The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson

Author:J. R. Dawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

27

THE RINGMASTER, 1926

None of them had seen the Circus King, not even Mauve. But somehow, he had gotten too close. So they had to run.

The Ringmaster implemented their alternate route immediately as they wildcatted out of Lawrence. They had two safe havens, one in Estes Park, Colorado, and another in the prepaid fairgrounds of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Davidson had thought they were going west, so that’s what he would have told the Circus King. They went north instead, to Missouri Valley.

The second thing that needed to be done was getting a new king pole. Mauve found one, in the year 1928. It was in good condition. They took some money, purchased it in the liquidation auction of another circus, jumped back, and left it on the edge of the field for Maynard to lug in as he patched up the rest of the tent.

The third thing that needed to be done was to speak to the circus. As a whole.

They collected outside the train, which now sat off the tracks in a muddy field in Iowa. The Ringmaster stood on the stairs leading to the pie car. She reminded everyone of their contracts, that they could leave whenever they’d like. She’d warned them when they came on this may happen someday, and now that someday was here. Anyone who needed to leave should please do so by alerting one of the three owners of their termination and collecting their personal things by Wednesday morning. They would receive their payment for Missouri Valley and one train ticket to make their way to Des Moines to find a connecting route. If they were staying, they had until Friday to take an R&R, and they would resume performances at that time.

The fourth thing the Ringmaster needed to do was talk to Odette.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Odette said calmly. A lot calmer than Rin felt. Rin stood shaking in the corner of their room, looking out the window like the Circus King was about to jump into view with another gun.

But right now, Rin wasn’t afraid. She was shaking with rage. She was full of fire.

“He’s coming for you,” Rin said. “I know him. He said he was gonna take my heart. He wasn’t talking about a king pole, Odette. He is going to take you to hurt me.”

“Let him,” Odette said. “I’d like to see him try.”

“No.” Rin said loud and sharp. She turned on her heels. “No, Odette, you don’t know him. If he gets near you, you’re done. I’m not letting that happen. You have to leave.”

“Absolutely the hell not,” Odette said.

“I buried my mother.” Rin stepped closer, slamming her finger into her own chest. “I watched her die. Her light went out, Odette. Do not ask me to watch you die.”

“That fool can’t take my light,” Odette said, dead serious. The way Odette scoffed at the devil, it almost made Rin believe her.

Rin’s mouth formed a firm line. “He can, my love. He almost took mine. And I’ve seen him snuff out powerful men like birthday candles.

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