Do you like stories with mystery and suspense? Strange and “wyrd” ones? Well, if you do, keep reading and enjoy Eggcentricsagas. If you are just joining Eggcentricsagas, you might want to start from the beginning: A La Mano: Part 1-The Treasure
The following morning at breakfast, they explored their conundrum regarding time without arriving at a definitive conclusion. Afterward, the activity to erect a small tent commenced. The consensus was that Charlotte ought not stay in the train car with the carnival men. She, Rajiv, and Kapi would stay together. Charlotte had declined Edward’s suggestion of living with some of the other women, telling him that she would feel safer if she remained close. Once their tent was secure, Edward left for the clan camp to obtain more clothing for Charlotte. He also wanted to find the other wavy-haired blonde to question her again about the missing fortune teller.
Sitting in their new sleeping quarters, Charlotte took comfort in the boy and his monkey even though Kapi continued to finger her bracelet. Rajiv seemed to warm up to her as well when he watched his pet take up residence in Charlotte’s lap without the incentive of treats. Facing Charlotte on hers, Rajiv sat on his sleeping mat. Both were in crossed-legged positions, and Kapi curled in the crook of Charlotte’s knee. Making conversation, she asked Rajiv how he had come to be at the carnival.
“Mr. Angel told me that Big Boss had wanted to add another exotic attraction to the show. So Mr. Angel traveled around and found me in the streets of India. I was working for a snake charmer who also had performing monkeys. My master taught me how to train the animals and I would put on a show with the monkeys. Then Mr. Angel took me away and brought me to America.”
Tilting her head, Charlotte inquired, “What about your parents? They agreed to let you come?”
Rajiv looked at his hands in his lap. “My parents are dead.”
“I’m sorry,” she said and lightly patted his knee. “So the snake charmer adopted you?”
“No, I agreed to work for him after I ran away from the orphanage.” Rajiv looked up at her with sad eyes. “Those people weren’t very nice. They found many excuses to beat the children.” Then his glum expression brightened a little and he smiled at her. “The Snake Charmer, Kala, was better. He didn’t hit us as hard.”
Feeling compassion for the boy’s misfortune so early in life, she probed, “Us? There were other children that were hit by the snake charmer?”
“No. Just me and the monkeys. ” Watching Kapi snoozing peacefully, Rajiv seemed a little jealous as he stated, “Kapi was my only friend back then.”
“Why did Kala hit you?”
“If our performance was bad; the monkeys missed a trick or I picked the wrong pocket.”
Charlotte sat forward, “The wrong pocket?”
“Yes. An empty pocket usually. It was better to come up empty-handed than get caught.” Embarrassed, Rajiv admitted, “I used to be a thief. While my master put on his show of snake charming, I would pick pockets and run away with the treasure. Most of the time, the audience was so focused on him and his snake, people didn’t notice me. But sometimes a person would discover what I was doing or the police would see and then it was time for us to move on. Kala didn’t like it when that happened.” Pausing, Rajiv added, “He said the beating was for my own good. That he was teaching me a lesson.”
Charlotte pursed her lips and swallowed hard. “That’s awful.”
With a positive attitude, Rajiv answered, “No. It was for the best. You see, I was drawn to pick the pocket of Mr. Angel. I thought I was being sly but he knew what I was doing all along.” The boy laughed at his folly. “He even undid the chain, put his watch in his coat pocket and let me take it. Then he followed me without me knowing.”
Fascinated by his tale, Charlotte asked, “What happened?”
Encouraged by her interest, Rajiv continued eagerly. “Well, I thought he was going to beat me. But he didn’t. Instead, he wanted to hear my life story. Mr. Angel was very interested in my skills; with the monkeys and my pick-pocketing fingers.” Rajiv glanced down at his hands again. “He said that ignorance sometimes creates bad decisions. He told me that I could do great things with my mind and hands but only if I wanted to. He asked me if I wanted to help people.” The boy looked up at her with solemn brown eyes and said sincerely, “I told him yes.”
Smiling, Charlotte replied, “That’s wonderful.”
“Mr. Angel wondered about my parents and the orphanage. I told him where it was and he visited. Then he talked to Kala and paid money to take me away. We came here and he has been teaching me magic.” Rajiv grinned at her. “I’ll show you a parlor trick.” Unbuttoning a few buttons at the waist of his white linen shirt, he reached into a pocket sewn inside.
Suddenly, Kapi became alert and raised his head. Thinking he was going to get a treat, the monkey yawned, got out of Charlotte’s lap, and crawled up onto Rajiv’s shoulder. Rajiv spoke to his pet, “No, Kapi, I wasn’t getting peanuts out.” With raised eyebrows, Charlotte watched as Kapi frowned, crossed his skinny arms over his chest, and turned his little face away.
“Fine. Okay, but just a few.” Rajiv placed some peanuts on the sleeping mat. Kapi quickly jumped down and grabbed them. Meanwhile, Rajiv removed a shiny, gold-colored, pocket watch. “Mr. Angel let me keep the pocket watch as a reminder. But I can also use it to hypnotize. Let me put you in a trance,” he suggested.
Next: The Magician’s Hat No. 2: Part 3-Hypnotized
