"Nick, you're the best 'bring 'em back alive' man I've got. The best."

This was very true. "You've got a job for me," I said.

"That's correct."

"So why the buildup? Tell me what you want."

"I want something that no other circus has."

"You must be kidding. You have every known animal there is. Why, the bushmaster I brought you two months ago is the longest—"

"It isn't exactly an animal I want."

"Oh? You mean you want a performer? What the hell have I got to do—"

"What I want is out of this world."

"A different kind of act? I still say—"