Summary

A few months later, Poppet visits Chandresh in his London apartment. She wanders through the deserted apartment with him before coming out with her true intention: she wants Chandresh to sign over ownership of the circus to her. Surprisingly, Chandresh agrees. He has great plans for future projects, but ever since the circus started, his brain has felt addled. Poppet smiles knowingly and gives Chandresh a gift in return for his generosity: a clear mind for the future. Although she isn't capable of giving the old man back his memories, she can ensure that his mind is focused for his future projects: "As soon as her lips touch his skin, Chandresh feels better than he has in years, as though the last of the fog has been lifted from him" (p. 492).

A year later, Widget makes a visit of...