Nano 2

‘If I’ve told you before – ‘

‘It’s not fair that I have to do double shifts every Tuesday,’ the girl cut in, crossing her arms in annoyance. ‘I mean, there’s the misery of having to wear that ridiculous suit, don’t you get it?’

The young woman stopped in her tracks and whirled around so quickly that her long red plaits slapped the girl’s face. ‘D’you think I’m happy doing this too, huh? You’re not the only one who’s got to suffer around here! I do too! So do the other girls! So suck it up and just stand it!’

‘Yeah, but at least you’re just dealing with the seals,’ the girl said. ‘I have to climb into that tank, with everyone ogling, especially the men.’

‘That’s show business, darling,’ the young woman snapped. ‘No business like show business, as the saying goes. Not that you have a choice anyway. You were born into it.’

‘Yes, exactly!’ The girl threw up her arms dramatically, skinny pale limbs sending droplets of water in all directions. ‘I didn’t have a choice, so is that fair? I mean, most kids dream of running away to join the circus, but I dream of running away to get away from the circus!’

‘Tough luck, kiddo,’ the young woman said. ‘Suck it up and bear it like the rest, Iris. You won’t get anywhere with complaining all the time. Besides, your life is here, your family is here and your future is here. So quit whining already.’

‘But I demand a change!’ Iris shrieked. The young woman had already left her by then. She kicked the grass in frustration, sending grass clippings and dried leaves into the chilly air.

The circus was closed for the day, as it was nearing dusk and people were beginning to leave for their homes. Men and boys were hosing down the various tanks and cages in the other part of the field, and girls were busily combing and dressing each other’s hair among the tents. Iris stormed off to the gate leading into the next field, where several women had gathered to cook the day’s meal and prepare the younger ones for bed.

‘Not a good day?’ someone asked, coming out of the nearest tent to walk beside her. Iris threw the boy an angry look and marched off without a word.

‘There’s the girl,’ a lady said as Iris stopped by the cooking circle. The lady detached herself from the group and came towards her, stirring something in a bowl. ‘Why haven’t you changed? You’ll catch cold. Hurry up, we’re closing up early tonight.’

‘Yes Mother.’ Iris stalked off towards a tent furthest from the circle, seething inwardly. This was no time to throw a tantrum, not in front of the other mothers, who would surely talk about it for weeks afterward – but she was so damn angry, and it was so unfair that she couldn’t see a way out of this place – and if that red-haired witch of Katya won’t shut up and stop being so smug –

She blinked and stared.

A strange lady was sitting in her room, on her bed. A cigarette trailing smoke in the stuffy air hung from the lady’s fingertips. Dark red lips parted into a smile as Iris continued staring at the stranger before her.

‘Good evening, Iris.’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Why, you mean. I’ll tell you soon enough. Have a seat.’ She pointed the cigarette to the one stool in Iris’s room. The cheek the lady had – it was her stool, her room.

‘Okay. Why are you here? I warn you, if you mean any – ‘

‘Please let me speak first.’ The dark red of the lips was almost black in the dim room. The lady leaned back on the pile of pillows, eyes narrowed and suspicious. Iris drew the stool up to the bed and sat down.

‘You’re a water circus performer eh?’ the lady asked. She stuck the cigarette between her lips and dug a hand into her long black trousers. A sheaf of papers emerged from a cleverly concealed pocket at her hip, and she began reading from them. ‘Iris Langdon. Iris’s Amazing Aquatic Acrobatics and Wonders. Father, Harry Langdon, is the circus master. Iris was named according to the family custom, which states that the eldest girl in the Langdon clan should be named Iris for each generation. Iris is currently employed in water acrobatics performances. Performs in the mermaid tank on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Performs in the aquatic acrobatics on other days of the week. Dislikes wet suits and the stupid clamshells-and-fishtail costume required to be worn during the mermaid performance. Dislikes Katya and Jonas. Hopes to run away from the circus soon because nobody understands her. Thinks that Lawrence – ‘

‘That’s enough,’ Iris interrupted hotly. ‘Where did you get all the information from? Are you a spy? What do you want then? I’ve done nothing wrong – I’m still a minor, in case you’re wondering. Maybe I should scream for help now, if you don’t get out soon, thank you.’

‘What a spitfire,’ the lady said in amusement. ‘Really. They told me you were hot-tempered, but I didn’t expect this...passionate fury, not after I read the profile they gave me.’

‘Who are they?’ Iris demanded. ‘Tell me.’

The lady waved a hand, sending smoke trails around the room. ‘I can’t tell you. It’s part of my work, dear. Now, to confirm – are you Iris Langdon, as per the details I have just read out to you?’

‘Yes. But before you ask me more questions, I want to know how you know so much about me.’

‘Really, I can’t tell you.’ The lady took a long drag on the cigarette, exhaling the smoke in perfect rings. Iris glared at the rings contemptuously and waited.

‘Look,’ the lady said, her voice gaining an impatient edge, ‘I can’t tell you. To tell you would mean that I would lose my job, besides losing my life as well. Do you get me? Now listen, little girl. I need to get on with my other tasks as well, so don’t make this difficult for me. You wouldn’t like what I could do to you.’

‘Okay. Go on,’ Iris said, crossing her arms for the second time that evening.

‘There’s someone coming to meet you soon. I can’t tell you now who or what he or she may be, but someone would be coming to meet you, and possibly take you away too. I’m not sure what happens after you meet this person – it’s all up to you after that. Do you understand me?’

‘Meet me?’ Iris rubbed her nose thoughtfully. ‘I meet new people every day. What’s so different with this person?’

‘You’ll see. You’ll know when you meet him or her. But right now, all I can tell you is this: Listen to whatever this person will tell you. Listen carefully, because if you miss your chance then, you won’t get another in the future.’

‘Do you have – can you tell me any signs that I should look out for? Hints, or clues maybe? I need to know more.’

‘No, I can’t.’ The lady shook her head regretfully, but her eyes seemed to hint at something different, as though she would like to tell more, but couldn’t.

‘Iris!’ Iris jumped up and went to the window. The sun had set, and lamps were being lit outside the tents even as she searched for her mother. There she was, at the entrance of the tent now, with an unlit lamp in her hand. Iris turned to speak to the stranger, to ask her to leave...

There was no one else in the room besides her. The faintest smell of cigarette smoke remained in the room, the ghost of a scent...the only indication that the lady had been here, that she had actually talked to her...but it dispersed into the cool night air as soon Iris opened the window.