CLOSED (carnaval_mod) wrote in carnaval_logs, @ 2013-09-16 20:32:00 |
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The wind had picked up throughout the night causing loose tent flaps to thrash about and testing the ability of pegs to do their job of keeping people's washing on their makeshift lines. When morning came it came too soon for most. They were roused from their slumber prematurely, finding that the dust and litter from the now empty main lot had redistributed itself about the back lot. Carl was among the first to venture out of his tent and was soon directing the roughies and rousties in some dismantling work before breakfast. Similarly, the new cookstaff were up and working on that breakfast. As the morning progressed, the cook house saw a lot of tired carnies filter through. As many of them sat and ate their breakfast, their tents were coming down with some difficulty given the wind. Along with their possessions, the dismantled tents were being squared away in storage trucks or trailers though. The showers and latrines were also brought down with less hassle. The cook house was the last thing to be dismantled, by which time most of the trailers were hitched and most of the artists waiting in trailers, cars or even the backs of trucks. Once everything was packed up Carnaval de la Lumière was away, and somehow earlier than anticipated. The train of carnival cars, vans, trucks, trailers, housecars and elephant headed north along Oklahoma State Route 18. Travel was a little slower thanks to the strong winds, and slowed even more when they turned onto US Route 64, as they were heading right into it. It was early afternoon by the time they passed the town of Perry. They were set to stop in Enid, though, for supplies and lunch if people wanted to scrounge up something before heading south. But that was not on the cards.. As the convoy headed east from Perry the skies ahead darkened. Being at the head of the convoy, Carl was the first to notice and was quick to pull his truck aside. He and his passengers wasted no time in directing the other vehicles off the road. Art made sure Management's trailer was square before moving down the line informing folks as they pulled in about what was coming. Making sure they secured their vehicles and whatever they were carrying, knew to seal everyone inside and if the dust got in, to cover their nose and mouth with whatever they were wearing lest they want dust pneumonia. All down the line people were rushing about shouting instructions at each other, checking hitching and knots and otherwise preparing for the black cloud that rolled ever closer in already strong winds. No a few hats would be missing by the end of it. By the time it hit most people were crammed into whatever space they could find, and those that weren't were quick to get shirts and dresses over their faces and grope for a door handle so that they could slip in somewhere, hopefully not taking too much of the dust in with them. The world around the carnival train darkened and each vehicle was suddenly and completely isolated from the next, as the wind whistled and the dust swirled so completely around them. Occasionally, on top of it all, something bigger than dust blown up by the wind would make an impact, causing the inhabitants of one vehicle or another to jump. This one did not simply sweep over them as some dust storms do though. The darkness, isolation and howling wind continued on and on.. After what seemed like a lifetime to those crammed together in cars and cabs, trailers and housecars, the dust started to thin and the light filtered back, and with it slowly the vehicles in front and behind, although a significant amount of the dust remained. Art was the first to venture out this time, his shirt tied over his nose and mouth as there was still dust in the air and wind to blow it. But he could see some and it was time to assess the damage, check the engines, and hopefully get going again before the other kind of dark was upon them.. |