Lady of the Rings
by Brandy Dewinter and Ellen Hayes
(All rights reserved)
Chapter 9 - Dance The Dawn Away
Build 3
The scream didn't quite make it out of my throat when I ejected
from the nightmare just before the nameless, formless, whatever reached
me. My body bucked, though, prompting a rollover from Julie in the lower
bunk. I lay still for a few minutes listening to my blood pounding in my
ears, trying to get my lungs to stop gasping, telling myself over and
over it was only a dream. Eventually, I must have believed it because
my heart settled down to merely frantic.
There was no way I was going back to sleep after that. I didn't
particularly want to even if I could. My watch said it was four o'clock,
AM of course. As carefully as I could, I slipped out of bed and grabbed
my clothes. The new shorts would be easier than jeans, and at least now
I had shoes I could wear. Time for a workout.
On the way to the dirt field I passed a big pushbroom that someone
had propped against the fence. It was one of the type where a handle
screws into a three-foot brush. I unscrewed the handle and borrowed it
for a while to give me a little variety in my workout. I hadn't done the
quarterstaff routines since Andreas had bounced me from his aerie and
wanted to see if my new body could handle the old moves.
That body's marvelous flexibility still amazed me as I did my warm-
up stretches. Even cold, it was much more limber than I could ever get
my male body to match. Tem minutes later, I was ready. I still worked
into it slowly, though. No sense in hurrying when I had such an early
start. My first katas were pretty routine, even in this body. I left
the broomhandle/staff to the side for a while, working on unarmed moves.
Things were picking up from the last time I did this. I was getting this
new body pretty well under control.
The staff felt a bit funny when I started with it, though. It was
actually about a third of the mass of what I was used to, but my wrist
strength was pitiful. Even basic moves seemed ponderous and slow.
It took me almost half an hour before I had the first set really
right, but I wanted to find out just how much I was going to have to
relearn. It was a lot. I went through the katas again and again as the
dawn started lighting things up better than the pole lights. Eventually,
I could at least run through all the moves in a continuous sequence
without dropping the staff or hitting myself in the head with it. That
was real progress, as my aching head reminded me.
"I'm impressed," Vasily's thick accent sounded from behind.
It surprised me and I whirled around, reflexes snapping the staff
to a guard position. He just grinned at my automatic defense and held
his hands up, palms forward, in a gesture of non-threat. "Take it easy,
you could hurt someone with that," he smiled.
"That's the idea," I growled. I didn't like people sneaking up on
me. I especially didn't like it when I didn't notice them sneaking up
on me.
"Where did you study?" he continued.
Yeah, right, well, Vas, old boy, I was trained in this mountain
hideout by a real magic wizard and his robot martial arts instructors.
But don't worry, I promise to use my skills only to fight evil . Of
course, since I'm crazy, that may be anyone. Why are you holding that
coat with the long, long sleeves? Not. "Oh, here and there. Nothing
special, really. I'm not very good."
He grinned like he had read my mind with the real story, not the
words I had spoken, then said, "One of the 'pointers' from my instructors
was to expect that anyone who denies much training, after showing real
skill, was probably good enough that I should run and hide."
Get him off my background stuff before I get into even more trouble.
I figured since everyone likes to talk about themselves, if given half a
chance, I'd switch the interrogation to him.
"So, you've had some training yourself?"
"Yes, though not with a staff. Just unarmed. Basically judo and
variations on wrestling styles more than striking styles. Nothing
special."
I bowed low in a parody of a formal salute of a student to sensei
and gave him my own grin, "Honorable sensei told this unworthy student
that opponent who claims to know 'nothing special' can probably kick
student's ass." I didn't intend to make it a challenge. At least, not
consciously. It was more a stupid reflex than anything thought through,
but the bow and words provoked a responding bow from Vasily, and he
stepped onto the softer dirt.
Hmm, maybe I did mean something, at some level. It had been a while
since I'd had a chance to just let go and the anger had been building
inside of me. Vasily was muscular and moved well, no surprise since he
was a trapeze 'flyer', and I figured a couple of bruises wouldn't hurt
him too bad. Same with me. Even getting hit a few times would help to
release the anger within me. Maybe even let me get a good night's sleep.
Setting the staff aside I took a position a few feet from him and
bowed once again. He smiled and returned the bow, demonstrating the
technique from the old Bruce Lee movie of never taking his eyes off me.
Well, I had done the same.
My principal style was more of a striking style, but if I kept it
under control I wouldn't injure him. I figured to use speed to keep
out of his reach, since if he ever got a hold on me, I was history. He
waited patiently for me to make the first move, then I smiled as I held
my own position.
It probably would have looked stupid to someone else, since we just
stood there for probably most of a minute which is a very long time when
nothing is going on. Actually, I was shifting my weight around, trying
to see if he noticed. He did, and kept his own weight balanced to meet
whatever I might try.
Gradually, I was letting the little oscillations move my balance
point until I had an anchor I could use as the basis for my attack.
When I was ready, I punched at his chest with a strike I expected to
end up an inch outside his skin.
It actually ended up about six inches short. He just wasn't there
when my fist got there. Only the fact that I had planned to pull my
punch and had actually started to retract my arm before the strike was
fully delivered allowed me to escape his counter grab. We reset into
position as though nothing had happened.
"Honorable sensei was right," I grinned. "Most likely this unworthy
student will get ass handed back."
Vas just laughed. This time he started adjusting his weight around.
It was like a chess match where the partners trade moves. That wasn't
really right, but I was in no hurry.
His own grappling lunge got his entire body moving faster than I
had moved my arm, or so it seemed, but my reflexes kicked in and without
conscious thought I batted his arms away and kept him from getting a
hold. His follow-up leg sweep caught me pretty fair, though, and I al-
most stumbled as I tried to jump away and get my feet back under me at
the same time. If he'd have really tried to follow up, he'd have had me.
When I managed to reset, he was once again standing with infinite
patience. Smiling.
Okay, no more Mr., um, Ms. Nice Guy, uh, Girl, uh, oh hell with it
anyway. I just launched at him with my own two-level attack, a feint
to his chest again while I drove my real attack, a side kick, at his hip.
It tagged him a bit, enough that he shifted his position a step or two,
which was all that kept him from capturing my foot and introducing it
to the moon. Two seconds later, the only effect you could see, though,
was that his smile got even bigger.
"One for you," he gave me the point.
"How about if we quit while my butt's still in one piece," I
offered.
"If you want," he allowed, but the smile on his face made it clear
he wasn't ready to stop himself.
Since I was starting to get into this, my own grin had enough chal-
lenge in it to answer him. Even though it was his 'turn', I went into
another combination attack immediately.
Whups-hand on leg-sky-grass-"Oooh!"
And ended up on my butt in the dirt, with breath trying to find its
way back into lungs that were suddenly inadequate. I wasn't entirely
sure what his counter had been, something that accelerated my knee a
whole lot faster than I wanted, for sure, but I couldn't have told you
exactly how he did it.
On the other hand, I couldn't exactly say how I ended up crouched
on the balls of my feet a second later, either.
"What are you two DOING?!" Kim's voice shrilled.
Vasily never took his eyes off me. I never took mine off him.
"Good morning, miss," he said to her.
I assured her, "Don't worry about it. We're just..."
"Having a bit of fun," Vasily rumbled.
"Fun?!" I don't think she believed us.
"Another time, perhaps," Vasily asked me. I nodded, and we bowed
to each other before straightening out of our respective stances and
shaking hands. His grip felt stronger than Andreas' metal monsters.
"Fun?" she snorted as she walked to where I stood. "Having him
bounce your butt all over the landscape? I could feel the impact all the
way over there."
"You should have felt it from over here," I grinned ruefully while
brushing the dirt off my wide bottom. Then I turned to Vas, "One for
you."
Vasily spoke to Kim, his thick accent lending formality to his
words, "It appears Brittany has skills beyond languages."
"Craaaaaazy way to spend a mornin'," Kim drawled, letting her
Georgia accent come through full force. If I'd have done something
like that, it probably would have come across as poking fun at Vas
but Kim's bright cheerfulness made his accent something they shared.
"And what are you doing up?" I asked her.
"I always ride the horses at dawn," she laughed. "That's a lot
better than rollin' around in the dirt."
"Craaaazy way to spend a morning, if you ask me," I retorted. She
just giggled.
"After yesterday when you were so grumpy, I figured you'd never
get out of bed by yourself," Kim grinned as she poked me in the ribs.
What could I say? I had been grumpy. It made all the difference
whether I woke up on my own or had somebody pull me out of bed. I just
shrugged and looked at Vasily.
"What's your excuse for being up so early?"
"I like morning. It is a quiet time and usually cooler. I often go
for a walk and watch the world wake up."
"Oh, God, another morning person," I sighed.
"Speak for yourself," the two of them answered in almost unison.
So okay, this morning I was up, too. But it wasn't because I wanted
to be.
"Have you had breakfast?" Vas invited us both with a sweep of his
thick arm.
"Oh, sure, since they only started serving about 4 seconds ago,"
Kim laughed. But she started moving toward the cafeteria tent. I was
really too dusty to go with her, but I didn't want to just go off by
myself again. Or worse yet, go back and get ridiculed by Amber and her
friends for coming in dirty.
"Just let me put the, uh, this back," I replied. Calling it a staff
seemed a little pathetic. We all detoured over to where the broom handle
belonged, then walked toward the food.
There weren't many people in the cafeteria tent, yet. Mostly those
like Kim who had a reason to be up early. The big cat tamer was there.
I didn't remember his name. The guys who fed and watered the regular
circus animals were there, too. Looking around, it started to make more
sense. It was people who worked with animals, plus Vasily and I.
Ivan the Terrible walked in just about the time we sat down and he
came over to join us.
"What gets you up so early?" he asked me.
"Getting my butt bounced," I answered.
Kim giggled, her silvery carol attracting attention from several
nearby tables. Thanks.
Vas made the explanation again, "Brittany was out early practicing
her martial arts. She is very impressive."
Ivan clearly knew about Vasily's skill so he jumped to the logical
conclusion, "So you just had to try her out. If you hurt her, I'd have
to discuss that with you."
Then he turned to me and continued, "If he gives you any trouble,
missy, you just remember to whistle."
"Don't call me missy," I snapped, too sharply.
"Brittany can take care of herself," Vas countered as well. "She
gave every bit as good as she got."
"Well, excuse me," Ivan replied. "Bree, you seemed grateful enough
for my escort the other day."
I sighed and made myself calm down. It wasn't really his patroni-
zing tone, it was the 'missy.' I didn't want to be a 'missy.' I wanted
to be a guy. But I couldn't tell him that.
"I'm sorry, Ivan, um, Bob. The other day a rube fondled me, but
breaking his face wouldn't have done the circus any good. Sometimes the
best answer is to head off trouble before it starts and I really needed
your help. I am grateful."
Kim defused the tension with her typical effervescence. "Oh, calm
down, Ivan. Bree just hasn't had her caffeine fix yet. So tell, me Vas,
how good is she?"
"Very good, actually," he replied. "If she'd have kept her staff,
I'd have been the one getting my, um, butt kicked. As it was, she still
got the first point."
"Well, missy, oops, sorry, Bree, remind me never to make you mad at
me," Ivan said with his wide grin. There wasn't any hint of real fear in
there, though. He had nothing to prove, and he knew it.
I was about to just slap him on the shoulder, but as my arm started
moving I realized that was too masculine of a gesture so I smiled and
patted his wrist instead. I didn't have correct social reflexes for my
new form, yet, but I guess I'd picked up some things from watching women.
At an intellectual level I knew a few things not to do, if I had a chance
to think about not doing them for a second.
The rest of breakfast passed in small talk about circus things. It
seemed all the acts were coming along well and that the Colonel was
pleased. They would probably move on to our next stop, Palm City, in a
few more days. My hunch that the first ring was somehow connected with
the circus was as strong as ever, but I couldn't tell whether moving on
with the circus would help me in my quest, or if I'd better find it
before they left.
Since I was going to be working on the carousel, I didn't bother to
go back and shower after breakfast. I guess my part of things was coming
along too, because I had no trouble with the show routine that evening
and was able to relieve Jim at the carousel well before quitting time.
"How's things going?" I asked him.
"Not bad, but I think we'll do better when we get the new decora-
tions," he replied, looking up at the peeling paint with a sigh.
"I'm sure we will. Go take a break," I ordered like I had any
authority at all.
He smiled, with a peculiar twinkle in his eyes. Before he walked
off he whispered to me, "Yes, ma'am. I heard it's not a good idea to
argue with you."
Oh, God, that story must be all over the circus by now. Just what
I wanted, notoriety. Shit! He was gone before I could say anything, not
that I knew what to say anyway.
The kids lined up for rides in a sort of perpetual energy factory,
each one excited from the time they hit the line until their ride was
over.
Well, most of them, anyway. About 10:00, not long before we were
due to shut down, a kid started screaming from the back of one of the
horses just after I started the carousel slowing down from one of the
endless cycles.
He was coming toward where I stood at the controls and I could see
that he wasn't in trouble, just sitting on the brightly-painted horse and
screaming. I thought he was a bit young to be there by himself, maybe
six years old. Actually, I thought he was pretty young even to be up at
that time of night.
I couldn't brake the 'round too quickly, so it was on the next time
by that I could step up onto it to find out what his problem was.
"Calm down," I told him. "What's wrong?"
He just screamed in my face. It was clear he was okay, physically,
so I turned to the crowd to try and decide who had charge over him.
An overweight woman with obviously-bleached hair was walking next to
a similarly out-of-shape man, matching us as the 'round finally braked to
a full stop. Of course, a lot of people were watching the screaming kid,
but these two seemed especially interested.
"Is this your child?" I asked them.
"Yeah," the woman replied. She had an even younger one on her hip.
And I thought I had wide-load hips. This woman was, well, no need to go
into that.
"Do you know what his problem is?" this was like pulling teeth.
"He doesn't want the ride to be over." Well, tough shit, I've got
problems a lot bigger than that.
"I'm sorry, but the timing is standard. He had a full ride." Now
come get this screaming brat.
Neither of them were making a move toward the gate in the railing
and the kid was hanging on the pole to his horse with both arms. And
screaming. Maybe he thought he'd impress someone with his lung power.
Much more, and I'd impress his ass with my foot, and show him what
centripetal acceleration was really all about.
"Would you like to come get him? He doesn't want to let go."
They still made no move. The man asked, "Whyncha just give him
another ride?"
"Sure, if you'll give me another ticket." Good idea, Bubba. I
didn't know you had it in you.
He didn't. "Don't have a ticket."
"There's a booth right over there," I pointed.
"Don't want to spend no more money," now he grinned. It wasn't a
friendly grin. He figured to get a free ride for his kid, no matter how
much it bothered other people.
Not on a bet, you fat slob.
I was about to the point of figuring he deserved a good kick in the
ass even better than his screeching kid. Instead, I ostentatiously
looked at my watch. It was close enough to closing time. If it had
been 2:00 in the afternoon, it would have been close enough to closing
time that I wouldn't reward this brat and his spoiled antics.
Instead of talking to the parents of the brat kid, I walked over to
the line of waiting children at the gate. Speaking loudly enough that
the fat pair could hear, too, I announced, "Sorry, folks, but there won't
be any more rides tonight. By the time those folks get their kid under
control, it will be too late."
Then I just started turning off lights. The kid's screaming hadn't
really abated when I walked off, great lungs actually, but it came to an
abrupt halt when the bright lights of the carousel went dark over his
head. His parents were just as surprised. They looked over at the line
of disappointed children and angry parents, and realized the anger was
directed at them, not at me. The kid looked at his parents to see what
he should do. The parents waved him over and as soon as he reached the
rail the father lifted him over and started swatting his butt.
"I told you and I told you not to holler like that," he scolded.
Right, asshole, where do you think he learned it? Too late for little
kids to be up, anyway.
I finished shutting down the 'round and went to take my shower. I
sure was glad things were getting into a smooth, easy routine. Sigh.
And it didn't look like I was any closer to the ring than when Andreas
dropped me on the country road.
(
geocities.com/b_dewinter)