and of course to Jenny. But for the moment, all that any of the Carnival workers wanted to talk about was the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Smith, the Strong Man.
Vastra returned to the private area of the Never-Creatures exhibition tent to think through her next move. It was interesting, and rather gratifying, that everyone who worked here seemed to have accepted her for what she was. No questions, no lingering stares, no jibes. Alfie, the man who introduced her to the public and drew back the curtain, treated Vastra with the same polite deference as he seemed to displayto all the other acts and exhibits he introduced. She was not yet sure of how the Carnival was organised and managed, but if anyone was in charge it was him. Alfie seemed to have a natural way with people, getting on with everyone.
The people who came to see her unveiled were rather different. They made no effort to hide their curiosity and fascination. But that was, Vastra supposed, rather the point. And many of them would assume that she was wearing make-up or a mask …
She was alone, with a while before the next ‘unveiling’ when she had a visitor. The curtain twitched, and a voice called:
‘Excuse me?’
A sibilant, hesitant voice.
‘What is it?’ Vastra replied. Perhaps it was someone who had heard she was after information. She pulled down her veil. ‘You may come through if you wish.’
The figure that pulled aside the curtain and stepped through was slight of build, about the same height as Vastra. From his voice, and his attire as well as the way he moved, she assumed it was a man. But as he politely removed his top hat, she saw that his face was covered by a mask. It looked as though it was made of soft, dark leather. There were holes for the eyes, a narrow slit for the mouth.
‘Can I help you?’ Vastra asked.
‘Forgive me,’ the masked man replied. ‘But justknowing that you are here – that you even
exist
– is a great help to me.’
‘In what way?’
‘I’m sorry. Let me introduce myself. My name is Festin. And I believe that
I
can help
you
.’
‘Really?’
‘You are interested, I think from the questions you and your friends have been asking, in a man named Orestes Milton. Is that not so?’
Vastra nodded warily. ‘What of him?’
‘I too share your interest in this man. I have been observing him for some time now. I know what he is doing. I know where he is. And your friend the Doctor is right, he is dangerous and must be stopped. Come with me, and I can show you.’ He turned, looking nervously over his shoulder. ‘But it must be now. The Strong Man is already dead, and we shall be next if we don’t act.’
Vastra leaned forward. ‘And why should I trust you?’
There was a sigh from behind the mask. ‘Because of this.’ He reached up and slowly unfastened a catch at the back of the mask, easing it away from his face with a black-gloved hand.
Vastra gasped, her hand going to her mouth, and meeting the veil that obscured her own features. Fumbling, she lifted the veil, to be sure she was actually seeing clearly.
It was like looking into a mirror.
The deep-set eyes of another human-lizard stared back at her from a face of green scales. High ridges swept back from the lizard-man’s forehead. A long thin tongue licked out as he looked back at her.
‘I thought I was the only one,’ he breathed.
Chapter
13
Strax knew the area quite well, as he had already made enquiries about Bellamy’s death. The tavern where he and Bellamy had met on the unfortunate man’s final night was actually not very far from the abandoned factory. It seemed as good a place to start their investigations as any. Not having had any lunch, Clara wondered if the pub did food. But once she saw the place she decided that if it did she wouldn’t want to eat it.
Like the area round it, the tavern was run-down. The paint on the sign outside was peeling. The brickwork was pitted and in severe need of repointing.
Vastra returned to the private area of the Never-Creatures exhibition tent to think through her next move. It was interesting, and rather gratifying, that everyone who worked here seemed to have accepted her for what she was. No questions, no lingering stares, no jibes. Alfie, the man who introduced her to the public and drew back the curtain, treated Vastra with the same polite deference as he seemed to displayto all the other acts and exhibits he introduced. She was not yet sure of how the Carnival was organised and managed, but if anyone was in charge it was him. Alfie seemed to have a natural way with people, getting on with everyone.
The people who came to see her unveiled were rather different. They made no effort to hide their curiosity and fascination. But that was, Vastra supposed, rather the point. And many of them would assume that she was wearing make-up or a mask …
She was alone, with a while before the next ‘unveiling’ when she had a visitor. The curtain twitched, and a voice called:
‘Excuse me?’
A sibilant, hesitant voice.
‘What is it?’ Vastra replied. Perhaps it was someone who had heard she was after information. She pulled down her veil. ‘You may come through if you wish.’
The figure that pulled aside the curtain and stepped through was slight of build, about the same height as Vastra. From his voice, and his attire as well as the way he moved, she assumed it was a man. But as he politely removed his top hat, she saw that his face was covered by a mask. It looked as though it was made of soft, dark leather. There were holes for the eyes, a narrow slit for the mouth.
‘Can I help you?’ Vastra asked.
‘Forgive me,’ the masked man replied. ‘But justknowing that you are here – that you even
exist
– is a great help to me.’
‘In what way?’
‘I’m sorry. Let me introduce myself. My name is Festin. And I believe that
I
can help
you
.’
‘Really?’
‘You are interested, I think from the questions you and your friends have been asking, in a man named Orestes Milton. Is that not so?’
Vastra nodded warily. ‘What of him?’
‘I too share your interest in this man. I have been observing him for some time now. I know what he is doing. I know where he is. And your friend the Doctor is right, he is dangerous and must be stopped. Come with me, and I can show you.’ He turned, looking nervously over his shoulder. ‘But it must be now. The Strong Man is already dead, and we shall be next if we don’t act.’
Vastra leaned forward. ‘And why should I trust you?’
There was a sigh from behind the mask. ‘Because of this.’ He reached up and slowly unfastened a catch at the back of the mask, easing it away from his face with a black-gloved hand.
Vastra gasped, her hand going to her mouth, and meeting the veil that obscured her own features. Fumbling, she lifted the veil, to be sure she was actually seeing clearly.
It was like looking into a mirror.
The deep-set eyes of another human-lizard stared back at her from a face of green scales. High ridges swept back from the lizard-man’s forehead. A long thin tongue licked out as he looked back at her.
‘I thought I was the only one,’ he breathed.
Chapter
13
Strax knew the area quite well, as he had already made enquiries about Bellamy’s death. The tavern where he and Bellamy had met on the unfortunate man’s final night was actually not very far from the abandoned factory. It seemed as good a place to start their investigations as any. Not having had any lunch, Clara wondered if the pub did food. But once she saw the place she decided that if it did she wouldn’t want to eat it.
Like the area round it, the tavern was run-down. The paint on the sign outside was peeling. The brickwork was pitted and in severe need of repointing.
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