The Circus Infinitus: The Bidgee Code

By Ethan Somerville

For the first time, the mysterious travelling circus known as the Circus Infinitus arrives in Australia, where it immediately attracts the attention of an infamous Victorian villain. Dr Nikola has heard of Professor Abbacus’ Immortality Machine and wants it for himself. However, he doesn’t know the full extent of the Circus folks’ powers, and will not confront them on his own. So he enlists the help of the Benevolant Society, who also desire the Circus’ secrets.

Dr Nikola manages to split up the Circus folks by sending the more powerful characters on a wild treasure hunt across Australia. Following clues on a series of maps hidden in famous locations, the Ringmaster, Professor Abbacus, Dr Tumblety and Felina search for the massive, mythical vein of gold known as Lasseter’s Reef.

The remaining Circus folk receive aid from unexpected sources – a local inventor, aboriginal warriors and displaced werewolves from the Grey Howler tribe. However, will they all be enough to stop the ruthless Dr Nikola, the Benevolent Society and their Stigmata allies from invading and plundering the magical secrets of the Circus Infinitus?

Also Available:
The Circus Infinitus Stories Volume 1
The Circus Infinitus Stories Volume 2
The Circus Infinitus - Broken Promise

• Language: English
• Publisher: Storm Publishing
• Release date: Mar 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301142729

Ethan Somerville

Ethan Somerville is a prolific Australian author with over 20 books published, and many more to come. These novels cover many different genres, including romance, historical, children's and young adult fiction. However Ethan's favourite genres have always been science fiction and fantasy. Ethan has also collaborated with other Australian authors and artists, including Max Kenny, Emma Daniels, Anthony Newton, Colin Forest, Tanya Nicholls and Carter Rydyr.

Book preview

The Circus Infinitus Presents:

The Bidgee Code

Or

The Search for Lasseter’s Gold

By Ethan Somerville & Anthony Newton

Copyright 2010/2013

* * * *

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Storm Publishing on Smashwords

The Circus Infinitus – The Bidgee Code

Copyright 2011/2013 by Ethan Somerville & Anthony Newton

www.stormpublishing.net

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * *

Prologue

A tall, handsome man with smooth, olive skin and curly, jet-black hair swept back from his forehead settled into a comfortable wing-chair with a telegram in his slender, well-manicured hands. Nearby, a stick of incense burned in a holder, filling the large, cluttered chamber with a pleasant jasmine odour. As per orders from London the telegram had been sealed as soon as it had been recorded, and immediately rushed to the man’s address despite the lateness of the hour.

The man broke the seal and started to read.

"Dr Nikola,

Last location outside Cairo. Now lost in sand-storm. Could be anywhere. Will advise next.

Yours,

IntelliGent

Dr Nikola frowned, not happy with this latest development.

On top of a bureau next to the chair, a very large, fluffy black cat with demonic yellow eyes poised to leap into his lap. But then the doctor rose to his feet in one fluid movement and glided rather than walked across the room. The cat glared after him in disdain, then jumped down and followed on silent paws.

Dr Nikola passed through tall shelves and glass cases crammed with jars of grotesque specimens, bottles of weird chemicals, books, and racks of weapons, strange mechanical devices and magical artefacts. Finally he stopped at a map of the world hanging against the far wall. He stared at the random assortment of coloured pins inserted into the map, then selected another from a container hanging nearby. Carefully he pushed it into Cairo.

That’s the closest so far, he mused, planting his hands on his narrow hips. If I was currently in residence in my base at Port Said, I could rendezvous with you! But I’m not, and I doubt I will make it in time. When are you coming here?

Beside him, the cat arched its back and rubbed itself against one of his legs. Absently he scratched it between the ears. It purred in satisfaction, forgetting the earlier snub.

Nikola started to pace in agitation along a groove already worn into the carpet from countless previous wanderings. But scarcely had he taken two laps when he felt the strangest sensation wash over him, like a breeze that had come in through the ether.

However his various candles and burners remained unaffected, and he realised he had experienced the strange sensation with his mind. He had always been attuned to changes in reality, but this was something different. This was a dark portal opening. He had never felt anything like it.

He stopped his pacing and crossed to the shelf of ancient books. He selected one, flipped through it, and found the piece he was looking for. He frowned again, slammed the book closed, and hurried over to the shelf that contained machines. The cat meowed, irritated by his sudden moves. Normally its master did not dart around so quickly, like an agitated sparrow.

The doctor lifted a pair of spectacles with various lenses attached, and placed them on his thin aristocratic nose. Adjusting the lenses, he looked through all the spectra of reality. At last, at the very edge of his great perception, Dr Nikola saw ripples in the Immaterium. The book had been right!

Whipping off the glasses, the doctor reached for another contraption, much larger than the specs, and containing many more lenses. He carried it over to a set of French doors, where a large telescope stood on a steel track. He attached the device to the front of the scope, then opened the doors and pushed the big, bulky instrument out onto a balcony, into a still winter’s night.

He adjusted the lenses until he could see into the Immaterium, and swung the scope around.

Yes! There it was!

The rippling he had noticed before, only larger now. Clearer, lying many miles to the west. But not so far that he couldn’t reach it! A portal had opened up, and as he watched through his scope it twisted closed like a sphincter. But the ripples remained, to drift outwards across the nothingness for hours until they dispersed.

What had caused such a disturbance?

The doctor could think of only one thing. What popular device could leap from place to place as though by Magick, never following a logical path, and never giving any indication of its next location?

Why, the very device he sought, of course!

He couldn’t believe his luck!

Dr Nikola trundled his scope back inside and closed the doors. He knew it was late, but he could sleep on the way, and besides, he didn’t need much rest. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. At last, he would get to see the Circus Infinitus – and more importantly, learn the secret of immortality!

Dr Nikola reached for a bell-pull, summoning sleeping servants to ready his landau.

* * * *

Chapter 1

The Circus Infinitus appeared on a large grassy plain in the dead of night. Its sudden arrival startled some kangaroos that had been resting nearby, and they bounced off in terror, disappearing into bushland at the edge of the field. A thin crescent moon hung from the clouds like a druid’s abandoned sickle, and after the roos scattered, only the wind’s eerie moan could be heard.

As usual, the Ringmaster was the first to poke his head out of the Big Top. With his acute telepathic senses, he couldn’t detect any life-forms or more eldritch forces, and withdrew to proclaim to the rest of the circus folks that the area was safe. Everyone was allowed to return to their various beds for the rest of the night.

Even though several days had passed since their narrow escape from Egypt, the folks of the Circus Infinitus were still exhausted from their desperate flight through the Immaterium. Although a couple of carnies staggered from the big top to various tents, no-one was particularly interested in exploring their new surroundings. Only a few minutes after its appearance, the Circus was silent and dead to the world.

No-one saw the three natives, laden down with fresh kills, emerge from the scrub and stop dead at the sight of the carnival. They exchanged horrified glances.

By the Sky Father, where did that come from? one gasped.

The second aborigine could only shake his head in confusion. More vile white-man magic, I’ll warrant, he growled. We should avoid it. They may be in communication with the homestead.

You’ll get no argument from me, brother, agreed the third man.

The three hunters crept cautiously from the forest and began to skirt the Circus. They had crossed this meadow two days earlier, and then it had been completely empty.

Those white buggers are clever and know many tricks, but I’ve never seen anything like this.

Yes. I’ve never seen them make something appear out of thin air.

It smells funny too, like that stuff the white-men use to light their fires.

It smells more like the stuff they put in their guns.

The three men hurried into the bush on the other side, to make their way down to a creek where the rest of their tribe was encamped. Their families welcomed the fresh sheep, but as always they were worried about the thievery. One day soon they would be discovered and all hell would break loose.

But it was far easier for the half-starved natives to steal fat, slow-moving sheep from the nearby paddock rather than exhaust themselves sprinting after swiftly-moving roos. The mutton also tasted better too; tough, but not nearly as gamy.

Unfortunately for the natives, their luck ran out only a few hours later when a thin pink line of dawn was already marching across the eastern horizon. Distant barking roused the light-sleeping warriors, and the three brothers all jerked awake, reaching for their spears. They recognised the baying of dogs from the homestead. They had been very careful when killing the sheep, but obviously some blood must have been spilled.

The warriors roused the rest of the group, sending the elders, women, and young children scuttling off into the bush. The brothers took with them several young men and headed the other way, hopefully to lure the white hunters in the opposite direction.

In the excitement they had forgotten all about the mysterious carnival that had appeared so suddenly the night before.

What the- that’s new! gasped one of the younger warriors.

It showed up last night. We have no idea what it is, declared the oldest brother.

The barking grew closer. The trees they had been heading towards seemed horribly distant.

We’ll never make it! Let’s take our chances with the camp! exclaimed the middle brother, the most impetuous of the three. He darted in between two tents, leaving the others with no other choice but to follow him. The oldest, most sensible sibling cursed his name, but led the rest through.

Just in time, for the dogs and their masters soon came running up. The hounds had been pursuing a good trail when suddenly it stopped at a strange invisible line that immediately confounded their senses. They stopped, whining and scratching at the ground in confusion. All immediately tucked their tails between their legs.

What is it, you dumb mutts? growled the dogs’ owner, a massive squatter named Douglas.

Sir- One of his farmhands grabbed his arm and pointed a shaking finger.

Douglas had been focussed on his animals. Slowly he looked up, his bloodshot eyes widening in horror.

"Where the hell did that come from? he exploded. I didn’t give any gypsies permission to camp here!"

I don’t think they’re gypsies, sir – this doesn’t look like any gypsy camp that I’ve ever seen! More like an entire damn carnival!

The farmers moved completely from the trees, seeing the camp in its full glory. It was enormous! The brightly striped tent at the centre towered many feet above their heads, three tall, dark chimneys rising from the back. Small balls of smoke puffed slowly from the stacks. The men also noticed a Ferris wheel and a sprawling spider-web construction made from steel that seemed as wide as the entire camp. Other permanent looking structures consisted of a grotesque carousel comprised of fantasy creatures, and a funhouse done up like an old Tudor dwelling. Everything appeared to be connected to the main tent by thick cables that snaked across the grass and disappeared beneath its canvas shroud. They couldn’t believe their senses. How the Hell had this entire thing gotten down here? There was only one access road to the farm, and it ran right past the main homestead! Surely someone would have noticed something this damn big drive past!

Suddenly one of the other farmhands spotted movement between two caravans and he hefted his rifle. He caught sight of a dark-skinned back and opened fire. There was a surprised yelp of pain, and the native dropped out of sight.

Those black bastards are hiding in the camp, sir!

That was enough for Douglas, who’d suspected for a while that aborigines were stealing his sheep. A blood-red haze descending on his vision, he readied his own rifle and charged into the circus site, heading in the direction his man had indicated. He noticed a dark-skinned fellow, little more than a boy, trying to scramble under one of the brightly coloured