The Sequin Star Read Online Free Page B

short-sleeved white shirt. Her outfit looked quaint and old-fashioned. The monkey chittered gently on her shoulder.
    â€˜How are you feeling?’ the girl asked. ‘Can you move?’
    Claire fought back an overwhelming sense of panic. There must be a logical explanation. Perhaps I’m hallucinating. Perhaps they moved me while I was unconscious. That must be it. They moved me into a park to get me off the road.
    â€˜A bit groggy, but I don’t think anything is broken,’ admitted Claire, her voice croaky. She looked around. ‘Is the cyclist all right?’
    â€˜Cyclist?’ asked the boy. ‘The only cyclist around here is Lula the monkey, and she only rides in the circus ring.’
    â€˜I stepped onto the road and was hit by a bicycle,’ explained Claire. ‘He hit me hard so I thought he might be hurt too.’
    The girl exchanged a concerned look with her companion.
    â€˜There wasn’t any bicycle,’ said the girl. ‘You were knocked over by an elephant. I was riding her down for a swim in the creek, and suddenly you appeared right beneath her feet. I can’t imagine what you were thinking, running in front of an elephant like that.’
    â€˜An elephant ?’ Claire felt a wave of panic rise up through her. What is happening? Where am I? Tears welled up in her eyes. She rubbed them away.
    â€˜There was a cycle – I saw it, just after I stepped off the bus . . .’
    â€˜I think you might have hit your head harder than you know.’ The girl spoke in a soothing voice. ‘We’re in a field. There are no buses for miles. What’s your name?’
    â€˜Claire . . . Claire Stanton,’ she replied. ‘Who . . . who are you?
    The boy grinned. ‘This is Princess Rosina, or Rosina Sterling, the gypsy princess and bareback equestrienne extraordinaire. And that’s Lula, the cycling, stilt-walking, pony-riding primate. Not to mention Elsie the elephant.’
    The girl bowed. The monkey jumped up and down on her shoulder, chittering with excitement.
    â€˜And this is Jeremy Bates, commonly known as Jem – the fiddle-playing, ice-cream-selling roustabout,’ Rosina added, slapping Jem on the back. Jem, too, looked quaintly old-fashioned with a knitted vest over his blue shirt, grey trousers and a soft flat cap on his head. ‘And his faithful sidekick, Jaspar.’
    Jaspar was obviously the big golden dog with its tongue hanging out. It was of some indeterminate breed, with its shaggy, wagging tail and long, white socks, speckled with tan.
    Claire grinned, despite her headache. ‘Do you really live in the circus?’ she asked. ‘That must be amazing.’
    Rosina smiled warmly and stroked Lula’s back. ‘It’s hard work, but we love it.’
    Jem shrugged. ‘More importantly, we get fed.’
    Rosina glanced over towards the camp, then back at Claire.
    â€˜Do you think you can stand?’ she asked. ‘Perhaps we should take you over to see Malia. She treats most of the injuries in the show.’
    Jem helped Claire struggle to her feet. She wiped her dusty hand on the side of her jeans and straightened her singlet top. She definitely felt a bit woozy. Rosina offered her arm for support. Claire suddenly remembered her bag, with her phone in it. She could ring her mum. Mum could come and pick her up.
    For a moment relief swept through her, but looking around there was no sign of the bag anywhere.
    â€˜Did you see my bag?’ asked Claire. ‘I had it over my shoulder just a minute ago.’
    Rosina looked around. ‘There’s no bag here. Are you sure?’
    Claire looked suspiciously at Jem and Rosina. Had they stolen it when she was knocked over? ‘It had my wallet and mobile in it. I need my phone.’
    Jem flushed. ‘We didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re thinking.’ His voice rose in anger. ‘Townies always think