‘Did you know the Carnivale has come to town?’ Chet asked. ‘I look for it year-round,’ Chet continued. ‘It represents our struggle with good and evil in entertainment form,’ Chet laughed. ‘Last August I visited the headless man,’ Chet noted. ‘After his performance, I snuck backstage and there he was smoking a cigar and sitting in a plush Victorian chair,’ Chet said. ‘When the Headless man saw me, he motioned for me to come into his living room and sit down for a chat,’ Chet observed. ‘He knew my name and the names of my mom and dad,’ Chet whispered. ‘We spoke of the War in Vietnam and the assassination of President Kennedy,’ Chet continued. ‘The Headless Man said that her had been in Vietnam and seen combat,’ Chet informed. ‘He mentioned his wife and three kids in New York and how glad he would be to see them in the winter when the Carnivale shut down till the spring,’ Chet said. ‘The Headless Man asked me if I had thought of joining the Carnivale,’ Chet said. ‘He noted that it is the perfect place for a rebel against artificial order. Chet winked. ‘Carnivale accepts the unacceptable,’ Chet noted. ‘Those who stick out in the restrictive milieu of conventional people fit right in with Carnivale,’ Chet grinned. ‘As I was talking with the Headless Man, three Gnomes passed by and bid us good day,’ Chet said. ‘They were carrying bundles of toys for Christmas on their backs,’ Chet laughed. ‘I asked them where they were going and they replied that Santa was already deep in his Christmas preparations and needed their services.’ Chet danced on one foot and then the other.

‘Well, of course, the Headless Man was not truly headless…right,’ Jane asked. ‘It was a show of mirrors, Jane said. ‘Did you see how he portrayed himself as headless?’ Jane asked.

‘The Headless Man held his head under his arm and during our conversation, he lit a cigar to place in his bodyless head’s mouth while remaining seated in his favorite chair,’ Chet smiled knowingly. ‘He complimented me on my lack of shock or surprise,’ Chet said. ‘The Headless Man observed that being headless was an advantage in Vietnam as he could be in two places at once,’ Chet smiled. ‘The Headless Man said he had observed that he made sounder decisions than political leaders who have their head attached to their bodies,’ Chet laughed.

‘Come One, Come All to see what the Carnivale Master has created,’ the Carnivale Barker announced with aplomb. ‘In just a moment, we will reveal a leader for our times that we have created in our Carnivale Trailer, we call the Laboratory,’ Carnivale Barker said. ‘Some call him the forerunner of Christ while others call him the Antichrist,’ Carnivale said softly. ‘He loves those who love him until…he does not,’ Carnivale Barker warned. ‘The Faux Leader refuses labels as he is guided by a Strange Spirit,’ CB said. ‘He promises everything to his acolytes and subsequently tells them he does not want their love or support and refers to them as stupid,’ CB noted. ‘People hate him until they see him, and his gaze mesmerizes them,’ CB observed. ‘He is like Medusa, where if you look upon him, you will be turned into stone,’ Carnivale Barker warned. ‘Remember my warning, dear friends, as I must leave you now and not look upon his visage,’ CB whispered.

‘Welcome, my friends…I am here for you and your needs,’ Faux Leader said with a jaunty dance and a wicked smile. ‘I will provide the Necessary Things for you,’ FL said with a smirk. ‘Do not fear the Antichrist…I kind of like the title,’ Faux Leader assured with a wink.