by Ju Ephraime
Merging into the traffic, he almost went back to the hotel like he’d done the night before. But this smacked of cowardice, and he shouldn’t let this slip of a woman run him from his home. In his defense, he couldn’t fight what he could not see. When she came at him, there was no solid substance to her. He saw only what she allowed him to see, which was not much.
Arriving home, he picked up his phone and called Boris, one of the local men who used to work at the facility. He was always talking about some Obeah woman, who he claimed was his aunt. He was going to try to tap his brain to see if there was anything he could do to stop the sorceress in the meantime.
“Hi, Boris, did I hear you say your aunt is an Obeah woman?”
“Yes, boss man, it’s my Aunt Clara you’ll be needing, if you want some Obeah done.”
“No, Boris, I’m not in need of any Obeah. Can you stop over here tonight? There’s something I want to ask you.”
“If it has anything to do with Obeah, it’s my Aunt Clara you should be talking to, boss, not me.”
“Boris, could you please stop mentioning your Aunt Clara? I only want some information. Please try to come early. I keep an early night.”
“Is seven this evening too late? I leave work at six, and it’ll take me about forty-five minutes to make it to your place on the bus.”
“Seven is fine, Boris. I’ll see you then.”
He had to go out and get a few cans of beer. He had nothing to drink in the house, and he couldn’t hope to get anything out of Boris without a few beers.
He fixed himself something for dinner but found he really had no appetite. Or it could be the tasteless sandwich. He was not a sandwich lover. He wished he could have stopped at Josephine’s and picked something up for dinner. But he wasn’t that bold. He didn’t want anyone to notice the bulge he developed in his pocket every time he saw Nora. They’d think him a pervert. If the island was cold like his home in New South Wales, then he could have worn a coat, but he’d look ridiculous in a coat in 100 degrees. And then again, who was to tell it would not tent in front of him, making a bad situation worse?
***
True to his word, Boris was at his door at 7:00 P.M. on the dot. Todd was thankful he had the presence of mind to buy the beer because, by the time Boris left, he had drunk all but two beers out of the dozen, and those were the two Todd drank himself.
The story Boris told him when he pumped him for information was bizarre to say the least.
To hear Boris tell it, it was scary in itself.
If a sorceress had targeted him for her attention, nothing and no one could help him but an Obeah woman. There were a few things he could do to protect himself. Whether or not it worked would depend on the sorceress’s powers and the length of time she had been using him.
“Boris, please tell me what you know about this so I can have an uninterrupted night’s sleep in my own home.”
“Let me call my Aunt Clara. I’ll use your phone.”
He preferred that Boris didn’t call his Aunt Clara. The less people aware of this, the better he’d feel, particularly as he intended to turn tail and run.
But there was no stopping Boris. Picking up Todd’s phone, Boris dialed his Aunt Clara’s number, and the conversation went on in the local patois dialect that left him speechless. He didn’t understand one word Boris spoke into the phone.
He didn’t speak French, but he could hear some words in there that resembled French. For the most part, it sounded like gibberish to him. He was fuming. He wanted the conversation over. How dare Boris use his phone and deliberately leave him out of the conversation?
He had no idea what was being said about him. Especially since it seemed as though Boris and his Aunt Clara found the entire thing hilarious, judging by the way he was slapping his thighs and laughing. He was just about to put an end to the conversation when Boris beat him to it, hanging up the phone. Good, maybe he’d learn something tonight.
“Boss man,” he began, holding up his hands as he saw the expression of disgust on Todd’s face. He made no effort to hide it. He felt the victim, way out of his league, and this man thought it was a joke.
“Just give me the news, Boris. What did your aunt say, since you chose to exclude me from the conversation by speaking to her in your creole patois?”
“Boss man, my Aunt Clara speaks only patois. She lives in the countryside, and that’s what they speak there. So I couldn’t go talking to her in the Queen’s English. She would’ve thought I’d lost my mind. And don’t forget I wanted her help.”
“Okay, what did she have to say?”
“Do you have a broom you use to sweep your house?”
“Yes. I don’t sweep the house, my maid does, but I know where she keeps the broom. What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, skeptically.
“If you are going to take that attitude, boss man, it doesn’t matter what I tell you; it won’t work. For it to work, it’s important that you believe in it. Let me know so I don’t waste my time. I have to go home for my dinner.”
“Okay, okay. What do I have to do? I won’t interrupt again.”
“As I was saying, you need your broom. You need the pajamas you sleep in at night and to pee in a chamber pot.”
“Boris, I don’t sleep in pajamas. I sleep in my shorts or in the nude, and I don’t use a chamber pot. Probably the maid has one. I don’t know, but I could check.”
“Well, when you find these items, here’s what you do. You pee in the chamber pot and throw it on your front step before you go to bed. Then you turn your pajamas inside out, and finally, you turn the broom upside down and place it across your front door with the head facing your bedroom.”
“How is that supposed to help me, Boris?”
“I just told you what my Aunt Clara said to do. But remember, you have to believe in order for this to work. I have to go now. Let me know tomorrow how you make out.”
Todd was furious, and that would be putting it mildly. He didn’t believe any of these things would make one iota of difference—urine, pajamas, and a broom. The only two of the three he was sure he had was the broom, and of course, his urine. No home on the island was without a broom.
The floors had to be swept frequently because of the dust. Now he’d have to go out and buy some pajamas and a chamber pot. This was getting to be ridiculous. But he had to conclude it was no more ridiculous than the idea of some witch coming into his home every night to have her way with him. He would have to take his chances tonight and hope nothing happened.
CHAPTER FIVE
After thinking he wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink that night, he was surprised to find that he’d fallen asleep not too long after Boris had left. He attributed this to the two beers he’d drunk earlier and lack of a good night’s sleep.
He awoke slowly, luxuriously, stretching his nude body between the cool sheets, keeping his eyes closed, acutely aware that, for the first time in months, he’d slept the whole night through.
Ever since his return from dinner at Josephine’s three months ago, when he’d wakened to find the witch, or sorceress, or whatever it was, using his body, he hadn’t slept well, even though in the beginning, he’d partially convinced himself that the whole thing was a dream.
The sleeplessness was due in part, he suspected, to his nervousness concerning the sorceress. He’d continued to have orgasmic dreams—sometimes three or four times in one night—and he’d always wake at the moment of release. Then he’d remain awake, always wondering if it was really only a dream or if the sorceress was having her way with him again. Fortunately, it hadn’t happen this night. Maybe, staring her in the eyes the day before at Josephine’s had alerted her that he was on to her. He didn’t know, but he was happy for the reprieve. Glancing out the window, he saw that it was still dark outside. He didn’t know the time, and he was too comfortable to get up to check. So he turned over and allowed himself to drift back to sleep.
No sooner had he fallen back asleep than he
felt the heat of a wet mouth on his penis, stroking it, licking and sucking. He felt her move over him, and then she was riding him with a ferocious intent that had him screaming his release.
It seemed to go on and on, but the entire experience had a dream-like quality. For instance, he could not actually feel her weight on his body, yet he was aware of her, as if he could see her. Once, he’d even seen the outline of her breasts as she moved from sucking his penis to mounting him, as if he were her own personal stallion. The impression was very brief because the next thing he remembered was waking in the morning to a feeling of being wiped out. He felt like crap. He had to drag himself out of the bed and into the shower.
He felt a bit better after the shower, but still not his usual self. He took a towel and pulled on some shorts, took his sunglasses, and drove to the beach. His home was only twenty minutes from the beach. The twenty minutes to the beach seemed like five.
He quickly parked his car along the gravel road that abutted the glistening white sand. He jumped out of his car and walked the few feet from his car to the beckoning clear turquoise waters and plunged in. He was wound tight and needed the exercise to loosen his muscles. The locals believed that seawater was a panacea for any ailment, and he was beginning to believe that himself. When he got out of the water, he felt decidedly better, not whole, but better. He returned home and showered again before dressing for work.
He was late again. He had been arriving at work late for the past several weeks, but it was getting out of hand now. He couldn’t look Sharon in the eyes because she appeared to have been at work for hours, judging by the amount of slides and samples she’d prepared for him to validate. She was indeed a treasure. He made a mental note to request a raise for her before he left so it would be in place by the time his replacement took over.
Thinking of which, he’d have to stop downtown to pick up the things Boris had told him he should have. He didn’t have the faintest idea where one shopped for a chamber pot, but he would not ask anyone who knew him. He’d go to one of the large department stores downtown and start his search there.
The problem was most business establishments on the island closed by five, so if he had to get there before then, he’d have to leave midafternoon. This was the second day in a row that he had to leave Sharon alone. It was against company policy, but at this point, he had no choice.
He walked into the lab after changing into his lab coat and could tell that she was pleased to see him. She gave him a brief nod.
“Good morning, Mr. Montgomery. How are you this morning?”
“I’m fine, Sharon. What has you so excited? You are practically jumping.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’ve been waiting for to you get here to show you the specimens you had in the incubator were no longer multiplying. They seem to be dying out.”
“Really? Let me see.”
“What do you think, sir?” She’d followed him into the temperature-controlled room.
He couldn’t believe it. The parasites indeed appeared to be dying. He’d changed the formula he’d been treating them with, but what with everything that had been going on in his personal life, he’d forgotten about it.
“Have you been documenting how soon they die after being exposed to the treatment?”
“No, I haven’t, sir. I’d been working on isolating the parasite, and by the time I noticed this slide, they were all dead.”
“I’m going to put a new batch in the artemisinin-based combination therapy, and I want you to monitor it every fifteen minutes. That way, we’ll know exactly how long the treatment takes to work.”
“I’m going to place it on the monitor. That way all I’ll have to do is look up.”
That was one of the things he liked about her—she thought on her feet. Rather than stand there watching the slides, she could be doing something else while she waited.
He’d turned to prepare the specimen when she called to him again.
“Mr. Montgomery, a man was here looking for you earlier, but he wouldn’t leave a message with me. He said his name was Boris. He wanted your home phone number, but I refused to give it to him.”
At the mention of that name, all his worries came crashing down on him.
“Mr. Montgomery, are you all right, sir?” she asked with concern.
“I’m all right, Sharon. Why do you ask?”
“No offense, sir, but you look as if you are coming down with a virus. There are dark circles under your eyes.”
“I’ve been having a difficult time sleeping lately, Sharon. That’s why I’m taking some time off to see if I can get over whatever is ailing me.”
“That’s a good idea, sir.”
“What time did Boris come by here?”
“About 7:30 this morning.”
“You were here at 7:30 in the morning, Sharon? Your day begins at 8:30. Why do you come here an hour early?”
“My father drops me off on his way to work, so I take the ride. I don’t mind getting here a little early. It gives me time to have everything ready by the time you get here.”
“Oh, okay. Well, so long as you know you don’t need to do this.”
“Was I supposed to give the man this morning your number?”
“No, you were not. You did the right thing. I’ll put in a call to Boris when I get the time today. I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving early again today. I have to make a trip downtown. Will you be all right here again today?”
“For sure, sir. I’m used to working alone now. You don’t have to baby me. I’ll be fine.”
With the discovery of the possible cure for the virus, he was busy until well after lunchtime. He was sorry he had to leave before he was able to complete his notes, but his was a pressing matter that had to be taken care of.
He called Boris before he left to find out what it was he wanted. Maybe he had some news for him.
He was in luck. Boris was apparently waiting for his call.
“Yes, boss man. I’ve been waiting for your call. How did it go for you last night?”
“Same as usual. Nothing has changed. I’m on my way to buy the items you recommended.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk with you about. I found out that you should get yourself two branches from the palm tree and put them at the top of your front door in the form of a cross. Also, when you go through your door, go in with your front facing the street. If you go in the normal way, then it’s an invitation for the witch to follow you in.”
“Boris, this is getting to be stranger and stranger by the minute. Why me? Why did she single me out of all the men on the island?”
“Boss man, you may not be the only man this witch visits in the course of the night. According to the legend, she could have sex with different men all night. She is insatiable.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I kid you not. Though I have to admit, most men go on with their daily lives with no sign of wear, but with you, she’s doing a number on you. Why, I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either.”
“This sort of behavior only comes from a woman scorned. Do you recall a woman coming on to you and you looking down your nose at her?”
“I didn’t actually look down my nose. But I rejected her when she tried to come on to me. This is why I believe I know who’s behind this.”
“You know who’s behind this? Go on, man.”
“I don’t want to talk about it unless I have more concrete proof. And I have to go now if I’m to make it to Greenways before it closes. You do know how they close on time.”
“All right, boss man. I’ll talk with you later. Call me if you have any other questions. I’m trying to find out more information for you without making it too obvious.”
“Thanks, Boris, I do appreciate any help you can give me.”
CHAPTER SIX
The drive into town was pretty uneventful. But he was way out of his element shopping for household goods. He didn’t have much problem locating and p
urchasing a chamber pot. Turned out the locals always used chamber pots in their bedrooms. He was not aware of this because he had no use for one. He guessed now he was truly getting immersed into the local culture with a vengeance.
The PJs were not difficult to find either, so he purchased two pairs just to err on the side of caution. He’d no clue where he could get two palm branches, short of paying someone to climb a tree and cut him two branches.
There were palm trees all over the island, but he was not a tree climber, and he didn’t think the owner of the property would look kindly on him climbing his tree and cutting two branches. But a local young man would be able to do this easily. He would have to call Boris again. Maybe he could suggest a young man for the job. But for now, he had all he could get from the store. Call him twisted, but he was so looking forward to the night. He was curious to see if this really worked, if his efforts would pay off this night.
He felt like a fool pissing in a chamber pot, but he couldn’t wait to get going. By the time he was prepared for bed, he had a good amount of urine in the chamber pot. He was also wearing his brand new PJs inside out. He did feel a fool, but it couldn’t be helped. Before retiring for the night, he splashed the chamber pot of urine onto his front step. I’ll have to ask the maid to wash down the steps in the morning.
He couldn’t tell how long he was asleep before he was suddenly in the same dream-like state as before. He lay on his back and stared as the cold breeze filled the room. This time he distinctively saw the outline of a woman before it vanished. The hairs on the back of his neck began to rise, and he could hear himself moan as the pressure was applied to his penis. He wondered what happened to the inside-out PJs. They must have been discarded on the floor next to the bed because he was once again naked.
He remained in his state of semi-awareness throughout the entire thing. She rode him like a horse. He felt himself lifting his pelvis to meet her thrusts, his excitement unaffected by his inability to hold and touch the witch.