Thread: Carnival: Shadows And Whispers Under The Big Top (Dane Stalling & darkangel76)

Mairon climbed the ladder to the roof of his trailer very slowly, careful so the lazy rocking of the moving line wouldn't cause him to slip and pop his stitches. His head hurt and his side throbbed horribly, but he felt as though the morning light and air were purifying him somehow. Some weight or filth was washing away and he wanted to be as close to the sky as he could be. He watched the few clouds form themselves into great boulders or the faces of the fates. A black form caught his attention, a bird riding a thermal, doing lazy spirals, resting on rising air like he was resting on his rocking trailer. It did two turns, three, then it jerked as though it was dodging something. It flapped a few times to get back into the rising stream of air. Mairon rolled over, curious and searched the sides of the road. Three dirty children with slingshots shaded their eyes and one was stretching the elastic for another shot at the bird. Mairon whistled to get the children's attention and motioned for them to come up on the trailer with him. They couldn't believe their luck. You can't hit a crow from this distance, and even if you do, where's the fun? Mairon asked, as the children jostled for places close to him. Just a stack of feathers is all you'll have. Crows are no good for eating but they're curious creatures. If you show a sparkle, they'll come look to see what fun you've got. He reached out to the oldest, a boy, and snapped a silver button off his vest. He took one of the slingshots before the boy could even comment and he stretched the elastic out, aiming in front of the bird. He let fly and the button flashed bright in the sun as it flew. The crow was drawn to it like a fish to a sparkle lure. The button curved out of the sky, the crow close behind it, and when it struck the ground in a bean field, the crow caught it on the first bounce. The children clapped. Then it lifted from the field and, to Mairon's surprise, flew to a trailer far back in the train, the color of sea-foam. He tore his own top button off and when the crow took to the air again, he shot his button across its path. The crow caught it mid-air this time and again returned to the sea-foam trailer. The disappearing crow-girl. Suddenly he wanted his button back. ---- Clown Roald sensed a treasure. He always had an itch in his mind when something was precious. When he was a child he could see the tiniest knurled edge of a coin buried in road sand. And Elspeth had it, the thing that made him feel that way. Some were sad, others f-frightening... but some had happy endings. she said. Chins snorted across the fire, then dissolved into a loud fit of laughter. He draped his bulk over Mojo's smaller frame dramatically and heaved as though he couldn't breathe. I love happy endings, he sobbed, in the oiled hands of gypsy girls. I cream their coffee, he said, between immense gasps of laughter, I lotion their slippy hand skins. Mojo dipped his shoulder and dumped the big clown on the ground. Sleep it off, you big lout. Your trailer's just over yonder. Chins rolled on the ground, giggling, then stood and stumbled to his door. He pulled down his pants and mooned the world. See how my ending smiles, he laughed, and disappeared into his trailer. Mojo touched the brim of his deteriorating hat. Good evening, Roald, Miss. And may your tangling be propitious. Roald threw a burning stick at him and Mojo caught it on the cool end, and lit his pipe with the ember. Then he turned and walked into the darkness, whistling a minor tune. We clowns always jest, Elspeth. We mean no harm by it. It is just our waywe are base and sharp. Roald draped the newly enhanced garment over his shoulder. I'll walk you to your wagon. I want to hear these new stories out of the hearing of my jackfool friends one day soon. Clown Roald never ran out of words, but Elspeth's still made him still too. She spoke quiet when she wanted, and he leaned to hear each word. He removed his tophat at her door and gave her the great yellow flower from his lapel. It drooped a little, but he could think of nothing else he had to give her. ---- The Doctor felt for his glasses before he even opened his eyes. He lay in bed, feeling the rocking, listening to the speech of the queue of trailers for complaint or breakage. All was well. He dressed in his white and drew water for tea. His first sip closed his eyes with pleasure. It was a simple drink, and complex. It fogged the discs of his glasses. A sharp rap at his door snapped him from the hot embrace of the drink. He sighed and reached for the latch. ---- Mairon sat in the shade on a small stone bridge over a creek. He waited as red went by and blue, each trailer ornamented with paints and filligree. Finally one rolled by the color of a beaten ocean. He matched stride, favoring his left side, and knocked on the shutter.