in the circus, disaster can take its form in a slip of a heel on a high wire act or a half-second late entry on the flying trapeze. No matter how talented the circus performer, no matter how many calloused and bleeding hours he's spent perfecting a twist, a flip, or a running leap, tragedy lurks just inside the folds of the big top tent.
Danger is as much a part of the circus experience as is the sweat of performance and the laughter from the audience, and it's a factor in why the circus can be a nail-biter experience for the folks watching under the big top.