The Sequin Star by Belinda Murrell Page B

it seemed impossible that Kali could be alive.
    Manfred pushed the two halves of the box together again, removed the blades, flourished his hand over the box, and a moment later Kali leapt out, completely whole. The crowd shrieked in awe as Kali cavorted around the ring, holding Manfred’s hand.
    The next act featured Rosina again. Six snow-white liberty horses cantered into the ring and completed a circuit. Rosina rode the leader in a blue costume spangled with silver stars. On the next circuit, the Lipizzaners were joined by six black Friesians, with their long, wavy manes and tails. The twelve horses, alternating black then white, pranced and pirouetted in time to the music. Rosina leapt to the ground several times mid-canter and changed horses.
    Alf raised his lunging whip and the horses stopped and sank to the ground. One of the great black stallions reared, then walked on his two hind legs across the sawdust, Rosina clinging on tightly. Alf signalled him to drop back down onto four legs. All twelve horses stood in a row, white then black, kneeling on their right forelegs, heads to the ground, stretching their left leg out in front in a graceful bow.
    Rosina’s final act was a Wild West routine, where several trick riders dressed as cowboys and Indians chased each other around the ring, performing dramatic stunts. Rosina was dressed as Red Winona, an Indian maiden, her hair in plaits. She rode bareback, jumping up and down off the brown-and-white skewbald’s back, swinging under its belly and hanging backwards off its rear, whooping loudly all the while.
    Claire clapped and cheered. She exchanged admiring glances with Kit.
    â€˜That was terrifying,’ Kit admitted. ‘I thought one of them would fall and be trampled for sure.’
    â€˜But never Rosina,’ Claire said.
    The grand finale was a Spanish couple, Adella and Carlos, swinging through the air on the double trapeze, high above the net. Lights twinkled up on the tent ceiling like hundreds of stars. The aerialists swung back and forth, somersaulting from one silver swing to another as though they were flying. Then Adella performed a double somersault and Carlos caught her by her outstretched hands. Claire held her breath until they were safely back on the platforms.
    The tent lights glowed brighter and everyone stood. The show was sadly, impossibly over. Claire and Kit wandered out into the cool night air. Claire shivered. All around were crowds of people chatting and laughing. Children screeched with excitement. Families discussed their favour­ite moments from the performance. But all those people made Claire feel strangely alone.
    Kit glanced about the lot, as though he was looking for something. He seemed to have forgotten Claire. He turned towards the entry to the lot where his limousine was parked. The chauffeur was chatting to a couple of the circus workers.
    Kit held up five fingers. The chauffeur nodded and continued his conversation.
    â€˜Well, thank you for the popcorn,’ said Claire. ‘I should head back to the caravan.’
    Kit remembered his manners and smiled. ‘Goodnight, Claire, and thank you for your company. I hope I’ll see you again soon.’
    Claire softened and smiled. ‘That would be lovely.’
    Claire set off for the caravan but paused part way there and looked back. Kit was wandering between the tents, drinking in the sights and sounds. Is he really my grand­father? Claire wondered. How can I find out? And what is he doing hanging around the circus?

8
Eviction

    The next day Alf asked Rosina, Claire and Jem to take all the dogs for a walk early in the morning. There were seven of them, including Jaspar, so the girls had two dogs each on leads, while Jem had the three. Together the three of them sauntered down the main street, taking in the people, houses and sights.
    Jem suggested they head left, in the opposite direction to the way they had gone yesterday following Elsie. After a