Some time later, an angry, red-headed girl came out of the gift shop.
"Ranma," her fiancee scolded her. "What took you so long?"
"Don't wanna talk about it," Ranma growled. "Let's say it involved some kids with squirt guns and some perverted, german boys who couldn't keep their hands to themselves..."
Akane shook her head. "Ranma, Ranma... we just arrived in Germany, and you have to start a fight already?"
"Well, it wasn't much of a fight," Ranma mumbled. "Those guys were wimps..."
"I think we should hurry and find the amulet," Ami intervened. "Ranma, do you have the map?"
Ranma nodded, pulled it out of his pants and gave it to Ami. "Here ya go!"
Ami unfolded it. "Here, Akane... Try using the pendulum."
She did it. "That's nearly outside of town," Akane shouted in surprise. "I think it will take a while until we're there."
"Doesn't matter," Ranma said. "Just a little roof-hopping, and we're there in no time."
"Ranma, we don't want to attract attention," Ami reminded him. "I think it's best if we take the 'U-Bahn'... it's the German word for subway."
Akane smirked. "You're the expert for foreign countries, Ami... lead the way!"
----
"I don't believe it," Akane gasped. "A circus? The amulet is in a circus?"
Indeed, on the wide, grassy plains just outside the outskirts of town, a big circus tent was standing, surrounded by trailers and cages of all sorts. On a big sign, the words 'ZIRKUS HOHLBEIN' could be read.
"We're lucky that it's going to stay for the following week," Ami said, reading a poster. "We would have a hard time finding it if it had moved along during our search."
Ranma grinned. "Looks like fun! Ya think there are any martial artists within their troupe?"
Akane sighed. "Ranma... this is a circus, not a martial arts tournament! Who has ever heard of martial artists performing in a circus?"
"Well, I think they should introduce it..." Ranma grumbled.
"We should try talking to the ringmaster," Ami said. "Perhaps he knows something about such an amulet."
----
A circus' ringmaster is a busy man, naturally. But Hagen Hohlbein was a nice man who was ready to devote some of his time to the three Japanese teenagers that were standing in front of his trailer.
He was a big, muscular man with black hair and a mustache. Had he long hair, he would have almost looked like a German version of Akane's father. Luckily, he could speak English fluently.
Ami introduced herself and her friends and told the ringmaster they were archaeology students that were trying to find several artifacts from all around the world.
Hohlbein sounded impressed. "Nice to see how young people are devoting themselves to something like that. Yes, I know which amulet you're talking about. It once belonged to my uncle Gerd... but sadly, I do not know where it is."
He gestured to a small family portrait that was standing on his desk. "That's my uncle, in the middle. As you can see, he's wearing the amulet. He was a great animal tamer, and that lion amulet was his... what's the word... Lucky Charm! In fact, he never had any accidents during his long career."
"Do you have any clues on where it might be?" Akane asked hopefully.
"Well, I don't know where he put it before he died... but what I do know is that there's still several old stuff from him, in the costume wagon... I have a hunch it might be there." He stood up. "If you like, we can take a look."
"Oh, we don't want to waste any more of your time..." Ami said.
The ringmaster smiled. "Nonsense! I'm happy if I can help such nice young girls as yourselves!"
Ranma growled.
----
While they were following Mr. Hohlbein around the trailers, they came close to several of the animal cages.
Suddenly, Ranma yelped and jumped behind his fiancee.
"Ranma, what's the big idea?" Akane shouted angrily.
"C-c-caaat," Ranma stuttered. "Big, BIG c-c-cat!"
Akane looked over to where he was pointing. Just a small distance next to them, several lion and tiger cages were situated. The big cats of prey were lazily laying on the ground, every now and then letting out a small growl.
Akane sighed. "It's okay, Ranma, they won't hurt you. See? They're all in cages. They can't come out."
Ranma gulped and quickly followed Ami and Hohlbein behind the next trailer.
"What's wrong with her?" the ringmaster asked in concern. "Does she have a fever?"
Ami shook her head. "No, it's just... Ranma has a really big fear of cats, may they be big or small..."
"Oh... that's kinda unusual, but I assure you, our big kitties won't harm you, Miss Saotome."
Ranma ignored the 'miss' part. She didn't look too convinced.
"Well, when we go back, we can go along the other side of the trailers, so you won't see them. All right?"
Ranma nodded. It really annoyed her that Hohlbein got such an impression of her... A scared, weak girl that was too afraid to walk past the cages of some c-c-c...
She didn't finish the thought.
They arrived at a small, shabby trailer. "Here it is," Hohlbein said. "We mostly keep old stuff in here, that no one wants to use anymore. But let's just say that some of us want to keep their old things... as a keepsake."
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Tue, 29 Aug 2006 09:49)
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