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Nicko escorted Toby to the flap in the tent that acted as a door. Outside, Hyde Park was a hub of activity. A flat area of grassland had been transformed into a travellers’ village where Nicko’s group were stationed. A giant ring of painted wagons and fur-covered tents surrounded a massive bonfire. Opposite them, a black and red circus Big Top had been erected, surrounded by fiery torches. The sound of an audience murmured from within.
Dozens of children, some very young and others almost adults, bustled around the camp, chatting and squeezing into costumes of all varieties. Some spoke in a strange language to each other, with elegant, lilting intonations that sounded graceful to Toby. It was unlike any dialect he had heard spoken around the workhouse. He wanted to hear more. However, when they saw him, they smiled and switched effortlessly to English as if trying not to exclude him.
A team of acrobats pirouetted and flipped, dancing in the snow while attendants in dark, snugly fitting uniforms made from black and jade velvet opened horseboxes. Strange animals that Toby had never seen before emerged from the travelling boxes. They were huge beasts with sturdy legs, thick winter coats, and impressive crowns of antlers.
‘Ah, I see you’ve spotted the reindeer already,’ Nicko beamed. ‘Beautiful creatures, but be careful around them. They’re proud. Back home, we call them the Kings of the Scandinavian wilderness. I’m sure they’ll love you when they get to know you.’
Toby looked uncertain.
‘A promising young boy like you will fit in well here, Toby. You’ll feel like one of the family in no time,’ Nicko continued, resting a hand on his shoulder. Then he turned away to deal with a rowdy bunch of performers that had gathered around him, shouting over each other. Each seemed to have a different problem requiring immediate resolution.
Toby looked around awkwardly, not sure what to do with himself while Nicko was distracted. That’s when a familiar face approached him. Melvin smirked, eyes sparkling. Brushing his mop of dark hair out of his eyes, he raised his hand to shake Toby’s.
‘Hey, I’m Melvin.’ His accent was strange, but he seemed friendly.
‘I know. Nicko told me. You’re his Head Elf?’
‘Yeah, it seems you’re at an advantage, since I don’t know your name.’
‘Toby Carter.’
‘New guy, aye? That’s good to know, Toby Carter.’ Melvin bowed low, his boyish smile never wavering. ‘Welcome to The Winter Freak Show. In my position, I need to know everyone. Has the Big Man shown you around yet?’
‘Nope. He was just getting round to it.’
‘Of course,’ Melvin snickered. ‘Spread himself too thinly as usual. Always trying to help everybody, that one. It’s not his fault. His heart’s too big and he’s only got one pair of hands.’
‘You speak highly of him.’
‘You will too when you get to know him.’
‘So, this is a freak show?’ Toby asked.
‘Only the best one in the whole world.’
‘Where are the freaks?’ Toby asked curiously, scanning the camp.
‘They’re all around us,’ Melvin told him assuredly.
Toby shot dubious glances at the costumed performers. Their outfits were well put together, created from leather, fur, feathers, and metal scales. They were striking, but it was obvious that the children were not the monsters they pretended to be. They were just dressed up as beasts. Nobody would be fooled into believing that they were actual freaks of nature.
‘They’re not very... freakish,’ said Toby.
Melvin chuckled knowingly. ‘Just wait and see.’
A voice summoned Melvin to the other side of the camp. He glanced apologetically at Toby and gestured to a piece of paper in his hand. ‘Duty calls, I’m afraid,’ he said, leaving. ‘If you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask. Nicko can forget things sometimes. He’s a busy guy. That’s where I come in.’
With that, he jogged away and Toby looked back at Nicko expectantly. The old man had finished with all the crises that had called for his attention. He was searching for Toby and stroking his white beard.
‘Oh, there you are,’ he chuckled as he realised that Toby had been standing right under his nose the whole time. ‘You’ll have to forgive me, Toby. One of the reindeer had a little stage fright. Nothing uncommon though. Happens almost every night. Take my advice – never work with children or animals.’ He belly-laughed heartily and turned to the rest of the camp.
‘Elves! This is our first night in Hyde Park. Now remember, we have standards to maintain. Remember your training, work hard, and – most importantly – have fun. Take up your stations and let the show commence!’
The excited chatter fizzled away rapidly. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and looked serious. They were performers, psyching themselves up for their waiting audience. Melvin yelled commands to get them organised. His foreign accent suddenly seemed harsh, not at all like Nicko’s lilting voice. They obediently arranged themselves into two single-file lines.
When everyone was ready, Nicko strode forward and took his place at the head of the two lines. His blood-red violin was handed to him and he began to approach the Big Top. A slow, deep drumbeat vibrated from within the main tent.
‘Tonight you can watch from the wings, my boy,’ he whispered. ‘Enjoy it. You’re in for the show of a lifetime.’
Then he turned and started to play. The instant Nicko’s bow touched the strings, Toby felt a ripple of energy flow over him. Puffing out their chests, the procession marched towards their audience. The hypnotic drumbeat and the song of the violin urged them on. It was as if they weren’t simply walking; they were performing an intimate ritual, a spiritual experience, and Toby was a fortunate observer.
After a few strides, Melvin stepped to one side and held the curtain open for the others to go inside. The performers broke into a jog. It seemed like panic had broken out among their ranks, as if they were fleeing from something. They barged past Toby, leaving him behind, and charged into the Big Top. Toby assumed that the nervous energy of the imminent performance was what drove them forward, so he held back.
‘You better watch out,’ Melvin said with a twisted smirk as Toby approached.
‘For what?’
‘Them.’
Toby turned around. It was then that he saw why the others had run so fast into the tent. The costumed performers behind him were no longer human.
Something in the music had transformed them. Like monstrous butterflies from a gothic cocoon, their fur coats and colourful masks clung to their skin and faces. Nature and costume merged and it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. The performers no longer wore the costumes – their costumes were their new skin.
Some shimmered like silver, their fur bristling like falling snow. Others became shocking, furry, animal-human abominations with fangs and pointed ears. Startling, yet beautiful. A few had turned into shadows, melting into the ground and flitting from place to place like ghosts. The scene was surreal. The freaks had revealed themselves.
Melvin roared with laughter at the sight of Toby’s open mouth. Toby gasped and took a step back. He had never seen anything so weird. Worried that the supernatural creatures were as murderous as they looked, he spun on his heels and fled.
Or he would have, if a reindeer hadn’t been standing in his path. He ploughed face-first into the unsuspecting animal. His sudden movement startled the beast and it reared up, struggling with its child handler who tried to hold on as it thrashed wildly. But he was unable to stand his ground and was brushed aside. Spooked, the majestic creature bucked and snorted hot breath.
Suddenly, there was nobody to reassure the threatened animal. Rearing up again, the full wrath of the muscular animal rained down on Toby’s head. Everything became a blur of hooves and antlers but Toby had no time to get out of the way. Lying helplessly at the creature’s stomping feet, Toby closed his eyes and braced himself.
- Writer
