Read Online Prince of Air by Ann Hood - Free Book Online Page B

began a series of undulations, rolling her stomach like a snake. Men whistled and clapped, but Little Egypt’s kohl-lined dark eyes staring out at them from above a veil betrayed no emotion.
    â€œThat’s the hootchie kootch?” Felix whispered in Maisie’s ear.
    She suppressed a laugh. The belly dancers were better at the Middle Eastern restaurant on Downing Street they used to go to sometimes on Sunday nights.
    â€œLame,” Maisie whispered back.
    They made their way back out through the crowd. The night had cooled, and Maisie shivered in the ocean air.
    â€œHere,” Felix said, slipping off his tuxedo jacket.
    Maisie let him put it around her shoulders.
    â€œWhat time do you think this place closes?” she asked him, trying not to sound worried.
    â€œOh,” he said casually. “Late. Real late.”
    She forced a smile. “Then let’s go see another show.”
    The first marquee that caught her eye boasted a strong man inside.
    â€œThe strongest man in the world,” she said. “How about that?”
    Felix agreed.
    Inside the stuffy room, a cloud of cigar smoke hung in the air. A man with big muscles, a tiny waist, and a red unitard stood on a small stage, grunting with great exaggeration. In one hand, he held a dumbbell with a big disc attached to it. The disc said 60 POUNDS in black letters.
    â€œThat’s him, I guess,” Maisie said.
    â€œShhh.” The people in front of them hushed her.
    The man held the dumbbell out straight and approached a blackboard. With his free hand he took a piece of chalk, put it in the dumbbell-holding hand, and lifted that chalk with much fanfare.
    â€œSo?” Maisie said. “He can hold a dumbbell and a piece of chalk in the same hand?”
    She was promptly shushed again.
    The strong man kept his arm extended and with a great flourish, wrote his name on the blackboard.
    The crowd gasped and applauded. They didn’t stop until he had taken several bows and left the stage.
    When the lights dimmed, Felix asked Maisie if she wanted to find another show.
    She shook her head.
    Maybe something good is coming up next
, she thought. Besides, walking outside in the cool air reminded her that soon enough they would need to find a place to stay. Something about night made everything seem worse. Already anxious thoughts were creeping into her mind. Where were the handcuffs? Where were Great-Aunt Maisie and Great-Uncle Thorne? What would happen—
    The lights came back on, interrupting her thoughts.
    â€œLadies and gentlemen,” the announcer shouted, “the Brothers Houdini and the”—here he lowered his voice and gave it a scary tone—“Metamorphosis.”
    Felix looked at Maisie, but her eyes were on the stage. The
Brothers
Houdini? He’d heard of Houdini, the greatest magician to ever live. In fact, Great-Uncle Thorne had talked about him when he’d given Felix the magic stuff. But he’d never heard of a brother.
    â€œHoudini,” Felix whispered to his sister.
    She shrugged. “Who’s that?”
    Before Felix could answer, two young men came out onto the stage wheeling a trunk. One was short and stocky with bushy dark hair, and the other was tall and muscular and red haired. Both wore elaborate, bright silk costumes, and the shorter one held a loop of ropes.
    The shorter one started to talk.
    â€œI’m gonna tie my brother up with these ropes,” he explained.
    Maisie shuddered.
Brother
came out like
brudder
and
these
like
deese
. With an accent like that, this guy would never make it.
    â€œThen I’m gonna put him in this here trunk. Then I’m gonna lock the trunk,” he continued.
    â€œThe old switcheroo,” Felix said.
    Maisie looked confused.
    â€œThat’s what Great-Uncle Thorne called a trick like this,” Felix said.
    â€œShhh,” said everyone in the row in front of them.
    â€œSorry,” he said, turning red.
    They