Cracky was hunched over with his hand pressed to a cramp in his side. He couldn’t answer the question right away. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed back and forth between the brothers. Again, Dale and Alan looked at each other and shrugged.
Finally, Cracky was able to regain his composure. He stood upright, still snickering and looking back and forth between the two.
“What’s with this guy?” Dale said to Alan. Alan raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders again.
Finally able to speak, Cracky again moved his finger back and forth. “I was just picturing you guys as kids. Da clown and da cop runnin’ ’round stompin’ out da fire. Da clown wid his big shoes—” His laughing started up again.
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 hi
mself 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.
“Geno, isn’t the Dumpster out back?” Alan said.
Geno turned back as he continued walking. “Just follow me, Alan,” he said.
They continued on to one of the guest trash barrels on the opposite side of the midway. Geno tossed his bag, then took the bag from Alan and added it to the barrel. He looked around like a paranoid police informant.
“What’s wrong, Geno?”
Geno moved so that Alan’s body blocked his line with the Labyrinth. “Be careful, Alan.”
“Careful of what?”
“Did you notice the change in him today?”
“In Peepers? Yes. What was that all about? I didn’t want to say anything, but I was really getting concerned that he wasn’t being honest with me.”
“I don’t know about that, but something is different. I can’t put my finger on it, but you should be careful.”
“I will, Geno, but what do you know that you aren’t telling me?”
Geno peered around Alan. “Oh no, not now.”
“What? What is it?” Alan said as he turned to see what caught Geno’s attention.
“It’s The Rin
gmaster. I just saw him sneaking into the Labyrinth. That guy better be careful or he might just get what he wishes for.” Geno looked back at Alan. “Look, I gotta see what he’s up to. I probably shouldn’t have said anything.” With that, Geno sprinted back to the Labyrinth.
Chapter 19
At the top of his stairs, Alan stopped. Still made up as Boogy, he turned to look at Lyle’s door. The box he dropped off hours earlier, with the Spanky figure inside, was gone. Lyle must have retrieved it. He wondered what happened when people got the figures. His own experience with Peepers had to be much different because there weren’t any sculpted figures involved. He experienced Peepers in the home of the Guild of Fallen Clowns. The only way for Peepers to make his presence known was to appear in the mirrors of the Labyrinth. But how did the small figures help people? Up till now, he just assumed the mere presence of the figures changed people for the better. The clown spirits might be similar to other good luck charms, and their owners unknowingly benefitted from their hidden powers.
These were his assumptions all along, but after leaving Peepers, and getting the disturbing warning from Geno, he wasn’t sure of anything.
At the risk of getting pummeled by Lyle, he decided to search for answers by knocking on his neighbor’s door. Clown shoes in hand, he approached the apartment and knocked. He waited, and when there was no answer he raised his hand to knock again when he heard heavy footsteps approach the door from inside. They stopped and the peephole went dark.
Through the door, Lyle asked, “What do you want, Alan?”
Alan wasn’t expecting this response for a number of reasons. First, it wasn’t like Lyle to stand behind the door rather than flinging it open. If Spanky wasn’t working on him, Lyle might take the opportunity to do some clown bashing. If, on the other hand, Spanky were successful in taming Lyle’s bullying ways, Lyle would likely be cordial toward him.
Standing behind the door wasn’t one of the options he envisioned; however, the explanation could be a simple one. Maybe Lyle wasn’t dressed. As a bachelor himself, Alan was quite familiar with the comfortable freedom of lounging in one’s underwear.
The closed door was confusing, but understandable. It was Lyle’s choice of words that baffled him more. Lyle was looking at him through his peephole. The face staring back was that of Boogy or, as Lyle liked to refer to him, “Booger.” It was the perfect setup, yet Lyle chose to call him by his given name. This was a good sign that the Spanky figure was working.