beings.'
The man's head was starting to go again.
'I guess we used to be neighbors,' I said quickly. 'I teach at the university in downtown Manhattan.'
Both of them looked surprised. 'We thought you were from the circus,' Molly said. She paused and flushed. 'I'm sorry,' she added quickly. 'I just took it for granted.'
'It's all right. As a matter of fact, I used to work for the circus. The one that's here now. By the way, do you know where they're camped?'
John pointed up the street. 'There's a large field up there around the bend, to your right. It's down in a valley.' He paused and studied me. 'I'm surprised you haven't seen it.'
'I just got here.'
'I understood we were quarantined. How did you get up here?'
'Do you believe the story about the epidemic?'
John and Molly Marinello exchanged glances. They both seemed incredulous.
'Believe?' John said. 'Why shouldn't we believe it? The order came directly from Alberto Vaicona, one of the Regents.'
'He's the head of your government?'
'One of the heads. There are two Regents.'
'Why are all the phones out of order?'
'It is nothing,' Molly assured me. 'These things happen. Whatever is wrong will be repaired soon.'
'Uh-huh. Are they giving out shots or anything for this epidemic?'
'We've been told it isn't necessary for now,' John said. Flecks of light that might have been suspicion suddenly appeared in his eyes. 'Why do you ask these questions?'
I swallowed hard, trying to think positive. 'There's a rumor that a man from the circus was hurt the other day, maybe killed.' 'It's more than a rumor,' Molly said. 'It's a fact. It was one of the freaks, a giant. Killed by a knife in the throat.'
My mouth went dry. Molly's eyebrows went up as though yanked by strings.
'Isn't that terrible? But that was an outsider killed by another outsider. The man was murdered by somebody from the circus.'
'Who?'
'A knife thrower called Jandor. They already have him locked up in the jail.'
'They have any witnesses?'
'No, but it was Jandor's knife that killed the giant.'
I said nothing, but I was sure Jandor hadn't killed anybody. Like most men who earn their living with the tools of violence, he was personally a gentle man, even tender. And he wasn't mentally defective; if Jandor was going to kill somebody, he wasn't likely to walk away and leave his trademark sticking out of his victim's neck.
'Can't say enough about the United States,' John said.
'Too much violence,' Molly said.
I bought a souvenir, thanked them and left.
From the rim of the valley the circus below looked drab, spent. The aura that almost always surrounds a circus was missing. The colors of the rented tents were all wrong; the whole encampment looked like a balloon that was slowly leaking air. A trio of armed guards posted around the campsite added to the depressing effect.
The men were empty-handed, but the type of men I was looking at always wore guns. They might forget to put their pants on in the morning, but never their guns.
I put my hands in my pockets, mustered up enough spit to do some casual whistling, then merrily tripped off down the slope. Two of the guards glanced at me, then looked away, apparently unconcerned. The man closest to me kept his eyes riveted on my chest. I walked up to him, nodded pleasantly, then started to walk past.
A hand like a pair of wire cutters reached out and grabbed my shoulder, turning me toward him.
'Who are you, pal?' he said in slightly accented English. He sounded like he was talking through a mouthful of marshmallows, as though somebody had walked on his tonsils. I gave him a hurt look and pointed toward the tents.
'Don't you recognize me?' I was hoping all dwarfs looked the same to him.
His eyes skittered across my face, up and down my body. Like most stupid men, the thing he feared most was appearing stupid.
'What the hell are you doing out here?! Where's your pass?!'
I groaned apologetically and started rummaging through my pockets. After a few moments of that number Marshmallow Mouth cursed and waved me through.
I walked quickly down the path and ducked behind one of the tents.
It was noontime and most of the circus personnel would be in the lunch trailers. That was fine with me. At least half of the circus would recognize me on sight, and I wanted to get the feel of things before holding any reunions. I needed somebody I could trust.
I slipped along the perimeter of the encampment to the midway, then cut through to the compound where a number of trailers had been set up as living quarters for the performers and hands. I found the name plate I wanted, then knocked softly on the door of the trailer on the outside chance that its occupant would be in.
'Who's there?' The voice was nervous, edgy.
'It's Robert Frederickson, Nell. Let me in, please.'
'Mongo.'
The door suddenly burst open and Big Nell stood before me. Her beard was even longer than I remembered. She sobbed, jumped down to the ground and hugged me. There were tears in her eyes.
'Mongo!' Nell whimpered. 'God, it's good to see you!'
The formalities out of the way, I gently pulled myself loose and let the air rush back into my lungs. We went into the trailer and Nell started to brew some coffee. Her shoulders were still shaking. Big Nell was very emotional, Earth Mother to all the circus creatures, human and animal alike. I'd always liked her.
Nell finished making the coffee and brought cups for both of us on a tray. She poured cream into mine.
'I'm so glad you're here, Mongo,' she said, handing me the cup. 'So many things are happening here that I don't understand.'
'Roscoe didn't understand them either. I'm here because he called me. The trouble is that I never got a chance to hear what he had to say.'
Molly looked up, and her eyes flooded again with tears. 'Roscoe's dead, you know.'
'Who killed him?'
'The police say Jandor.'
'Do you believe that?'
Nell shook her head. 'As far as I know, Roscoe and Jandor never exchanged a word in anger. If you want my opinion-'
'I do, Nell,' I said gently. 'But first I want a few facts. Is anybody in the circus sick?'
Nell thought a few moments. 'Just a few colds.'
'What's the Statler Brothers Circus doing camped out in rented tents in the middle of San Marino?'
'We were invited by the government. Mr. Statler got a letter from one of their leaders-'
'A Regent?'
'Yeah, I guess that's what they're called. We were touring through Italy anyway, and Mr. Statler thought it might be fun to come to San Marino. He never said anything about selling the circus.'
'Selling the circus?'
Nell blinked. 'Didn't Roscoe tell you?'
'Roscoe was killed while he was talking to me on the phone. Did Phil say why he sold the circus?'
Nell wiped away a tear with the back of her hand. 'Nobody's talked to Mr. Statler at all. He's disappeared. Mr. Fordamp said he's gone off 'on a vacation'.'
'Who's this Mr. Fordamp character?'
'He's the man Mr. Statler sold the circus to.'
