A Beggar’s Kingdom

Chapter 27. Refugees

Part Three: Lady of the Camellias

Chapter 28. Airy’s Transit Circle

Chapter 29. The Prince of Preachers

Chapter 30. Sovereign Election

Chapter 31. The Love Story of George and Ricky

Chapter 32. Pathétique

Chapter 33. Five Minutes in China, in Three Volumes

Chapter 34. The Sublime and Beautiful

Chapter 35. My Love and I—a Mystery

Chapter 36. Foolish Mervyn and Crazy-eyed Sly

Chapter 37. The Valley of Dry Bones

Chapter 38. Ghost Rider

Chapter 39. A Mother

Chapter 40. Two Weddings

Part Four: Tragame Tierra

Chapter 41. The Plains of Lethe

Chapter 42. Masha at the Cherry Lane

Chapter 43. What Will They Care

Chapter 44. Termagant

Chapter 45. Hinewai

Chapter 46. Hula-Hoop

Chapter 47. The Igloo

Chapter 48. Door Number Two

Chapter 49. Heart of Darkness

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PROLOGUE (#u07b4a1c9-e1f0-52f0-baa5-837cac4532c7)

Real Artifacts from Imaginary Places (#u07b4a1c9-e1f0-52f0-baa5-837cac4532c7)

ASHTON STOOD, HIS BLOND HAIR SPIKING OUT OF HIS baseball cap, his arms crossed, his crystal eyes incredulous, listening to Josephine trying to sweet-talk Zakiyyah into going on Peter Pan’s Flight. Julian, Josephine, Ashton, and Z were in Disneyland, the last two under protest.

“Z, what’s not to love?” Josephine was saying. “You fly over London with Peter Pan aboard a magical pirate ship to Neverland. Come on, let’s go—look, the line’s getting longer.”

“Is it pretend fly?” asked Zakiyyah.

“No,” replied Ashton. “It’s real fly. And real London. And a real pirate ship. And definitely real Neverland.”

Zakiyyah rolled her eyes. She almost gave him the finger. “Is it fast? Is it spinny? Is it dark? I don’t want to be dizzy. I don’t want to be scared is what I’m saying, and I don’t want to be jostled.”

“Would you like to be someplace else?” Ashton said.

“No, I just want to have fun.”

“And Peter Pan’s magical flight over London doesn’t qualify?” Ashton said, and sideways to Julian added, “What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that? I can’t believe Riley agreed to let me come with you three. I’m going to have to take her to Jamaica to make it up to her.”

“You have a lot of making up to do all around, especially after the crap you pulled at lunch the other week,” Julian said. “So shut up and take it.”

“Story of my life,” Ashton said.

“What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that?” Zakiyyah said to Josephine. “His idea of fun is making fun of me.”

“He’s not making fun of you, Z. He’s teasing you.”

“That’s not teasing!”

“Shh, yes, it is. You’re driving everybody nuts,” Josephine said, and then louder to the men, “You’ll have to excuse her, Z is new to this. She’s never been to Disneyland.”

“What kind of a human being has never been to Disneyland?” Ashton whispered to Julian.

“That’s not true!” Zakiyyah said. “I went once with my cousins.”

“Sitting on a bench while the kids go on rides is not going to Disneyland, Z.”

Zakiyyah tutted. “Is there maybe a slow train ride?”

“How about It’s a Small World?” Ashton said, addressing Zakiyyah but facing Julian and widening his eyes into saucers. “It’s a slow boat ride.”