High Wire Read Online Free Page B

such an ugly guy, he had all the luck.
    We walked to the mess tent. We got a couple of Cokes for ourselves and filled a plastic cup with water for Pooch. Over his loud gulping, I related my conversation with Sorelli.
    Whitney said, “Don’t worry, Zack. If nothing else works out, he can stay with my parents till your aunt gets back.”
    I wondered how keen Whitney’s mom would be to have a pup dumped on her. The Boothroyds sounded well off. They probably had a pretty nice place. Pooch might chew on their Ming vases or something.
    â€œThat’d be great,” I said, not too hopefully.
    â€œMom will be at the show tonight.I got her a seat front row center.” Whitney laughed. “You’ll probably notice her. You can’t miss Mom. No matter where she goes, she’s always draped in bling! She says, what’s the point in owning diamonds if you don’t enjoy them?”
    Whitney’s gaze dropped to the pink leash and collar that I’d put on the table. She turned the collar over in her hands, studying the medallion.
    I glanced around. Cubby was sitting with the other clowns, two tables away. They were wolfing down burgers.
    He had his back to us, but I played it safe. I lowered my voice. “Clunky collar, huh? It’s a gift from Cubby. He said it was once used in a poodle act.”
    Whitney cracked open the medallion to show me a couple of springs inside. “I’ve seen those poodle acts. You put a battery in here. Lights flash out the holes while the poodles parade around.”
    â€œSounds hokey to me,” I said.
    â€œWelcome to the circus. Nothing is too hokey.” She lowered her voice too. “Strange gift though.”
    â€œStrange guy.”
    Outside the mess tent, I picked up a stick. I started throwing it for Pooch to fetch. He brought it back every time. He was worry-free. That made one of us.
    That evening, I left Pooch in the trailer during the show. Sorelli would have nothing to complain about. Both my wire and juggling acts would be seamless.
    I climbed the ladder. On the ledge, I flexed my arms. I inhaled deeply and exhaled deeply.
    I shifted my weight to my sides. I let go of all thoughts. My mind was clear as an Alberta summer sky.
    I stepped on the thin black line. I started across, and soon I was one with the air.
    There was the usual silence as people watched in awe. Then the silence was interrupted.
    With a piercing scream.
    What the—?
    My skin tingled, a signal from my brain telling me it was curious. It wanted me to look down.
    There was another scream.
    The thought hammered at me: I had to see what was going on.
    Distracted, I wavered.
    The audience gasped. I was losing my balance. I was going to fall.

Chapter Seven
    Distractions were no good. They pulled you down—on the wire and in life.
    I clenched my arms, straining to keep my weight at my sides. I threw all thoughts overboard. I wouldn’t look down. Nothing, nobody would get to me. I lifted my gaze so that the only thing I saw was the dark dome of the big top.
    I was steady again. I kept going. My mind was blanker than it had ever been. I was lighter than I had ever been. I weighed nothing.
    People were shouting at the screamer to be quiet. The audience was worried about me. They were indignant on my behalf. But I wasn’t just seventy-five feet above them. I was an infinity away.
    I reached the opposite ledge. The audience broke into wild applause.
    Sorelli was climbing the ladder to greet me—a first.
    Beaming, he hugged me. Over the applause, he shouted in my ear. “I’ve never seen anything like it. You kept your cool, even when that dame started screaming. You’re a natural, Zen Freedman. You have a big future in the circus. Ringling, Cirque du Soleil… You’ll be able to write your own ticket.”
    The audience, now standing, kept clapping, whistling and cheering.
    â€œWhat was the screaming about?”I asked as I walked out of