Las estatuas parecían formar parte de un mismo conjunto y representaban algo semejante a una troupe circense.

A medida que caminaba entre ellas, Max distinguió las figuras de un domador, un faquir con un turbante y nariz aguileña, una mujer contorsionista, un forzudo y toda una galería de personajes escapados de un circo fantasmal. 

En el centro del jardín de estatuas descansaba sobre un pedestal una gran figura que representaba un payaso sonriente y de cabellera erizada. Tenía el brazo extendido y el puño enfundado en un guante desproporcionadamente grande parecía golpear un objeto invisible en el aire. 

A sus pies, Max distinguió una gran losa de piedra sobre la que se intuía un dibujo en relieve. Se arrodilló y apartó la maleza que cubría la superficie fría para descubrir una gran estrella de seis puntas rodeada por un círculo. Max reconoció el símbolo, idéntico al que había sobre las lanzas de la puerta.

Al contemplar la estrella, Max comprendió que lo que al principio le habían parecido círculos concéntricos en la situación de las estatuas era en realidad una réplica de la figura de la estrella de seis puntas. 

Cada una de las figuras del jardín se alzaba en los puntos de intersección de las líneas que formaban la estrella.

Max se incorporó y contempló el espectáculo fantasmal a su alrededor. Recorrió con la mirada cada una de las estatuas envueltas en los tallos de la hierba salvaje que se agitaba al viento hasta detenerse de nuevo en el gran payaso. 

Un escalofrío le recorrió el cuerpo y dio un paso atrás. La mano de la figura, que segundos antes había visto cerrada en un puño, estaba abierta con la palma extendida, en señal de invitación. 

Durante un segundo Max sintió que el aire frío del amanecer le quemaba la garganta y pudo escuchar el palpitar de su corazón en las sienes.

The statues seemed to be part of the same set and represented something similar to a circus troupe.

As he walked among them, Max distinguished the figures of a tamer, a fakir with a turban and an aquiline nose, a contortionist woman, a foreman and a whole gallery of characters escaped from a ghostly circus. 

In the center of the statue garden rested on a pedestal a large figure representing a smiling, bristly-haired clown. His arm was outstretched and his fist sheathed in a disproportionately large glove seemed to hit an invisible object in the air. 

At his feet, Max made out a large stone slab on which a relief drawing was intuited. He knelt down and pushed away the brush covering the cold surface to uncover a large six-pointed star surrounded by a circle. Max recognized the symbol, identical to the one on the door spears.

Contemplating the star, Max understood that what had at first seemed to him to be concentric circles in the location of the statues was actually a replica of the figure of the six-pointed star. 

Each of the figures in the garden stood at the points of intersection of the lines that formed the star.

Max sat up and contemplated the ghostly spectacle around him. look each of the statues, wrapped in wild grass stalks that stirred the wind, to stop again on the big Pasayo. 

A chill ran down his body and he took a step back. The figure's hand, which seconds earlier he had seen closed in a fist, was open with his palm extended, as a sign of invitation. 

For a second Max felt the cold air of dawn burn his throat and could hear the beating of his heart in his temples.

The statues seemed to be part of the same set and resembled something like a circus troupe.

As he walked among them, Max made out the figures of a lion tamer, a fakir with a turban and hooked nose, a contortionist woman, a strongman, and a whole gallery of characters escaped from a ghostly circus.

At the center of the statue garden stood on a pedestal a large figure of a smiling clown with spiky hair. His arm was outstretched, and his fist, covered by an oversized glove, seemed to be striking an invisible object in the air.

At his feet, Max spotted a large stone slab on which a raised pattern could be vaguely seen. He knelt and brushed away the weeds covering the cold surface to reveal a large six-pointed star surrounded by a circle. Max recognized the symbol—identical to the one engraved on the spears of the gate.

As he looked at the star, Max realized that what he had initially thought were concentric circles in the arrangement of the statues was actually a replica of the six-pointed star.

Each statue in the garden stood at one of the intersecting points of the lines that formed the star.

Max stood up and took in the ghostly scene around him. He scanned each of the statues, wrapped in the stems of wild grass swaying in the wind, until his gaze returned to the large clown.

A shiver ran down his spine and he took a step back. The figure’s hand, which only moments ago had been closed in a fist, was now open, palm extended, as if in invitation.

For a second, Max felt the cold morning air burn his throat and heard the thumping of his heart in his temples.