This place was only just being set
up the last time we saw it. “The Island of Misfits” by Billy Bozo. “All are
welcome who want to smile and feel happy”. Huh. That’s weird.
That isn’t weird Catullus. I think
it’s a great thing that this Billy guy has made this circus to make people
smile and feel happy.
No one makes entertainment just to
make people feel good. We probably have to pay to get in.
Why would you need to pay? There
are no laws down here that say you need to pay for things. Look! They make
their own food here and purify the water from the ocean to make their drinks so
it’s not like they need to make money to trade.
I guess not. They could just trade
what they have to get whatever they need.
Oooh. I wish we had fingers to play
these carnival games.
I’ve read that carnivals had rigged
games so you could spend more money to win some cheap prize.
But you don’t need money to play.
Do we really have to play one of
these stupid games? We came here to ask for directions.
Oh, that’s right.
Maybe this guy will know something.
“Excuse me?”
“Why hello there little kitty and hamster!
Do you wish to play my little game of fishing?”
“No, thank you. We just want
directions to a certain street. It’s important.”
“If you win this game, then I’ll tell
you what I know. It’s free to play and you get as many attempts as you want.”
Really?
“It’s simple enough, so we’ll play.
What are the rules?”
“All you need to do is pick a fish
with the right color and number equal to or higher than the number I pick. Anything
else is a loss.”
“We’ll play then. My friend is good
at catching fish.”
“I bet he is. I want a red fish
with the number five on it.”
Just because I’m a cat doesn’t mean
I’m good at catching fish.
Come on, Catullus. I know you can
do it. You do have better reflexes than me.
Alright, fine. Red fish. Number five…ha!
I think I got it.
“Congratulations! For your reward,
I’ll give you the information you seek.”
“We need directions to fifth and Stein.”
“Hmm. I’m afraid I don’t know how
to get you there with instructions alone. I do know one person who could give you
the exact instructions to get there though.”
Come on. I knew this was a bad
idea.
Let’s hear him out.
“Okay, who? That fortune telling lady
over there will give you the answers you seek.”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t trust someone
who uses magic. Isn’t it demonic?”
“Oh no. The lady doesn’t use magic
of any kind. It’s all pretend for the sake of fun. There’s no real magic done
at all.”
“Okay. We’ll go see her then.”
“Good luck and thank you for
playing.”
Whatever. I got a feeling this that
we’re going to be led into a series of events.
Let’s just see what happens. These
seem like nice people.
That’s what they do so they can trick
you.
Come on, Catullus. Don’t think so
negatively of people.
Are you sure about that? I mean look
at that lady. She looks like a wooden puppet. Is she an android or a cyborg?
It doesn’t matter as long as she
tells us where we need to go.
I guess not.
“Hello, you two little furry animals!
Step forward, I don’t bite. Do you want to play a game to gain wisdom from beyond?”
“No, thank you. We were told by the
man over there that you could tell us how to get to fifth and Stein from here.”
“Oh, I can, and I can tell you much
more than that. I’m not using actual magic, but I can tell a lot with my natural
abilities.”
“Are you an android with access to databases?”
“I’m not though I may look inhuman,
little kitty. I was a secretary who was in charge of organizing and remembering
information for a business in the city. Now, would you like to know something incredible?
It could help you later in life.”
“Sure, why not?”
Hamlet.
We’ll only hear a couple of things
before we go.
She didn’t even give us the
information we were looking for.
I’m sure she’ll tell us.
“Here is what I can find that you
might find interesting and useful. The person that you seek is close, but he’ll
be at the location you’re going to when you get there. I’m assuming you’re
looking for you’ll need the hamster’s original body, which should be at his
house.”
I wish we could get him to change
us sooner.
“There is not two but one being
standing in front of me. I sense a second, but he’s very faint.”
This is your body Catullus, so
maybe she thinks we’re just one being because I have very few parts in it.
She could be thinking that, but you’re
the one who moves and talks for us more than I do, so I wouldn’t really call
this my body anymore. It’s more like ours now.
“Oh, what is this? There is a person
following your adventure. I can’t tell what they look like, but they are
reading a story of some kind. Your story in fact. What a cutie.”
Okay…
“Hmmm…also-”
“Excuse me, lady. We need to know
where to go.”
“Yes, of course. I apologize for
not telling you that first. You must; go straight, go left, go right, go straight,
left, straight, right, right, left, straight, then the destination should be in
sight. Do you have all of that?”
“Yes.”
No, we don’t.
Shut it. These directions are too simple.
When do we make a turn and how long do we go straight for?
“If you want a map, the master of
the circus has plenty for people who may get lost in the city. He’s in the large
black and white tent at the end of the docks.”
“Alright. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be seeing you
very soon, cutie.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t mind me. I was talking to
the person following you.”
“Sure…”
That lady is crazy. We should just sneak
in the tent, find the map, then run out of here.
I’m sure that the owner will
happily give us the map without any trouble.
We were supposed to get directions
without any trouble.
We only had to play one game and
listen to what the lady had to say. It’s nothing.
Whatever. We’re here. It’s too dark
in this tent. What’s with all this equipment here? It looks way more expensive
than most of what we find in the city. Where are those maps at?
Do you feel like we’re being watched?
Now that you mention it, yeah. The
owner is supposed to be here, but I didn’t notice him coming in.
Maybe he’s here and we don’t see
him because of the darkness.
You’re right, but maybe he doesn’t
notice we’re here.
Don’t be so rude. We should say
something to him.
Alright. Where is he? It’s so
difficult to see in here.
Do you see something in the
darkness? Is he that black and white clown in the darkness?
He’s still like a statue if he is.
What’s with that smile on his face? We’ll approach him to see if he’ll react.
Ah! He is real!
“It’s about time you noticed me!
What are your names?”
He’s a kid.
“Hamlet and Catullus.”
“You two will make excellent additions
to my circus.”
“Sorry, but we aren’t here for
that. We need a map of the city to get somewhere.”
“Oh, but don’t you want to make
people smile and feel happy? It’s a better way of living than anything that you
could possibly be doing.”
“Probably, but we really need to
go.”
“Stay for a while. We’re going to
be having some wonderful performances soon by the best talent that you can’t
find anywhere else. Maybe they’ll convince you to stay.”
“I said no! How many times do I need
to tell you no?!”
Catullus.
What?
Don’t be so harsh on him. He’s just
a kid.
He won’t stop asking us to stay. I
need to put our foot down.
Look at him. He looks like he’s
going to cry.
Sheesh.
“I’m sorry, kid. Hey! Put us down!”
“Trust me, you’ll love being a part
of our circus! Ow! Why did you bite me?”
Forget the map, let’s get out of
here!
“Please stay!”
This kid is something else. What’s
with all the extending arms, legs, and little versions of himself. They’re
coming from everywhere! Ah! Watch out for his face!
“Please stay!”
“How about you stay away from us?!”
“Ow! Why you!”
He’s got us, but we can slip out.
Be careful Catullus! What are you
doing?
Stopping him by disabling his body.
This should be the circuits. There we go and perfect landing as always. Him and
his clones are all disabled now. Let’s get out of here.
“Pl-please stay. Wan-want-just want
to make people smile an-an-and happy. Pl-please.”
That lady is walking towards us.
She has a map in her hands.
“Sorry for the trouble. He was kicked
out of the city by his family because his dream of making people happy isn’t
profitable in the city. It’s the reason why I had to leave the city with him. Trust
me when I say that he has a good heart. The trauma of being disowned by his
family is still affecting his control of his emotions. I apologize on his
behalf. Here, the map you were looking for.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you come back
next time, he’ll be in better control. He’s good about making things up to
people.”
Like that’s going to happen. Okay, where
to go. Ah, this way.
I feel bad for that kid. We should
go back later.
Nah. Not a chance.
I’m sure he feels bad for what he
did. We should at least give him another chance.
…I hate that you make me feel
guilty. Sure, we’ll go back some other time.
There’s the good heart in my buddy
that I know.
Whatever.
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