Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

where I have to go. I must insist you change this back

to my one-dollar bill." He laughed.

"I don't know the magic to change it back.

Sorry."

"You're being very foolish, giving away money

like that." He shrugged.

"Easy come, easy go. Besides, it was worth far

more than four dollars to have seen your face when I

performed my trick," he said fixing his eyes on me. I

felt myself blush.

"Are you a magician?"

"Not really. I've been working in a circus

nearby and I picked up a lot of stuff like that from the

carnies." "Carnies?"

"Carnival people. They're wonderful people to

know. They stick together through thick and thin and

help each other all the time, and some of them have

traveled all over the world and know a great many

things. Just sitting around and listening to them talk, I

learn a lot. You'd be surprised how much I already

know, and knowledge and experience is what makes

you older," he added proudly.

"You don't look that old."

"Seventeen. You don't look very old either." "I'm almost fourteen."

"Well, we're not much older than Romeo and

Juliet, you know," he said. "The duchess told me

about them. She was a professional actress in Europe.

Now, she does the knife throwing act with her

husband."

"You mean, she stands there while he throws