Broken People (Serial)

Fifty-Three

Despite being the middle of the night, the arc lights made the fairground as bright as day while the crew dismantled the giant circus tent and the side attractions. Dale followed Jacko to the big wheel that Rake and Spinner were turning into small, easy to maneuver pieces. Dark glares followed their advancement. By now, everyone knew who he was and, more than likely, blamed him for the hasty departure.

Dale kept his back straight and his eyes ahead, not about to start a conflict.

"I brought him," Jacko said.

Renard appeared from behind a pile of boxes and waved a hand. "Come with me."

Dale complied, and they headed in the direction of the train.

Once they distanced themselves from the agitated crowd, Renard said, "You didn't ask about your friend."

"You would have told me if something had happened to him," Dale said.

"Fair enough. He had crazy luck with that landing." Renard shook his head. His walk was steady, but restrained. He hadn't had an easy night, either.

"And your people?" Dale asked.

"Not so lucky, but there's still hope they'll all make it." Renard paused as if unwilling to go into more details, then added, "They better. Otherwise, holding their heart and lungs in your bare hands is so not worthwhile."

That had to be a metaphorical description, but even so, it would only increase the debt. Dale eyed the bare ground and train in front of them. Once inside, getting out might be problematic.

Renard placed his hand on the panel on the side of the purple car, and the door slid open. "After you."

Dale climbed up and stopped in the brightly lit corridor. Renard waited for the door to close before walking ahead. The second door to the left opened into a room with two more doors, and Renard reached for the one on the right.

More bright lights and a giant bed built to hold the mountain of a man lying on it greeted him. This had to be Big Dino. Compared to his size, Cielo looked like a child sitting by his side with her bandaged leg propped up.

"You caused quite a stir tonight, Mr. Armstrong," the creature on the bed said in a throaty voice. Despite his green complexion, he was clearly human.

"That wasn't my intention," Dale said and took a couple of steps closer.

Renard crossed the room to lean against the wall on the opposite side of the bed and folded his arms.

"I heard you want the power source," Big Dino said. Since it wasn't a question, Dale settled for a nod. "Cielo also told me why. While I commend your initiative, you obviously can't have it." Wrinkles covered Big Dino's forehead. "But this causes me a big problem. If you could get so close, there are no guarantees they won't send more people after it."

Not impossible, but it wasn't going to happen too soon, either. Those who made this kind of decision had rarely seen any combat, so there was no rush. The front line was still stuck behind the Ural Mountains.

"I'm an old man, Mr. Armstrong. Oh, I'll probably live past a hundred and outlive most of you here but, chances are, Aurore will live longer than that. She's my legacy. She's the best thing I ever created, and I'll do everything I can to protect her." Big Dino licked his lips. "So, I'm willing to offer you a deal. You make sure that power source stays where it is now, and anyone interested is informed it's no good. In exchange, I'll give you a newer, stronger, better source."

Based on Renard's shoulder twitch and Cielo's small sigh, it looked like not everyone agreed with the terms.

"Why would you do that?" Dale asked. There had to be a trick.

"I already told you why," Big Dino patiently said. "When I gave the first one away, I didn't know exactly what it was and how it worked. Now I do, and I've got a new one. It's powering the circus right now. You can see it if you want. And, the best part is, it can power not only one plane, but a whole fleet. Wouldn't you like that?"

He would, but he found it hard to believe Big Dino, or anyone else, would give up such a treasure. "Does Aurore know?"

"It's not her call," Big Dino said. "This is a deal between you and me."

There had to be a catch, he just didn't see it. But the promise of a source was better than no source at all. "Fine. I'll take your offer. Where's the source? How fast can you give it to me?" He checked the time. He'd be running behind schedule soon.

"Not so fast," Big Dino said. "We'll take the source to Paris. You stay here and make sure Aurore and her source are safe."

"I'm not a bodyguard."

"No, you're something better. Ternchiev ran a background check on you and was impressed with what he found. He said you're on sick leave until the new implants take hold, so you don't have to hurry back and report to duty. Bratislava is not a bad place to spend your vacation."

No, but sitting around and doing nothing was not a solution, either. "And he agreed to this? Me guarding his niece?"

"He likes to keep his enemies close." A thin smile twisted Big Dino's lips.

"Why should I believe you? Why should I trust you'll do as you say?"

"First, because you have no choice. And second ... let's see. Aurore and her source aren't going anywhere, so they will be in your care at all times. I have no interest in you taking that source, and this forces me to put a lot of trust in you, too. I will take the source to Paris like I said. This is a big train. It's not easy to hide. It's not like I can take it off the tracks, so you can track us down if I don't stick to my end of the deal. I imagine you won't be kind if I don't, and I do intend to live past one hundred." Big Dino tilted his head. "Does this sound fair to you?"

Dale had to admit it did. "How will you get through the winter without the source? I keep hearing how bad this season was for you."

"It was. It was one of the worst seasons in the circus history. That's why we'll ask for a small compensation, enough to get us through the winter, before relinquishing our claim on the source. Nicholas will negotiate that. And then, next summer, we'll go back east in the hope of finding another one, now that we know what to look for. For the right price, we might even disclose the location."

Of course, everything came with a price.

"You will have to make your decision tonight," Big Dino said. "The circus is leaving in the morning regardless, but it's up to you if we're heading northwest or southwest. We usually spend the winter in Italy or Spain, maybe even the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea."

"Is everyone on board with this plan?" Dale asked.

The two silent witnesses to this conversation exchanged a glance.

Cielo shifted in her chair. "War is good for business, but not our kind of business. People can barely afford to pay for tickets anymore."

"Even with the Nightingale's help," Renard said, unfolding his arms. "And the prosthetic business is also lacking for the same reason."

"And if everyone's prosthetics are breaking, how can we still be the freaks?" Cielo asked.

"Well said, my dear." Big Dino's laugh shook the bed. "So, do we have a deal?"

Dale hesitated. He didn't like it, but like Big Dino had said, it was not up to him. "What will happen to Cole?"

"He can leave if he wants, but I suggest he stays with us, free of charge, until he finishes his recovery."

Big Dino held out his hand, and Dale shook it, the big man's skin dry and rough against his.

While Renard walked him out, he realized they hadn't agreed on a time period.