Foraine ( Eng)

Chapter 4 : Wheel of Fortune

"It's harder and harder to get people in," Sean sighed, putting his hat on the table.

- It's because of the rumors.

"Yes," Sean agreed.

- What rumors? Nina asked, finishing her coffee in one mouthful.

- They say that people are disappearing around our carnival.

- No sense! Elaine gasped as I looked up to meet Josh's gaze.

- Maybe, but that's what's being said, and it makes people wary, concluded Josh. And suspicious people are bad for business.

The arrival of the police at the carnival only made things worse. We were all questioned about a body that was found horribly mutilated a few days after our arrival.

"It's horribly unfair," gasped Lotta irritated.

- And mean ! added Leah.

- It's easy to come and blame different people. As if we were the only ones capable of baseness and nonsense. But we are a tiny fraction of the population which means that most of the horrors committed in this world are by people like you ... the "normal" people.

The stockiest policeman snorted with contempt and spat at the feet of the sisters.

- I will never believe that you can look like this and not be rotten from the inside out.

Leo moved toward them, threateningly, only to be stopped by Elaine's firm grasp.

"We have nothing to do with that," Eliot concluded, "and if you have no evidence to accuse us, leave.

- Not until we've searched that slum.

- And where were you when my baby was mutilated? shouted a dull voice.

Everyone turned and stepped aside to let Nathaniel go, curled up in a ball of hatred and anger.

- What are you talking about?

- You come here to accuse us, while we ourselves suffer this kind of loss? You accuse us? While I lost my little one? US?

One of the police thumbed through a small notebook and explained:

- We have no record of that. And where did this so-called attack supposedly happened ?

Nathaniel literally vibrated with fury.

"In Laketown, a little further down the road," said Emilie in a harsh voice.

- One of yours was assaulted in Laketown, you say? repeated a policeman, looking skeptical.

- Not assaulted ... mutilated, killed, massacred, profaned. My little one .. my little one ...

Nathaniel's eyes were gazing into space as dry salt-like tears rolled down his cheeks. I grabbed Leaf's hand and squeezed it with all my strength. The laughter of the police took us by surprise which rapidly turned to anger among our ranks.

- I'll tell you why you're just a bunch of liars. Laketown has been gone for decades, everyone knows that! Even monkeys of your kind should know that. The plague ravaged the entire city and almost all the inhabitants are dead.

- We counted 10 survivors, added another. And they bailed as fast as they could.

I felt Leaf's body shake against my shoulder, his hand became moist and I saw Elaine look briefly at us before looking away again. I then remembered the inexplicable panic that seized him that evening and the persistence with which he had kept me close to him all night.