Lilly searched Glory’s face with watery eyes. “How do you know?”
Glory gazed at her for a long moment, then started walking again. “I don’t,” she said in a quiet voice.
Lilly stared at the ground and followed. She couldn’t look at the elephant again. Just like when she saw the lion, she could feel every twinge of the elephant’s fear, every stab of pain and confusion. The weight of it pressed in all around her, as if she were being swallowed by mud or quicksand.
When they neared the train, Glory slowed. “Listen,” she said. “We’re on in a few hours and Mr. Barlow is like a bear with his leg caught in a trap before we open the doors. So don’t speak unless you’re spoken to.”
Merrick was waiting for them outside one of the passenger cars, pacing and wringing his hands. Unlike the rest of the passenger cars, which were green or brown or gray, this one was painted a glossy red and trimmed with decorative black scrolls. Tasseled curtains hung in the windows below gold lettering that read: THE BARLOW BROTHERS’ CIRCUS. Beside Merrick, two men stood on either side of the car steps. One was bald, with mean-looking eyes and hairy arms. The other seemed as big as a horse, his short-sleeved shirt stretched over his chest like it was about to rip open. His black hair was in a knot on top of his head.
“You see those men?” Glory said under her breath. “Don’t ever mess with them. They’re Mr. Barlow’s strongmen. They protect him and work as patches when things get rough with the townies.”
Lilly could only nod.
“What took you so long?” Merrick said. Before Glory could answer, he grabbed Lilly by the arm and took her up the metal steps to a platform between Mr. Barlow’s car and the next. Glory started up the steps behind them, but Merrick told her to wait outside. Then he lifted his chin, cleared his throat, and rapped on the door. Lilly waited beside him, her heart kicking like a jackrabbit in her chest.
“Enter,” a baritone voice called from inside.
Merrick opened the door and told Lilly to enter first. Fancy light fixtures decorated the shiny wood walls of the car, along with two upholstered chairs, a velvet sofa, a round table, and flowered rugs scattered here and there like playing cards. A small sink, countertop, and cupboards sat against one wall, and two wooden fans whirred on the ceiling. Behind a beaded curtain, an open doorway led into another room. The smell of smoke, old wood, and warm dust filled the air, reminding Lilly of her bedroom back home. Homesickness washed over her and she was overcome by a sudden falling sensation, as if the weight of her head had grown too heavy for her neck and was pulling her over. Somehow she stayed upright and gritted her teeth until the feeling passed.
A man in a suit, cufflinks, and shiny shoes sat in a red chair, a plate of eggs and a cup of coffee on the round table in front of him. His waxed blond mustache twitched over gray teeth that looked too big for his mouth.
“What is it?” he said.
“I picked up a new act at the last stop,” Merrick said. “Something we’ve never had before.”
“Step forward,” Mr. Barlow said to Lilly.
Lilly did as she was told. Her mouth felt full of sawdust.
“What’s her billing?” Mr. Barlow said.
“I’m not sure,” Merrick said. “Got any ideas?”
Mr. Barlow spun a finger in the air and ordered Lilly to turn. Moving slowly so she wouldn’t get dizzier, she did as she was told.
Mr. Barlow took a sip of coffee and stared at her, drumming his fingers on the table. Then he rose from his chair. “Alana!” he shouted, making Lilly jump. “Come out here!”
In another room, someone groaned and bedsprings squeaked. “Whaat?” a female voice whined.
Mr. Barlow scowled. “Come here,” he said. “And don’t make me say it again.”
“Ahhh, Christ on a cracker,” Alana mumbled. Then she called out in a cheerful voice, “I’ll be right there!” More sounds came out of the room—feet hitting the floor, a heavy sigh, jewelry clinking, a drawer being opened and closed. After a long minute, Alana pushed the beaded curtain to one side and entered the room in a white robe, open at the waist, and undergarments made out of lace. Lipstick smudged her mouth like red fingerprints, and her long hair was a tangled mess of blond curls. The pink of her nipples showed through the thin fabric of her brassiere. Behind her, a small brown dog trotted into the room.
Alana smiled at Mr. Barlow. “What is it, dear?”
Lilly lowered her eyes. Didn’t anyone care that Alana was nearly naked?
When the dog saw Merrick, it barked and charged at him, baring its teeth and growling, its hair raised. Then it suddenly came to a halt and eyed Lilly. It dropped its head, went over to her, sat up on its hunches, and pawed the air, begging to be picked up and petted.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Alana said. “She’s never done that before. Chi-Chi hates everybody but me.” She went over, kneeled next to the dog, and gazed up at Lilly. “You want to pet her?”
Lilly nodded, got down on one knee, and touched the dog’s little head. Chi-Chi rolled over to expose her tiny tan belly, her tail wagging wildly. Lilly rubbed the dog’s belly and, for the first time in what seemed like forever, smiled.
“I’ve never seen her act like that with anyone,” Alana said. “She even tries biting Syd if he gets too close.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
“If that idiot dog bites me, I’ll stomp it into the ground,” Mr. Barlow said.
Alana ignored him and directed her attention back to Lilly. “Have you always had a way with animals?” She scratched Chi-Chi’s chest with long pink fingernails.
Lilly shrugged.
“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” Alana said. “What’s your name, honey?”
Before Lilly could answer, Mr. Barlow said, “We’re trying to come up with her show name. That’s why I called you out here, not to play with that stupid dog.”
Alana rolled her eyes and kept scratching Chi-Chi. “Well, what’s her act? Where is she going to be working?”
“Where the hell do you think?” Mr. Barlow said. “In the freak show!”
Alana pressed her lips together and stopped petting the dog. She straightened and pulled her robe closed, tying it tight at the waist. “Call her whatever you want,” she said. “You will anyway.”
“Goddammit!” Mr. Barlow said. “Sometimes I wonder why I keep you around.”
Alana shot him a cold smile and strolled back toward the bedroom. “You know perfectly well why you keep me around.”
Mr. Barlow caught her by the arm. “Stay here. I need ideas.”