The Guild of Fallen Clowns (28 page)

Dale looked at Alan and shook his head.
“He’s easily amused, isn’t he? Is that why he’s called Cracky?”

Alan grinned. At this point he didn’t know
if Cracky’s “plumber’s assistant” explanation was the truth, or
insight to his warped sense of humor.

Cracky tried to regain his composure a
second time. He looked at the two and held his hand over his mouth
as he shushed himself. “Okay, Cracky,” he said to himself. “Dis is
a serious matter. I shouldn’t be laughing at a time like dis.” He
stood straight and snorted each time he tried to swallow stray
chuckles.

“Are you gonna be all right, Cracky?” Alan
said.

“Yeah, I’m good now. I don’t know why I do
dat, but once somethin’ tickles me, it’s hard ta stop.”

“Well, guys, I think I’m done here. Now I
have to face the worst part of this job and notify the kid’s
parents,” Dale said.

Alan remembered his conversation with the
kids at the fraternity house. Todd wanted him to sneak them inside
so they could check out the Haunted Labyrinth. He hoped his
suspicion was wrong, but he had to know.

“Dale, was his name Todd?” Alan blurted.

Dale did a double-take. “How did you know
his name?”

“Oh crap! I guess that means it was
him.”

“Yes, his name was Todd. How could you know
that?” Dale asked.

“Well, I delivered pizzas to a party they
had the other night and he wanted me to sneak them in here so they
could check out the Labyrinth.”

“Whoa!” Cracky said. “You snuck ’em in
here?”

“No, I didn’t let them in. I told them it
wasn’t a good idea, and they should forget about it. He said they
wouldn’t come. I should have known he was lying to me. Damn it! I
should have known.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, kid. You couldn’t
do anything about it. Kids are always trying to sneak in. That’s
why we lock it up at night. He just got lucky. Or maybe not so
lucky. Either way, you couldn’t have done nothin’ about it.”

“Like I said, I gotta go,” Dale said. “Wish
me luck.” As he walked away, the slit in The Ringmaster’s tent
rippled.

Returning his attention to Cracky, Alan
thought about his plans to go inside the Labyrinth. “How’s Geno
taking this?”

“Geno, aw, he’s just pissed off ’cause he
has ta clean up da place and I told him I’m shuttin’ it down until
da next town.”

“Shutting it down?”

“Oh yeah, Boog. I almost forgot. Since it
won’t be reopened while we’re here, we won’t be needin’ your
services anymore. I’m really sorry but—”

“No, no, Cracky, that’s perfectly
understandable. Don’t worry about me. It wouldn’t be right to
reopen after what’s happened.”

“Are ya sure you’ll be okay, Boog? I mean ya
really helped us out, and I appreciate it, but we just can’t
justify—”

“Cracky!” Alan interrupted. “Seriously, it’s
fine. Even if you did reopen, I don’t think I could be a good clown
after what happened inside.”

“You’re a good man, Boogy.”

“Back at you, Cracky. Now, if it’s okay with
you, I’d like to go in to see how Geno’s doing.” Cracky nodded.
Alan ducked under the tape and entered through the front of the
building.

Cracky started to leave. With no signs of
anyone nearby, he didn’t slow down and said, “Mind your business,
Ringmaster.”

*****

Inside, the labyrinth was brighter than his
past visits. Geno’s back was to Alan as he swept ashes from the
floor. Not wanting to startle him, Alan reached to the panel
closest to him and softly knocked three times.

Geno didn’t turn around. “What do you want,
Alan?”

“Um, I heard about what happened last night.
I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you must be going through right
now.”

With his back to Alan, Geno stopped
sweeping. He looked up to the newly exposed catwalk structure
above. “No, you can’t.” He turned to face Alan. “But you aren’t
here for that, are you?”

“Well, no, I was on my way here when I found
out what happened—”

“You want to talk to Peepers, don’t
you?”

“I guess so, but if there’s anything I can
do for you, please let me know.”

“I don’t know if Peepers is ready to see
you.”

Alan stood and stared at Geno as he returned
to sweeping. Geno was understandably annoyed by Alan’s boldness in
asking to see Peepers so soon after the tragic incident. How could
he be so insensitive to Geno’s pain? Alan knew this was the worst
possible time to request a meeting, but he wasn’t ready to
leave.

“I understand this is a bad time, Geno,
but—”

Geno turned. “That’s the spot.” His finger
pointed at Alan’s feet.

“What?” Alan asked.

“That’s the spot. You’re standing on the
spot where the body was found.”

Alan hopped a good foot in the air. As his
feet came down, he tiptoed to a new spot ten feet away.

Geno’s scowl turned into a grin. “Why do you
want to see him?”

“Well, first, I need to know what happened
after I dropped his figure off to Mrs. Henderson the other night.
She died and—”

“And you want to know if Peepers had
something to do with it,” Geno said.

Alan didn’t know what to say. Even in his
own mind, he refused to think Peepers could be so diabolical.
However, now that he heard the words from Geno, he didn’t feel so
bad about letting the thoughts surface. “Well, yes. It’s just so
coincidental that—”

“You think Peepers killed the old lady.”

Again, Geno’s ability to get to the point
caught him off guard. Now that Geno so indelicately exposed the
possibility, he feared the worst. “Did he?”

“Do you really think Peepers would do that,
Alan?”

“No, I uh, well, the thought never crossed
my mind until you just said it.”

“Really? And I suppose you never thought
that Peepers had something to do with that kid dying in here last
night either. Never crossed your mind, right?”

“Actually, no, but I was wondering why
Peepers and the Guild weren’t able to save him. I mean, couldn’t
they have at least guided him out or done something to help save
him?”

“I don’t know, Alan. You’ll have to ask him
that. I’m just his gatekeeper. I’m not worthy of his ear. If it
were up to me, I would have been here last night to help him.”

“You think you could have helped save Todd?”
Alan said.

“I’m saying—I could have helped, but Peepers
wants it all.”

“Wants all of what?” Alan asked.

As though realizing he might be saying too
much, Geno looked away and returned to his sweeping. “Nothing,
Alan. It’s just that Peepers and the Guild don’t allow me to be in
here with them at night. If I were, I could have helped.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Geno. You couldn’t
have known this would happen. Nobody could have predicted it.
Believe me, I know how you feel, but there’s nothing either of us
could have done to save his life. He shouldn’t have come here in
the first place.”

“You really don’t understand, Alan. I could
have set him free.” Geno scowled as he continued sweeping with his
back to Alan.

Alan felt horrible for the torment Geno was
putting himself through. He attempted to console his new friend but
Geno ignored him and walked to the side of the room. He spun a
panel and left Alan alone in the mirrored room. The lights
dimmed.

“Oh, okay, Geno. If you still want to talk
later, I’m here for you.”

*****

Fog in the mirrors gave way, exposing
Peepers. “Alan make more Peepers.”

After everything that had happened, Alan was
a bit stunned that Peepers greeted him with demands to make more of
his figures.

“Hold on, big guy. Before we talk about
that, I need some answers. Like, what happened to Mrs. Henderson? I
left you there, and the next thing I find out is that she died. Did
you have anything to do with that? More importantly, did I have
something to do with it by sending you to her?”

Peepers slowly shook his head. “Peepers help
Alan. Why does Alan not trust Peepers?”

“I’m not saying I don’t trust you. I just
need to know what happened.”

“Why Alan accuse Peepers of horrible
thing?”

“I didn’t accuse you. I’m just confused. I’m
asking what you know because she died right after you got there. So
please tell me what happened.”

“Her time to leave. She is free from fear in
the light. Peepers’ help not needed.”

“Let me get this straight. Are you saying
she was dying and you didn’t try to help her?”

“Was her time, Alan. Peepers help by not
earning light for self. She has light Peepers seek.”

“So you didn’t do anything to help her
die?”

“Peepers not earn light from spirits. Light
earned when help living.”

Based on everything Peepers told him in the
past, this made sense. His desire was to repent for sins in life so
that he could find his peace in the spiritual realm. Killing people
would only set him backwards.

“Okay, Peepers. I think I understand, but
it’s just that so much has happened. Like last night. Couldn’t you
have helped Todd? I mean—this is your home. I can understand that
you don’t have much power outside, but in here you can come out
from the mirrors. Sure, you’re sort of see-through when you do it,
but you could have guided him or something.” After saying this,
Alan wondered why Peepers didn’t come out from the mirrors on this
visit. “Why aren’t you out here with me now, Peepers?”

“Peepers and the Guild only appear for Geno
and Alan. Cannot help others without Alan’s help and our solid
figures. Alan must make more and bring here in one day.”

Again, Peepers went back to pressuring Alan
to make more figures. While Alan may have accepted Peepers’
explanations for what happened to Mrs. Henderson and Todd, he
wasn’t yet comfortable enough to move forward.

“I’m not ready to make more just yet,
Peepers. First of all, I don’t even know anyone else who could
benefit from your help.” This was true, not because there weren’t
people out there living in fear. The fact was that Alan didn’t know
many people. Outside of his virtual world, he was a loner.

“Bring to Peepers and we will find those to
free.”

“Bring them here? I’m not sure about that. I
mean it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’m not comfortable with
anyone else controlling where they go. Besides, you just said that
you couldn’t do anything to save Todd last night. How will you give
them to people when they can’t even see you? And, again, why are
you still in the mirror and not in the room with me?”

“Peepers too weak from damage to Labyrinth.
Light fades. Alan cannot find souls to help. Peepers sense weakness
and fear in passers through Labyrinth. Geno give our likeness.”

“So, you want me to make them and bring them
here so Geno can give them to people?”

“Trust Peepers, Alan.”

“But I thought that you needed my help with
this. I can still find people who need our help, but it’s going to
take time. You’ve helped me see the world around me and I’m getting
better at breaking out of my shell. I’ll pay more attention and put
myself out there so that I can find more people to help, but it
won’t happen overnight. You have to be patient and let me do this
at my own pace.”

Peepers turned, hiding the anger in his
face. “Alan must trust Peepers. Prove trust with five pieces next
day.”

For the first time, Alan didn’t feel the
need to explain himself. Peepers’ insistence and inability to
understand his perspective was starting to piss him off. “Look,
Peepers. I don’t know why you refuse to listen to me, but for now,
you’ll just have to trust my instinct. We will help people and I’ll
do my best to help you, and the Guild, atone for your sins—but you
have to back off and let me go at my own pace. You need to start
trusting me or I’m done with this.”

Peepers breathed deep before letting it out
slow. He turned back to face, Alan whose unexpected display of
courage inadvertently closed the distance between them. Alan stood
strong with gritted teeth and a locked glare as he waited for
Peepers to surrender.

Peepers snarled, “Is Alan challenging
Peepers?” Peepers raised his shoulders and head to their maximum
height.

Alan confidently held his position as his
head tilted upward to retain his locked stare. “I’m not challenging
you, Peepers. I’m simply telling you how things will be if you want
my help.”

Peepers eased back to a slumped position. He
smiled and nodded. “Congratulations, Alan. Peepers made strong. We
come far in few days. Same can happen for others, but Alan not
ready to see. Peepers proud of student. Will give him time to see
his growth and accept more help.”

As always in conversations with Peepers,
Alan had to absorb and interpret his words. “Were you testing me to
see if I would back down? Because if it was a test, I’m serious,
this isn’t negotiable, Peepers. Yes, you’ve helped me, but going
forward, you need to accept the fact that we are partners in this.
You take care of things on your side of the mirrors and I control
this side.”

Peepers appeared to be satisfied with Alan’s
rules. Alan reached his hand out, his eyes still fixed on Peepers’
face. “Do we have a deal, Peepers?”

Peepers looked down at Alan’s hand. Then he
moved his head in a random pattern and watched as Alan kept pace,
following his every move. He moved his hand out from the mirror.
With Alan’s unwavering focus on the black eyes of Peepers, he
didn’t see Peepers’ solid hand shaking his own. Peepers pulled away
before Alan was finished. His figure faded away into the mirrors
and bright light returned to the room.

From the side of the room, Geno entered with
a dustpan and a trash bag. “Hey, Alan, would you mind holding this
open?”

Alan agreed and took the bag from Geno. He
held it open as Geno swept the pile of ashes and dumped them. When
the bag was full Geno tied it closed and handed it back to Alan as
he grabbed another filled bag and walked toward the entrance. He
looked back and asked Alan to follow him to the Dumpster. They
exited the building and Alan followed Geno as he walked toward the
entry gates.