"Anytime," Jamie whispered, nerves frayed near to breaking. He had to get out of there. An hour remained before the tricks were due in; by now the ticket collectors would be at their location. He could only hope Dean was with them, that he'd not slipped in the abyss when edging around the fence. Also of concern was JJ's enjoyment of Kurt's new rules. He wasted no opportunity to snap his fingers on a stroll through Sideshow Alley, provoking a chorus of "Nice shoes, Mr. Clown," "Looking good, sir," and "Handsome devil right there," all the while with an ear cocked for sarcasm. A dozen Sideshow Alley inhabitants had already been ordered to present JJ with a variety of entertaining injuries, from phallic burn marks to stapling accidents making temporary conjoined twins. Jamie could see it all too clearly: JJ was fast losing interest in any idea of rebelling against the show. And that was not a small problem.
When Gonko returned, it was clear that whatever had happened with Kurt had him very nervous. He said only, "We're fucked. We need to frame someone and frame 'em fast. Rufshod, get upstairs and bring down the rest of my stash."
Jamie slunk around the less populated places now, waiting for the tricks and for Dean to come in with them. At last, that transpired: Dean, Curls, and two others followed the last group of people into the showgrounds as the circus music began its song. The crowd was not made of train commuters this time but people headed for a day out in some local fair, somewhere on the surface world. Near their wits' end, the exhausted carnies somehow did their thing: Step right up. You sir, you look pretty lucky, care to play a game of dice? Clown show in twenty minutes folks, you won't want to miss it . . . And their collective mood picked up to no small degree when, lo and behold, whatever curse had kept the dust from falling was lifted, and the ground was soon sprinkled with a glittering carpet.
Jamie took Dean by the arm. "Man, I thought you'd died. Look, we have to hurry. Whatever idea you have, we need to do it tomorrow or today. Goshy knows about us, and he's trying to tell the others."
"Tomorrow it is. But we're going to need Jodi's help for what I have in mind. Are they making her up today?"
"I haven't seen any kissing booth. She's staying with the fortuneteller. Who is also on our side now, Dean, or at least I hope so. What's your idea?"
"Just meet me tomorrow, early. And don't get killed in the meantime."
•
He didn't get killed during the clowns' act, but it was a near thing. Goshy had it in for him in a way beyond normal slapstick, and often as not would interrupt a sketch to charge him, either with some ear-splitting screams or an actual weapon in hand. Gonko seemed too distracted by his own worries to care, and besides, it got the crowd laughing. But sooner or later, Jamie knew, the others would look closer into all this, or Goshy would succeed in taking him out or communicating what he knew to the others.
The tricks left at the act's end, leaving behind a healthy glimmering spread of dust, which the collectors began to bag at once. Gonko beckoned Jamie over with one crooked finger. "Got a job for your trick friend buddy pal, Deeby."
"What kind of job?"
"He's gonna help us frame some chumps to take the heat off. And tonight, we get busy. Understand? Put away your morals, ‘cause if this goes bad, you are just as fucked as me. There's a bunch of carnies who know. Gonko is feeling the heat and getting paranoid, edgy, horny, and pissed off. Tonight we bury the hatchet, and the axe, and lead pipe. Jamie the so-called clown, you capered up a storm onstage. You capered oh so pretty and convincing and made the tricks all go giggly. But answer me this, for you also know. Are you in, sport?"
"You mean, will I help you tonight?"
"I mean what I mean when I mean it. Are you in?"
Gonko stared hard out of narrowed eyes. The other clowns peered at him from their deformed and made-up faces. "Course he's in, boss," said JJ. "He's so in, he's in over his head! Way over."
"Course I'm in," Jamie said. "Let me at 'em."
Gonko's mouth tilted sideways. "Pretty ear music you dribble, young Jamie. Now bring me your trick friend buddy pal. And hustle."
•
Jamie found his friend buddy pal standing by the exit gates as the last of the tricks were shepherded out. The relief about the showgrounds was palpable: rumor said Kurt was very pleased with the show and there would be no rampage through a blood storm this evening, and better yet, a day of rest tomorrow. The carnies would be paid a full wage at long last. Perverse gleams of anticipation came to many eyes as lustful wishes beckoned. Jamie noticed a distinct easing off of anti-clown sentiment as he made his way to Dean. "You have to be careful," Jamie told him as they headed back to the clown tent. "Gonko is going to do something tonight, maybe to everyone who knows about his rebel circus. Which includes you."
"And you."
"And Jodi. I'll be safe, if I help him kill the others. I think."
"So you'd better help him."
"Now I've got to kill people. Great."
"Get it through your head. What we're doing tomorrow might kill everyone here, along with you and me. These aren't people, bro. They're enemy combatants, and we're fighting a war. Got it?"
"I know the theory. Picture it though, standing there with Gonko and the others watching, an axe in my hand, and I'll have to swing the thing down and . . . man, I don't know if I can physically do it. You're right, I know. Just be ready to hide, after this job, whatever it is."
Back in the clown tent, Gonko handed Dean a sack and a Polaroid camera. He said, "The mission: you are a huge fan of the acrobats. You simply gotta have a picture of them, while they are holding this here sentimental sack—your prized possession. Get 'em to autograph your sack, take a happy snap while it's in their hands. Then off to Mugabo to do the same. The lion tamer too, while you're at it. They must be holding the sack when you take a picture. Get it?"
"What's the point of this again, sir?" said Dean.
"This, pal buddy friend, is a frame up. Note, the sack is empty. It will later be filled with stolen powder, the whole stash from our secret show, and then discovered by the boss. It's what we in showbiz call a skin-saver, yours as much as mine. Right now, a handful of dirty snitches who were up top have had a chance to squeal. We, however, are gonna uncover a massive powder theft and smuggling ring so Kurt has someone to punish. Dig it? The sack gets buried in the acrobat tent. Kurt's secretary gets a little note and some happy snaps mysteriously emerge. And Kurt will dine that night on acrobat, lion tamer, and Mugabo. Do we follow?"
"Yes, sir," said Dean. "Only, I'm not too clear on where all these performers live. Maybe Jamie can come and supervise?"
"Only if he stays out of sight. You are taking the photos so the accused will not point fingers at the clowns for framing them. Do we further follow? Get busy, chumbo." Dean saluted and went on his way with Jamie following.
Gonko watched them go, muttering to himself. "Tricky tricky tricks. They're lucky I'm already paranoid and suspecting everyone of everything, or I'd swear they were planning a crooked little scheme right before my eyes. Catch you later, says Kurt. Not see you later, but catch you later. Hey JJ, a little job for you too. When Deeby gets back here, you know what to do."
"Make him become not quite so alive as he currently is?"
"Yep. But don't do it in front of Jamie. We'll say his buddy pal ran away or something, and if he makes any noise about it, he's next."