Klaus

At the early rise of the 1800’s, the British Empire continued to expand. Auchtermuchty was one of its many colonies scattered over Europe. An island just beyond Scotland, it was too small to be a country and too large to be a city. Franz Schwarz was but one needle in a haystack of generational natives. Auchtermuchty, despite being governed by the British Crown, considered itself a monarchy under the rule of their own king and queen, Leopold and Victoria. Leopold, a king who never spoke, and Victoria, and queen who never showed her face.

Customs formed by coincidence and nonsense, currency that was lost in translation in its own land, Auchtermuchty was a colony bound to confuse anyone who traveled there.

Unlike Franz, Klaus had no friends or family in Auchtermuchty. He managed to understand which banks gave him a higher value for his currency, which streets led to the shores and which to the squares, yet he still managed to find himself lost in the marketplace.

Rows of merchants aligned its streets. Miracle cures, miracle workers, fabrics and expensive glass trinkets. Klaus observed the chaotic waves of the curious citizens, hands to their lips as they listened in.

He watched a merchant enthusiastically hop upon a soapbox. Colorful embroidery adorned his bright blue suit, his eyes were line with jade. He clapped his hands together.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! I come to you with a show like nothing you’ve ever seen! Wonder! Magic! Transformation!”

Klaus raised a brow. This man was clearly out of his right mind. Such frivolous things had no place in reality. Still, he continued to observe the jester with the onlookers.

The man pointed a finger at a lady in the crowd, she gasped and covered her face with a lavender glove.

“You, don’t you want something? Everybody wants something!” He waved his arms around like a tropical bird.

The woman blushed, “Well, I don’t know…”

The man hopped off the soap box, the crowd gasped. What would he do next?

He skipped around, still watching the woman. He moved closer to her, to which she pulled away in haste. He caught her glove in his hand and pulled it off. She gasped in embarrassment.

“How dare you!” Her anger suddenly melted into dumbfounded as she and all those around her watched in bewilderment as the glove began to turn from lavender to jade in the colorful man’s hand. Klaus also found himself staring in awe. What was this?

The man smiled and handed the glove back to the lady, who could barely manage a full sentence.

“Wh-how did you-”

“Magic.”

The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers. Klaus paused a moment. After a while he gathered himself and let out a laugh. The man turned in his direction, the cheers grew silent. Klaus’s laughter became the only sound, a cheerful chuckle that lit a spark within the magician.

“What is it that you find humorous?”

Klaus sighed, “Well you see, that isn’t magic. It’s simple alchemy--chemical reactions.”

Whispers flourished, hushed and rapid like mosquitos. The magician cleared his throat, he laughed nervously, “Who are you, exactly?”

“A visitor, nothing more. Forgive me for interrupting your performance good sir but there is nothing I hate more than charlatans.”

The magician pushed through the crowd, his eyes glued to the large man. Klaus remained unfazed by his threatening stance.

“Mate, I’m trying to make pound.” He whispered under his breath.

Klaus furrowed his brow, “Make it honestly, sir. Honesty with poverty is better than ill-gotten wealth.”

The crowd began to stir, Klaus felt a push from a spectator behind him.

“Oi! Can’t you let us watch a show in peace? Who cares if it’s fake or not, it’s a show!”

Voices from the masses agreed, Klaus sighed and adjusted his hat. He turned to leave, aware that his presence was not welcome but was stopped by a man in what he presumed to be the police uniform of the colony. Klaus tipped his hat calmly.

“Passport?” The police officer demanded.

“Forgive me?”

Klaus wasn’t aware of the rules for foreigners. If it was a passport that the man required, he had every right to see one, but due to unfortunate circumstances Klaus was bereft. He could have told the officer he left it in his flat but he would lying, and he was not a hypocrite.

He responded after a moment, “I’m afraid I am without one, officer.”

The policeman smacked his lips and shook his head. Klaus wondered how much of a fine he would have to pay. He had tipped the barkeep at the pub quite a hefty sum, he didn’t have much left from what he stole the week before.

In a sudden second, Klaus noticed a pair of handcuffs being placed onto his hands by the officer.

“What-What’s going on?”

“You’re going to have to come with me. It is against Auchtermuchty law for a foreign man to be without passport, never mind interrupting a good show.”

He winked at the crowd of people around the chemically skilled magician. They cheered gleefully in appraise of their loyal policeman.

Klaus closed his eyes and counted to ten, he wouldn’t want to blow a fuse in the middle of the day. He opened them and attempted to change the officer’s mind.

“I was not aware of that law, officer. If you let me go, I may be able to acquire one. If you could be so kind as to point me in the direction of the nearest-”

The officer smacked his back and pushed him towards the market exit. Klaus cleared his throat, his heart paced a little faster. This would surely get him off schedule.

From beneath his coat, a golden pocket watch ticked away. Klaus listened in, his eyes watching the clouded sky above, avoiding the smug faces of the citizens around him.

One...tick. Two...tick. Three...tick. Four...tick. Five...tick. Six...tick. Seven...tick. Eight...tick. Nine...tick.

10...tick tock. Tick tock.

Just a few more hours. He thought. Wait a few more hours.