Bark! thought Will, like in the movies! Bark, bring the police!
But the dogs just smiled and trotted.
Coincidence, please, thought Will. Just a small one!
Mr. Tetley! Yes! Will saw-but-did-not-see Mr. Tetley! Rolling the wooden Indian back into his shop, closing for the night!
"Turn heads," murmured the Illustrated Man.
Jim turned his head. Will turned his head.
Mr. Tetley smiled.
"Smile," murmured Mr. Dark.
The two boys smiled.
"Hello!" said Mr. Tetley.
"Say hello," someone whispered.
"Hello," said Jim.
"Hello," said Will.
The dogs barked.
"A free ride at the carnival," murmured Mr. Dark.
"Free ride," said Will.
"At the carnival!" clacked Jim.
Then, like good machines, they shut up their smiles.
"Have fun!" called Mr. Tetley.
The dogs barked joy.
The parade marched on.
"Fun," said Mr. Dark. "Free rides. When the crowds go home, half an hour from now. We'll ride Jim round. You still want that, Jim?"
Hearing but not hearing, locked away in himself, Will thought, Jim, don't listen!
Jim's eyes slid: wet or oily, it was hard to tell.
"You'll travel with us, Jim, and if Mr. Cooger doesn't survive (it's a near thing for him, we haven't saved him yet, we'll try again now) but if he doesn't make it, Jim, how would you like to be partners? I'll grow you to a fine strong age, eh? Twenty-two? twenty-five?! Dark and Nightshade, Nightshade and Dark, sweet lovely names for such as we with such as the side shows to run around the world! What say, Jim?"
Jim said nothing, sewn up in the Witch's dream.
Don't listen! wailed his best friend, who heard nothing but heard it all.
"And Will?" said Mr. Dark. "Let's ride him back and back, eh? Make him a babe in arms, a babe for the Dwarf to carry like a clown-child, roundabout in parades, every day for the next fifty years, would you like that, Will? to be a babe forever? not able to talk and tell all the lovely things you know? Yes, I think that's best for Will. A plaything, a little wet friend for the Dwarf!"
Will must have screamed.
But not out loud.