"They're about as close as you're gonna get here, girlie. We built our own gods from fear. And that's about the most human thing I think we've ever done, really. But let's see. I'm guessing you're not interested in the tragic sob story version.

"I like burning things. People don't like it when you burn their things. But in the circus, if you call yourself a magician... well... you get to burn a hell of a lot of stuff. Guy I joined up with said he had a way to make the world burn. Came with the whole eternal youth thing, and when you're 20-something, that seems like a pretty good idea."