Projector lights were cast onto the spinning, mirrored disco balls suspended from the ceiling, which threw them out in all directions as colorful flashes; these sparks of glitz were reflected back again into the restaurant by the mirrors on the walls. It didn't produce the strobe effect, but did razzle dazzle one and all.
Especially Ranma. "Aw, wow...lookin' between the gleams in the eyes, it looks like Xmas lights dancing across us, like we were changin'; you know, transformin', like in some animes."
"Man, does Fujiko have the friggin Rube act down cold," Jigen said with disdain to cover his unease.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, Seekers of Wonder of All Ages: Welcome!" a woman’s voice greeted them from the empty stage. Then a spotlight was turned on, and she was suddenly there. The former pigtailed one thought she looked not only beautiful but interesting. She reminded 'him of the costume 'he' had worn in the public showdown 'he' had had with Mousse when 'he' was (first) stuck being a girl. Only this woman's was much more glamorous, reminding the peasant warrior of a tuxedo above tight, silk burumu-s and fishnet pantyhose. "Introducing the resident star of Le Club Magique Blucel: The Great S. Kaper!"
Ranma half rose from 'his' seat when ‘he’ saw a chained man in a straight jacket lowered upside down into view. The martial artist's first impulse was to rescue the silver-haired man clearly struggling to free himself from his danger. But it was the guy’s dare, so ‘he’ had to respect it. Mr. Kaper's expression said, though, he wasn't sure he could meet the challenge.
Suddenly something went wrong: The strap around Kaper's ankles that was carrying all of his weight let gro from the hook keeping the man up in the air! He plummeted. The crowd gasped and screamed. Ranma was up.
But 'he' was too far away to do any good. Helpless, 'he' witnesses Kaper land head first against the stage. The canvas jacket that contained him crumbled instantly, becoming like a bag full of shattered bones .
It then rose, with the chains falling off. The Great S. Kaper turned towards the relieved audience, and took off the straight jacket. Ranma found 'himself' clapping along with others for the distinguished gentleman in black ties and opera cape with the "Mr. Tendo" moustache.
The next minutes were filled with one magic trick after another, always with a dangerous variation on the traditional ones: He pulled...a cobra out of his hat...a line of lit firecrackers out of his pocket which he cracked like a whip as they exploded one-by-one...razor-sharp cards which he flung like a knife-thrower at his assistant between doing card tricks that could have cut off fingers. He spread his cape, and out flew dozens of bats. He poured a burning liquid into a paper funnel; the funnel disappeared in flame; he then blew fire from his mouth. Ranma was a rube: 'He' was in awe. If only I knew those techniques! Think how much they'd add to my martial arts abilities!
"For my next performance, my esteemed audience, I would like a volunteer. Who among you are truly brave?"
"I'm brave!" Ranma lifted a soft hand that also lifted a G cup breast.
"Interesting," he said with his German accent. “Der men is usually der ones who must show how fearless they are. Come, Mein Fraulein!" As long-legged Ranma went to the stage amid a round of applause, the assistant in the tuxedo-with-shorts costume wheeled out two giant blades, setting them only as far apart as she judge the distance Fujiko/Ranma's neck and ankles to be. "This is der point were I usually for another volunteer ask," he played to the audience. But Ranma, of course, wasn't going to let nobody take 'his' place. ‘He’ was hungry for a real challenge, and it wasn't French food.
"So, you are brave, nein? But you expect to survive how?" He took a knife, and cut its blade in two along the edge of one of the giant ones.
"I, I don't know. But I'm sure there's gotta be a way. You're not a murderer, are you?"
"Mich, ein murderer? If you have any doubts, you had das stage better exit. Your trust in me is der only thing that can you safe keep. You put your faith in me, bitte?”
"Okay."
Lights in every part of Ranma’s field of vision blinked left-to-right-and-back-again-and-again in pendulum time. “My voice…listen…hear only…my voice… trust my voice…”
(Posted Sun, 26 Nov 2006 04:22)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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