meeting them one at a time with direct looks. He’s good, Carny thought with a sick feeling. Awfully good.
“Now I’m a businessman, and I don’t usually let personal feelings get in the way of sound decision-making. But having gotten to know the people of Serenity — well, I have to tell you, I don’t think I have to look any further.”
Applause erupted over the crowd, and Carny looked around, appalled. He hadn’t even told them what he was doing, and already they’d given him hearty approval.
“There are a lot of citizens in Serenity who, through no fault of their own, have lost their farms. The banks own them now, and good farmers have had to turn to factory work in Odessa to support their families. Those of you who are more fortunate, the ones lucky enough to have made a lot of money from oil leases on your land, are still getting nervous. Your wells are playing out. The money’s not coming in like it used to. It’s time for all of you, whatever your economic status is currently — farmers, factory workers, business owners, sales clerks, secretaries, and oil boomers — to find something else to put your hopes and dreams into, something else that can make Serenity the prosperous town it once was.”
Again, thunderous applause filled the bingo hall.
“Here’s the bottom line,” he said. “My investors are going to build a multi-billion-dollar amusement park somewhere in Texas. It’s going to make Astroworld look like a state fair and put Six Flags out of business. In fact, it will be on the same scale as Disney World. King Enterprises is building a team of engineers — some even worked for Disney, so they know their stuff — to create the kind of theme park that people will plan their vacations around, and they’ll fly their families in just to experience it.”
Oohs and ahhs rose over the crowd, then turned into applause.
“Whatever community we choose is going to get sopping rich,” Logan went on. “The citizens of Serenity who own their own businesses will see unbelievable increases in their profits, and there will be thousands of new jobs. But the best thing about this endeavor is that we’re willing to cut the community in. You invest in this project and you’ll get a percentage of the profits. No matter how much or how little you put in, you’ll get your cut. And ladies and gentlemen, I think there’d have to be something wrong with anybody who’d pass up a chance like this. You just can’t lose.”
An amusement park, Carny thought as the crowd roared in approval. Perfect. He’d rake in his profits tonight, taking everything anyone would give him, and then he’d be on the highway out of town before the sun came up tomorrow.
Anger shot through her as she stood looking around at the excitement, the fever, on everyone’s face. Without another thought, she pushed through those standing on the sides of the room and made her way to the front. As the applause died enough for her to be heard, she darted in front of Logan Brisco, grabbed the microphone, and shouted, “Wait a minute! I have something to say!”
For the first time that night, his grin waned, but he quickly rallied. “Be my guest,” he said. “This is a big venture. It’s going to require a little discussion. Carny …” He gestured toward the microphone, surrendering it completely.
“First of all,” she said, “I think it’s important that we think about what’s going on here. This man has been in town for two weeks. Two weeks! We know virtually nothing about him, yet most of you are already reaching for your checkbooks. What’s wrong with this picture?”
A moan of protest swept over the crowd, and she raised her hand to stop them. “You all know about my background, so you know why I can spot a con man from ten miles away. My dad used to say that the people he conned deserved it, because their greed made them gullible. Are you people going to let greed drive you? Brother Tommy preached on that last Sunday. God was probably preparing us for this night, for this pitch. Remember what Jesus said? That you can’t serve God and money? I stayed in this town because so many of you are good people who love the Lord. But, as Brother Tommy said, when you give in to greed, you step out of God’s blessing and protection. You don’t want that,