His waking came shortly after sunrise. Daniel had once again forgotten to close the window, which let the sounds of all sorts of birds and other animals filter in and rouse him. Down on the sand below, about twenty chickens scurried in every direction. Most of them repeated the same rehearsed movements. They’d head one way, then switch directions and come back. Even their beak-digging into the sand was like clockwork. If they were real, they’d have starved. There wasn’t a blade of grass in sight down there. But they probably weren’t real anyway.


    A knock came at his door—first soft and rapid, then slowing down but growing louder with each strike.


    “Dan…” It was Jasper’s voice. “Brother, open up, or I’m coming in myself.”


    Daniel lifted the latch on the door. Jasper stood there in brown leather pants and a brown vest over a tattered shirt. The clothes fit him perfectly, somehow containing his bulky frame.


    “You changed your clothes?”


    “Well, I’m about to become a sheriff, after all.”


    “Deputy sheriff,” Daniel corrected him.


    “Same difference. I’ll climb the ranks quick. Jake’s no competition. I was just in the shower. Did you see how the water runs outside and flows onto the sand?”


    “Yeah, a bit inconvenient for anyone passing underneath.”


    “Hah, inconvenient—I was hoping someone would walk by, but no one did, so I got out. I wonder if their electronics can get damaged if you douse them with water.”


    “You’re incorrigible,” Daniel replied, though he didn’t mention he’d wondered the same thing yesterday.


    “Put your hat on, and let’s head down. I’d love to see my Clara again.”


    “Your Clara. What about Aria?”


    “Oh, right. We were supposed to meet. But she didn’t show. I’ll see her today. But first—Jake. We’ve got to climb the ladder, after all.”


    The bar downstairs had turned into a breakfast spot. It smelled of toasted bread, tea, and melted butter. Violet was at her usual place at the bar, but instead of a glass of booze, she had a steaming cup in front of her. She lifted it and took a sip. It was a mystery where all that liquid went and how they got it out of them later. That was something he’d ask Barnes when they got back.


    “Good morning, boys. Pick a table. Breakfast’s on the owner this morning.”


    “Do we get a choice, or…?” Jasper leaned on the wooden counter too.


    “Oh, the chubby charmer,” Violet exclaimed. “The only choice here, boys, is from my ladies. But you don’t have any money, as we’ve already established.”


    “One day we will…” Jasper vowed.


    “And then you’ll have every lady in here. Until then, you can settle for the common folk outside.”


    The breakfast wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything special either.


    “Brother, if we eat toast all week, I might actually lose some weight,” Jasper said, already on his fourth slice.


    “Looks like this is what’s allotted for the guests. You heard Violet. She said it’s from the owner.”


    “Anyone could be the owner.”


    “The owner’s Barnes. Notice there’s no alcohol either. I bet once the test period’s over and they let in real clients, they’ll bring in the money system.”


    “It’s already here. She asked me for a hundred gold coins for that whore. They just didn’t give us any coins.”


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    “Or maybe they want us to find them ourselves?”


    Jasper gave him a look. An idea was growing in his head. He stared out the window and fell silent.


    After his tenth slice with butter, he finally clutched his stomach and let out a groan.


    “Well, the breakfast wasn’t half bad. The tea was good too. Brother,” he leaned slightly toward Daniel, “we’ve got to figure out a way to come back once they officially open the park. This place is amazing.”


    “We can come back if we’ve got money.”


    “I’ve got some stashed away, but we don’t know the price.”


    “Hold off, Jas. It’s still day one. Who knows how it’ll go. We might get bored in a week.”


    “Those jerks from the train might be bored. There’s so much story here. This Barnes guy’s a genius. Just two conversations, and we’ve already uncovered a few hidden tales. There’s got to be at least two hundred robots—I mean, characters—in this town. If each one’s tied to a story, it’s like real life. Like we’re in a game, and we’re the main characters.”


    “I think that’s exactly what Hugo Barnes meant when he said to live the story.”


    “Is it too early to head to the sheriff?”


    “I doubt the robots sleep. Actually, do they? Maybe they recharge them at night.”


    “We’ve got to stop calling them robots. I want to dive even deeper into the movie. I say we treat them like real people.”


    Daniel shook his head in disbelief.


    “Jas, I’ve been trying from the start, but you—”


    “Alright, alright.” Jasper cut him off and raised his voice. “Violet!”


    The lady approached with a smooth stride, walking slowly and glancing side to side. She placed her hands on the table and leaned in, her neckline hinting at her ample chest.


    “Yes, boys?”


    “Violet, have any of the other guests woken up yet?”


    “No, I’m afraid you’re the first. Need anything?”


    “I want you to tell every person who comes down here this morning that something interesting’s happening at the sheriff’s office. Can you do that?”


    “And what’s going on with Jake? What’s he gotten himself into?”


    Jasper glanced at Daniel. Daniel had no idea what he was talking about but pretended he did, nodding to back him up.


    “We can’t tell you, Violet. You’ll find out. You always figure everything out. But Jake’ll live—he’s not in danger.”


    “I don’t know if that’s good or bad news.” Violet might’ve been joking. “Ten gold coins, and I’ll do it.”


    “Come on, Violet. We told you we don’t have money.”


    She straightened up, reached out, grabbed Daniel’s chin, and tilted his head up.


    “Just because you’re a handsome one, I’ll do it. But this is the last favor for you two.”


    Jasper laughed. He liked what he was seeing.


    “The breakfast was tasty.”


    “Thanks, gorgeous.” Violet turned back to Daniel. “I know it’s not what you’re expecting, but it’s all we’ve got right now. The boss said he’ll stock up better next time.”


    “And who’s the owner? Isn’t it you?” Jasper asked.


    “I can’t give you that information,” Violet said, standing tall. “Any other questions or requests, gentlemen?”


    “Who’s Mr. Reed?”


    “Mr. Reed? A frequent guest of mine. Why do you ask?”


    “We heard he’s got a farm nearby.”


    “Not a farm—the biggest farm.”


    “Meaning?”


    “Meaning I wouldn’t advise you to even go near it. Mr. Reed has two daughters and guards them with his life.”


    “And his stableboy…”


    “Jas!” Daniel tried to stop him.


    “Stableboy?”


    “We saw one of his stableboys here yesterday. He was with one of your girls.”


    “A stableboy with one of my girls? Impossible. You’ve got it wrong. Mr. Reed has a few horses and takes care of them himself. One of my girls hooking up with someone penniless? Well, it’s possible, but…”


    “They were—”


    “Jasper’s mixing it up with the last town, Violet.”


    Jasper looked at him, confused, then turned back to the lady with the purple ribbons in her hair.


    “Actually, Daniel’s right. My mistake. Sorry, Violet.”


    A wide smile spread across the dark-haired temptress’s face.


    “Anything else I can help you with, boys?”


    “Thanks, Violet. That’s all.”


    Violet turned and returned to her spot at the bar. The bartender, Phil, tipped his hat to her and swapped out the cups in front of her. Footsteps echoed from the upper floor. More guests were coming down. Daniel and Jasper put on their hats and left the bar.