The Most Dangerous Play

Thomas peered through the curtains onto the street. It was a decent crowd gathered around their caravan and should make the days haul a profitable affair. Staring for a few minutes he got eye contact with Lauren, one the crowdworkers, giving him the ok-symbol. He took a deep breath and ran the lines over in his mind. 'To be or not to be, that is the question'. 

This monologue was the height of the operation, keeping the crowd transfixed and allowing the crowdworkers to snatch a good hand of wallets and timepieces each before retreating for the rest of the act. Their success depended on his performance, but that caused him little anxiety as he seemed to have a supernatural gift when it came to distracting people.

He looked down at his little brother Allison, a child of seven years, fiddling with the braces on Thomas' costume. 

'All set. Are they ready?'

'They've given the signal. Fetch me a the skull and a glass of wine.'

Allison darted out the back of the caravan while Thomas continued to observe the crowd. It wasn't the richest of the New Algoth settlements, but a couple of the mayors family and some aristocratic looking types were scattered about, probably investors checking their harvest. They'd had the idea a couple of weeks back to run shows during the day time when workers tended to the fields, and had been hitting some high-profile citizens as a result. Good for business, though they'd had to switch towns quicker.

'Thomas' a whimper came from behind him. As Thomas turned around his blood froze. Allison was flanked by a massive man holding the child in place. A bowie knife in his other hand was set on Allison's throat. 

'Don't move and don't say a word' the man started. He glanced around the compartment before continuing. 'You and your little gang of roaches seem to have a good gig going. Unfortunate it has to stop here. A week back you mis-stepped when you robbed my employer during one of your little plays, and he's sent me to collect. Now he ain't the forgiving type my employer, but he's gonna cut you a deal. You tell me who your people are, and then you carry on the show as normal while I round them up. In exchange, this little runt here will get to keep his head.'

Thomas's mind went blank as fear gripped him. 'Who..'

'No questions' the man interrupted. 'One wrong move and I'll cut the show short. Now, how many do you have out there'

'Three'

'Describe them'

'One woman, tall with brown hair, dressed like an innkeeper. Two men, one is young and dressed like a newboy, the other old and wearing a black suit.' Thomas couldn't think fast enough to lie. How was he gonna get out of this?

'How old is the woman?'

'Thirty i think'

'Right, now go out there. And if you try to send any signals to them we'll see.'

Thomas stepped out through the curtains with trembling hands. He centered himself on the stage and looked around. A thuggish character was standing on the ourskirts of the crowd staring intensely at him, and a couple similarly dressed men were pushing their way through the crowd.

'To be or not to be' 

He saw his companions getting to work. He had to find a way to communicate with them.

'That is the question' 

His voice waivered as he tried to get it under control.

'Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune'

Instead of his usual booming delivery, his voice faded and croaked on the last word. He saw Lauren sending him a look from the crowd. If he didn't get his act together Allison would be the one to pay. She raised her hand about to signal him.

'No!' he exclaimed with such vigour it sent a gasp through the crowd. Laurens hand had stopped. He shot a look at the watchman on the side, who seemed unfazed by the outburst. How well did these guys know Shakespeare?

'No' he repeated, playing it off as part of the act.

'Or to raise arms against a lake of troubles

And, by opposing, end them.' 

The thugs showed no response to the change of lyrics, and the caravan behind him remained quiet. Now it was a question of getting the others to leave the crowd and charge the man holding Allison.

'take arms, i say, and flee the sea of people

and behind curtains find a man of evil

and by opposing end them. To sleep, to die

no more.' 

Thomas paused and made sure he was still unnoticed by the thugs. He could see the three pickpockets look confusedly around and try to make contact with each other. Just then one of the thugs seized Harly, the older man, and led him out of the crowd with a hidden knife to his back. Thomas had to act fast.

'From east there comes a sleep towards you friend

so run, for by a sleep, to say we end' 

He managed to guide Lauren and Dirk away from the thugs and towards the other edge of the crowd. 

'The heartache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to — ‘tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep'

They had reached the edge of the crowd, cautiously making their way around towards the caravan. They were looking to Thomas for their next clue. 

'To sleep, perchance ignore. Ay, there's the rub.   

For in that sleep his back to the door.

When we have shuffled off his mortal coil'

Thomas risked a look towards them and saw Dirk scooping a rock off the ground and Lauren pulling out her pocket knife. At the other end of the crowd Harly was being pulled into an Alley. A moment later a loud grunt came from the caravan. Thomas quickly covered it up with a loud deliverance of the next few lines. He could hear a faint struggle and then silence. Though he knew it wasn't over yet, relief set in his heart. 

As he finished the monologue to stunning applause, he saw the thugs still stalking through the crowd. If they were quick on their feet they could overman the one holding Harly, and then escape through the back alleys. Their caravan would get raided, but they would be alive, and much of their stolen goods were hidden away elsewhere.

He gave a quick bow and backed through the curtain. Before he could react, a strong blow to the stomach sent him to the ground. Next to him were Lauren and Dirk, both their throats slit, and in the corner was Allison with tears down his face and a thugs hand over his mouth. Thomas heaved for air.

A figure stepped forward from behind Thomas.

'Thank you for your cooperation' It was the same man from before. 'We'll get the location of the goods from the old one'. 

Thomas tried to cry out, but a sharp pain along his neck silenced him, and soon he could feel that sleep taking over.