The Freedman and the Pharaoh's Staff Read Free Page A

structure made sure of that. Some said they were part of some dark magic and to wrong...whatever or whoever, would bring a hex on them. Others thought just a voodoo temple, while the rest didn’t like to think about it. Both were right, in a way. The maze work of veves invoked various spells and spirits. Protective and destructive...or so Crispus told him once. Like his mother, Lafayette served as voodoo priest to any black folk that came to him in need.  
    Jeb knocked on the door. He adjusted his boots. His feet ached like hell. Then he noticed brick dust lay across the doorway. A common practice, if he remembered right. It was supposed to ward off enemies, keep them from crossing over the line. Horseshit.  
    A minute later, the door covered in symbols opened, revealing a face of dark complexion. Runic tattoos covered his bald head. They looked ridiculous but must be blessings of some sort.  
    â€œQuickly come in before dee bakas notice.” Lafayette stepped aside and ushered him in. Jeb knew little Haitian Creole but knew enough to know bakas wasn’t a compliment.  
    As Jeb entered, burning herbs stung his nostrils like acid. He couldn’t help gagging on the stench crawling into his throat. Lafayette followed him in, making certain no bakas saw him, and shut the door. Inside the house wasn’t a house. It’d been built over the dirt without a proper floor. Wooden shelves filled with an array of jars, vials, and lit candles of various colors hung on the walls. Most of the jars were full of various spices and herbs, the vials filled with strange-colored liquids. Alongside these oddities, talismans, and stranger things Jeb couldn’t put words to hung from mounted hooks.  
    â€œDon’t touch that!” Lafayette snapped as Jeb’s foot rubbed away a circular marking traced on the ground. The two concentric circles boasted symbols of eyes, and birds at each end. Jeb stumbled to step over them.
    â€œSorry, Lafayette.”
    â€œ C'est bien , mon ami .” Lafayette motioned for Jeb to take a seat at the other end of the tracing. “Come, sit down over there.” Jeb couldn’t understand most of the Haitian Creole, but did as Lafayette instructed and a took seat across from him. Lafayette Leaned against the front door. “ Maintenant, mon ami , what is it I can help ya with?”  
    Lafayette’s dark eyes flashed in the candlelight. Mystery churned in them, and they sent a shiver through Jeb’s soul. But Lafayette’s power deserved respect, and his dedication to aiding their people. In some way, he wished he could have that kind of power. Jeb pushed the thoughts away—they were pointless.
    â€œLafayette, thank you for letting me in the badji .” Jeb bowed his head. Badji served as a voodoo temple or magic circle, or whatever they were. “You’ve helped me before, and we got much respect between us. I’m here about Crispus.” Jeb said the name with some reluctance. Crispus and Lafayette had a few scraps back in the day over political hogwash.  
    â€œAh... w dee brother...by law,” said Lafayette. “What has that fool gotten ‘imself into, maintenant ?” He chuckled, a hint of bitterness in his voice.  
    â€œI don’t know, but the constable tells me that them Klansman here lookin’ for him. I heard they sayin’ he stole a map from them. Somethin’ that’d bring a Grand Dragon here.” Those words would catch Lafayette’s attention.  
    The houngan shifted his weight, trying to hide how the words Grand Dragon disturbed him.  
    â€œYa know how to rile mwen bones. What do ya want from me?”  
    â€œTwo things. I’d like a blessing for my kin and me. And...good houngan ...can you hide Crispus here a day or two?”  
    â€œDone.” Lafayette climbed to his feet. He ambled over to one of the many shelves. Pushing jars and vials aside, he grabbed a