I stood in a dark corner as the last of the troubled crowd exited the theater. As I stood the voices of Madame' Illusia and her nephew Steven were raised in anger.
The echo of their arguement did not cover the continued cries of a scared man locked into the form of a black ram. I know not which urged me forward, the pityful cries or the harsh words spoken by Steven.
"You can't just change a man like that with so many witnesses!" argued Steven. It is enough when you transmigrate souls from one body to another and back again, but this is dangerous!"
"Danger, bah! I becon any danger to come and it or they will meet a fate equal to this evenings fool or worse. I tell you.... ah a visited I here!" said Madame as I tripped over a wooden bench.
As Steven followed her onto the stage she called out to the intruder. I by that time had crawled along one wall and was in the backstage area. Creeping over to the ram's pen I knelt down to listen at the witch and her nephew.
I turned to see the black ram as he nibbled my hand which held my balance as I knelt. The blubberd tries at human words which whispered his plight and desire to return to humanity began to be noticed.
Madame' whirled about and called out, "You by the ram, come out and meet the power of this universe!"
The ram made up my mind as the creature bleated a half human scream. It sounded off like unto a disturbed and frightened animal. The sound sunk into me as if it were pleading for release from it's bonds, the ram he was.
I stood up and walked into the limelight of the stage.
"So young man who are you?" asked the Madame' with a grin.
"My name is not important, but the fact of my sitting next to the man which you transformed is! He may have been brash but he nor anyother deserves being ripped from humanity and slammed into the world of animals. What is your plan for him over there?" I asked as my hand panned over toward the bleating ram.
"He will spend the night as a ram and be released in the morning!" stated Steven abruptly.
"NO!" said Madame. "No Steven he will not be released into his human form! The manager's of this park own breeding farms for dozens of creatures. His male ability will be put to the test as he is put to pasture with a hundred nannies or ewes. Indeed he will pay this month's rent of our theater, I won't let such a fine specimen get away! Oh but as to our intruder here, you young man might pay next month's rent as well."
I backed away from her as she raised arms and positioned hands like the incantation which brought forth black changing mists.
"No Auntie' no! He is here only out of concern and has not insulted either you or me. I demand you let him leave here and go his way!" argued Steven.
Madame' walked closer to me her eyes in a cold evil stare. "Concern, you are concerned about a man you do not know until tonight? An insult, yes you do insult my intelligence and wish to change that to what I have willed into being! Oh Steven, you my foolish and weak nephew insisting this person leave on his way, ah true so true for he shall leave and it is I who shall determine his way."
A glance toward the rear stage door and I took a step.
"STOP!" yelled Madame Illusia.
Suddenly I froze to a stop. There I was unable to move a muscle to run and escape.
Madame walks to almost nose to nose as she with arms raised high begins a call on spirits of evil. Around me she moves, slowly and then faster as the chant flies from her lips.
My view of her seemed fuzzy till the cloud of boiling blackness began to cover me and hide her moves. Heat like Hell itself was boiling about me from head to foot. I stood feeling the fear which the railroad man surely knew! As the black smoke boiled and all light and life around me was hidden from sight or sound the spirits began their works. I realized at that moment that her secrets should be left untold and Madame' best be left alone!