We left the car and stood on the scorching, sandy ground, regarding the holiday park. Close to the road and to our left were two rows of sideshow shacks. All the ones we could see had their shutters drawn down. Immediately to our right was a large wooden building, painted off-white, with lurid, brightly coloured images of ghosts, vampires, skeletons, witches, scary black cats, and so on. This too was closed, with a green waterproof sheet pulled down across the part of the building where the ticket office and ride entrance were located. There was a carousel, not shrouded or covered, and a race track for electric cars.

Immediately next to the carousel was a burger bar, offering soft drinks, ice creams, hot dogs, pizzas. The lights were on, radiating bright and blinking messages about prices and meal deals. A young woman was standing behind the counter, watching us expectantly.

Beyond, with curving and geometric lines crossing against the sky, stood a traditional wooden rollercoaster. I could see workers on various parts of the track, high on the structure, hammering and drilling. One was in a suspended cradle, painting. At the base of the structure a man in a metal face guard was welding one of the support girders – a brilliant blue flame, a cascade of scattering yellow sparks. Further on, and to each side of the rollercoaster I could see other high rides, some more modern and technological in appearance than the old coaster.

Spoder and I had continued to walk slowly into the park, beneath the arch. Suddenly, loud pop music came on, over-amplified and screeching, and the lights of the carousel flashed into life.

The woman selling burgers and drinks came out of her concession and approached us.

‘May I help you gentlemen? We’re closed for maintenance right now, but we can start up any of the rides if they are not being worked on.’

‘Thank you,’ Spoder said, glancing at me as if for a decision. I shrugged. He had the file, he knew what he was looking for and I did not. ‘We’re interested in the magic museum you have here.’

‘Willer’s World of Wonders? Sure thing. It’s closed at the moment, but I can open it up for you. You do understand there is no magic show these days? When the season begins we’re hoping—’

‘We’d simply like to see inside.’

‘No problem. These days we maintain it as a museum, an exhibition of magical history. You can go in and look around, but it’s also a memorial to the magician who built the museum. All his apparatus is still in there. There’s a case of his magical props, and several working illusions children can try. I’ll have those switched on for you.’

‘Did you know the magician?’ I said.