Chapter 09: Cities and the Dead 05

In that city, the dead of both sexes are propped against a bush of bright red roses. There is a rose bush planted in the middle of a green lawn with small white daisies scattered around it. A pair of topiary dogs wearing red bowties bark at passers-by and, in an inspired touch, cry out in a posh English accent, "Welcome to The Dark Masquerade!"

An attendant carries a crystal ball covered in pewter held in place by ropes and plays music of demonic origin on a steel gong that spins round and round. The music sets the ghouls to dancing in a strange pattern that seems to change randomly.

There's a wide variety of strange and unique Dark Masquerade offerings: cheap trinkets, authentic Italian clothing, hot dogs wrapped in cardboard, and food carts run by the angry ghosts of long-dead businessmen.

The skeletons of dead children ride in on giant birds that fly around and bite the heads off of the living. They are blood-red with the traditional jack - o - lantern pattern carved into them and serve as birthday cakes for the living.

In the topiary dogs' heads is a witch's hat and a tiny witch's broom. The mounted carriages have the bodies of ghouls hanging from the back, and in each one is a skull with a wand in its hand, lit by a chandelier made from human skulls. People walk around the grounds in glass slippers and corsets. The line at the auction house snakes around the block, and some ghoulish shopkeepers sell boiled and pickled rats as snacks.

The undead know they can keep the undead.