Erik gazed forlornly toward the firelight. It was their last night in that
town, and he knew they would be packing up and moving to a new place. To
what new place, he wasn't sure. He wasn't privy to any useful information,
only the gossip of the small-minded performers. Most, though, had chosen to
stay away from him; in part because of his bizarre appearance, and also
because they knew if they helped him in any way, they would be punished.
One young man, a boy who tended the packhorses, talked to him occasionally.
Erik tolerated him. The boy was quiet, shy, and was only interested in Erik
as a quiet companion to share stories with. He, Erik had found, was the
only real companion he'd ever had; though they rarely spoke to each other
of themselves, and knew barely anything about one another.
"What is your name, sir?" A gentle voice called into his cage. It was the man whom he'd seen several times, always with an expression of wonder imprinted upon his face. Erik wasn't sure if he should respond.
"They call me 'Monsieur Monster,' but I hardly think that was the answer you were looking for," Erik's reply bordered on sarcasm. His voice was hollow.
"Your Christian name?" His light blue eyes reflected sadness, his softly rounded face held an innocence. Erik knew that he meant no harm.
"Erik."
"Erik? You are a marvel. Please, let me help you out of there," the man produced the set of keys that Erik had watched dangle in front of him many times. They were the show master's keys. The door to the cage came swiftly open, and Erik hesitated before climbing out. "Sir, I should like to take you with me."
He was dumbfounded. The man was offering him an escape? Where was Alonso? Surely he wouldn't let him go without a good say in it.
"I am sure," the man said, "that you are a little bewildered at such a turn of events. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Baron Von Ulrichstein, from neighboring Kienburg. I have paid a good sum of money for your freedom." He led Erik through the gates, the performers all staring in shock at his casual departure. Alonso stood, fuming and helpless, at the door of his wagon. Erik turned to him, and gave a slight bow, a hint of malice behind the gesture. They found a simple carriage awaiting them. Erik remained quiet as he continued.
"You may also be wondering why I am dressed this way? It is not a suitable pastime for young barons to be traipsing about circus shows. Especially young barons from elsewhere. My attendants have watched closely, in the event that I was discovered. But, I had managed to keep my identity a secret, though my coming was not." His tone was pleasant. Erik only nodded. It was then that he recalled the stable boy, and had wished he had remembered the say goodbye to him. He remained quiet, trying to take in all that the young man was telling him, and everything that had happened in such a short while. No more beatings, no more playing his music for strangers. It was gone from his life. And, as the carriage traveled down the bumpy road, these uplifting thoughts were spinning through his head. For once, he was filled with hope. Little did he know, these thoughts were far from reality. He would not escape the past so easily.
"What is your name, sir?" A gentle voice called into his cage. It was the man whom he'd seen several times, always with an expression of wonder imprinted upon his face. Erik wasn't sure if he should respond.
"They call me 'Monsieur Monster,' but I hardly think that was the answer you were looking for," Erik's reply bordered on sarcasm. His voice was hollow.
"Your Christian name?" His light blue eyes reflected sadness, his softly rounded face held an innocence. Erik knew that he meant no harm.
"Erik."
"Erik? You are a marvel. Please, let me help you out of there," the man produced the set of keys that Erik had watched dangle in front of him many times. They were the show master's keys. The door to the cage came swiftly open, and Erik hesitated before climbing out. "Sir, I should like to take you with me."
He was dumbfounded. The man was offering him an escape? Where was Alonso? Surely he wouldn't let him go without a good say in it.
"I am sure," the man said, "that you are a little bewildered at such a turn of events. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Baron Von Ulrichstein, from neighboring Kienburg. I have paid a good sum of money for your freedom." He led Erik through the gates, the performers all staring in shock at his casual departure. Alonso stood, fuming and helpless, at the door of his wagon. Erik turned to him, and gave a slight bow, a hint of malice behind the gesture. They found a simple carriage awaiting them. Erik remained quiet as he continued.
"You may also be wondering why I am dressed this way? It is not a suitable pastime for young barons to be traipsing about circus shows. Especially young barons from elsewhere. My attendants have watched closely, in the event that I was discovered. But, I had managed to keep my identity a secret, though my coming was not." His tone was pleasant. Erik only nodded. It was then that he recalled the stable boy, and had wished he had remembered the say goodbye to him. He remained quiet, trying to take in all that the young man was telling him, and everything that had happened in such a short while. No more beatings, no more playing his music for strangers. It was gone from his life. And, as the carriage traveled down the bumpy road, these uplifting thoughts were spinning through his head. For once, he was filled with hope. Little did he know, these thoughts were far from reality. He would not escape the past so easily.