Circus Jack - Chapter 16. The Pack is Formed

Hi, this is Richard Carlton from London. You're listening to the story Circus Jack. In Chapter 16, we continue the tale of Peppy, the hero of Circus Jack, as he forms a pack with his fellow canines under the big top of the mean and nasty Violet Python. 

Determined to escape their miserable existence, Pepy rallies the pack, and they begin to meticulously plan their breakout.

To read along with the episodes on this podcast, head over to Apple Books and download the ebook. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Music.

(00:09):
Hi, this is Richard Carlton, London. You're listening to the story Circus Jack.
Now let's continue on our story about Pepe, the hero of Circus Jack.
Chapter 16. The Pack is Formed.
Music.

(02:44):
You just heard the Prelude Op. 28 by Friedrich Chopin.
Chopin did such lovely pieces for the piano.
Written in 1839, the Prelude is one of the 24 that Chopin composed,
and perhaps one of his best-loved pieces, this one.
This was played at his funeral by his request, along with Mozart's Requiem.

(03:07):
Chapter 16. The Pack is Formed With time, Peppy grew familiar with his fellow
canines in the dimly lit tent.
Like him, they found themselves trapped in a life of servitude under the big top.
Brownie was a mixed-breed dog, whose sturdy-billed shaggy tail and brown fur
made him well-suited for general labor.

(03:30):
Brownie's owner joined the aerial circus when it came through his town and donated
Brownie to the circus. circus, Python promoted Brownie as the daredevil dog.
Compelled by force to leap from a 50-foot platform into a large tub of water,
below to the amazement and shock of the audience.

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Over time, Brownie developed an unshakable fear of having to perform his daily
routine, causing him to become paralyzed on the platform, where he would retch
in terror until his owner physically removed him.
His performances often brought tears from children and anger from parents,
resulting in loud outbursts that drowned out the sparse applause.

(04:13):
His owner convinced Python that Brownie could serve the circus as a working
dog on account of his muscular legs, strong hips, thick neck,
and ability to take direction.
This saved Brownie from certain death, but not from the occasional indiscretions
of Python's private guard dog snake eyes, a Doberman Pinscher whose black heart

(04:36):
matched his owner's black piercing eyes.
At a height of over two feet, he had a sleek and muscular physique covered in
a striking red and black coat.
His pointed ears added to his intimidating presence, matched by his intense
amber eyes that never seemed to blink.
As Violet's personal dog, Snake Eyes became trained to deliver quick,

(05:00):
Violet lessons to animals and people who either didn't perform as needed or angered Python.
He stayed in Python's cabin.
Peppy also shared the tent with the circus pit bull Brutus.
His massive head, square jaw, and deep set eyes peered back at Peppy from a large fortified cage.

(05:20):
Coming to Python as a dog bought and sold, his job in the circus centered on
bringing cash to Python as a pit fighter.
Amid the sounds of women and children's laughter and gasps coming from the main tent,
Brutus could be found outside the big tent on a dirt floor,
enclosed by tall circular barriers surrounded by benches of eager men waving

(05:43):
a fistful of dollars as they shouted and placed bets on the ongoing dog fight.
Although Python boasted of sharing the take with the winning dog, Brutus always won.
The scars on his face and legs and the missing parts of ears told a vivid story
of the cost this life extracted under Python.
Peppy watched brutus closely and saw.

(06:06):
A kind dog inside one that suffered loneliness
and sought friendship and love the last
two occupants of the tent are standard performers
for any circus australian border collies the breed's intelligence wit and quick
agility are trainable and make them reliable performers standing at a mere 12

(06:29):
inches and a brother and sister duo click and clack would easily withstand inclement weather.
Their wiry, thick coats were a mix of black, red, brown, and white,
almost like a painter's palette.
Their eyes strikingly sharp, each one individually colored in shades of blue, amber, and green.
On closer inspection, one could see the two dogs are poorly kept being slightly

(06:54):
emaciated with dirty coats.
In the quiet stretches of time together at night in the tent,
the pack turned their attention to a better life.
Pack, Peppy said looking at the others. I am not the only animal in this room that lives in misery.
It is time we leave this carnival of hell. The dogs exchanged glances.

(07:17):
Look how strong we are together, continued Peppy, powerful, smart, and resourceful.
And miserable Brutus added. The dogs chuckled for a moment, then fell silent
from the weight of truth in his words.
If we stay here then we're just waiting to die, Pepe said.
We can live a better life, but not in this god-forsaken circus.

(07:39):
They growled in agreement.
It's a good idea, but not an easy one, Brownie said.
No, Brownie, it will not be easy, said Clack. It will take hard work,
good planning, and some illusion.
From here on M, Click said pacing his cage, we'll call ourselves the escape artists.

(07:59):
The pack like that. As we each perform our work here in the coming days,
Click continued, each of us needs to closely observe the pattern of activities without detection.
Look for predictable movements and weak spots that can help us get out.
Yes, said Clack, to get out of here safely, we'll need to have equal parts of

(08:21):
hard work and creating the illusion we haven't left. First is the work.
In this dreary existence, the pack formed and immediately went to work on their escape.
Each member spent the following week closely observing the routines and behaviors
of both the circus staff and animals with the exception of Pepe locked up in

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his cage, determined to find a way out whether it be during the day or at night.
Success would depend on their attention to detail from studying people's movements
and schedules to identifying possible escape routes.
They knew that any mistake would have deadly consequences, potentially making
their current lives seem like paradise in comparison. Harrison.

(09:06):
As the final performance of the week ended, the circus staff sprang to life
like a well-oiled machine.
They dismantled the towering big top tents with expert efficiency,
carefully packing away each piece for the journey ahead.
The smell of hay and dust filled the air as they wrangled the animals into their

(09:27):
appointed caravan cars, ready for the overnight trek to their new destination.
Just five miles outside of Newcastle, Delaware, all and any plans for the Pax
escape had to be postponed.
Thanks for listening to Circus Jack. We look forward to seeing you in the next
episode, and remember that whether it's a cloudy day or a sunny day, it's always a good day.

(09:51):
Make it yours. See you soon.