Chapter V.

Becoming Gypsies

Slowly, Ramus approached the dummy, strewn with small bells.

"Remember," came Clopin's voice, "if we hear even the slightest ring from the bells, you won't be worthy to live us, and we will execute you promptly."

Ramus didn't reply, but I knew from the way he was breathing so harshly, that Clopin's words were resounding in his eardrums.

Heidi, Jasmine, and myself all remained chained to the wooden post. Carmen and Wolfen stood nearby. They too, seemed to know the graveness of the situation. It was deathly quiet, as if the whole forest was holding its breath, waiting to see if Ramus would retrieve the money without making a sound. Not a single bird crowed, nor a single squirrel chattered. All was silent.

The other gypsies were enjoying the suspense, as if someone was reading a horrific story to them, and they were all waiting to see what would happen.

Ramus was about to reach out and slowly touch the dummy, when Clopin interrupted him again.

"Remember my friend, you must stand on one foot while you do this."

Ramus stopped, and made a sound that was a mixture of a sigh, groan, and desperate plea for mercy.

"Do I have to"- he began before he was interrupted a second time.

"No questions," Clopin said. "Just get this show on the road."

Ramus sighed again, and lifting his left leg up slightly, he reached out again for the dummy. We all crossed our fingers as his hand touched the dummy's worn garments. Ever so slowly, he padded down on the dummy's chest, slowly moving down to the stomach, feeling for a bulge that would indicate the money.

"I forgot to mention," Clopin added, yet again, "if you fall down, you lose."

"Great," I heard Ramus mutter sarcastically.

He continued padding the body of the dummy. Suddenly, he began to waver on his one foot. In desperation, he tried to right himself again, but to no avail; his one leg buckled under him and he began to topple over. He would have hit the ground, but suddenly Carmen and Wolfen both ran under him, catching him from his fall.

My stomach jumped into my throat. What were they going to do about this?

Before the thought had even registered in my head, I heard a rise of whispers in that strange language from the other gypsies. They too were wondering how Clopin was going to judge this.

"It seems as though you have fallen down," Clopin said, smiling wickedly. "And as I previously mentioned, you lose."

Those were the words I had been dreading the most. Now, we were to be killed.

"No, come on, please give me another chance!" Ramus begged. "At least don't kill the others on my account."

"I already stated the rules," Clopin smirked. "I'm sorry, this is the way things are. Hope you've had a nice life up to this point. It would be most unfortunate to look back on wasted memories."

Suddenly, one of the other gypsies, an old woman spoke up. She began to speak rapidly to Clopin, but of course, we couldn't understand what she was saying.

"Ah," said Clopin, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "You may be in luck. I was just reminded that if any of the unmarried madens here will take you for a husband, than you and your little family thing will be saved." Turning to everyone else watching he asked if anyone would take Ramus for their husband. But when no one stepped forward, Clopin turned to us again.

"Well, well, well. It seems as though you're out of luck. No one here wants to marry you. I'll have my men prepare four nooses."

"I'll marry him," said a voice suddenly.

We all turned to see a girl about the same age as Ramus. She was tall, had long black hair, and hoop earrings, and was barefooted. She was actually very attractive, and I felt a stab of jealousy for a moment, even though she was older than me.

"Anisa?" Clopin asked. He seemed shocked. "Anisa, you don't have to do this. Are…are you sure you want to do this?"

The girl, who seemed to be called Anisa, gave him a little look.

"Of course I want to do this. Why not?"

I could see that both she, and Ramus were nervous. I guess they had never pictured getting married like this.

Clopin sighed. Obviously, he was looking for some entertainment today by hanging somebody.

"Very well," he said reluctantly. "Ramus, do you take Anisa to be your wife?"

"Uh…uh…yah,…I…I do," he replied awkwardly. Little beads of sweat were forming on his brow. He was really nervous.

"And Anisa, do you take Ramus to be your husband?"

"I do," she replied quickly, taking little time to even consider the idea.

Clopin nodded, and pulled out a ceramic jug. Turning to Ramus, he said, "break this."

"What?" Ramus asked, confused. "Break it?"

"Yes, break the jug," Clopin said, sighing.

Ramus slammed the jug into the ground, where it shattered into a hundred tiny pieces.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

That night we had a warm place to sleep for the first time in ages. Now that we were officially gypsies in the Court of Miracles, my mind was at ease, that we had a place to live, and that Clopin wasn't going to kill us. I still found it hard to believe that the things that had happened, happened.

I had really taken a liking to Anisa. She didn't speak much of our language, but she introduced us to her two brothers.

"This," she said slowly, "is my brother Henri. And this, is my other brother Marcel. They are, um…how do you say it?...twins?"

"Hello," I replied. "I'm Julian. I guess we'll be getting to know each other pretty well."

Marcel and Henri both nodded. It appeared that they didn't completely understand what I was saying, although they got the general idea. They seemed about the same age as me, though it was hard to tell. Henri had brown hair and brown eyes, and Marcel had the same hair color, but flashing intelligent green eyes. Playfulness shimmered in them.

The two brothers showed us to the tent they were living in.

"You…," Marcel said slowly, "can sleep in tent with us, at tonight."

"Thank you," I said gratefully. Now that we were one of them, it was surprising how kind and hospitable the gypsies were.

Both brothers nodded.

Jasmine and Heidi were tenting with three other gypsy girls.

Finally, we had a home.

But that night, as were sleeping, I overheard a conversation between Ramus and Anisa. Marcel and Henri were asleep, so I rose from the pile of blankets that made up my bed, and I pressed my ear against the tent fabric, listening.

"So, we're uh…married," Ramus said slowly and awkwardly.

"Yah, so," said Anisa. "Go to sleep."

"That's all you have to say?" Ramus asked.

I heard Anisa sigh. "I only did it to save your life," she replied. "I'm sorry, but I simply do not love you in that sort of way. I've just met you. Now, go to sleep."

"Oh, that's…that's ok," Ramus said quietly. "Thank you for doing that though. I really appreciate it. I know Julian, Jasmine, and Heidi appreciate it also. Thank you."

"You are welcome," Anisa answered. "Now please, go to sleep, ok?"

For the first time, I actually felt bad for my brother. He had never been good at this whole thing and it must be painful to know that the woman who he was married to didn't love him.

"Can we at least be friends?" Ramus asked, slowly, with uncertainty in his voice.

There was a pause.

"Perhaps."