"Even the lamps have halos," Teddy informed the people. "I had
one once, but the ringmaster borrowed it and forgot to return it.
But I don't care. He needs a halo more than I do."
A howl greeted this sally.
Teddy was about to say something else, after the first wave of
laughter had swept over the audience, but no one heard him speak.
Another flash, more brilliant, more blinding than any that had
gone before it, lighted up the tent. The big top seemed suddenly
to have been filled with fire. Thin threads of it ran down
quarter and center pole; circles of it raced about the iron rings
used in various parts of the tent, then jumped into the rigging,
running up and down the iron braces and wire ropes used to brace
the apparatus.
The flash was accompanied by a report that was terrifying.
At that instant a great ball of fire descended from the damp
top of the tent, dropping straight toward the concourse.
Teddy Tucker chanced to be standing just beneath it. He had
glanced up when the report came, to see if any damage had
been done aloft.
"Wow!" breathed Teddy.
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