“Never! It is a name from legend, mythology. Gloriana, the goddess of the barnyard, often depicted with a piglet on her lap-”

“You are making this up!”

“Never!”

“If I didn’t know you better, Jim diGriz, I would think that you were a closet bestialist with your mad adoration of these creatures.”

“When I was a small lad they were my only friends.”

“Well you are a big lad now, so you can keep your friendship priorities in order. Let us make tracks to the circus.”

I let down the ramp in the rear of our transport and Gloriana trotted in happily. There was a little window that looked in from the cab, so I could keep an eye on her. But she was very self-possessed and instantly went to sleep.

I will add nothing about our trip to Fetorrscoria. Some things are best quickly forgotten, dropped out of the memory cells, to shrink and vanish. Our spirits leapt, or at least stirred feebly, when we entered the city limits of Fetorrscoria.

It was well after dark by the time we pulled up before the large building that was our destination. Igor dropped our luggage into the gutter, then scowled down at Gloriana as she trotted past.

“Pig poo in back. Twenty credits more.”

I looked in back and shook my head. “No poo, no pay.” I passed him the agreed amount. He counted it slowly, then shoved it into his pocket. Then his brow furrowed in unaccustomed thought. Memory surfaced sluggishly.

“I see poo. Pay!”

“I no see poo, you no see pay.”

“You pay!” He waved a granite fist in my direction and lurched forward. Angelina smiled.

“My turn, if you please.”

I had no time to answer before an extended foot caught him in the ankle. As he fell past, her joined hands thudded into the back of his neck. He hit the road with a satisfying thud.

As he stumbled to his feet muttering foul oaths I pointed at his truck and said, “Go. Before it gets a lot worse.”

I almost hoped he would try something. He had offended my Angelina and I do not take that lightly.

I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. There was a blur of ruddy quills as Gloriana shot forward. He shrieked and bounced about on one foot, clutching the ankle where a sharp tusk had made its impact. Still muttering he climbed up to the cab. The now empty vehicle vanished into the night, Igor’s pockets heavy with my coin. Gloriana snuffed with pleasure as her nose rustled through a trash bin beside the door. I pressed the button under the sign reading COLOSSEO STAGE ENTRANCE. The door rattled and opened and a bewhiskered face appeared.

“Whatcha want?”

“Is this the present home of Bolshoi’s Big Top?”

“Yeah.”

“Then swing the portal wide, my good man. You have the pleasure of addressing none other than the Mighty Marvell!”

“You’re late.”

“Never too late for the entranced audience that will very soon await the Mighty Marvell with bated breath. Guide us to our dressing rooms, my friend.”

He led us into the depths of the Colosseo. I followed with Angelina on my arm, Gloriana trotting at our side, the luggage coming up behind. My new and illustrious career was about to begin.

“You’re late,” another voice said. I turned.

“Cerberus at your portal said exactly the same thing: And you are…”

“Harley Davidson. We’ve been in touch.” He stepped into the dressing room and we shook hands. He was a tall, darkhaired man looking quite dapper in his ringmaster’s garb. From shiny black boots to even shinier top hat he radiated showmanship.

“I hope that you are as good as your reviews,” he said.

I hoped so too since they were all well-planted fakes.

“Even better!” I tried to exude charm and emit positive vibes.

“Last magic act we had the guy was too drunk to go on most nights.”

“I assure you that I am a lifetime teetotaler. May I introduce my wife, Angelina?”

Like a true showman he took her hand and kissed it.

“And this is Gloriana.”

He looked quizzically at her, but did not kiss her. “I like animals in an act. Gives them style. Do you know the Great Grissini? He had some routines like yours.”

“Know him! He is my mentor. Taught me all that I know.” “That’s good to hear. A quality act. There are a couple of hours yet before the first curtain. Take a rest. You look bushed. The call boy will give you plenty of time.”

“Is there a restaurant nearby?” Angelina asked. “It has been a long time between meals.”

“None that I would recommend. But there is a list of takeaways by your phone. They aren’t too bad.. .”

“You have been avoiding me, Harley. We must have a talk.”

The deep voice rumbled like a volcano as the man stepped into the room. He was my height, but must surely have been twice as wide. His head was shaved bald, his trailing mustache long and black. I expected his clothes to split when he moved because his muscles rose and knotted like tree trunks; his forearm was thicker than my thigh. I recognized him from his pictures. The man we had come countless light-years to see.

“Well met I say!” I said. “You can only be the galaxy famous Puissanto. It is indeed a great pleasure to meet you. I am the Mighty Marvell.” I stepped forward and held out my hand in greeting. He extended only two fingers and I could barely get my hand around them. I squeezed hard but they were as unyielding and inflexible as rods of steel. His little red eyes blinked and his forehead furrowed in thought.

“You heard of me?”

“In the farthest star systems they sing your praises.”

The slightest of smiles came and went, accepting my blatant flattery as revealed truth. The scowl was back when he turned to Davidson.

“How come the guards won’t let me out of the building?”

“Because you are barred from the city, that’s why. And every credit of the bribes that I laid around, to keep you out of jail, is coming out of your salary.”

“Nothing to do here all day.”

“Nothing for you to do in the city.”

“It didn’t happen like they said.”

“Of course it did! Do you know how many witnesses I had to bribe to back up your lies? And it has happened to you too often before this, as you know very well.”

“They mugged me.”

“What? Twenty-eight steelworkers mug one bald-headed joker? Three in hospital, all unconscious when the police came.”

“Just having fun …”

“For the last time. One more occasion like this last one and you are out of here and looking for a new circus.”

Harley had nerve-and guts enough for three-standing up to this monster like he did. For a moment I thought it would be murder and destruction right before our eyes. Puissanto tensed his muscles, his biceps rose up, veins writhing under the skin like snakes. Then he muttered something better unheard, turned and stalked away.

“This happen often?” I asked as the tension drained away.

“Too often. He gets his walking papers when this booking is done. I have enough trouble with the hippogriffs.” He looked gloomily down at Gloriana. “And this one better be housetrained.”

Then he was gone and Angelina closed the door behind him, sat down and said “Whoosh. “

“And I second that.”

She smiled. “Welcome to show business,” she said.