As I Was on My Way to Strawberry Fair

Book excerpt: Two strangers aide one other on a dark country road; and vow to meet again at the local Renaissance Fair. To do so they must learn to see beyond their own masks. And united, to win past a host of fairy glamours, crazed role-players, angry jugglers, sinister bikers and the secret of the ancient charter of Strawberry Fair itself. I will find you at Strawberry Fair, I will win you a lion, a tiger, a bear. I will buy you ices, electronic devices And give you a kiss for finding me there. A romance in masks.From the book: I sat considering. And I might have remained in that strange trance, brooding, thinking idle thoughts, burning, muttering to myself, burning. But her offered hand woke me. I stood. The crowd shouted in surprise, as did the King. Yes, it felt good to move. No more straw man. I stood awake in a circle of fire. Time to move. What the hell had I been thinking? I leaped over the flames to land beside the beggar girl. I took the hand she offered, and though I only haltingly knew the steps, I stepped left with the music, expecting her to circle and step right. "What are you doing you nimrod?" she asked. "Aren't we going to dance now?" I asked surprised. "Guards!" screamed the King. "Security! Get them! Arrest them! Taser them!" "No, we are going to run for our lives now," she informed me gravely. Hands clasped, we ran for the exit.