EXCOLO

'Ri shrugs, but she dunt say anythin' and neither does Jarmyn, 'n I'm glad for it. "'F it weren't for Management, be down south long ago," 'Ri says as she tips her drink back t'mine, and I look at her in surprise. I dint think she'd mention the Carnival's management. It's not somethin' they seem eager t'bring up much.

At least she's had sense 'nough t'steer clear 'a the tower, though I guess most folk learn pretty quick. Not Jarmyn, though.

"Haven't been up there. Should I make a point of going while I'm here?"

I cough in shock and shake my head. "No!" I say a bit too loud. "No. Dint no one warn you off 'v it yet? You've bin in town long 'nough I'd 'a thought. The tower's a bad place."

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Haven't been up there. Should I make a point of going while I'm here? Jarmyn asks and the curiosity tells me along with John's shocked expression and protest, that no noone's told him about the tower.

No! No. Dint no one warn you off 'v it yet? You've bin in town long 'nough I'd 'a thought. The tower's a bad place.

"Guess everyone musta thought that someone else'd already told ya." I add giving Johnny a sidelong glance as I take a drag off my clove. "You wanta tell him 'bout it or should I?"

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The way they’re both going on warning me away from the tower startles me as much I can be startled when I’m feeling as warm and relaxed as I am now. I concentrate on lighting my cigarette while they decide who’s going to tell me. The smoking reminds me of—oh, that tower. “Lucien did mention something on Valentine’s,” I admit slowly. “Well, ‘keep away from the damn water tower’ was what he said.’”

But why these two should have cause to be afraid of Miss Wanda’s husband, I don’t know. Lucien having a grudge against him, even thinking he’s the devil himself, that I can see. But what Mr. Whitman has to do with the water tower, I don’t know. It’s not like you can live in a water tower, not without really messing up the waterworks. “Well, someone tell me about it.” Guess we’ve finished with the game for now, since they’ve both turned so serious. I guess it’s just as well.

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"Guess everyone musta thought that someone else'd already told ya," 'Ri says, shootin' me a look. “Lucien did mention something on Valentine’s,” Jarmyn replies. “Well, ‘keep away from the damn water tower’ was what he said.’” Which ain't too helpful I guess, but it ain't like my visit t'the doc was real useful either.

"You wanta tell him 'bout it or should I?" Jarmyn looks from me t'Ri and back again. “Well, someone tell me about it.”

I look at 'Ri, then t'Jarmyn, 'n nod. "The devil lives there," I tell him. "He comes into town sometimes - hell, he's married" I say, 'cause hell 'f I'm hidin' that, "but he lives there."

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Well, someone tell me about it. Jarmyn demands, not unreasonably. Johnny gives a look which only fair since I gave him one, then nods to Jarmyn.

The devil lives there,He comes into town sometimes - hell, he's married! But he lives there. John says. Guess he's gving Jarmyn the basic version c'ept for the married bit. I ain't heard that bit before. Wonder what the devil's wife is s'posed to be like? Mean like him? Or super nice so's to be a complete opposite?

I take another drag off my clove and try to blow a smoke ring. Fail miserably. "Y'gonna tell him bout how some people go up there to try to make deals for stuff?" I ask.

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Verite I hadn’t figured for superstitious. John, I don’t know about, but they’re both telling me this. Makes me wonder who started this gossip, and how they managed to get at least three people in town picking up on it. “When you say ‘the devil,’ do you mean Lucifer-Satan-Beelzebub, I guess? The one from the Bible? Because that’s going to take some convincing for me to believe. Or are we talking about someone who kicks dogs and is generally mean to everyone?” The liquor’s making my tongue loose, but it’s not making me any more gullible.

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'Ri blows a cloud 'a smoke out at us. "Y'gonna tell him bout how some people go up there to try to make deals for stuff?"

I shrug, hard and jerky, and Jarmyn asks “When you say ‘the devil,’ do you mean Lucifer-Satan-Beelzebub, I guess? The one from the Bible? Because that’s going to take some convincing for me to believe. Or are we talking about someone who kicks dogs and is generally mean to everyone?”

Was he listenin'? "I said the devil," I tell him, and I look at 'Ri. "I dint figure I had t'mention the deals, 'cause it's the devil," I tell her. Of course he makes deals. "Ask 'round, there's folks as know it. And everyone knows there's somethin' there, only not everyone knows it's the devil."

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John is obviously uncomfortable the way he jerks his shoulders. Might even be a bit pissed off at what I said.

Jarmyn doesn't believe it and maybe thinks we shouldn't either the way he asks, When you say ‘the devil,’ do you mean Lucifer-Satan-Beelzebub, I guess? The one from the Bible? Because that’s going to take some convincing for me to believe. Or are we talking about someone who kicks dogs and is generally mean to everyone? It's not that I believe the stories exactly, but I've seen stuff growing in the Carnival and the fact that the stories bout the tower are more recent than the usual spooky stuff in most small towns says there's somethin' goin on. And then there crap like the Carnival bein' trapped here. And Luke's reaction to me.

John may've been pissed by what I said but he's definitely pissed at what Jarmyn said. I said the devil, Oh the look he gives me...I dint figure I had t'mention the deals, 'cause it's the devil,Ask 'round, there's folks as know it. And everyone knows there's somethin' there, only not everyone knows it's the devil.

"Not everyone has heard of the devil, John." I say, tryin' to sound reasonable. "But yeah, there's somethin' up there and there wouldn't be all these stories for nothing. And you need to know that it's not good to go there. and that if you do an' anyone finds out they'll tell stories bout you. They don;t trust the tower or anyone connected to it even distantly." I try not to be bitter at the thought Luke an' his reaction to hearing bout Management.

Edited Date: 2010-12-19 05:48 am (UTC)

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Either John is feeling the liquor, or he’s just pretty plain and simple, to think that the devil is the devil, and if lots of people say he is then it must be true, because everyone knows it is. I’m just not going to buy it. Don’t know who this fellow might be, but I’m pretty sure he’s not the devil I heard a hell of a lot about growing up, going around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour and all that. If he was, why would he be living in a water tower outside a little town like this?

“I’ve heard of the devil,” I answer Verite. “Way too much, actually. Got a lot of fire and brimstone and preaching growing up. And if that’s the devil, the real devil, which I’m not saying there is any such creature, then what’s he doing here? Have either of you met him? Or is it just people saying things?” Because all right, this might be a strange town, but that doesn’t mean the devil is making it that way. People get up to all kinds of devilry all by themselves, and saying that the devil himself did it is just so they don’t have to take the blame.

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"Not everyone has heard of the devil, John," 'Ri says all calm, like that's any kind 'v excuse. "But yeah, there's somethin' up there and there wouldn't be all these stories for nothing. And you need to know that it's not good to go ther, and that if you do an' anyone finds out they'll tell stories bout you. They don't trust the tower or anyone connected to it even distantly." I nod along t'emphasize.

Jarmyn still looks doubtful. “I’ve heard of the devil,” he says, and 'a course he has. “Way too much, actually. Got a lot of fire and brimstone and preaching growing up. And if that’s the devil, the real devil, which I’m not saying there is any such creature, then what’s he doing here? Have either of you met him? Or is it just people saying things?”

I nod. "I can't say what he's doin' here, though I and a bunch 'v others 'd dearly like t'know." I bet it's got somethin' t'do with all the strangeness come walkin', but that ain't sayin' much 'v use. "And I have met him," I add. I realized it a while ago, when I saw Miss Wanda's new husband. "Here in the Tavern. He was drinkin' with a bunch 'a strange folks as I ain't seen 'round much."

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Guess if I was hearing all this just now, I might be having as much trouble taking things seriously as Jarmyn. And if that’s the devil, the real devil, which I’m not saying there is any such creature, then what’s he doing here? Have either of you met him? Or is it just people saying things?

I haven't got any answers for him an really he don't have to believe so long as he never visits the tower. John though tries again,I can't say what he's doin' here, though I and a bunch 'v others 'd dearly like t'know. And I have met him,Here in the Tavern. He was drinkin' with a bunch 'a strange folks as I ain't seen 'round much.

I stare at John in shock he's met the devil? All I have are stories, well gossip really. Though a few of those say that the devil is shapechanger so people can meet him without knowing it. I shake my head to clear it a bit and then ask, "So what'd he look like? And just how strange were his companions?"

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I am actually listening to Johnny. Just because I don’t believe a word he’s telling me doesn’t mean I’m not interested. When he mentions that he met this person, whoever he is, here, I look around, and then catch myself, feeling five kinds of stupid. Verite looks taken aback to hear that, too, and she asks what it was on the tip of my tongue to, about what he looked like and who he was with.

I don’t know John very well, but I think Verite does, and so I need to ask her privately how much he makes a habit of drinking when he's at the Tavern, to be able to say he’s seen the devil himself here. And if this bad blood between him and her might not be because he’s a little crazy some ways. For now, though, I’m just going to humor him. “I’d like to know that, too,” I add. “Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything.”

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"So what'd he look like?" 'Ri demands, her eyes wide. "And just how strange were his companions?" Jarmyn still looks amused. “I’d like to know that, too. Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything.”

I shake my head. "Nothin' like that. The devil dunt need all that. He was sittin' with some carnies and some folks who I've hardly seen at all, real spooky types who dint sm - move proper at all." Not that I noticed that the time, but lookin' back...

"I only know it was him now, 'cause someone pointed out Miss Wanda's husband t'me, and it was the same man. And Miss Wanda married the devil. So it was him I saw, drinkin' in here."

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Jarmyn adds Also wouldn’t mind knowing how exactly you knew he was the devil, since I’m guessing he probably didn’t have horns or anything. And for all he sounds amused it is a good question.

Nothin' like that. The devil dunt need all that. He was sittin' with some carnies and some folks who I've hardly seen at all, real spooky types who dint sm - move proper at all. John says like it should make it all make sense now.

I frown at this and he keeps going, I only know it was him now, 'cause someone pointed out Miss Wanda's husband t'me, and it was the same man. And Miss Wanda married the devil. So it was him I saw, drinkin' in here.

That still doesn't explain it, not really. It's one of those circular things that go round an' round but never really prove anything. I give John a look. "That don't prove he's the devil, just that he's got odd taste in friends." I met the guy at his wedding and he seemed normal enough. More normal than Lucien with his self lighting cigarettes and fire-eyes.

"Really, John, if he's the devil there should be more proof than a couple of weird stories and a circle argument."

Edited Date: 2010-12-21 04:42 am (UTC)

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Can’t decide to be sure if this idea that Wanda’s married to the devil is all Lucien’s doing or not, because I liked Lucien. Then again, I’ve never met this Whitman fellow, and now I don’t much want to. But John isn’t making a whole lot of sense and Verite really is, for all she’s had a hell of a lot to drink. Don’t think anybody’s proving anything to anyone about who is or isn’t the devil right about now. “I haven’t had enough to drink to be talking like this,” I tell both of them “So either we need more to drink, or we should all call it a night. I’ll walk you home if you want me to, sweetheart.” And what might happen when we get there I’ll let her decide, but I hope it doesn’t mean a long cold walk back to the Inn for me directly after.

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"That don't prove he's the devil," 'Ri argues, "just that he's got odd taste in friends. Really, John, if he's the devil there should be more proof than a couple of weird stories and a circle argument."

I sigh 'n roll my eyes. "It ain't that alone I tell her. There's a bunch 'a folks as know he's the devil - I only know who it was 'cause I thought back t'meetin' him. You ask Miss O'Hara, 'r my sister Tess, Glass Beddau, Mr. Klavec... lots 'a folks know, but there ain't much you can do at the moment."

Jarmyn dunt seem t'want t'hear none 'v it. “I haven’t had enough to drink to be talking like this,” he says, still with that undertone 'v amusement. “So either we need more to drink, or we should all call it a night. I’ll walk you home if you want me to, sweetheart.”

I wish he'd stop callin' her that. "I ain't tellin' you for my health," I say, "but 'v you dunt care it ain't on my head. I told you, and you can make 'v it what you will," I add with a shrug. "I should head off home then." And he can go talk t'the devil 'f he wants t'know 'f I'm right.

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