02.41

Look at them, look at us and look at them, the man heading the parade screamed. Walking on trampolines, he wore a white, long tunic with a red circle painted on his chest, and a pointy white hat. Those who followed looked like centipedes and beetles, their heads bowed, wearing colored backed costumes. Some were riding unicycles but their head was covered by a wiry, meshy mask. People were fascinated and scared, some leaning from their windows, others closing them at the nearing of the parade. A few followed the costumed buffoons, some followed the followers and by the time their galley sailed from the island, a thousand people saluted them from the docks. Where they went, who they were, it was never discovered, but stories abound on their fate and on their life after the parade.