Pariah walks about the caravan
along the winding road whose path is carv'd
through hills at foot of mountain range and leads
toward the northern coast of South that they
should reach tomorrow, for this strip of land
is narrow, from what he did glean from maps
he studied in his youth when he was one
for routes of trade by vessels faring sea.
Remembering these maps from years ago
he now recalls the sea his counterpart 10
will need to cross if Master's words are true
as South and North—along with Spine—are split
by waters treacherous his other hop'd
above all else he'd not be made to cross;
but still, it's possible he will decide
instead to join this carnival, as Spouse
seems so reluctant leaving South behind,
which suits Pariah either way it lands
as maybe he can make a life herein
with which his vows toward the moon and Spouse 20
can both be simultan'ously upheld,
for through the week that pass'd he hunted free
throughout the city's streets which now they've left,
to wash away its grime with Luna's light
and still was able t'hold an eye on Spouse.
Along the chain of wagons on the road
Pariah comes upon the animals
in cages roll'd on wheels by the day;
examining the line he gazes on
a list of creatures once he couldn't name— 30
for few are of the desert in the South—
consisting of the lions, elephants,
the zebras, cheetahs, ostriches, giraffe,
rhinoceroses, jackals who reside
more regularly in the Western steppes;
orangutan and monkeys, chimpanzees,
a tiger and okapis of the East
where jungles are alleg'd primarily;
And foxes, lynxes, falcons, grizzly bear
who make their homes in taigas of the North. 40
The only ones he knew before this time
are th'ones who're known historic'lly to chase
the desert sands which blow across the lands:
the camels—steeds with famous humps for backs—
and vultures—harbingers of things to die.
And horses certainly, who pull the carts,
for they're the most domesticated beast
and can be found wherever one may go.
Unlike a horse, however, doth it seem
he now hath started harbouring a warmth 50
toward these other creatures, for a horse
doth almost seem disposable to him,
yet something of these animals who're more
exotic—save the camel and the bird—
allows him see uniqueness of their lives
which surfaces their innocence to front—
in predators and all the rest alike—
which horses—acclimated as he is
to them—do seem to lack within their eyes,
so blank as to appear as empty slates 60
(though certainly his counterpart would not
agree with this assessment, given he
once ruin'd an escape provided t'him
by our Pariah, feeling for a horse).
He walks across the line of animals,
observing each of them until he comes
upon the jackal, waking in its cage,
nocturnal with its eyes reflecting moon.
He stops to gaze upon the cur, who growls
upon the sight of him, which stirs the beasts 70
in cages t'either side of it, who make
their noises own and wake yet more in line.
Pariah holds his palm toward the cur
and with a: "Silence!" stops the noise it makes,
repeating his command as down the line
he walks to stop the stirring animals
from waking th'others of the carnival,
and soon the beastly noise is brought to cease,
whereat Pariah gazes at his palm
and wonders what it is that frightens them; 80
it certainly can't be the brand itself,
as thinks our Pilgrim with naivety.
Innkeeper's words return to him—the Black
of demons who committed with his palm
a euthanasia after talk of blood
and herbs of fairies, risen from the lands
of Nether with the demon-kind, who hid
a magic in their dens that he desir'd
and toxin in their veins that brought an end
to Doctor. Was it possible these beasts 90
could sense th'result upon protagonist
at having breath'd this mixture which affects
his form in ways he dothn't understand?
"Admiring thine ability, I see.
Or art thou simply taken by thy flesh?"
Pariah turns and sees, with deepest shade
across his visage, Tamer standing near
and denigrates himself for how absorb'd
he was to notice not the man's approach.
"It seem'd as you'd abandon'd us before 100
when we departed whilst your tent was still
upright and none had seen ye recently.
Perhaps you had a change of heart upon
discerning circuses are th'only place
a fool as you will ever manage t'work?"
The younger Tamer laughs and outcast sneers
at th'arrogance of men like him he's known.
"I verily was at a carver's shop,"
the Tamer says to him whilst smirking wry.
"I'd plac'd an order earlier this week 110
and needed to be sure I got it ere
departing from the city—understand?
For coin is coin and as I'd paid upfront
the carver owed this piece to me, thou see?"
He pulls a cord that hangs around his neck
to lift what's tied to th'end—a cylinder
that's siz'd two finger digits' length in full—
out from his tunic, grin upon his lips.
Pariah narrows eye, but can't, by light
of Luna, place what's held before his gaze. 120
Reluctantly—for likely he'll dislike
the answer since it brings the Tamer pride—
he asks: "What object do you hold in hand?"
The Tamer flings the cord and grasps the shaft,
continuing to smirk as he replies:
"A whistle's what I did commission him,
which I believe—nay—know shall trump thy skill
in taming beasts, for I remember back
so long ago when th'one who train'd me liv'd,
he had a whistle same as th'one I hold 130
which work'd like magic quieting the beasts
when wild callings drew an episode
of feral instinct out from in their eyes,
and though I've tried to imitate its tone
with fingers in my lips and passing breath,
there's nothing quite the same with any job
as using th'rightest tool to do the work."
Pariah shakes his head and deeply sighs.
"Perhaps you're young enough to yet believe
a child's instrument could stop a beast, 140
and maybe—for your sake—I hope you're right,
as possibly I'll leave where next we stop,
and you'll be back to dealing with the teeth
and claws your whip was ineffectual
in handling when I saw ye lose control.
But help, I can't, my doubt and neither care,
as you possess not my solicitude."
He paces past the Tamer, once again
not noticing the gleaming on his hip.
The Tamer turns and calls as he departs: 150
"I'll make thee see exactly what I can
accomplish with this whistle round my neck,
whose usage ere and now thou'st mock'd me for,
and when the Master witnesses my skill
he'll kick thee out before thou canst decide
on whether leaving's really what thou want.
Thou'lt see; thou wait; for soon thou'lt rue this night
wherein thou doubted me and also day
thou stole my life away for passage safe
along a road, whilst I, more passionate 160
about these animals, was forc'd to bear
th'humiliation thou hast wrought on me."
Pariah dothn't turn or make response,
for what is there to say to fools as he?
Instead he ambles back toward his cart
and lies beside the Spouse to pass the night. 166