Tiger Thief (21 page)

S
harat and Aya were lying asleep by the fire when they were woken by the sound of trumpeting. Immediately, Emira jumped to her feet and shot off to investigate.

Moments later a voice boomed overhead.

“Sharat!”

Before Sharat could react, he was lifted off the ground and drawn into a warm embrace.

“Where have you been?” demanded the ringmaster. “We’ve been sick with worry.”

Sharat grinned in delight. “I’ve found Emira!” he said proudly.

Lemo lowered him to the ground. “In future, let me know before you disappear like that!” he said, trying to look stern.

Sharat rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop grinning.

Aya sat up, her hair tousled. She looked sleepily up at them.

“This is Aya,” Sharat told his father. “She helped me find Emira. Now she’s coming to join the circus.”

He and Aya had decided not to share their secret just yet.

“You’re most welcome,” said Lemo, smiling warmly as he took Aya’s hand.

Aya eyed his moustache with interest. “Are you Lemo?” she guessed.

“I am indeed,” said Lemo.

“Don’t I get a hug?” interrupted a low voice from behind them.

Sharat spun around to see an older man with a weathered face and stocky body.

“Hussein!” he cried, running over to embrace his friend.

Aya threw off her blankets and jumped to her feet. Sharat had told her all about Hussein. “Where are the elephants?” she demanded.

“They’re just over there,” said Hussein, pointing as he disentangled himself from Sharat.

The elephants were still brightly painted. On their backs were colourful blankets and
howdahs
jangling with bells. Emira had already rushed over to greet them and was winding happily around their legs with a rumbling purr. Tara sniffed the tiger’s fur, then raised her trunk to trumpet loudly.

Sharat ran over to join them.

“The small one is Tara, and this is Baba,” he told Aya. He grabbed Tara’s ear and clambered nimbly on to her back.

Aya stood still as the elephants examined her. Then Tara breathed out and sent jets of air down her neck. Aya laughed and Tara wiggled her trunk with a snort of approval.

Sharat barked an order. Tara bowed her head and flapped her ears forward.

“Hold on to her ears,” Sharat told Aya. “You can climb up her trunk.”

Aya hesitated. “Won’t she mind?”

Sharat laughed. “She minds a bit when Hussein does it. She’ll hardly notice
you
.”

Aya hauled herself up and sat next to Sharat.

“It’s a bit different from riding Emira,” he said with a grin.

Hussein climbed on next and sat behind them.

“It’s good to have you back,” he told Sharat. “We were mad with worry when you went missing.”

“I told you I’d find Emira!” said Sharat proudly.

Hussein put out a hand and squeezed his shoulder. “You did very well,” he said with a smile.

Next to them, Lemo was trying to heave Uma up on to Baba’s back while Ripiraja flew around their heads.

“Call yourself a witch?” he crowed. “Fly! Fly!”

“Quiet, or I’ll turn you into a toad!” snapped Uma.

Ripi cackled. “Push!” he shrieked at Lemo.

“You would almost think that bird knows what it’s saying,” remarked Hussein.

“He’s just very well trained,” said Uma, with a warning look at Ripiraja as she settled into the
howdah
.

Lemo climbed up after her and at last the elephants set off at a gentle pace while Emira roamed ahead, occasionally diving into bushes for prey.

“I’m never putting her back in that cage again,” Sharat called out. “So don’t ask me.”

Lemo smiled over from his perch on Baba’s neck. “I won’t,” he promised. “From now on Emira is as free as you and I.”

Emira growled in approval.

It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was rising into a sky dotted with fluffy, white clouds. Now that they were off the plains the air was fresh and cool.

“Have a banana,” said Hussein, offering Sharat and Aya a whole bunch.

When Tara heard the word banana, her trunk reached up over the top of her head and they took it in turns to feed her.

The circus had set up camp in a fertile valley by the banks of a fast-moving river. The whole troupe was waiting for Sharat’s return. As soon as they arrived, a girl vaulted on to Tara’s back and embraced Sharat warmly.

“You made it!” she cried.

Sharat disentangled himself. He was grinning. “This is my cousin, Risa,” he told Aya.

The two girls looked at each other. There was a
moment’s silence.

“Hello,” said Aya shyly.

“Aya helped me find Emira,” Sharat explained. “Now she’s coming to live at the circus.”

Risa hesitated, then she gave Aya a quick smile. “It will be good to have you here,” she said.

Then she turned back to Sharat and gripped his arm in excitement.

“You’re a hero!” she said. “We’ll have your name up in flares, Lemo says.”

“What does Pias think about that?” asked Sharat.

Risa laughed. “He’ll get over it.”

Then Sharat caught sight of the rest of the troupe. “Come on!” he told Aya. “I want to introduce you to everyone.”

As he helped Aya climb down off Tara’s back she was surrounded by a crowd of people all clasping her hand and kissing her cheeks.

“I’m Vijay, the snake charmer,” said a man with slicked-back hair.

“Fezzik, fire-eater,” said a lanky man covered in piercings and tattoos.

“I am Bhim! Magician extraordinaire,” announced a small, fat man. “I’m sure Sharat has told you all about me.”

Sharat laughed. “Don’t worry if you don’t remember all that,” he told Aya. Then he caught sight of Ram. The boy was standing off to one side looking uncomfortable but when he saw Sharat looking at him he stepped forward.

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said awkwardly. “It … it was horrible not knowing what had happened to you.”

Sharat paused. “I’m glad to be back, too,” he said. He turned to Aya. “This is Risa’s brother, Ram,” he told her. “He’s an acrobat.”

“Hello,” said Aya.

To Sharat’s surprise Ram smiled. “Hello,” he said.

Sharat glanced around. “Where’s Risa gone?” he asked. “I want to tell her everything that happened.”

But Lara the horsewoman had other ideas. She came striding over with a purposeful look on her face and grabbed Sharat by one of his ears.

“You’re not going anywhere until you’ve had a good wash!” she declared. “And I suggest you come too, young lady,” she said, glancing at Aya.

Before Sharat could protest, she had dragged them off for a bath in two steaming basins of water. Then she took Aya away to give her a new set of clothes, and by the time they were blissfully clean and dressed, the feast was ready. Soon great pots of stew, platters of aromatic rice, spicy vegetables and freshly baked bread were served up by the fire, all followed by the most delicious fruit.

Aya could hardly believe the size of the serving that was doled out to her. Rice, stew, vegetables, bread, and three different kinds of chutney.

“Is this all for me?” she said.

Sharat laughed. “Go ahead!” he said. “You’re part of the family now.”

Aya grinned, and tucked in.

During the feast, Sharat continued to be mobbed by people coming to hug him and offer congratulations. Then, as they sat around the campfire they listened, spellbound, as he gave them a watered-down version of the story, leaving out the part about the Prince of Jinnis. Afterwards, everyone fell silent.

“I’m just so glad you got away,” said Lemo, putting his arm around his son. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“You’d better choose your next wife a little more carefully!” Lara called out, her dark eyes shining with mischief.

The performers roared with laughter as they teased the ringmaster. Then they rose to their feet to do what they enjoyed best, which was to sing, make music and celebrate.

Sharat was still a bit weak, and Aya was feeling shy, so they went and sat next to Uma.

Once they had settled down, Sharat turned to Aya. He’d barely had a chance to talk to her all day. “I meant to ask you – what happened to Alcherisma?” he said.

Aya looked thoughtful. “I think he must be free,” she said. “After he mended the Mazaria he disappeared.”

“Do you still have the amulet?”

With a nod Aya reached into her bag and brought out the golden bee. The diamond glittered in the light of the dying sun, but the speck of gold at its centre was gone.

Sharat laughed. “Well, at least he won’t have to grant any more wishes,” he said.

Aya held it towards him. “Here,” she said. “You can
have it back now.”

Sharat shook his head. “No, you keep it,” he said. “After all, it’s as much yours as it is mine.”

Aya’s eyes lit up. “Are you sure?” she asked.

“Of course I’m sure!” said Sharat. “It’s far too pretty for me.”

Aya’s fingers closed tightly around the jewel. “Hopefully we can give it back to our mother one day,” she said quietly.

For a little while they enjoyed watching the dancing, but soon the music slowed down, as it often did when the crew had drunk too much wine.

Sharat nudged Aya. “What about your Mazaria?” he said. “That might liven things up.”

“Oh yes!” said Uma. “I’d like to hear it, too.”

Aya didn’t need any more encouragement. Carefully, she pulled the little instrument out of her bag and began to play.

With a growl of approval, Emira lay down at Aya’s feet and started to purr.

“We’ll have you on stage with that thing!” Lemo called out loudly.

Aya flushed, but she carried on playing, and soon it seemed that the earth was keeping time underneath them like the beat of some giant heart.

“Can you feel it?” whispered Sharat.

Aya nodded as she played. “Look at the trees,” she said.

“They’re dancing with the wind,” said Sharat.

“One day I’d like to have a good look at your Mazaria,”
said Uma, her eyes settling watchfully on the silver hands, but before Aya could answer, the clouds began to roll down from the mountains. In an instant the sky darkened. There was a rumble, a flash of lightning and then the heavens opened as it began to rain.

The circus troupe moved their party noisily into the big, orange tent and Emira stalked off to find shelter in the trees, but Sharat and Aya didn’t move, happy to be outside.

“Come on! Come on!” Uma scolded them. “You’ll make yourselves sick sitting out here.” She grasped each one of them firmly by the arm. “Bedtime!” she said.

Sharat tried to pull away from her. “But the party’s only just started!” he complained.

“I’m not even tired,” said Aya.

Neither of them were used to being told what to do.

“Never mind that,” snapped Uma. “You’ve been up since dawn.” Her grip was like steel as she steered them towards Lemo’s caravan. “I’ll give you five minutes,” she warned them. “Then I’m coming in to make sure you’re both asleep.”

They grumbled as they were pushed through the door. Then they stopped in surprise. Before Mohini had come along, Sharat had always lived with his father. He was used to bachelor quarters, but now the inside of the caravan had been transformed. Fluffy white sheepskins lay on the floor and clean linen was tucked neatly into the two beds on either side of the room. A bunch of flowers decorated the table in the middle and a jug of water and
two mugs stood next to it. There were candles burning in brass holders on the walls.

Sharat’s cousin Risa was waiting for them. As they came in she brushed down the beds to make sure they were perfect, and adjusted the vase.

Sharat looked around, then grinned. “Is this for me or for Aya?” he asked.

Risa shrugged. “I thought you might both like a decent night’s sleep,” she said.

Aya sat down on her bunk. “It’s been so long since I’ve slept in a real bed,” she sighed. She glanced up at Risa. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, thank Lemo,” said Risa. “He insisted that you should have his bunk.”

She gave Aya a quick smile, then blew out the candles.

“You’ll have to tell me the rest of your story tomorrow,” she whispered to Sharat as she leaned down to kiss him goodnight.

A little later, Uma popped in to check up on them, just as she’d promised. Then, once she was satisfied that they were tucked up safely in bed, she closed the door and sat herself down on the caravan steps. The rain had stopped now and it was a balmy night.

Emira, back from the hunt, came striding through the darkness and lay at Uma’s feet. Moments later, Ripiraja landed next to them with a caw.

Just then Lemo and Hussein came over.

“How are they?” asked Hussein in a low voice.

“They should be fast asleep by now,” Uma assured him.

“Good,” said Lemo. “We’ll need to leave at first light if we’re heading for Narayan’s pass.”

Uma nodded. “That’s probably wise,” she said. “Rookh may be out of action now, but he’s sure to come looking for them and the more space we can put between us and the City of Jewels the better.”

At the sound of Rookh’s name, Emira raised her head and a threatening growl played in her throat.

Hussein put a reassuring hand on her back.

“It’s all right,” he murmured. “You’re home now.”

“Are you coming with us this time?” Lemo asked Uma.

“Yes, I’m coming,” she said. “There’s nothing left for me in the City of Jewels. Besides, those children need an education. They’ve both been running wild for far too long.”

Lemo smiled. “It will be good to have you back.” He put out a hand to the old woman. “Come on,” he said. “Emira can look after them. Let’s find you a bed.”

With a grumble, Uma got to her feet.

Inside the caravan, Sharat and Aya were lying in their bunks, but they weren’t asleep yet.

“I can’t believe we made it,” Aya whispered into the darkness.

“I always knew I’d find Emira,” said Sharat, “but I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Aya smiled, but there was something that had been troubling her.

“I wonder what’s happened to Kalki?” she said. “Do you think he’ll come back when you’re grown up, like Vasuki told us?”