Steampunk Carnival (Steam World Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

than generous with the boy, probably risking his job if Mr. Warden found out about the lifted merchandise, and the boy raced off without so much as a thank you.
    Katya retraced her steps. The woman from Chicago had wandered off into the crowd. The game runner passed Katya as he returned to his game stall. He apologized briefly to his waiting customers and encouraged the next one in line to take a turn.
    A member of Mr. Warden’s additional security caught Katya’s eye, moving slowly through the crowd. Dressed in a plain, loose suit, the patrons would never know he worked for the carnival rather than attending as a guest. Katya strolled past him, only partially aware that she was looking for the woman in ill-fitting green, half expecting her to emerge from Mr. Warden’s office at any moment.
    A woman’s scream both interrupted Katya’s thoughts and merged with them. She darted toward the sound, wondering if it was one of Mr. Warden’s proposed mistresses or if fresh death threats were making their way around the carnival. A woman wailed outside the eastern food stall, pointing a bare finger into one of the trash bins positioned around the roofed, open structure.
    “My ring,” she cried, looking to the others around her. Her eyebrows tented imploringly. “Please. My ring is in there.”
    Katya laid a light hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Did you drop it?”
    “I only took my gloves off for a minute, and it slid right off. It’s down in there somewhere. It couldn’t have fallen far. I don’t know how to get it out.”
    Katya peered into the giant drum. Nothing sparkled up at her. The top of the collected garbage was littered with sheets of paper soaked translucent with cooking oil. Discarded potato chips, unfinished bites of fried dough, and roasted peanuts nestled in among the pages.
    The woman wept into her loose gloves until the man beside her, his own ring glinting in the lamplight, handed her a handkerchief.
    Katya took a deep breath and pulled off her gloves. “I’ll find it for you. Hold on.” She passed her gloves to the anxiously watching husband and unbuttoned her jacket. He accepted that, too. Katya rolled her sleeves up and cringed as her bare fingers reached the top layer of trash. She watched her smooth, luminous skin disappear into the refuse, once-desired food items cast aside to turn slimy and lukewarm. Katya dug further, her face twisting at the dozen different sensations that brushed against her from slick oil to rough salt. She tried to erase her disgust for the on-looking couple, knowing full well she would sift through the whole barrel if she had lost a wedding ring.
    Katya leaned farther over the rim. The longer she took, the more determination furrowed her face. She would find that ring, and she hoped Irina was watching. How many privileged, lazy busybodies dug through the garbage of countless strangers? Her fingers brushed the sides of the drum and reached deeper. The edge of a paper wrapper scratched at her elbow. Katya stretched her other arm another inch. The tip of her index finger circled a shape it had not found before. She clenched all of her fingers, carefully lifting them up through the garbage to the top.
    The woman sniffled, brightening a strained smile as she hung in the balance between drying up and crying new, happy tears. Her husband patted her back.
    Katya sighed with relief to see the ring shining amidst the sopping papers. She dropped everything but the ring and brushed as much oil off as she could with slippery fingers. “I’m so sorry. There you are. You should be more careful around the rubbish bins.”
    The woman accepted the ring with glimmering and gracious eyes. “I will. Thank you so much. I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused you.”
    Katya looked over her greasy arms. “I’ll clean up all right. I might attract a few stray cats before I do.”
    “Thank you again.” The woman slid the ring on and wiggled her finger to test the fit. Despite the shiny