This perfect "performance" came to an end with Kraun collapsing in the center of the stage.
When the clown fell, the cheers from below did not stop. They even began praising the way Kraun had fainted, saying, "To fall that hard in the freezing snow—Kraun is a good actor with conviction."
But when the snowstorm intensified and Kraun showed no intention of making a "comeback," the spectators' expressions gradually changed. They reined in their smiles, savored the amusement they had just enjoyed, and then slowly dispersed, going off to do whatever they needed to do.
The administrators, who had just been planning to stop the farce, also halted their advance. They wondered if, should Kraun suddenly die here from putting so much effort into his performance, they might be able to confiscate that well-located theater.
Thus, the administrators left as well. They glanced at the gloomy sky and prayed that the snowstorm would become even heavier.
The market returned to silence. To avoid the snowstorm, people gradually went home. Before long, the streets were sparse and no longer lively. Only Kraun remained, lying pale-faced on the makeshift stage assembled from wooden frames, sleeping soundly beneath a thin blanket of snow.
But if he kept sleeping like this, today truly would become the last day of his life. It seemed the players should make their move.
However, the three players standing at a stall somewhere in the market did not move an inch. They were all waiting. It was hard to say whether they were expecting a miracle or a turning point, but at this moment, the thoughts of the three had rarely resonated so perfectly.
They felt that the clown's fate should not end this way.
Unfortunately, reality was far more ruthless than any script. In the blizzard sweeping across