by Libba Bray
“There’s some things in this world that’s scarier’n ghosts. You just do what I do, understand?” Bill said without looking back. “And keep up. We still got a long way to go.”
Memphis waited until they came to the first mailbox. He opened it and left the poem from the Voice of Tomorrow inside.
CIRCUS
When Evie had first met Sam, he’d told her that he’d made his way from Chicago to New York as an acrobat. Evie was never quite certain when Sam was telling a tall tale, and she’d always figured the circus story to be just that. Now, as they rode in the back of a kind farmer’s truck toward Cooperstown, Sam regaled them with stories about the Great Zarilda herself—fortune-teller and experienced con artist who managed to mix both arts; her boyfriend, Arnold the Painted Man, who was covered in tattoos from forehead to the tips of his toes; sweet-natured Johnny the Wolf Boy; Bella the Strong Man, who could lift two grown men above his head; Polly the Bearded Lady; “Doc” Hamilton and his Traveling Medicine Show; and Mr. Sarkassian, the cheery ringmaster. He told them about the acrobats and roustabouts, about the clowns and lion tamers, about the animals themselves. It sounded like a fantastical traveling city.
“Do they have real lions?” Isaiah asked, excited.
“Real lions, and elephants, horses, dogs, a goat, and a tiger.”
Isaiah’s eyes widened. “A tiger?”
“Uh-huh. There’s a Russian fella who can put his whole head inside the tiger’s mouth. Unless the tiger’s eaten him already.”
“Can I pet the tiger?”
“Sure you can. I wouldn’t recommend it, though.”
The farmer let them off outside a gate bearing a painted sign that read, HOME OF THE GREAT ZARILDA’S WONDROUS TRAVELING CIRCUS EXTRAVAGANZA. MARVELS AND MIRACLES AWAIT WITHIN!
“This way,” Sam said, opening the gate.
A grass-striped gravel road led them past an algae-furred pond. A small city of beautifully painted wagons sat in the field. Simple cabins perched up on the hill across from one another like ladies and gentlemen waiting to start a dance. About one hundred yards behind the houses, in a dirt clearing, were a corral and a paddock where men with pitchforks speared hay, which the elephants lifted with their trunks and stuffed into their mouths. A couple of sleek white horses galloped behind a fence. A lioness relaxed on the floor of a cage while her mate paced, letting out a lazy roar that showed off an impressive mouthful of teeth, nonetheless.
“Can we send that lion to the Shadow Men?” Evie joked.
“I’d hate to give the fella indigestion,” Sam shot back.
“Sam? Sam Lloyd! Is that really you?”
A big, bold woman marched down the hill, her arms swinging forward and back in time with the flow of her gold satin dress and leopard-print shawl-collar coat. A red, permanent-waved bob puffed out from under a brown cowboy hat. On her feet were a pair of cowboy boots, and in her mouth was a long cigarette holder clenched between very white teeth ringed by crimson lips. Just behind her walked a lanky man with more facial hair than Evie had ever seen. The sleeves of his white shirt had been rolled to the elbows. His forearms and the backs of his hands were covered in soft brown fur.
Sam waved. “Hiya, Zarilda! Hey-o, Johnny! Remember me?”
Zarilda squinted, then her eyes went wide. She let out a whoop and threw open her arms. “It is you, you little cuss! Come on over here and give your Aunt Zarilda a proper hello!” A blushing Sam walked forward like a schoolboy and let Zarilda wrap him in an enormous hug. She was a tall woman, nearly six feet, and probably close to three hundred pounds, Evie figured, with a square jaw and a face that could be described as handsome. She kissed both of Sam’s cheeks, leaving red lipstick prints there. “Look at you!” she said, cupping his chin. “Why, you’re a man now!”
“Yeah. I suppose I am,” Sam said proudly.
Evie rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother.”
Sam gestured to the others. “Zarilda—these are my pals: The smart aleck with a heart of pure gold-plated tin is Evie O’Neill. The one who looks like she wants to make sure you’re not selling her a fake Rembrandt is Theta Knight. And this kid here, well, this is the Amazing Isaiah Campbell, seer of futures, the real McCoy.”
Isaiah grinned goofily to hear himself so described.
Zarilda squinted at the three of them and puffed on the cigarette sticking out from its pearled holder. “Y’all starting your own circus? I don’t need the competition, Sam.”
“We surely don’t,” the young man with the facial hair echoed in a gentle voice. Up close, Isaiah could see that his hair was more like a pelt of thick brown fur, and he was covered in it except for his nose, lips, and big brown eyes. “How d’you do? Name’s Johnny Mendez. But you can call me Johnny the Wolf Boy.”
“To what do we owe this sudden pleasure, Sam?” Zarilda asked.
“You mean you haven’t heard?” Evie said. Theta elbowed her.
“Heard what? To be honest, we’ve been busier than a tick at a dog convention. We’ve got a show to get ready for. Advance men are already out drumming up business—we hope.”
“Zarilda, on the level: I’m coming here hat in hand”—quickly, Sam removed his cap—“to ask for help. We’re on the lam, Z. We need cover.”
“Did ya finally rob that bank, Sam?”
“If I had, we’d be on our way to Mexico with the loot.”
“For all I know, you are on your way ta Mexico. You always did have a rotten sense of direction.”
“Say, I like her,” Theta said.
“There’s bad people after us, Z. Those same fellas that took my mom.”
Zarilda and Johnny exchanged a quick glance. “Aw, Sam,” she said in her thick Texas drawl. “Honey, I a’ready knew you were in trouble. The cards told me so.”
“We’re just glad you’re here,” Johnny said.
“I don’t want to get you into any trouble,” Sam said.
“I’m a circus girl. I live for trouble.”
“We’ve got to get to Bountiful, Nebraska,” Evie said.
“We figured we could travel with you without anybody knowing,” Sam said.
“What’s in Nebraska?” Zarilda asked on a thin stream of cigarette smoke.
“Another Diviner. We think she’s in trouble. Listen here, Z, I can tell you all about it later. Just believe me when I say we need to disappear and that we’re trying to stop something terrible from happening.”
“It’s a matter of life and death,” Evie added.
“Do you really have a tiger?” Isaiah asked.
Zarilda smiled, charmed by Isaiah. “We surely do, honey. A real corker of a tiger.” She tilted her head and took in the motley crew. Sam was nervous. If she said no, then they were really in a pickle.
“I know you have the circus to look after,” Sam said. “And I know the circus is a family, and you’re the head of that family.”
“That’s true. And I have to look out for my family. But that family includes you and yours, Sam Lloyd.”
Theta exhaled audibly. Evie had the overwhelming desire to hug Zarilda.
“Well, I cain’t promise Bountiful, but your timing is good. We’re heading out for the season first thing in the morning, headed west. You’re more’n welcome to ride with us. Come on up to the camp proper, why don’t ya? We’ll scrounge up some bunks and something to eat.”
“You’re an angel, Zarilda,” Sam said, following Zarilda and Johnny up the path.
Zarilda laughed. “I’m a medium and a fortune-teller and a lifelong carny. I’m also practical. I expect y’all to work for your passage. Norma Jane got in the family way and ran off with one of my best new tumblers two days ago. I could use another acrobat. You weren’t half-bad as I recall, Sam.”
Sam stuck out his hand for a shake. “It’s a deal. I’m a little outta practice, but I’ll get it back. Or kill myself.”
“Well, if you die, I can charge double for the next show.” Zarilda winked. “We’ll keep it to the ground for now, Sam.”
/> “Sam, are you sure you should be doing that?” Evie whispered. “After all you’ve been through?”
“Everything’s jake, Baby Vamp,” Sam said, but there were dark shadows under his eyes, and Evie was afraid that whatever Sam had seen during his time in the Eye haunted him still.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Zarilda said. “You remember how to do the tricks I taught ya?”
Sam tapped the side of his head with a finger. “Like an elephant.”
“Show me. Hasan!” Zarilda shouted to one of the acrobats, a wiry, dark-haired man with the bearing of a professional dancer. “Let’s do the lift.”
Evie held her breath as Sam straightened into a perfect handstand balancing atop Hasan’s palms, raised high above his head, and held the position longer than she thought possible. Then, with perfect grace, Sam flipped backward in a somersault and landed on his feet.
“Like riding a bicycle,” Sam said.
Theta applauded. “That was the berries, Sam! And here I thought I was the elephant’s eyebrows ’cause I can tap-dance.”
“You are the elephant’s eyebrows, Theta,” Sam said, rotating his shoulders.
“What about me?” Evie asked, throwing her arms around Sam’s neck.
“You’re the full elephant.”
Evie wrinkled her nose. “That was a compliment?”
“And how,” Sam said and kissed her cheek, while Theta looked on, missing Memphis something terrible.
Zarilda jerked a thumb at Evie, Theta, and Isaiah. “What about your friends? They do anything I can use?”
“Isaiah here can see the future. Theta is a bit of a firebug. And Baby Doll here can read objects.”
Zarilda raised both eyebrows. “Lands’ sakes! I meant could you muck a stall or sew a spangle. I didn’t know you’d brought me an entire sideshow, Sam.”
“Trouble is, that’ll get us noticed, and not in a good way, Z. We need to stay hidden.”
Zarilda pursed her lips, thinking. She nodded at Theta. “Well, you sure are a beautiful one. And you can dance?”
“I hope so. I was in the Follies.”
“A real, live Follies girl? All right, then. We’ll get you fitted for some tap shoes. You can dance between acts as Lady Liberty. Isaiah…” Zarilda patted his cheek. “Can you really see the future, sugar?”
“Yes, ma’am. Sometimes. But…”
“But?”
“I can’t always control it. And the future I see, it isn’t always so nice.”
Zarilda brought her face close to Isaiah’s. He could smell her perfume. She smelled nice. Like honeysuckle. “Well, then. Let’s find something else for you to do. You like animals?”
Isaiah nodded.
“You can help Giacomo and Johnny take care of the beasties,” she said, and Isaiah grinned to think about getting to feed the elephants and brush the horses. He wished he could tell Memphis that he’d been chosen for this very special job, and he tried not to worry that he didn’t know where in the world his brother was, whether he was safe from cops or mean people or ghosts.
Zarilda moved on to Evie. “You’re cuter’n a june bug.”
It bothered Evie to be called cute instead of beautiful. Even so, she smiled her charming best. “Why, thank you ever so much,” she said, using every bit of the elocution lessons she’d had for the radio.
Zarilda hooted, a big, cracking laugh that rang over the road. She hooked a thumb at Evie. “Where’d ya pick her up, Sam?”
“Would you believe a museum of the occult?”
“I’d believe just about anything. Listen, honey, you can drop the debutante act. Just speak plain and honest.”
Evie blushed. She wanted to protest, but she knew it would only make her sound more like a princess. “I really can read objects,” she said.
“Well, now. That might come in real handy. But first, we got to get you a proper disguise. Follow me.”
Zarilda led them through the camp, which was alive with excitement. A whole family of acrobats practiced together, leaping onto one another’s shoulders and grabbing for hands to form a human pyramid, all of it happening so fast it was like a magic trick. A trainer coaxed a trio of elephants onto three different round steps, where they balanced on their rear legs, front legs resting on the back end of the elephant in front of them to form a chain. A girl vaulted onto the back of a horse like it was nothing.
“This way,” Zarilda said, taking them into a room filled with traveling trunks open to reveal all manner of costumes.
“Holy Moses,” Theta said, holding up an ornate jeweled headpiece for one of the horseback riders. “It’s like a whole traveling Follies show.”
“Let’s see. Theta, try this on.” Zarilda handed Theta a green toga-style gown, and Theta disappeared behind a dressing screen. Evie looked lovingly at the sparkly sequined numbers with their plumes of feathers at the shoulders.
“Just like a diamond,” she said, stroking one.
“Yeah. Diamonds get noticed,” Zarilda said, closing the trunk. “Come with me.” From another trunk, she selected a pair of baggy pants with suspenders, a puffy shirt, and a plaid jacket. Two big brown shoes and a red straw wig completed the outfit.
“A… clown?” Evie said, her heart sinking.
“Best way I can think of to disappear,” Zarilda said.
“It had to be clowns,” Evie said and sighed.
Fifteen minutes later, Evie emerged from the costume cabin in the ridiculous getup. Her face had been coated in greasepaint, with an elongated, sideways red mouth painted over her own Cupid’s bow lips.
Sam grinned and elbowed Theta, who tried not to laugh. “How ’bout that? Your outside finally matches your insides, Baby Doll,” Sam said.
Evie ignored the jibe and admired herself in a funhouse mirror. Nobody would recognize her. The glamorous Sweetheart Seer from New York City was gone. It thrilled her, and it made her a little sad, too. She was perfectly anonymous, the very thing she’d fought becoming her whole life.
“This is pos-i-tutely the worst moment of my life.”
“Look here, Baby Vamp—Zarilda is giving us safe passage as far as Kansas. We all gotta give something back.”
“I know, but”—Evie shuddered—“clowns.”
Sam came up behind Evie and hugged her. “Aw, I think you’re just about the cutest clown I’ve ever known.”
Evie raised an eyebrow. “How many clowns have you known?”
Sam mimed zipping his lips. “I promised not to talk about that. I’m a gentleman.”
Evie turned side to side, examining the costume. “I sure hope these clown pants don’t start talking to me. I don’t think I wanna know their history.”
“I’ll second that,” Theta said. She was dressed in the sparkly green toga-style gown, complete with shiny crown and tap shoes. “Behold, Lady Liberty, minus the torch.”
“Hey! How come Theta gets to look good?” Evie grumped.
Theta shrugged. “Wigs make my head itch.”
“Don’t worry, once we put the green face paint on her, she won’t be quite so stunning. Or noticeable, if you catch my drift,” Zarilda said with a wink.
Isaiah bounded over with Johnny the Wolf Boy on his heels. “I got to pet the elephants and watch them feed the tiger and there’s a poodle who can balance on a ball!”
“I can’t even balance on a ball,” Evie said.
Zarilda appraised Evie. “Say, that clown outfit looks pretty good on you.”
“I can’t tell if I’m supposed to say thank you,” Evie said.
“Way I fig’er it, while you’re playing clown, you can sneak a read of somethin’ belongin’ to somebody, feed me the lowdown on ’em before the show. It’ll be fortune-telling like they ain’t seen before. Good for business.”
“You want me to snooker them?” Evie said.
“Aw, hell. These folks wanna be snookered. That’s why they’re in the fortune-teller’s tent. Look here, I got mouths to feed all winter, honey. This feeds ’em. I he
lp you, you help me.”
“One summer, I had to help at my father’s office,” Evie said. “As long as I don’t have to put anything in a file cabinet, I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Attagirl! Congratulations, everybody. You have now officially run away and joined the circus.”
Over a delicious lunch of rabbit with roasted potatoes, carrots, gravy, and biscuits, everybody ate their fill, except for Johnny the Wolf Boy, who refused to eat anything but the vegetables. “I feel a kinship with the animals I take care of.”
Isaiah ate and ate until his stomach felt close to bursting.
Zarilda passed him more biscuits and winked. “That’s one of the best reasons to join the circus—three squares a day from the lunch and dinner tent.”
While they ate, Zarilda explained to the Diviners how things worked. Circus life was as organized as any military operation. Already, the advance men had gone ahead from town to town to post the bills, make the necessary arrangements, and drum up excitement. Tomorrow morning, the circus train would roll out before dawn. By noon, they’d unload at their first stop. People would travel from all over just to catch a glimpse of the circus wagons and performers as they paraded down Main Street, entertaining the cheering throngs and enticing them to the fairgrounds and the Big Top show itself. Those same crowds would pack the food stalls that popped up outside the circus, eager to fill their bellies with fried fish, hot ham, fresh buttered biscuits, popcorn, and cake.
“Why, I tell you, the smell is a carnival unto itself,” Zarilda said, and even though Isaiah was full, his mouth watered. “The children’ll clamor for nickel candy and red balloons to lord over their friends. Everybody turns out in their best glad rags. The pious folks won’t come in the Big Top—they think the circus is sinful. But they’ll hover around to get as close as they can to all that ‘sin’!” Zarilda let out a honking laugh and slapped her leg, and Evie decided she was mad for the Great Zarilda.
“Where we headed?” Sam asked, savoring a slice of apple pie.
“Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska.”