Mary Poppins Comes Back

Dragon or the Horse with Wings! Magical Marvels! Universal Wonders! Walk up! Walk up!'

A loud voice seemed to be shouting these words in their very ears. They stared about them. There was no sign of anybody.

'Step along everybody! Don't miss the Golden Bull and the Comical Clown! World-Famous Troupe of Performing Constellations! Once seen never forgotten! Push aside the curtain and walk in!'

Again the voice sounded close beside them. Jane put out her hand. To her surprise she found that what had seemed a plain and starless patch of sky was really a thick dark curtain. She pressed against it and felt it yield; she gathered up a fold of it and, pulling Michael after her, pushed the curtain aside.

A bright flare of light dazzled them for a moment. When they could see again they found themselves standing at the edge of a ring of shining sand. The great blue curtain enfolded the ring on all sides and was drawn up to a point above as though it were a tent.

'Now then! Do you know you were almost too late? Got your tickets?'

They turned. Beside them, his bright feet gleaming in the sand, stood a strange and gigantic figure. He looked like a hunter, for a starry leopard-skin was slung across his shoulders, and from his belt, decorated with three large stars, hung down a shining sword.

'Tickets, please!' he held out his hand.

'I'm afraid we haven't got any. You see, we didn't know—' began Jane.

'Dear, dear, how careless! Can't let you in without a ticket, you know. But what's that in your hand?'

Jane held out the golden spark.

'Well, if that isn't a ticket, I'd like to know what is!' He pressed the spark between his three large stars. 'Another shiner for Orion's belt!' he remarked pleasantly.

'Is that who you are?' said Jane, staring at him.

'Of course — didn't you know? But — excuse me, I must attend to the door. Move along, please!'

The children, feeling rather shy, moved on hand in hand. Tier on tier of seats rose up at one side of them and at the other a golden cord separated them from the ring. And the ring itself was crowded with the strangest collection of animals, all shining bright as gold. A Horse with great gold Wings pranced by on glittering hooves. A golden Fish threshed up the dust of the ring with its fin. Three Little Kids were rushing wildly about on two legs instead of four. And it seemed to Jane and Michael, as they looked closer, that all these animals were made of stars. The wings of the Horse were of stars, not feathers, the Three Kids had stars on their noses and tails, and the Fish was covered with shining starry scales.

'Good-evening!' it remarked, bowing politely to Jane as it threshed by. 'Fine night for the performance!'

But before Jane could reply it had hurried past.

'How very strange!' said she. 'I've never seen animals like this before!'

'Why should it be strange?' said a voice behind them.

Two children, both boys and a little older than Jane, stood there smiling. They were dressed in shining tunics and their peaked caps had each a star for a pompon.

'I beg your pardon,' said Jane, politely. 'But, you see, we're used to — er — fur and feathers and these animals seem to be made of stars.'

'But of course they are!' said the first boy, opening his eyes very wide. 'What else could they be made of? They're the Constellations!'

'But even the sawdust is gold—' began Michael.

The second boy laughed. 'Star-dust, you mean! Haven't you been to a Circus before?'

'Not this kind.'

'All circuses are alike,' said the first boy. 'Our animals are brighter, that's all.'

'But who are you?' demanded Michael.

'The Twins. He's Pollux and I'm Castor. We're always together.'

'Like the Siamese Twins?'

'Yes. But more so. The Siamese Twins are only joined in body but we have a single heart and a single mind between us. We can think each other's thoughts and dream each other's dreams. But we mustn't stay here talking. We've got to get ready — see you later!' And the Twins ran off and disappeared through a curtained exit.

'Hullo!' said a gloomy voice from inside the ring. 'I suppose you don't happen to have a currant bun in your pocket?'

A Dragon with two large finny tails lumbered towards them, breathing steam from its nostrils.

'I'm sorry, we haven't,' said Jane.

'Nor a biscuit or two?' said the Dragon eagerly.

They shook their heads.

'I thought not,' said the Dragon, dropping a golden tear. 'It's always the way on Circus nights. I don't get fed till after the performance. On ordinary occasions I have a beautiful maiden for supper—'

Jane drew back quickly, pulling Michael with her.

'Oh, don't be alarmed!' the Dragon went on, reassuringly. 'You'd be much too small. Besides, you're human and therefore tasteless. They keep me hungry,' he explained, 'so that I shall do my tricks better. But after the show—' A greedy light came into his eyes and he shuffled away, lolling out his tongue and saying 'Yum-yum' in a soft, greedy, hissing voice.

'I'm glad we're only human,' said Jane, turning to Michael. 'It would be dreadful to be eaten by a Dragon!'

But Michael had hurried on ahead and was talking eagerly to the Three Little Kids.

'How does it go?' he was asking, as Jane caught up with him.

And the Eldest Kid, which apparently had offered to recite, cleared its throat, and began—

'Horn and toe,

Toe and horn——'

'Now, Kids!' Orion's voice interrupted loudly. 'You can say your piece when the time comes. Get ready now, we're going to begin! Follow me, please!' he said to the children.

They trotted obediently after the gleaming figure, and as they went the golden animals turned to stare at them. They heard snatches of whispered conversation as they passed.

'Who's that?' said a huge starry Bull, as it stopped pawing the star-dust to gaze at them. And a Lion turned and whispered something into the Bull's ear. They caught the words 'Banks' and 'Evening Out' but heard no more than that.

By now every seat on every tier was filled with a shining starry figure. Only three empty seats remained and to these Orion led the children.

'Here you are! We kept these for you. Just under the Royal Box. You'll see perfectly. Look! they're just beginning!'

And, turning, Jane and Michael saw that the ring was empty. The animals had hurried out while they had been climbing to their seats. They unbuttoned their overcoats and leaned forward excitedly.

From somewhere came a fanfare of trumpets. A blast of music echoed through the tent and above the sound could be heard a high, sweet neighing.

'The comets!' said Orion, sitting down beside Michael.

A wild nodding head appeared at the entrance and one by one nine comets galloped into the ring, their manes braided with gold, and silver plumes on their heads.

Suddenly the music rose to a great roar of sound and with one movement the comets dropped upon their knees and bowed their heads. A warm gust of air came wafting across the ring.

'How hot it's getting!' cried Jane.

'Hush! He's coming!' said Orion.

'Who?' whispered Michael.

'The Ring-Master!'

Orion nodded to the far entrance. A light shone there, eclipsing the light of the constellations. It grew steadily brighter.

'Here he is!' Orion's voice had a curious softness in it.