I predict a riot.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

“The silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails.”
- Shakespeare

Monday lunchtime, near the sheriff's office, on Main Street

This has proved almost too easy. The clouds are rolling in, air heavy with the promise of rain, and I stand in my Danika body wearing an old coat with the collar turned up against the cold, jacket short enough to show a few inches of a tidy, worn work dress and a calflength of wool stocking. My shoes wear the signs of good, honest farm labour, and my blonde hair is frizzing round my face in the damp air. I look very distressed.

"Did - was there really a man arrested for... for beating on a girl?" I say to an old woman gossiping with her friend on the street. My fingers flutter together anxiously.

"Oh yes," she says, "it's a horrible thing. They think also he did in a girl as worked at - well, the brothel, my dear," she says, lowering her voice over that salacious detail, eyes gleaming with prurient interest. "They think he chopped her up."

"Oh," I say, and I faint very neatly to the ground. It's not long before I have half a dozen people round me - offering water, saying they will take me to the Dormouse, fussing with my coat collar to let me breathe.

"I should've said something," I say, and I burst into tears. That gets me sat down on a bench, an old woman's arm around my shoulders, and a very handsome young man crouched at my feet. "I should - "

"What is is, dear? Do you know something about what happened to those girls?"

I shake my head tightly.

"I know - I know - him," I say quietly. "He - We went out a couple of times, and he was - he was real nice to me, and -" The old woman gives me a handkerchief. "You know, I ain't really dated much," I say, shamefaced, "cos my momma's sick a bunch and I'm busy out on the farm, and he just - he was real nice, and when he -" I turn my face away, and I can feel the vibrating tension from the boy at my feet, his desire to be a hero. "He - I thought it was my fault," I say, and then there is a furious chatter rising from the little crowd, and the conversation spreads in ripples.

"Some carnie's been carving up our girls," one man says fiercely. And there is discussion of me and of Melania - ah, yes, that explains some of what I saw in her - and how we're hard working girls, salt of the earth girls, and who is this monster and why hasn't he been strung up? What the hell is wrong with this town that a murderer and molester can be caught redhanded and he's cosseted in jail? And did you hear that he attacked that nice Mrs Beddau (I wonder if at any other time Glass has been described as nice) when she went to visit him in prison? He should be put in the old stocks in town. People would show him how they felt, alright. They'd show him very clearly indeed.

I manage a brave, trembling smile for the boy at my feet, and he springs up, ready for something, anything, if it will make me look at him like that again. And I nestle in against the arm of the old woman as the crowd grows larger and voices grow louder, and I wait for the storm to break.

[OPEN]

Comments

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

I dunt notice right off when Kate grabs Tess and runs fer safety 'cause I'm too busy standing Davis off. Gettin' shot - and I can see Zann safe up on a roof - took some 'a the fight out 'a him but he's gettin' attention now. It's lots easier t'take on some carnies out here than t'try gettin' into the Sheriff's, especially with that armoured woman ridin' through the crowd out front.

And then there's folks 'tween me 'n Tess and I have t'back up. I hear the witch and Nu runnin' behind me, and the scent 'a water comes up strong and cold. Hell. I turn 'n run after 'em.

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

Grin at Syl as we run. I'm carrying a lot of weight, ayuh, but it doesn't slow me down none; can run fastah than most, too, through watah. Glance ovah my shouldah an' see that bakah boy following us. Keep on talking to the watah as I go, coaxing it up, pushing it out. Watah's flowing in the opposite direction to wheah we'ah going, an' that suits me fine. Slows people down some. We run through a few alleys an' come out on Silk Road. Main Street's got pretty wet now, but I keep the watah from comin' down heah. Makes a nice barriah for now, ayuh. Not too deep - 'bout knee high on me round the sheriff's office, I'd guess from heah, an' shallowing out furthah down the road.

No one's followed us. Don't think no one suspected it was me as did it, cos my business with watah ain't flashy.

"Well," I say. "That was something." Give Syl a wry look. "Think we have to give up on Benedict," I say, moah serious. "Can't do nothing for him, not without drowning the whole town, an' I ain't doing that for him when I ain't even sure he didn't do it, you ken?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

We run, but Nu's always moved faster'n't seems like a person'a her size oughta, an' she's even faster'n water. Somehow comin'n b'hind'er's eas'er too; feel like a boat movin'n th'wake ovva ship.

C'n hear water rushin'n b'hind us; risk a glance over m'shoulder an' see more water pourin' outta th'ground, flowin' down th'street b'hind us. Also see th'kid, Tess' baby brother, runnin' gamely after us. Well, he tried t'help. Ain't gonna begrudge'im comin' 'long. Long's'e don't slow us down, anyway.

Nu'n me move fast; ain't long b'fore th'water gets shallower'n we c'n run flat-out. Down a few alleys, twists 'n turns, an'en out onta Silk. S'dry here, I notice, but th'power's still flowin' from Nu like...well, water. Pretty goddamn impressive, how long she's kept'is goin' 'n th'amount'a control't takes t'confine somethin' like a flood t'one place. Colour me impressed.

"Well, that was something." Nu says, lookin't me. "Think we have to give up on Benedict. Can't do nothing for him, not without drowning the whole town, an' I ain't doing that for him when I ain't even sure he didn't do it, you ken?"

"I ken," I says, noddin'. Bloody tired now, though I ain't gonna relax 'til we's both outta town 'n back safe on th'Lot. "I ain't sure'e di'n't do't neither; jes' di'n't feel right leavin'im t'swing 'less we wuz sure 'e did." Sigh'n shake m'head. Th'legs'a m'jeans're soaked through, an'm gonna start t'shiver soon's th'adrenaline wears off. "Jes' came t'town t'see if'n anybody knew fer sure one way'r th'other." Crowd's still soundin' loud'n angry from Main, water'r no. "Get th'feelin'ere's gonna be a body swingin' from some tree come mornin' either way now."

Runnin' footsteps, an'ere comes Tess' li'l brother, still followin' 'long b'hind us. "Hey there," I nod t'im. "Wha's yer name, anyway?"

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

They're sayin' somethin' 'bout the man as was in jail with me as I catch up.

"He dint seem like a real good man," I say as I catch my breath. I can run pretty well, but through cold water ain't quite so easy. "I was in the cell next t'him fer a couple 'a days."

The witch, Syl, gives me a nod. "Hey there," she says. "Wha's yer name, anyway?"

I check behind us, but I figure folks must have bigger problems than followin' us now. "Johnny - John. You're Syl, right?" Tess ain't said much, 'cept fer what happened with her 'n Syl 'n Kate, and so I ain't got such a high opinion. And Nu smells odd, but a touch like Damien, and so even with tryin' t'help 'em I'm still a little wary.

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"I ain't sure'e di'n't do't neither; jes' di'n't feel right leavin'im t'swing 'less we wuz sure 'e did."

"Ayuh," I say, cos I ain't happy about all this neithah.

"Get th'feelin'ere's gonna be a body swingin' from some tree come mornin' either way now."

Spit ovah my shouldah an' nod.

"Seems so," I say. "Jus' hope they don't try to come up on the Lot aftah."

"I was in the cell next t'him fer a couple 'a days."

"I've always bin told word of a jailbird ain't worth much," I observe, to rile him, cos what people seem like, specially when they'ah from the carnival, don't always have much to do with what they are. But then I smile at the boy a little, cos he's scared an' he still tried to help us out.

"Johnny - John. You're Syl, right?"

"An' I'm Nu," I say, offering him my hand. Wondah if I'll feel anything unusual off him. His sistah's a witch, aftah all, I could see that from a mile off.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Nu spits over'er shoulder, an'I follow't by spittin' on th'ground. "Seems so. Jus' hope they don't try to come up on the Lot aftah."

"Fuck, I hope not." I sigh. 'member Nanshe tellin' me't Management'd protect us, even 'gainst th'town. But I sure's hell ain't 'bout t'bet m'life onnit. I ain't never counted on nobody else t'protect me, an'I ain't 'bout t'start now. "Once'ey got'eir pound'a flesh, mebbe'ey'll leave us 'lone."

There's th'sound'a pantin'n splashin's th'boy runs up t'us. "He dint seem like a real good man. I was in the cell next t'him fer a couple 'a days."

"I've always bin told word of a jailbird ain't worth much," Nu says t'im, though I catch'er smilin'.

"'magine how you musta seemed t'im," I snort. Pat 'round'n m'jacket pocket; good, m'cigs're still dry. Shake one out 'n light't.

I ask th'boy's name, an'e says, "Johnny - John. You're Syl, right?"

"S'me," I nod. "Guess Tess's mentioned me." Nu introduces'erself 'n offers th'boy'er hand. I look 'round'n th'meantime. "We prob'ly ought t'get'nside. Don't think nobody's followin'us, but don't mean we's safe yet. Whatcha think, tavern? 'r head straight back t'th'Lot?" Rather get 'nside fast, I think, an' Verdi's got 'nough wards onnat place't I think we'd be safe.

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

They both spit at the thought 'a folks keepin' this up 'n takin' it out t'the carnival. Nu looks at me when I mention 'bout the man I was next to. "I've always bin told word of a jailbird ain't worth much," they say, and I open my mouth t'explain how he smelled, but I see their grin. "'magine how you musta seemed t'im," Syl says, and I guess they must be feelin' safer 'cause she fishes 'round in her jacket fer a smoke.

I take Nu's hand. "Nice t'see you again Nu," I tell 'em. I return Syl's nod. "Yeah, she did." I dunt try t'be unfriendly, but I got no reason t'like her 'cept that she's friends with Zann.

"I bet a lot 'a folks 'll be goin' fer a drink t'stew 'bout this," I warn her. "You might not be able t'get hurt in the Tavern, but I know folks can just go fer you once you leave." I should get back t'the bakery t'see how Tess and Kate 'r doin' 'n t'let Mr. White know I'm okay.

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"We prob'ly ought t'get'nside. Don't think nobody's followin'us, but don't mean we's safe yet. Whatcha think, tavern? 'r head straight back t'th'Lot?"

"You might not be able t'get hurt in the Tavern, but I know folks can just go fer you once you leave."

"I agree with Johnny, ayuh," I say. "Heard a couple of boys got beat up for being queeah couple of weeks back outside theah." Know Syl'll know why that makes me less keen on the place. "Back to the Lot, then. You want to come along, boy, or you heading back for youah sistah?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

John looks't me when I wonder 'bout goin' t'th'Tavern. "I bet a lot 'a folks 'll be goin' fer a drink t'stew 'bout this. You might not be able t'get hurt in the Tavern, but I know folks can just go fer you once you leave."

Fair point, an' Nu 'grees wittim, "I agree with Johnny, ayuh. Heard a couple of boys got beat up for being queeah couple of weeks back outside theah."

Fuck. Yeah, c'n see why Nu'd wanna stay 'way from'ere. Okay. "Back to the Lot, then. You want to come along, boy, or you heading back for youah sistah?"

"Welcome 'nough t'come," I says, noddin' t'im. "Looked like you'n'at other kid wuz really gettin' inta't. 'e might come lookin' for ya, 'fore allis ends."

[john-thiess.livejournal.com]

I can't quite meet Nu's eyes when they mention what they heard 'bout the Tavern. "Well, there's some folks 'round here who ain't so comfortable with that sort 'a thing."

Syl gives me a nod. "Welcome 'nough t'come. Looked like you'n'at other kid wuz really gettin' inta't. 'e might come lookin' for ya, 'fore allis ends."

My lips quirk up into a smirk. "Yeah, he might. And I'd give him the same as I did when him and his buddies jumped me outside the Tavern a couple weeks back." I shake my head. "I'm off t'check on my sister. But thanks."

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

Syl agrees we should go back, an' then Johnny surprises me by saying:

"Yeah, he might. And I'd give him the same as I did when him and his buddies jumped me outside the Tavern a couple weeks back."

Well, theah's a thing to share with a pair of strangahs.

"Glad it seems like they didn't do you no serious harm, ayuh," is all I say. "You take care, boy." Watch him go off.

"Funny kid," I say to Syl. "Ain't suah he's altogethah a regular person, neithah. Seems like hardly no one in this town is." Shrug. "Let's head home, sweet."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, he might." John says, 'is lips quirkin' up, "And I'd give him the same as I did when him and his buddies jumped me outside the Tavern a couple weeks back."

....well, guess'im annis sister 're alike 'n all sortsa ways. Wonder if'n'at's why'e got locked up, an' wonder what happened t'is boyfriend. "I'm off t'check on my sister. But thanks."

Nu wishes'im well, an'I do th'same. "Watch out fer yerself, John. 'is town's gettin' ugly."

'e heads off, an' Nu'n me look't each other. "Funny kid. Ain't suah he's altogethah a regular person, neithah. Seems like hardly no one in this town is."

"If'n'e's anythin' more like'is sister, 'e ain't." I says witta sigh. C'n still hear th'riot goin' on, though't ain't's loud's't was. Hopefully thin's're windin' down.

"Let's head home, sweet."

"Best idea I heard all day," I sigh. "Y'saved m'ass back'ere, Nu. Thanks."

[nunaunet.livejournal.com]

"Y'saved m'ass back'ere, Nu. Thanks."

"Ayuh," I say. "Can't go letting one of the few people I know with a peck of sense get killed by a crowd of angry townsfolk," I say, an' grin.

We walk on back to the Lot, an' as we go I relax my hold on the watah a bit. Not gonna let it go down yet, but I stop it spreading, let some of it trickle away. But I don't think Main Street'll be dry til nightfall, ayuh. Not gonna make it easy for anyone to go wandering around.