Free The Ninth Nightmare by Graham Masterton Page B

playing but Kiera found it difficult to tell where it was coming from, because it faded and swelled in the wind. It was a discordant version of In The Good Old Summertime , which she and Kieran used to sing together when they were very little, and she couldn’t help herself from silently singing the words in her head.
    â€˜ In the good old summertime – in the good old summertime —’
    Several of the tents or trailers were lit up inside, but all of the tent flaps were tightly secured and the trailers had black blinds drawn down at every window. It was raining even harder now and the rumble- slap ! of wet canvas was almost deafening.
    Kieran and Kiera made their way around to the front of the marquee. From this angle they could read the red illuminated letters on top of the archway, even though they were trembling in the wind. They said Albrecht’s Traveling Circus & Freak Show .
    Kiera tugged anxiously at Kieran’s hand. ‘Kieran – she can’t be here. I think we’re making a mistake. Let’s go back.’
    â€˜â€” strolling through the shady lanes with your baby mine —’
    Kieran said, ‘No – I’m sure she’s here! It’s almost like I can hear her calling to us! Come on – let’s just take a quick scout around.’
    He went through the archway but Kiera stayed where she was. She had such a bad feeling about this. ‘Kieran,’ she said. ‘Please don’t. I’m really frightened.’
    Kieran went up to the front of the marquee and took hold of the flap. ‘Come on, sis . . . it’s only some old circus.’
    â€˜Yes, but freak show ? Who has freak shows these days?’
    â€˜I don’t know. But there’s only one way to find out.’
    â€˜â€” you hold her hand, and she holds yours, and that’s a very good sign —’
    He drew back the flap and pushed his way inside. Kiera hesitated for a moment and then she followed him. The flap was heavy and wet and smelled of soil and diesel oil, and something else, too – something that brought back a strong childhood memory. Popcorn.
    Once through the flap, the twins found themselves in a small, stuffy vestibule, not much larger than the inside of a wardrobe, and when the flap fell back it was totally dark inside. Kiera nearly panicked, because she hated confined spaces. But then Kieran pulled back the second flap, and they stepped into the main marquee.
    The marquee appeared much larger on the inside than it had from the outside, with at least a dozen gasoliers suspended from the roof, and dark red drapes all around the walls, arranged in swags. Tiers of wooden seats were arranged around a low boarded stage. It was more like an old-time vaudeville theater than a circus tent.
    â€˜â€” that she’s your tootsie-wootsie – in the good old summertime —’
    Kieran walked out on to the stage and circled around. ‘Anybody here?’ he called out. ‘Hallo there! Anybody here?’
    Kiera said, ‘For God’s sake, Kieran. Supposing there is somebody here? We’re trespassing!’
    â€˜I know – but they’re not going to be mad at us, are they? Circus folk, they’re always real friendly.’
    â€˜Oh, yes? And how do you know? You’ve never been to a circus in your life.’
    â€˜I saw Toby Tyler .’
    â€˜Oh, sure. And I saw Something Wicked This Way Comes .’
    Kieran called out again. ‘Halloo! Anybody here?’ But again there was no reply.
    â€˜Come on, let’s go,’ Kiera urged him. ‘This place really creeps me out. And don’t forget that we have a rehearsal first thing tomorrow. We have to get at least a couple hours’ sleep.’
    â€˜OK, OK. But I want to take a quick look around outside.’ They were about to leave the marquee when they heard a sudden clattering of feet behind the tiers of seats. They turned around –