Fon d'parikulur - 10

A Novella

III

It was not a long wait for the mamba to come, and when she came she was only in a red dress, without the trimmings that defined her in the ritual. But she was still impressive, even as aged as she was. She did not even look at the other patients but went directly to Jules's bed, and instead of sitting – stood there with her hands folded. There was an air of menace and a distant haughtiness – and before she spoke she glanced up and down at Jules – as if to take an image of what happened to someone who held a secret.

And a secret she had, bought Jules did not know what it was. But the mamba did, and she hushed her tone of voice to relate the story that the loa had recited when she had control of her body – because it was a woman who told the story. Once Jules realized that it was a woman she relaxed into the bed – because her greatest fear was assuaged.

There was no motion on Jules's part, but the mamba made a swaying gesture as if she was mimicking some ritual dance. And this was the story that the mamba told, her voice light as if she was ridden by someone much younger, and more slight:

“First you must know my name because the name is the most magical thing that any person possesses. It defines whether you are a man or woman, it defines whether you are young, old, or ageless. It defines who your friends, and foes are. You may call me Anaisa Pie Danto. The glorious nature of love is my domain – love for money, love for happiness, love for love's sake. Do not worry to not fret, because I am a playful spirit – closed in yellow and pink. I travel with my other half, who is called Saint Anne. But enough about me, because all will be revealed in time.”

“When I come to the middle land, it is always for a purpose, usually it is light but sometimes it is for ill. Sometimes a person can violate love to the extreme, and I become angry. This time I was here for a person, a person who is confused. I thought to help this woman, especially in her time of need. But you know which woman it is because I am now speaking through her mouth, and telling her story. Even though she will not admit the truth of what is to be said. But I know, and soon you will know – and if you are a good follower, you will help her – and not to harm her. In this way each will secure a good rasa, to use as Bondye – Mon Dieu – sees fit.”

“It was on the island of Haiti that I saw this woman alone, and at first I thought that I would help her find someone to love. A mad passionate kind of love would not be right, but instead a steady secure kind of love. At first, I thought to send her away because she has relatives in other lands – most especially the United States of America. But I looked away to attend to other things, and when I looked back, it was here that another Loa had been there first.”

“Glass had been shattered on his head because he was not there to deliver good but to deliver harm. His body was firm, and he knew the ways to seduce a woman because that was his purpose. He had a great mastery of all of the features and all of the rhythms.”

“Oh the great rhythms were what he was best at – But not so with hiding his contempt for the woman that he was – because this is the only word that can be used – fucking. It was a word that was on his face, even as he smiled and inserted. The slow and rhythmic insertion was in counterpoint to the terrible and nasty look on his face.”

“You should know that such a face boils my blood, and I could not stand the smirk – it drove me wild. But what was I to do about it? For though I come through the beyond, there is a price for everything that I do in this mortal realm. Therefore, I have to think about whether it is truly worth the price – or whether some people must exact something of themselves. The woman did not yet understand what I knew – and it would be too late. I know because I see into the future and the past, and she would find out in time.”

Reaching out of the above – the mamba stopped as if she were taking a rest. Allowing all of the listeners to catch up with her. And there were many listeners, for about half of the people were quietly listening in – because they could not wait for the next word that the old woman said. Her eyes moved from side to side until she was sure that everyone had understood the deep problem that the invisible spirit was presented with.

The stopping of her breath and the beginning of it were a sign that she was going to continue, it seemed a long moment until her breath started rising and falling. Beginning again:

“Something had to be done about the wicked man, and then a thought occurred to me: surely there were other men who desired her. And one of them had to be a good man – even if there were plenty of wicked men who wanted her as well. Then my purpose in this mortal realm could be fulfilled – because I do not just love, but the spirit which will bring procreation. And who could not want more children in this world – especially from a lady like this?”

“Oh and oh... There must be someone who dripped with tense attention when her hips graced the mirror that was made into a dress. But finding such a person is not my state – it is too much beneath my station. So that is what I tell all of you to do, including the woman herself. Find a true man, not the monster who plunders your furrow – and drinks a pair from the monster who lives below.”

There was no doubt that the mamba was extremely tired, very very tired indeed. And in a short second, drooped her head down on her neck. She almost seemed to be sleeping. Then she slowly lifted her eyes and followed with the rest of her countenance. And without a word, slipped into the scrape and scarf of the entranceway. No one tried to stop, and it did not even occur to most. Certain people had the power to come and go. Never stand between a priest or other person in the way of their course.

The entire affair struck Jules to her core. It was powerfully magical, powerfully mystical, and deeply spiritual – and with that, she prayed, and prayed. Because no one else had spoken so clearly about what she felt within – that the man she was spending – herself – with was not the man for her. However, it would be far easier to make the separation to his face, than resolve in her mind. So easy is it to explain to someone else; so hard to do it for your own sake. This thought ran through her head. It was plain; and plain; a had no sense of - prestidigitation, or even visualization in digital. This was so unlike the novels that she carried around in her head, and she thought she would have to work on them.

Nothing ever came.