The Circus Infinitus - To the End of the Earth
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The Circus Infinitus Presents:
To the End of the Earth
By
Ethan Somerville
Copyright © 2016
* * * *
1
The beginning of the year 1905 saw the Circus Infinitus flying across a bleak, but beautiful snow-covered landscape in the far north east of Russia. Professor Icarus Abbacus clutched the railing a little too tightly as he surveyed the landscape unrolling below. An icy gust of wind sent his grubby grey scarf fluttering out behind him, and threatened to dislodge the battered, broad-brimmed hat from his head.
“Whose blasted idea was it to come all the way up here?” he grumbled. “There’s no-one here – not a single soul at all. I haven’t seen a settlement for miles. It’s like the end of the Earth.”
“Oh, there are people here, Icarus,” assured a soft, melodious voice from behind him. “Don’t worry, we haven’t been led on a wild goose chase.”
Icarus snorted at Del’s slightly halting delivery of the common human phrase. He turned around to look up at him. He appeared completely unruffled by the chilly wind, not a single shimmering auburn hair out of place, his top hat still perched on top of his head. The Arctic blasts billowed his cloak, but only so it looked more impressive and imposing as it wafted out behind him.
“Well, I hope wherever the hell we’re going has supplies,” Icarus growled. “I’m burning through coal like crazy.”
“Yes, of course they will.” Del patted Icarus on a leather-covered shoulder.
Icarus simply grunted and directed his attention back out across the frozen wastes. The Ringmaster’s platitudes didn’t fill him with much confidence. Ever since he’d given himself over, body and soul, to Necronis the Unmaker, the Professor had not been able to trust him. He no longer had their best interests at heart. The ever-increasing voice of the Dark God inside his mind would one day take over completely and then what he would do then was anyone’s guess. Would he commit wanton acts of destruction? Steer the circus into a mountainside? Betray Icarus directly?
The Professor shivered and put the thought from his mind. He still liked to delude himself that their love was strong enough to overcome any obstacle … even the Dark God himself.
The landscape wasn’t completely barren. Occasionally small clusters of trees broke the stark, white monotony, and in the distance rose a range of hills with thick woods growing on the leeward sides. Up ahead Icarus noticed something rising into the air. He unscrewed the glass cover of his right eye and inserted the monocle with various attachments. He adjusted the lenses and the mysterious sight resolved itself into a curl of smoke. Nestled within a cluster of trees he could see a village of low-roofed, thickly thatched huts and some tents made from animal hides.
“There are people here!” Icarus exclaimed, unable to keep the surprise from his raspy voice.
“Did you think I was pulling your leg?” Del actually sounded hurt.
Icarus turned to look at him again. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to doubt your word. It’s just that…” He tailed off, unable to continue. Tact had never been his strong suit.
“Our coming here was not Necronis’ idea, Icarus,” Del said coldly. “It was mine. There are people here, even in this remote corner of the planet, who deserve to be entertained. That was all that motivated me.” He turned on his heel and stalked off, leaving Icarus feeling even worse.
Now he would have to gather up the courage to apologise to him … again. Lately he seemed to be doing nothing else. Damn Necronites, he thought darkly. Why couldn’t they ever be consistent? A gradual slide into evil he could prepare for, but this constant toing and froing? One day nice, the next day awful? He would have torn his hair out in frustration had he actually had any left.
Steered by the carnies Busboy and Steamsaw, the Circus Infinitus platform approached the village, which on closer inspection was actually quite large; a major meeting place for all the locals and nomads in the area. Word of the Circus’ arrival had travelled ahead, and now the little settlement had swelled to accommodate several thousand individuals. Del knew they wouldn’t make a lot of actual money from these people, but they would be able to resupply with food, wood, fuel, fabric and of course coal.
As the circus’ shadow fell over the area, people began to emerge from various houses and tents; mainly large, husky individuals clad in warm outfits of fur and wool. When they beheld the magnificent flying platform, they started to cheer and whoop, swinging each other around in excitement. They had been looking forward to this spectacle for months!
Busboy and Steamsaw brought the platform to a stop, dropping the anchor to stop it from drifting off, and then they hurried to the edge to unroll the rickety wooden staircase. Its base plopped into the snow below. The Ringmaster glided forward and spread his arms, sending his black cloak fluttering backwards like a pair of batwings. “Come one, come all!” he boomed. “Welcome to the Circus Infinitus!”
The Russians wasted no time in swarming up the steep wooden staircase and onto the platform above. For a few moments they simply stood and stared, marvelling at the various fantastic constructions around them; the intricate calliope, the colourful carousel, the delightfully creepy haunted house, the rickety wooden roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the small train that ran around the outside on its own track and the many tents, stalls and caravans, much like the gypsy wagons that rolled along the country roads. At the back rose the large main building, covered by a red and white striped cloth to resemble a tent, its three tall chimneys puffing small balls of smoke into the clear mid-morning air. Nearby, a similarly coloured balloon hovered off to one side, also available for rides even higher above the Earth.
Several staircases led down through the platform to more attractions beneath – the reason why the Circus didn’t land, but rather remained hovering above the ground. These had been installed after the Martian invasion; viewing platforms and dangling swings.
The amazed Russians began to move over to various rides and attractions, and the carnival began. The Ringmaster had organised for the first show to start at two o’clock, after lunch, and tickets sold out within minutes. Another show, at five o’clock, also sold out. As did the last one at eight. A tall, striking woman wearing her long silver hair in braids had translated his narrative for the audience, most of whom couldn’t understand English.
Del couldn’t remember the last time the Circus Infinitus had been so popular. In Europe and America people had grown used to the sight of the flying circus, and its attractions were no longer as impressive as they had been. Carnivals were springing up all over the place and attractions like Coney Island were attracting far more attention. But here, at what seemed to be the farthest reaches of the world, it would be many years before they wore out their welcome.
Del looked around at all the happy, smiling faces, and allowed himself a grin of his own. Despite the darkness in his soul, the sight of so many pleased individuals still gladdened him.
“Mr Delfay?” inquired a heavily accented voice.
He turned to see the woman who had interpreted. Initially she bad been a member of the audience, but when he started speaking at the start of the first show, she rose to her feet and started to translate. Like his own voice, hers had reached all the corners of the hall. Did she use psionics to project her voice like did, or did she simply possess natural projection? He had paused in his spiel so she could continue her interpretation, and then granted her free access to all the other performances.
“Thank you for allowing me to relate your words for my fellow countrymen,” she said. She stuck out a gnarly hand. “My name is Bethel.”
She smiled, displaying even white teeth. He age was hard to gauge. Her hair was silvery white, but her golden brown skin relatively clear and devoid of wrinkles. Her black-button eyes were clear and bright, almost seeming to glow with their own inner light. She had the round face and broad cheekbones of a Mongolian. “I travel a lot, and have learnt many tongues. I am predominantly a storyteller. It was I who started the word of the circus’ arrival spreading. I do hope you will be able to spend more time in our fine country. There are many other villages who would love to be entertained.”
“Of course.”
Bethel pressed her hands together. “I can even guide you to them, if you will have me for a while. I will continue to translate and even tell tales to entertain.”
She sounded a little too eager, but Del didn’t see any problem with her request. “You are welcome to remain for as long as you like. We have several rooms you can stay in.”
“Oh that would be wonderful!” she exclaimed gratefully.
As Del stepped in close to escort her off, he felt again the fiery warmth radiating from her body. She seemed to have a fire burning in her belly that was almost as warm as Icarus’ furnace.
Del narrowed his eyes as he took her through the various attractions to the main building, and looked into her mind.
He almost ran smack-bang into a smooth, metallic shield. He only just managed to bring himself up short in time. Had he ploughed into that she definitely would have been alerted to his telepathic presence. Fortunately Necronis had returned some of the powers he had lost.
While Bethel was distracted by some jugglers and Stilts, the zombie carnie with unnaturally long legs, Del performed a quick surface scan of her mind-shield, searching for some sort of crack or crevice he could use to find his way in.
He found nothing. Her shield was like a smooth, steel ball protecting her mind. He hadn’t seen a shield that perfect since leaving Eridon. If he wanted to enter her mind she would have to do it by force.
And right now he wasn’t prepared to do something so drastic without provocation. He wasn’t even sure he could penetrate a shield like that with brute force. It was … exceptional.
She is definitely not human, he thought. Not even the Circus’ healer Isabella Archer, who also possessed the power to keep him out of her mind, had a shield like that. Hers was more nebulous, like a cloud encircling her thoughts that flummoxed his senses and caused him to lose direction.
Bethel would need close watching. Telepathically, Del asked Victoria and various other carnies around to keep an eye on her.
* * * *
2
Later, after he had shown Bethel to one of the circus’ spare rooms, and then directed her to the dining hall where she could join other employees toasting their rousing success, the Ringmaster headed up the steep, creaking metal steps to Professor Abbacus’ laboratory.
Icarus must have heard him coming because the door opened as he approached, and he was able to walk right in to the cluttered space beyond. Scarcely had Del closed the door behind him when Icarus was flinging his arms around him and apologising profusely for doubting him yet again. He was actually crying.
Del wanted to return the hug; comfort him as well as absorb more of that wonderful warmth from him, but he had to be firm. Necronis had been whispering lately that he was being far too soft with the Professor.
So he took Icarus’ arms and unwound them, pushing them down. Icarus looked worriedly up at him. “I … I said I was sorry,” he stammered.
“I accept your apology, Icarus – don’t worry about that. But you need to stop being so paranoid. You know my feelings for you haven’t charged, regardless of which lord speaks to me. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. But you have to trust me.”
Icarus said nothing, not sure how to continue.
“If anything, I should be the one not trusting you.” He released Icarus to poke him in the chest with a sharp fingernail. “You tell me virtually nothing about all the people you communicate with, all the machines you help build for them. If you think I wouldn’t understand, then you’re sorely mistaken. The technology you use may be strange, but it’s not beyond me.”
“It … it’s a way to earn extra money, doing what I love,” Icarus said eventually. He drew himself up. “We all have our hobbies.”
“Yes, including that time-machine you helped HG Wells build.”
Icarus stared at him in horror. How on Earth had Del figured that one out? Was he really so transparent?
“Did you think I wouldn’t eventually discover your deception? Your story about it being a machine from the future was very good, but really, Icarus! I did get around to reading the book he wrote. When I asked him he said he built the thing himself, but I looked into his mind. He’s very clever and imaginative, but no engineer. Not like you.” He poked him again.
Icarus looked down, wishing the floor would open up beneath his scuffed old steel-capped boots.
“Now tell me the truth.” Del stepped back, folding his arms.
Icarus sighed and straightened up. “Yes. I helped him to build it. But at first it didn’t work, so when we decided to install it beneath the Eiffel tower, with the tower acting as an amplifier. But before we could test it the gremlins attacked.” He rubbed his forehead. “It was after that my memory became … a little fuzzy.”
“Yes, you conveniently forgot about those two children from the future, and how they actually defeated the gremlins with some exceptional Magick. After that, you returned with them to their time.”
“Yes, but as I told you before, I remember nothing of the trip. Obviously my memories were erased to prevent me from causing any anachronisms. But my information about the time machine is the truth.”
Del stared intently at him, so intently that Icarus grew uncomfortable and looked away again. Was Del trying to enter his mind without permission? He shored up his shields just in case.
“So you could build it again?” Del asked eventually.
“Yes. It would take me a few years though. HG Wells had access to a workshop and materials that we do not.”
Del rubbed his hands together. “Then that’s what you must do, starting as soon as possible.”
Icarus felt a sensation akin to someone pouring ice-water over his furnace. “You … you will leave,” he whispered.
“Of course I will leave! I want to return to my home-world and clear my name!” He grasped Icarus by the arms again, holding him tightly. “And you will be coming with me, of course.”
“W-what?”
“Did you think I would leave you behind?”
Icarus’ head spun. He couldn’t believe his senses. “I … I don’t know what I thought.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind. I don’t know why you assumed I would.”
Icarus flung his arms around him and held him again, and this time Del returned the embrace, for a few moments at least. Then he drew back once more. One more thing remained to be said. “But if you want to come with me, you need to accept him.” He touched the black bird-in-flight mark on his forehead.
Icarus stared in horror, feeling cold all over again. “No, never!”
“Why? What loyalty do you have to this universe? You are no longer even a part of it. As an undead creature, you are, perhaps, even closer to Necronis than I am. Yet you still persist on clinging to your old-fashioned morals. Embrace the Dark God, for you know he is your destiny.”
Icarus faltered, just for a second, but it was enough. “No-not – I can’t, I won’t!”
But Del smiled in triumph. You will join me, Icarus, because you simply cannot bear to be alone, he thought. When the t
ime comes you will take the Vow of Darkness. He took Icarus’ face in his hands. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for you to chance your mind.”
Icarus wanted to knock his hands away, but couldn’t. Del was right – there was plenty of time. He would build the machine, and maybe in the meantime figure out a way to drive the darkness from him. “Yes,” he heard himself say,
* * * *
3
The next morning, before the start of the first show, Del was walking with Icarus across the circus platform when they passed Bethel standing with a group of her countrymen beside the pitch-and-toss stand. After the previous night’s events he had temporarily forgotten about her. “Ah, Icarus – allow me to introduce you to the lady who’s been translating for us.” He led him over, and Bethel turned with a smile. She looked well rested, ready for another day of performances. She was wearing a warm dress made from brightly coloured wool and a thick fur cloak over her shoulders.
“Bethel, I’d like you to meet my good friend Professor Icarus Abbacus.”
“Ah yes, the electricity eater! How do you do?” She stuck out a hand. “Your performances are simply incredible! I have seen your show three times already, and I’m still amazed.”
As Icarus was about to take it in his mechanical right hand, Del sent to his mind; No, take it with your human one. You need to feel how warm she is.
Icarus stuck out his left hand and grasped her fingers. Almost immediately a fiery heat surged into him through his leather glove. Had he still needed to breathe, he would have gasped in surprise. “Thank you,” he said.
“Bethel has agreed to stay as our translator for a while,” Del continued. “She also said she will direct us to more villages we can entertain.”
She is extremely eager to stay here, Del sent to Icarus directly. Too eager.
Perhaps she wants our protection, Icarus responded. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has come here seeking sanctuary.