You won't need your job," Professor Lightning said, "if you'll listen
to me."

Charley made up his mind. Much as he hated to be impolite, there were
some things more important than social forms, he decided. He stood up.
"After the show, professor," he said with firmness, and went out of the
cooktent, heading at a rapid dogtrot for the big tent at the other side
of the midway. As he reached it he could see Dave Lungs, the outside
talker, climb up on the front platform to begin his spiel.

"Marvels of the world!" Dave announced without preliminary. "Wonders of
the natural universe! Surprises and startling sights for every member of
the family!" By the time he had got that far, a crowd was beginning to
collect in front of the platform. "For the fourth part of a single
dollar bill--" Dave went on, but Charley didn't have the time to listen;
he was in the bally.

He lifted the backflap of the tent with one foot, and wriggled inside.

As he made his way to the cluster of people near the front flap, past
the booths and stands, he felt an enormous sense of relief. He had made
it--with all of fifty seconds to spare.

Ned and Ed stood next to him. "Where you been?" Ed said in a nasal
whisper.

"I got held up," Charley explained. "Professor Lightning, he was talking
to me, and--"

"Later," Ned said. His voice was lower and throatier than Ed's; it was
the only way Charley could tell them apart, but then, he thought, nobody
ever had to tell them apart. They were, like all Siamese twins, always
together. "We're going on," Ned said, and he and his twin moved forward.

Charley moved into place behind them, and came out blinking in the glare
of the front platform.

"Siamese twins," Dave was shouting. "A contemporary marvel of science,
ladies and gentlemen--and here we have ..."

Charley stepped forward as Ned and Ed stepped back into the shadows
again.

"... Charley de Milo! Ladies and gentlemen, the world-wide fame of this
brave and talented boy is stupendous! His feats of skill will amaze you!
Watch him thread a needle! Watch him comb his hair! And all for one thin
quarter, ladies and gentlemen, only the fourth part--"

The electronic band choked on Sousa, coughed and began again with
Kabalevsky. Charley watched the audience below, staring up at him,
hundreds of faces. He heard their gasp as he flexed his shoulders and
turned. He grinned down, taking a second longer than usual, and then
stepped back, still grinning.