The European-style circus had been enjoying such success in Tokyo that the owner, Richard Stanton, had decided to hold it over for another week. He strolled through the grounds now, smiling at the enchanted faces of children young and old flocking to see the sideshows outside the big tent. He peeked inside the tent and saw the lion tamer putting his cats through their paces while a tightrope walker rode a unicycle right over the cage. The audience seemed to be holding its collective breath, sighing in relief as the high wire artist made it across safely and waved to them. This was one of the things Stanton loved about the circus-in so many sports, the spectators seemed to enjoy the accidents and injuries at least as much as the game, but people who went to the circus were always rooting for the safety of the performers. Now the audience was applauding wildly as the lion tamer finished his act and exited the cage to bow to them side by side with the tightrope walker and Stanton walked on, a contented man.
He was especially pleased at the next sight to meet his eyes. Just before deciding to come to Japan, Stanton had invested in a small carousel, and he considered it one of the best ideas he had ever had. Nothing like it had ever been seen in this country and whole families flocked to ride on it. He stood for a moment watching in amusement as a small redheaded boy on a stationary horse reached vainly for the brass ring fastened to the canopy. The ring was only for show-in America carousels generally had a metal lever that swung out when the ride started and fed rings to the end of a wooden arm over the riders, who would try to grab a brass ring and win a free ride. Stanton would have liked to use the device on his carousel, but it frequently broke down and he didn't like to see children disappointed when they didn't even get a chance to try for a ring. He decided in the end just to have a single ring fixed permanently to the ride. This was the first time anybody had even noticed it.
Stanton's jaw dropped as the ride came around again. Another boy was mounted on the stationary horse and the redhead was seated on his shoulders. As they came up to the ring, the redhead reached again and with the advantage of height provided by his friend, he managed to seize it. It was fastened too firmly to be pulled loose and he clung to it, dangling from the canopy as the ride continued to turn and the other boy was jerked out from under him.
The dark-haired youngster jumped off the horse and ran to his friend. "Let go, Kenji!"
"I've almost got it, Sozo!"
The circus owner started towards them as the ring finally broke off and the redhead fell, landing on the other boy. He popped to his feet, holding the ring up as they ran off whooping in triumph.