Read Online The Lampo Circus by Alexandra Adornetto - Free Book Online Page A

an inspection of the troops.She walked importantly down the rows, chatting casually with Oslo as she went. When Bombasta spoke she had a habit of drawling out syllables so that her sentences took twice as long to say. It was as though she believed she had all the time in the world to while away as she chose.
    ‘I imagine you children cannot believe your luck, having a genius like Federico Lampo take you under his wing,’ she said. ‘As Patroness of the Arts, I know all about his company. If it weren’t for this wonderful little man, the artistic world would be as dead as my pet ermine and I should have nothing to be patroness of!’
    The loose skin of the Contessa’s neck swung when she was impassioned so that she resembled a frill-necked lizard. Her smugness was too much for Milli who could not curb her outburst.
    ‘The Lampo Circus was nothing but a sham! Nothing but a bunch of kidnappers!’
    Bombasta clapped her hands over Lampo’s ears, as if to shield him from the pain of such hurtful remarks, and sucked her lips in prunelike with disapproval.
    ‘Silence, you beastly juvenile! Such impertinence! One more word and I shall haveyou wrapped in pond weed and fed to the piranhas in my lake! What would be the expense of that, Ledger?’
    To everyone’s surprise, a weedy man in a grey suit appeared as if from beneath the bustle of Bombasta’s skirts. He was so diminutive he had been completely concealed behind the Contessa’s expansive haunches. But it was not Mr Ledger’s lack of stature I wish to draw your attention to. The important thing to tell you is that Mr Ledger was Bombasta’s accountant.
    Like many accountants who do not spend sufficient time in the sun, he was gingery all over, with pasty skin the colour and texture of lumpy porridge. He had sharp, ferret teeth, mottled ears and even his eyes glowed an unsightly orange. He had no mouth but simply a coin slot through which he now answered his employer.
    ‘There are the transportation costs of getting the child to the venue,’ he said, pushing buttons on his calculator and talking more to himself than anyone else.
    ‘The pond weed is, of course, complimentary but there is the problem of having to replace the offending child to compensate Mr Lampo’s loss.That should prove trifling, however. All in all, I think it would be very doable.’
    ‘And well worth the trouble if it means one less parasite in the world!’ Bombasta cried, clapping her hands. ‘Why anyone would refer to children as a blessing is a complete mystery to me.’
    The children could not help but shuffle a few feet backwards; firstly because the Contessa seemed quite genuine in her suggestion about the piranhas, and secondly because the amount of perfume she had doused herself with was so overpowering they feared they might keel over.
    Fortunately, it was in Federico Lampo’s interest to preserve them from piranhas for the time being.
    ‘Come now, Augusta,’ he placated her. ‘It may be prudent to wait until after the battle before disposing of the army. Then you may turn them into wall hangings for all I care.’
    ‘Well, that would be most appropriate.’ Bombasta snorted with delight. ‘I am, after all, Patroness of the Arts and one can never have too many wall hangings. Ledger, how sound an investment are wall hangings in the current climate?’
    Bored with their inspection, the Contessa and Lampo moved a few paces aside and became engrossed in their own private conversation whilst Ledger made frantic calculations. Oslo was left at a loss as to what was required of him next, so he stared fixedly into the distance.
    As the adults made no attempt to lower their voices, Milli and Ernest found themselves able to eavesdrop with minimal effort.
    ‘I am most put out. You have been neglecting me, Lampo,’ Bombasta said with a pout. ‘I shouldn’t like to set Muffy-Boo on you.’
    A snap of her fingers brought Mr Ledger back to her side.
    ‘Fifty-five pounds to have the carpet