Rory had to agree with that. But there were still a lot of flaws in the plan. “You can’t really think everyone at the world’s fair is just gonna let us in wherever we want so we can look around. Maybe Zhang’ll be all right on the astral plane, but for the rest of us, everyone’ll just tell us to mind our business and scram.”

Gwen and Ellis exchanged a look. “Well, we have had an idea,” said Gwen. “But you probably aren’t going to like it.”

Rory folded his arms.

“We were thinking,” Gwen said patiently, “that you’re right—they’re not going to let us in to search wherever we like. So perhaps we don’t go in as us, per se.”

Rory scrunched his nose. “What’s that mean?”

“It means we’re not going to walk around like tourists, we’re going to pose as a magic act,” said Ellis. “Because tourists are supposed to stick to tourist areas, but performers are in the background, in and out of the tent.”

Zhang furrowed his brow. “A magic act,” he repeated dubiously. “Even though we’re all paranormals.”

“That’s what makes it work,” said Gwen. “Jade will be our magician. Ellis will be her apprentice and I’ll be her girl, and I don’t know exactly what that means, but there’s always a girl who stands around in a pretty dress and no one thinks too hard about why she’s there. And Rory, you can be Pierrot.” She cleared her throat. “Our sad clown.”

Rory narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that, it’s ingenious,” said Gwen. “We can’t expect you to keep up an act and this way you won’t have to. All you have to do is frown and you’re very good at that.”

Rory’s eyes narrowed further.

“Think about it, kid,” added Ellis. “Anyone asks you why you’re there, well tough shit, you can’t answer, you only communicate in pantomime. You don’t have to come up with some story; all you have to do is keep your mouth shut and make hand gestures.”

“I got a hand gesture for you right now,” said Rory.

But Jade looked persuaded. “It’s actually a very good disguise, and really a rather clever way to keep you from having to try to lie,” she said to Rory, and how could he argue with that?

“I already spoke to Carmen,” said Gwen. “She has costumes we can borrow.”

“Well, the rest of us can borrow.” Ellis pointed at Arthur. “She doesn’t have a tuxedo that’ll fit this giant.”

“I’m not that big,” Arthur protested. “Just—you know.” He gestured at himself with both hands, biceps flexing. “Shouldery.”