17. The Jump
Down on Earth the band (described as “a shooting star”, “a rocket blast”, or “the end of the world” depending on the reporter) was having yet another road-side performance on their way to the main stage. The shepherds, who had been flabbergasted, now enjoyed the music full-heartedly trying to make other travelers follow the band, too. But most people they met on the road shook their heads in dismay and after watching and listening for a while, went their own separate ways. One player in particular divided the opinions. He jiggled like a pudding on legs, twisted and wriggled as if he had spiders crawling in his pants. His saxophone sputtered and wheezed in and out of synch with the music. The bandleader was looking more and more annoyed and finally shouted out above the music, “Stop fooling around Elvis Miro!” The bandleader’s outburst was doused by the crowd’s applause. Whether they liked it or not, everybody agreed this was the most bizarre show they had ever seen.
*
Stellaria hoped that Rufus would doze off in Miro’s pocket and sleep through the whole episode. But there was no trusting in rats. Come to think of it, there was no trusting in Miro, either. Stellaria knew he would see after the rat if he knew it was hers, but he didn’t. He might think it was just another bothersome, roaming rodent. And the bandleader wouldn’t surely let Miro keep the rat if she saw it. Stellaria had to go and fetch Rufus back. There was no other option.
Stellaria fetched her winter coat, put on her scarf and mittens, and checking that no one was looking, she slipped out into the yard. The yard was covered with tiny stars of all colors. They were pretty to look at, especially in the nighttime, but crunched under the foot. Stellaria tried to step lightly to avoid the noise. She could have used her wings to fly, but that would have set off the alarm. She was underage and therefore not authorized to fly alone outside the mansion, not even in the front yard or the gardens that extended to the wall, beyond which started the immense space. But first she had to get past the portkeeper’s booth. She had to come up with a way to divert his attention, because he would never let her leave without making a big fuss of it. He kept track of all incoming and outgoing traffic of Cloud Thirteen, and lately he had been very irritable because he had to sit in a temporary shelter. The workmen had torn down his old cabin and before they had started building a new one, they had gone on strike.
Enough for anyone to make them want to keep their supper in their shoe. Stellaria had an idea. “Hello,” she said. “Do you know that your shoe has been raided?”
“What? I can’t hear you.” The portkeeper took off his fur hat and lifted one side of his ear muffs.
“Your supper shoe has been raided.”
“Says who?
“Ms. Tidybit. She saw the cat eating your sandwich.”
“Hrmph.” The portkeeper tried to look indifferent but his face grew red. Then abruptly he stood up and left, muttering as he went, “Watch out for me for a while, will you. Be back in a second.”
This was almost too easy. Stellaria had no intention of waiting. She ran out into the garden not bothering to worry about the crackle of the stars beneath her feet. She was out of breath when she reached the wall. Without turning to look back she climbed the wall, closed her eyes and jumped.
She felt a funny ticking in her stomach as she fell and it was a while before she had courage to open her eyes. Nothing. She could see absolutely nothing. The space was dark and cold. It was still too early to use the wings — for fear of being detected — so she tucked them tight against her back. Instead, she spread her arms and legs and dashed through the nothingness like a white bat.
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