I’m not exactly a people person but g
oing solo just hasn’t been workin’ that well, lately. As I’d said in my last post, I’d had a small group, after bein’ solo for 7 years, but then those soldiers in black (as Tarot calls ’em) showed up and you lot know the rest. So after that, I had to work out a plan of how to get the attention of the Sullivan Brothers Carnival without gettin’ caught by those Tarot and me and the Carnies are hidin’ from. Not an easy task and far more complicated than balancin’ plates. I don’t care what my ex-colleague says. Took a lot of blood, sweat, and beers, but I finally came up with a fine tuned plan. While I wouldn’t call it fool proof, it does have a high chance of success.
Although Tarot pointed out that the Sullivan Brothers
Carnival likely have someone on board with a gift similar to hers, most who see just have either precognition or psychometry. Tarot sees more than that. Definitely a plus and a point in our favour. Also, of the two of us, she’s also the flashier, as I much prefer to stay unseen. After all, I am the invisible man and I’m also the one best experienced at what to watch for. So I told Tarot that she would have to be bait- I mean the enticement. Granted, Tarot showing off her gift was as likely to attract undesirables as well as the Carnie folks we were seeking, so I’d have to stick close and keep watch over her invisibly. That was the one part of my plan Tarot didn’t object to. Seemed enthusiastic about it, actually.
We needed supplies, and although Tarot never complains about my habit o’ nickin’ things, she’s not exactly the most graceful assistant. And she has a bad habit o’ bein’ easily distracted, and her gettin’ distracted was doubly likely where I planned to go liftin’. So I told her to stay put. She didn’t like that but she listened. I found a string o’ shops full o’ mystical flashy hoo-hah and psychedelic stuff. Stuff that the late crack head painter might have liked. Reckoned it woulda been right up his alley, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s dead. Very reminiscent of an acid trip directed by a new age guru with eastern tour guides. I nicked a crystal ball, some nag champa incense, some psychedelic tapestries, and some suitable costumes for Tarot. Tarot was happy to see me return, if you’ll pardon the pun, no shock there, but she actually seemed to really like the crazy costumes I’d brought her. She liked the crystal ball as well, though she insisted it wasn’t somethin’ she was used to usin’. I told her, “It’s just for show, luv. The marks will expect it. Besides, y’never know; you might actually be able to do somethin’ with it.” I let her get dressed and, I must say, she certainly looked the part, with what I’d given her. I told Tarot to practice lookin’ like a seer as well as to practice with her cards and the new crystal ball, and I went out again, alone, on another supply run.
This time I was lookin’ for more mundane stuff. I went several different places in search of cash as well as for some travelling cases to put our new gear in. I reckoned that one way or another we’d be doin’ a lot o’ movin’ around either once we managed to connect with the Carnie or while trying to find them and avoid undesirables. I also needed to find us an ‘alf decent base of operations to work out of. Found a cheep storefront bein’ rented by this bloke who was more interested in the money I handed ‘im than askin’ any questions. Nicked a few more supplies and made a sign for the place then fetched Tarot to set up shop. So we’re all moved in and waitin’ for customers and the Carnie folks to show. All in all, it’s not a bad gig. Tarot and I have done this sort o’ thing before so we should hold up well enough and long enough for an opportunity to go elsewhere to present itself. Hopefully, that elsewhere will be with the Carnival.