Free The Japanese Devil Fish Girl by Robert Rankin Page A

coincidence?’ George gave a drunken hiccup.
     
    ‘On this occasion, yes. Although some might discern the finger of Fate pointing, pointing, pointing.’ Professor Coffin pointed a finger at George. ‘Pointing at you, young George.’
     
    ‘I am no one special,’ said George. ‘Although I know I would like to be.’
     
    ‘Then perhaps this is your moment. This very day the turning point in your life.’
     
    ‘Really?’ said George. ‘Do you really think so?’
     
    ‘I believe that everyone has such a moment. But few are they who recognise it as such and follow where Fate leads them.’
     
    ‘Well,’ said George. ‘I do not know what to say.’
     
    A shooting star passed across the sky and George Fox wished upon it.
     
     
    The dawn brought with it spots of rain, and the rooftop lost its charm.
     
    ‘Where to now?’ asked George, as he took to blearily raking out the firebox of the traction engine. ‘Onward with the wagons to another fair, or what?’
     
    Professor Coffin brought forth a hip flask, poured a tot of ‘Mother’s Ruin’ into its cap and offered this to George.
     
    ‘An early-morning enlivener,’ he said. ‘But surely you recall our late-night conversation?’
     
    ‘That my moment has come and I must follow where Fate will lead?’
     
    ‘The very same. What are your thoughts upon this matter this morning?’
     
    George gazed off all around and about. The show folk were stirring from their tents and caravans. Loading up their gaily painted wagons. Priming their steam engines, stoking coal. Romany women washed their clothes in oversized zinc baths. Ragged children played amongst the show boards and rolled canvas.
     
    George took a deep and steadying breath. ‘I love this life,’ he said.
     
    Professor Coffin eyed him thoughtfully. ‘You are a natural to it,’ he said. ‘But it will not suit for ever. There is more to you, young George. More that is still to be discovered.’
     
    ‘And the Japanese Devil Fish Girl?’ George asked.
     
    ‘Whom some call Sayito?’
     
    George made a face that had no expression. ‘What do you make of it all?’
     
    ‘It is what you make of it all that matters, George. You are the one who has been offered prophecy. If you were to ask me to join you in a search for the most wonderful being in all of the universe, the greatest sideshow attraction that ever ever existed, what do you think my answer might be?’
     
    ‘I can smell Martian from here,’ said George. ‘I think your answer would be “yes”.’
     
    ‘So, do we seek Her? What do you think?’
     
    ‘I think we do ,’ said George.
     
    Professor Coffin did a little dance. He spat into the palm of his right hand and smacked it into George’s. ‘When you find this wonder,’ he said merrily, ‘and I do mean when and not if. When you find this wonder, you must promise me that we will go fifty-fifty on all of the takings.’
     
    ‘Fifty-fifty?’ said George.
     
    ‘If that suits you, my boy.’
     
    ‘It does indeed.’
     
    ‘Then that is the deal shaken on.’
     
    This deal shaken on, the two of them stood with their hands in their pockets gazing around and about.
     
    ‘So,’ said George.
     
    ‘So indeed,’ said the professor.
     
    ‘Right,’ said George.
     
    ‘As right as a nine-penny portion,’ said the professor.
     
    ‘Cheese,’ said George.
     
    And, ‘Cheese?’ said the professor.
     
    ‘I have run out of things to say,’ said George.
     
    ‘Fiddle de, fiddle dum. We must formulate a plan of campaign.’
     
    ‘I would not reject breakfast out of hand,’ said George.
     
    ‘A plan of campaign,’ said Professor Coffin. ‘If we are to discover this wonder, it would be well for us to have some inkling of where to search. Do you not agree?’
     
    ‘Japan,’ said George. Without hesitation.
     
    ‘It would seem the logical place to start.’ Professor Coffin took to pacing up and down, measuring his strides with his cane.
     
    ‘We