picked to become what I am. Animals are simple. Primal. They do what they need to do to fill their most basic needs and urges. They do what they like. They do not debate or choose. They simply are. And do you see how happy they can be? How content in their lives?”
“Yeah.”
“I had a twin sister, long ago. She and I were inseparable. Life was difficult for an Irishman in Boston in the thirties. I crossed the wrong group of men. They threatened my life. That was my burden to bear. But then, they went after Isa. And that…I couldn’t stand. I ran north, hoping to lure them away from Boston. It worked. They pursued me. I came here, and a man approached me. He was the old Zookeeper. He told me what I would become. And more importantly, he told me that I would no longer exist. That Isa would never know she had a twin. That the men I crossed would never come for her. I didn’t hesitate. I said yes. Because I had no choice to make. We do what we must to protect our pack.”
Cora nodded and ruffled the mane of the baby tiger-moose. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Rudy shut his eyes for a moment. “You call Harrow Faire ‘Lazarus.’ Why?”
“That was Clown’s old name. If the Faire wants to stomp around wearing Clown’s memory like a man-suit, he can deal with getting Clown’s old name too.”
Rudy shrugged. “I suppose.” He paused. “At dinner, it told me that Isa lived a long and happy life. That she had three children, who went on to have children, who are all still alive. Somewhere out there…I have great-grand nephews and nieces. Blood of my blood walks this Earth, and they prosper. And it told me this wanting nothing in exchange. It knows it has my loyalty already. It did it to be…kind. To give me peace.”
“I really expected Harrow Faire to be a lot more diabolical. A lot more cruel.” Cora chuckled. “I guess I shouldn’t complain.”
“The Faire is not human. And true cruelty is a facet of mankind. The only animals that hurt each other for sport are those that come dangerously close to our own nature.”
She looked at Rudy for a long time. Studied him. “You’re a weird man.”
He smirked. “I can see how you won Simon.”
“I haven’t won Simon. Nobody wins Simon. I’ve tricked him into enjoying my company for now. That’s all.” She turned back to the animals. She was running low on carrots already, and she wanted to enjoy the moment.
“Do you believe that?”
“I’m in a love triangle with Simon and Simon’s ego.” She smirked. It was a cynical, self-depreciating expression. She was making light of something that hurt her. It was a bad self-defense mechanism, but one she had used since she was a kid. “I know who’s going to win.”
“And you are all right with this?”
“Have you ever been in love, Rudy?”
“Only in a familial sense. So, no. I suppose I’ve been lucky. I see what it does to others. I’m not sure I’m missing out on very much.”
Cora laughed. The laugh ended in a long, maudlin sigh. That was what this whole thing was about. Self-pity. Later, she’d go get drunk to cap off her day, but it seemed weird to get wasted at ten in the morning. Even if she was pretty sure Bertha was always half in the bottle.
“Love is strange. I thought I knew what it was before, with Duncan…and maybe I did love him. Maybe I’m fooling myself. Maybe I just have abjectly terrible taste in men.”
Rudy snickered. Actually snickered.
Cora tried not to take that personally. And failed. She rolled her eyes. “But Simon…he makes me laugh. He makes me smile. He can be sweet. His sarcasm is addictive, once you get used to it. He’s not nearly as abrasive as he seems on the surface.”
“I will have to take your word for it.”
“I’ll tell you this much. If you get a chance to love someone—not in spite of who they are, but because of it? Do it. Drop everything and do it.” She fed her last carrot to the mother tiger-moose. The animal had been very patient the whole time, being the least pushy of the three for treats. Cora wasn’t surprised. The mother creature leaned its head down and nibbled on her shoulder when it was done munching on the carrot. “Because trust me…it’s worth it.”
“I