Chapter 9 of 26 · Book 2, Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Chapter 9 — Heather the Bear

Book: Carl's Doomsday Scenario · Previous: Chapter 8 — Water Lily · Next: Chapter 10 — The big top · Floor: Floor 3 — The Over City · Series: the series

Opening

The usual music and bombastic, over-the-loudspeaker announcement never came.

Summary

Heather the Bear, level 19: eight feet on roller skates, a clown hat fused to her skull, worms for claws that whip out, wrap Carl's legs and speak inside his head. Protective Shell severs them; a jug of moonshine and a torch set her alight; the scratch-off ticket comes up Custard — which heals her and kills the worms, leaving an old, tired bear who wants it over. Carl punches and stomps.

Her blood flies to Signet. Mordecai has learned the program's name — Vengeance of the Daughter — and the cure for Water Lily, which is not for sale in this town. Signet's summoned squad turns out to be paper: two-dimensional tattoo monsters the size of buildings that nonetheless shred the circus's defences. Only the big top holds, and only a ticket-holder can go inside and break three poles.

Characters

• Heather the Bear — Fought, freed, finished.
• Carl — First solo boss; level 15; 'I am so fucked.'
• Tsarina Signet — Casts Ink Marauder; leads the paper army.
• Mordecai — Names the show; finds the cure; Ink Marauder explained.
• Zev — Asked to carry a message to producers.

Locations

• Grimaldi's Traveling Circus — The night assault.

Motifs

• Vengeance of the Daughter — Named.
• The mobs are victims — Heather's eyes: 'End it.'