The Funhouse

my first season working for you, and I didn't want to complain about anything until I understood your routines better. But that business with the kids really bugged me. There's something creepy about it. And now it's starting all over again this year. I just don't like being a part of it.”
        “Then quit,” Straker said sharply. “Go to work for someone else.”
        “But, except for this one thing, I like the job. It's good work and good pay.”
        “Then do what you're told, take your paycheck, and shut up,” Straker said. “Or get the hell out. It's your choice.”
        Straker tried to pull away from the albino, but Ghost would not relinquish his hold on the larger man's arm. His bony, clammy, death-white hand had a surprisingly strong grip. “Tell me one thing. Just to set my mind at ease.”
        “What is it?” Straker asked impatiently.
        “If you ever find who you're looking for, do you intend to hurt him… or her?”
        “Of course not,” Straker lied. “Why would I hurt him?”
        “Well, I don't understand why you're so obsessed with this search, unless-”
        “Look,” Straker said, “there's a woman to whom I'm deeply indebted. I've lost track of her over the years. I know she has children by now, and every time I see a kid who resembles her, I check it out. I figure I might be lucky enough to stumble across her daughter or son, find her, and repay the debt.”
        Ghost frowned. “You're going to an awful lot of trouble just to-”
        “It's an awfully big debt,” Straker said, interrupting him. “It's on my conscience. I won't rest easy until I repay it.”
        “But the chance that she'd have a kid that looks like her, the chance that her kid will come wandering past your funhouse some day… Do you realize what a long shot that is?”
        “I know it's unlikely,” Straker said. “But it doesn't cost me anything to keep an eye out for kids who resemble her. And crazier things happen.”
        The albino looked into Straker's eyes, searching for signs of deception or truth.
        Straker was not able to read anything in Ghost's eyes, for they were too strange to be interpreted. Because they were without color, they were also without character. White and faded pink. Watery. Bottomless eyes. The albino's gaze was piercing but cold, emotionless.
        At last Ghost said, “All right. I guess if you're just trying to find someone to repay an old debt… there's nothing wrong with me helping you.”
        “Good. It's settled. Now I've got to talk to Gunther for a minute, and then I'm going over to Zena's. You take over the pitchman's roost for me,” Straker said, finally managing to pull free of the albino's moist hand.
        Inside the funhouse a new chorus of girlish voices wailed in a shrill imitation of horror.
        As the huge clown's face spat out another mechanical laugh, Straker hurried across the barker's platform, beneath a banner that proclaimed THE BIGGEST FUNHOUSE IN THE WORLD! He descended the wooden steps, went past the red-and-black ticket booth, and paused for a moment near the boarding gate where sever al ticket holders were stepping down into the brightly painted gondolas that would carry them through the funhouse.
        Conrad looked up at Gunther, who was standing on a six-foot-square platform to the left of the boarding gate and four feet above it. Gunther was waving his long arms and growling at the marks below him, pretending to threaten them. He was an impressive figure, better than six and a half feet tall, more than two hundred and fifty pounds of bone and muscle. His shoulders were enormous. He was dressed all in black, and his entire head was covered by a Hollywood-quality, Frankenstein monster mask that disappeared under his collar. He was also wearing monster gloves-big, green rubber hands streaked with fake blood-that extended beneath the cuffs of his jacket. Suddenly Gunther noticed Conrad looking up at him, and he turned, favoring him with an especially fierce growl.
        Straker grinned. He made a circle with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand, giving Gunther a sign of approval.
        Gunther capered around the platform in a clumsy monster dance of delight.
        The people waiting to board the gondolas laughed and applauded the monster's performance.
        With a fine sense of theater, Gunther abruptly turned vicious once more and roared at his audience. A couple of girls