In the small town of Viznaya, Jim Carter was a man of many talents. Known for his impressive physique and incredible strength, he was a local celebrity in the town’s annual circus. Jim’s performance involved him engaging in a dangerous routine with the “Gripping Machine,” a machine that could crush anything in its grip. The audience was always amazed as Jim proceeded to stick his head through the machine’s opening, just narrowly avoiding being crushed.
However, nobody in the town knew Jim’s secret. Behind his muscular exterior, Jim had a crippling fear of being touched. He would become hysterical at the mere thought of someone touching him. Due to his fear, Jim lived a secluded life, avoiding all physical contact with others. Even his closest friends knew nothing of his secret.
It was this fear that led Jim to fall in love with the circus’ star attraction, Nanon Zanzi, the daughter of the circus owner. Nanon had a similar fear of being touched. Jim was drawn to her, and they began to spend more time together, but she believed him to be just like any other man. One day, The Unknown, a handsome and mysterious performer, joined the circus. The Unknown quickly became a popular spectacle, drawing crowds in droves.
Jim was immediately threatened by The Unknown’s arrival, as Nanon began to spend more time with him. One night, Jim visited Nanon in her trailer, intending to confess his love for her. However, when he entered, he found The Unknown hiding in a closet. In a fit of rage, Jim attacked The Unknown, but Nanon stopped him before he could kill the man. She revealed to Jim that she had only been using The Unknown to try and cure her fear of touch.
Feeling embarrassed and defeated, Jim left the trailer and headed to a nearby bar. He drank heavily, trying to forget the night’s events. However, when he left the bar, he was attacked and knocked unconscious.
When he awoke, he was in The Unknown’s trailer. The Unknown revealed that he had been hiding his own secret. He had no arms, having lost them in a previous performance. He had been wearing prosthetic arms to maintain the illusion. The Unknown saw Jim’s strength and potential, and wanted him to join him on the road, performing together as a duo.
At first, Jim refused, but he soon realized this was his chance to escape his past and start anew. Together, they developed a new performance that played on their strengths, captivating audiences across the country. Eventually, they made their way back to Viznaya, where they performed for Nanon and the circus.
Their final performance involved Jim lying down on a table with his head in The Unknown’s lap. The Unknown then cut off Jim’s head with a saw, only for it to be revealed that Jim had used a fake head for the performance. The crowd erupted in applause as The Unknown lifted Jim’s “head” in triumph.
As Jim and The Unknown left the stage, Nanon approached them. She revealed that she had overcome her fear of touch, thanks to Jim and The Unknown’s performance. She hugged them both, and Jim finally realized that his fear had held him captive for too long.
Years later, as he lay on his deathbed, Jim remembered his time on the road with The Unknown, and the lessons he had learned. He may have started out as a mere muscleman, but through his journey with The Unknown, and his love for Nanon, he had become much more.
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