A Peacock Song - Боголюбова Наталия

Наталия Боголюбова

A Peacock Song

CHAPTER ONE

Amita was trying to juggle, but she felt that her hands were stiff. Something was very wrong. Amita the Juggler caught her reflection in the mirror. The jugglers heart was pounding like crazy. Her mind refused to believe it. A wooden doll in a bright sari stared at her from the mirror. The girl cried in horror. What has happened to me? Who am I? A doll?

The juggler stomped her feet in an attempt to distract herself from the image she saw.

Dont panic. I can still think, talk, and walk. Not bad! Under these circumstances. I have to remember every moment of the previous days that led up to this moment.

Her mind was muddy water, and one idea splashed up from it, clear and exclusive. I shouldnt have eaten so many gulab jamuns at the party! They did taste weird! I felt dizzy and sleepy after the treat. Oh, but those soft spongy flour and milk balls, fried and soaked in syrup, were so sweet. So wickedly irresistible! Amitas thoughts were confused; her mind hummed. The girl flinched as she heard someone knock on the door. She asked with caution, Who is it?

Its me. Barry the Parrot.

Come on in, the girl said, but you have to swear not to tell anyone about what happened to me.

You have my word. Barry replied and snapped the door open. He stared at her with undisguised amazement.

Well, youre amazing as ever, but I wont deny that you look a little bit different, the parrot added with caution.

I know I look weird. But I cant imagine who did it to me and why. My body is stiff; my thoughts are mixed up.

Dont give up. Ill find out. Thats what friends are for!

CHAPTER TWO

Im normally not a morning person in fact, I hate mornings and dont really want to talk to anyone, Krish the Peacock whooped.

Really? Why? Mornings are bliss quiet and cool; the traffic is light, and the rickshaws are running like fine-tuned machines. I love India in the mornings more than ever! Raja the Chipmunk said, sipping his masala tea. Its the best time to drive a rickshaw on dusty roads.

Krish was somber and asked, Wheres Barry the Parrot?

Ill find him, eventually, but I doubt hell be much help.

Why not? He speaks Hindi. None of us can.

Youre right. We should interrogate the locals. They might have seen Donut the Elephant. Lets go!

Dont rush me. You know, my shoulders still sore from when that crazy chimp hit me with a stone.

Sorry, that was my fault. I had to warn you that the chimp was dangerous. Im not good enough to be your partner.

Are you kidding? Youre the best Ive ever worked with.

Thats good to hear, and encouraging! Lets get back to work then! And you wont have time to get all weepy over a couple of scars. Weve got a big case. Big as an elephant. I mean the mysterious disappearance of Donut the Elephant in the Jaipur Circus. No witnesses or clues. The elephant has been missing for six hours.

Could a gigantic elephant have disappeared?

Precisely. Odd, or what?

To tell the truth, Im worried.

It seems were going to deal with a kidnapping.

The circus was overcrowded. That was the time of the performance. Acrobats, clowns, jugglers, conjurers, mimes, and rope-walkers scurried back and forth.

We must find Donuts dressing room, Krish assumed.

I think it wont be very hard. His dressing room should be the biggest in the circus! Raja smiled. He saw a pony with a braded mane and asked him, Where is Donuts room?

Over there. Just turn around the corner and youll see it on your left, the pony replied, and galloped away.

Thats fabulous! I meanthe circus atmosphere, Krish said. I just like to smell the sawdust when I walk in here!

Should we knock? Raja the Chipmunk asked.

What for? Krish whispered, The owner has disappeared. If there is a stranger in the room, wed better catch him off guard. So they walked in, without knocking.

The dressing room was huge and full of bright circus outfits; gigantic hoops and balls were scattered around.

Well, zany outfitsJust look at that pillbox hat!

Its fun. Everything is SO HUGE! I feel myself a tiny bug!

Lets not waste time. Look for clues! Krish said.

What exactly shall I look for?

I dont know Weird things that dont belong here.

Raja went to a large chest by the window. He opened up the lid and examined the contents. There were two yellow buttons, a fake clowns nose, and a few silver garlands there.

What is in there? Krish asked him.

Nothing important, Raja said with disappointment.

Keep looking! The clues have to be somewhere here. Raja came to a shabby wicker basket. The chipmunk looked into it. And he felt his heart miss a bit. A note-book! The word DIARY was written in large letters on the cover.

I think Im lucky today! Ive just found Donuts diary! This diary is the key to success! Raja said with a victorious smile. He opened the note-book and frowned. Its like chicken scratch! Hard to read. Impossible to understand!

Let me take a look! Krish the Peacock said, The last diary entry was written yesterday. Great! It can give us leads that we may follow. But I cant make out what he wrote either.

Perhaps, Donut was in a hurry writing this, the chipmunk suggested. Krish nodded as he flipped through the pages.

Being able to read Donuts writing is a gift! Raja laughed.

The peacock bowed his head and said, There is a peculiar rhyme about lions in the diary. It seems relevant to our case. Listen, Raja! He read the rhyme out loud.

I WOULDT BE MUTE!

THE LIONS WERE GOOD,

BUT TURNED INTO SOOT.

TO FIND THAT BOOT,

MIME BURNT THE WOOD.

I DO WHAT I SHOULD

Any ideas what it means?

No, I cant guess any

All right. Well think about it later.

The door snapped open; Barry the Parrot darted into the room with his scooter.

Why are you late? Your vehicle is small and can squeeze through little spaces between cars in any traffic jam! Raja the Chipmunk said in a loud voice.

Hi, guys! Busy working? Im sorry for being late. Taking a cup of spicy lassi is an essential part of my way of life, you know, the parrot replied cheerfully.

A joyful belly is half success, Krish giggled.

Any progress? Where are we with the case?

Weve just started. Raja has found a diary with cute rhymes. I noticed a tiny figurine of an elephant. It seems to be carved from sandalwood. I think someone else left it here because its too small to be Donuts belongings! Krish the Peacock said, Im going to show the figurine to our experts.

Well, whats about Sparky? Have you questioned him? Barry the Parrot tweeted.

You mean Sparky the Clown? Krish whooped. Why?

I see youre once again one step behind me in this investigation. Gossip is buzzing about the bizarre incident with the clowns boots.

What? Tell us everything you know! Raja pleaded.

Well, there was a confrontation between Sparky the Clown and the lions the day before yesterday. A big and nasty quarrel, I should say. The next day the clowns boots were found chewed and torn. The lions had escaped from the circus without being noticed. Is there any connection with Donuts disappearance? I wouldnt hesitate a moment to say Yes. We have to find the link between the two crimes.

Youre absolutely right. Krish nodded. If there is any link, our priority in the investigation is to find it.

Raja said excitedly, Do you really believe that lions ran away?

Barry said, Once is an incident; twice is a pattern.

In my opinion, the gang is operating in the city! Krish added.

First, we must find the clowns boots! Raja was persistent. It can give us clues to the lions disappearance. We may find out something about missing Donut as well.

Youre right. We shouldnt exclude the fact that the clown might be involved. Krish nodded. We have to go to the circus and take a good look around.

CHAPTER THREE

Lets separate. We shall watch with the peeled eye. Krish the Peacock suggested. Im going to the circus. Youll talk to the locals, maybe somebody saw something. Take Barry the Parrot with you. He speaks fluent Hindi and might be of great help. Raja the Chipmunk nodded.