Chapter 3

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The Morpheus Parade was still in full swing as they maneuvered through the throngs of people screaming and snatching at the cheap plastic beads thrown from the parade participants. The massive, beautiful, and illuminated floats made better time than Henry and Cole as they moved along Canal. Every few feet they had to stop, but took advantage of the situation to catch some beads or other surprises tossed by the members of the Morpheus Krewe.

Cole yelled something and pointed toward the float passing by at that moment. Henry turned to face Cole to try to understand what he was shouting. He followed the direction of Cole’s outstretched arm, turning to the float. A bundle of beads wrapped in a strip of brown paper hit him squarely in the face, knocking him back. He would’ve fallen to the pavement if the crowd hadn’t been so thick.