair and turned up an, empty glass and tapped the desktop. Laurent's anger faded slightly as he poured himself and Cagliostro a glass of whiskey.
"I take it you saw her too," Laurent asked after both men had taken a belt of the strong amber liquid.
Cagliostro nodded. "Perhaps she could be persuaded to join the circus," he mused.
"I don't think so," Laurent answered wearily. "I don't think I could handle seeing her on a daily basis. It would be torture to see her and know that she's not really my Juliette."
"What if she was?" Cagliostro asked. "What if, I made her think she was?"
Laurent felt his face pale. "No, I won't let you dishonor Juliette that way. No one could ever replace her."
Laurent swallowed hard. It was tempting, really tempting.
"It was just an offer," Cagliostro said as he downed the rest of his drink. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
Cagliostro stood up and left the trailer, closing the door behind him.
Laurent stared at the door. He couldn't, shouldn't even be considering it. No, it was wrong and he wouldn't be a part of it. Laurent grabbed the bottle and filled his glass once more. He would silence the voices in his head that were considering hurting that girl. He couldn't hurt her anymore than he could hurt Juliette. He downed the drink and poured up another. He would finish the bottle and then he would forget Cagliostro had even suggested hurting that girl, but at the same time he couldn't forget she existed. She was his Juliette in almost every way. Tonight he would cherish the gift of seeing his Juliette just once more. Laurent poured himself another drink.