Page 7 of Grizzly Sleuth
“How many bears did this general make?” Svetlana frowned.
“Just me. Of those who managed to escape, a few could turn into tigers with the rest shifting into wolves.”
She stared at Idris so long he felt a need to say, “Those injecting us with the serum couldn’t predict what animal we’d turn into.” He didn’t mention the fact that a few died because their other shape couldn’t handle breathing air or the transformation process.
“Your military played god.” She sounded disapproving.
“They did, and now I’m trying to find a way to either get rid of this curse or to control it.”
“How can you not know how to control?” Yuri interjected. “It is as simple as breathing. I wish to be a bear. I am a bear. I wish to be a man. I am a man.”
“Must be nice to have it work that neatly. Like you saw outside, I don’t have that kind of command over it. I get hurt, I change. Man. Bear. Doesn’t matter. It’s instant each time.”
“Making you useless for a sparring act.” Svetlana sighed. “Pity. It would have been lucrative. People enjoy seeing a bear doing tricks, but a pair fighting...”
“Maybe we could do like the wrestlers and fake it?” Yuri suggested.
“As if they wouldn’t notice you’re holding back punches,” she scoffed.
“Um, I didn’t come here to be part of your show,” Idris interjected.
“Then why?” She leaned back in her seat and waited for a reply.
“Because I realized your brother was like me and thought he could help. This shapeshifting thing is still pretty new to me.”
“You want advice? Learn to not be a baby when you get hurt.” Yuri shook his head. “It’s embarrassing.”
“No shit, and easier said than done,” Idris muttered.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.” Svetlana shot him down.
Disappointment filled Idris, and his shoulders slumped. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
“What will you do now?” Svetlana asked.
“Go back to the shithole I’m renting. I’ve got work in the morning.”
“Doing what?”
“Logging. The overseer doesn’t care I’m not Russian, and they pay cash.” Idris shrugged. “It covers the bills.”
“Sounds hard.” Yuri grimaced. “Much better to drink and be silly for a few hours a night.”
“The drinking part I like, but pretending I’m a circus bear?” Idris grimaced. “I’d probably end up smacking someone if they made fun of me.”
Svetlana’s lips curved. “It was hard for Yuri at first. And we had a few incidents. But that was before we started encouraging the patrons to give him vodka.”
“Now I drink for free and make lots of rubles,” Yuri proudly stated.
“Well, best of luck to you both.”
“Will you come to the show tomorrow night?” Svetlana asked as Idris put his hand on the canvas flap.
Seeing as how he’d not enjoyed it, probably not. But what did he reply to the pretty woman? “Maybe.”
Chapter Three
The following evening,Svetlana arrived an hour before the show to prepare. The props remained backstage where she’d left them, and she checked them over as the bar filled with patrons. The examination was to ensure they’d not been tampered with, as some people thought it funny to puncture the ball just enough so that it exploded when her brother stood on it. Or they loosened the wheel on the trike. The few times it had happened, sending her brother tumbling ignobly, she’d been livid enough she almost encouraged Yuri to eat those responsible.
