“After all, Mr. Sneelock is one of my friends. He might even help out doing small odds and ends. Doing little odd jobs, he could be of some aid... such as selling balloons and the pink lemonade. I think five hundred gallons will be about right. And THEN, I’ll be ready for Opening Night!”
“And now here is a Hoodwink
Who winks in his wink-hood.
Without a good wink-hood
A Hoodwink can’t wink good.
And, folks, let me tell you
There’s only one circus
with wink-hood Hoodwinks!
The Circus McGurkus!”
“Again Sneelock! Brave Sneelock is back risking life on the patented Life-Risking-Track while the speedsters I call my Colliding-Collusions race round in swift cars called Abrasion-Contusions and Sneelock just lies there. Not one bit excited I know he won’t mind. He’ll be simply delighted.”
“The Circus McGurkus! The cream of the cream!
The Circus McGurkus! The Circus Supreme!
The Circus McGurkus! Colossal! Stupendous!
Astounding! Fantastic! Terrific! Tremendous! ”
“What an Opening Night! What a night! What a sight!
I’ll host up the curtains! The crowds will crowd in! And my Circus McGurkus will promptly begin with a welcoming toot on my Welcoming Horn”
“With his hair still combed neat four thousand, six hundred and ninety-two feet! Then he’ll land in a fish bowl. He’ll manage just fine. Don’t ask how he’ll manage. That’s his job. Not mine.”
“See the Wily Wallo who can throw his long tail as a sort of lasso! With a flip of the hip, with a tail of his kind he can capture whoever is standing behind! He can capture old Sneelock. I’m sure he won’t mind.
“The result is animals from the circus are wandering around the train tracks. Fortunately nobody is hurt but the animals need rounding up so the Bobbseys keep out of the way until that is sorted out.”
Steve remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire-- but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea.
As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires. This is the beginning of Darren’s story.