“Can’t get in where?” asked Arthur. “Is Zhang here?”
“I’m scouting ahead, but I’ll follow Arthur best I can,” Zhang said. “We have to assume a seller of a paranormal artifact is going to have some safeguards in place against magic.”
Rory glanced at Arthur. “You’re gonna be careful, right?”
“You’re supposed to speak only in pantomime,” Arthur said, but his eyes had softened. “I’ll see you all shortly.”
Rory watched with a pang in his chest as Arthur walked toward an open pavilion with columns and a black-and-white marble floor. Away from their group, straight backed as a soldier.
“I’m on him,” Zhang promised, and Rory gave him a grateful smile as his projection flickered out.
“No smiling, Pierrot,” Gwen called over to him, making Rory scowl.
The tourists were packed in tight as they navigated the exposition’s pavilion-lined walkways, statues on pillars and a giant white clock tower stretching up higher than some of the roofs. The different structures all had signs for their countries, as diverse in style as the world was, and several pavilions had lines out the doors.
Their group of four drew curious looks as they wove through the crowds, but no one stopped them or asked about their business. They stepped off the main walkway toward a makeshift fairground built around a red-and-white-striped tent, with a small carousel full of excited children and a man selling crêpes from a kiosk.
“This way,” Jade said, pointing at the large, glass-domed building that rose up over the fairground and exhibits.
They found a path to the back door on the other side of the circus tent. There was a man guarding it. He eyed them speculatively.
Jade stepped to the front, conversing with the guard in quiet French. She gestured pointedly to Rory, and the guard finally smiled. He stepped to the side, graciously opening the door to let them pass.
As they walked in, Gwen murmured, “He wasn’t sure we were performers, until Jade saidwhy would we have Pierrot with us if we weren’t?”
“We told you it was a good idea,” Ellis added. “And Pierrot doesn’t roll his eyes, knock it off.”
Rory had expected the building to be quiet, but instead it nearly vibrated with voices. “There are several halls and auditoriums in here,” Jade explained in a whisper, as they made their way down a marble-floored hallway. “The biggest gallery is exhibiting hot air balloons and airplanes; it’s quite the draw.”
Airplanes. Wow. Maybe if this all worked out, they could come back and see those.
They came to the greenroom, its door open as performers streamed in and out. Rory peeked in and saw at least a dozen people in various stages of undress with no care for the gender of those around them.
He made a tiny squeak.
“It’s theatre, Rory, do close your mouth.” Gwen’s pupils were so large her hazel eyes were nearly black as she scanned the greenroom. “There’s no magic in here.”
“You really think you’ll be able to see the siphon?” Rory whispered.
“You’re not the only one with a relic.” Her pupils shrank back to a normal size. “You can read the history of a landmark; I can scan a large area for magic. Now shush. Pantomime only.”
Jade frowned. “Let’s keep going.”
They left the greenroom and snuck farther into the building, stopping at the end of the hall to watch the entrance room. There were several ushers standing near the ticket counter, in black suits with white gloves. Overhead, model airplanes were displayed in midflight, and a large art piece was stationed next to the counter, made up of at least two dozen replica hot air balloons.
“Coat check is behind them.” Gwen made a thoughtful face. “What are the chances our telekinetic and our invisible man can cause a distraction?”
Ellis looked at the sculpture while Jade considered the hanging airplanes overhead. “I’m sure we can think of something,” she said, starting to smile.
Arthur had, in fact, once been to this very auditorium, on a date to an opera. The other man had also been a wealthy American expatriate, stuck-up, condescending, and argumentative, and with the memory came a fresh wave of appreciation for Rory.
There was a twinge in Arthur’s heart, a brief searing pain almost immediately chased away by the sensation of electricity.
He involuntarily touched his chest, swallowing.
Grateful for many reasons these days.
A Frenchman in a black suit with white gloves showed Arthur upstairs to the private boxes. The usher stopped in the hall in front of a closed velvet curtain, then pulled it back and held it open just wide enough for Arthur to go in.
