“I know, huh?” she chirped, lifting her shoulders.
“I’m not talking about the waffles,” Livvy said. “Not even the light in the Multiverse–which was pretty awesome.”
How fitting, thought Livvy, that Min’s shamanic power is light.
“Thank you for being a friend,” Livvy said.
Min beamed and they were quiet for a few moments. Then, she pointed at Livvy’s waffles.
“Right,” said Livvy.
As she sliced the waffle with the side of her fork, the intercom buzzed.
“Saved by Ursula,” Min crowed. “But not you,” she said getting up and pointing. “You eat. If you’re quick, maybe Ursula won’t have to see this.”
As the smell of the syrup finally started to seep into her awareness, Livvy realized she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. As Ursula made her way up the elevator, Livvy quickly finished the entire plate and gulped some of the Genmai tea. At least that was one thing she and Min could agree on.
As the sugar did its thing, Livvy felt a surge of energy that she hadn’t felt for days.
There was a knock on the door and Min let Ursula in. Min hadn’t said why Ursula had wanted to come by. Livvy stood and went over only to find herself immediately enveloped in Ursula’s hug.
“Ursula,” she said in a muffled tone, into the taller woman’s shoulder.
“Livvy,” Ursula said, relieved.
Livvy felt Ursula rub her back.
“Ursula saw the news,” Ursula said. “And wanted to see with her own eyes that you were alive.”
Oh gods, the news. It hadn’t even occurred to her to check the TV. No doubt, it’d be all over–Claire’s death, the lightning shaman’s failure, and whatever Matthew was saying. It must have been bad to bring Ursula over like this. Was the news saying she was dead?
“I’m alive,” she mumbled into Ursula’s blouse.
Ursula eventually let her go but looked directly down into her eyes. “And Ursula wants to know how she can help.”
It was starting to feel like old times. Livvy couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Ursula. That means a lot to me,” she said and paused. “But I don’t know if anybody can help.”
“First,” said Ursula, imperiously. “Tell Ursula the problem. Let her decide if she can help.”
Livvy, Ursula, and Min drifted over to the living room and Nacho jumped up into Min’s lap as Livvy recounted the story.
Ursula alternately shook her head, crossed her arms in front of her, and tsked loudly as Livvy described what had happened in the Multiverse.
Abruptly, Ursula put a hand out to stop her. “Wait,” Ursula said. “You had a headache and a bloody nose?”
“Big time,” said Min.
“Each time you go to the Multiverse or only when you see this Dominique?” Ursula asked.
Livvy had to think about it. “Maybe only when I see Dominique,” said Livvy, slowly. “Yes, I’m sure of it. The headache and bloody nose come after seeing Dominique.”
Ursula chuckled, a rich and deep sound that grew to a laugh.
Livvy and Min exchanged puzzled looks and Min started to laugh just because Ursula was. Ursula stopped–though there was still the hint of a smile and a definite twinkle in the eye.
“Ursula knows how Dominique finds you in the Multiverse,” she said.
“Ursula does?” exclaimed Livvy and Min together.
“Oh yes. It has nothing to do with networked goggles or goggles at all. This is vodun, pure, simple, and ancient. This is the work of an nkisi nkondi.”
“A what?” asked Livvy.
“You might call it a vodun doll,” replied Ursula, then held up an index finger. “But it is not.”
“Then what is it?” asked Min.
“Although it looks like a person, with a head and limbs, it is actually a container. It is the container, in the belly, that gives it its power.”
“Power?” asked Livvy, curious at this glimpse into Ursula’s world. “What kind of power?”
“The power to find you, of course,” said Ursula, irritated to be interrupted. “Nkisi nkondi means ‘the hunter.’ Inside there will be powerful medicines and also something of you,” she said pointing at Livvy. “Fingernail clippings, a lock of hair, something personal, to give it power, to give it life.”
Livvy touched the ends of her hair. She had stopped giving out locks of it almost immediately but had somebody saved some?
“The eyes of the nkondi are made of mirrors, as is the belly. The great magicians of the Congo could use them to look into the world of the ancestors, passing back and forth between this world and the spiritual world, between the real world and the Multiverse.”
Fascinated, Livvy didn’t interrupt this time.
“The nkondi sees into your world. It keeps a watch on you. It allows the owner, the shaman, to see your world, see what you see, see where you are.”
“You make it sound so simple,” said Min. “I thought it was going to be something complicated, like with the goggles.”
Ursula smirked. “You are exactly right–it only sounds simple because of the way Ursula has told it to you. Vodun is never simple.”
“And the headaches and bloody nose?” asked Livvy.
“A result of the nkondi,” Ursula confirmed. “It is the one way you can be sure someone has used one on you. It is undoubtedly an nkondi ‘of the above’–an nkondi of the sky and thunderstorms. Such a one will affect the upper body, particularly the head.”
“I’ve never heard of an nkondi,” said Min trying to pronounce the word as Ursula had.
“Oh it is hardly done anymore. Perhaps in the old country,” Ursula said shrugging.
“The old country?” ask Livvy.
“Haiti,” Ursula said. “Many, many years ago.”
Then something occurred to her.
“And now,” Ursula started slowly as she looked at Min, then Livvy. “Now there is a new group of Haitians.”
Yes, thought Livvy. That’s why Ursula had sought her help earlier–competition from the Haitian refugees. This is starting to make sense.
The intercom buzzed.
Min looked at it as she got up and went over. “We’re not expecting anybody,” she said. She pressed the button. “Yes?”
“There’s a woman down here who says she needs to see Ms. Lawson,” said the doorman.
It had been awhile since the doorman had called because of an unexpected visitor. Livvy had started to get them all the time, which is why she had moved to a secure building.
“She doesn’t have an appointment,” said Min, a statement and a request at the same time.
But the doorman wasn’t through.
“She says she has information about–” He paused and they could hear him asking someone a question. “About Dominique,” he finished.
At that, Ursula turned her head toward the intercom, Min looked at Livvy, and the tension in the room jumped several notches.
Who would have information about Dominique? Was it another attack?
Livvy bit her lower lip until Min gave her the ‘what should I do?’ shoulder shrug.
Finally, Livvy nodded. “Send her up,” she said.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
“I KNOW YOU,” said Livvy, wary.
“Me too,” said Min. “You were with Dominique.” She left the door open and stepped back a pace.
“I am Tamara,” said the heavyset black woman with the short-cropped hair. She stood in the doorway wringing her hands.
Without thinking, Livvy got to her feet and found herself bracing for an attack. Ursula came to her side.
Tamara’s wide eyes quickly looked from Min to Livvy and then Ursula. Then she stared at Livvy.
“Why are you here?” asked Ursula, stepping forward.
Tamara wrenched her gaze from Livvy and focused on Ursula. “For help,” she said, her voice barely audible.
“Oh!” exclaimed Ursula. “You come here for help?”
“Wha
tever help you need,” said Min. “I think you’re in the wrong place.”
Tamara seemed to shrink and began to back out the door.
“Wait,” Livvy said quickly, holding out a hand. “Wait. Just…let her have her say.”
Tamara hesitated and glanced repeatedly between Min and Ursula.
Ursula crossed her arms over her chest.
“Come inside,” Min finally said.
The woman stared at her but didn’t move.
“So I can close the door,” Min said.
Tamara took a couple of small steps forward and lowered her head. Min closed the door but moved away from her to stand on Livvy’s other side.
“What kind of help?” asked Livvy.
“I got to be clean,” Tamara said, her voice strained. “I got to get clean.”
Livvy glanced at Ursula and then Min. Apparently, neither of them had a clue either.
“I don’t understand,” said Livvy. “Why do you need to be ‘clean’?”
“Because it is the only escape,” Tamara said, the words coming quicker. “How she controls you.”
Livvy shook her head. “I don’t understand,” she said. “How does Dominique control–”
“The drugs,” Tamara nearly shrieked. “The drugs,” she said again, much more quietly, trying to regain control.
Tamara’s outburst had startled them all.
Livvy took a step forward, but Ursula placed a hand on her arm and stopped her. Then she pointedly looked at Min and tilted her head at Tamara.
“Tamara,” Min said. “Come in and sit down.”
Tamara’s eyes squinted at her as though she were having trouble seeing.
Maybe she’s remembering Min’s light, thought Livvy.
“Here,” said Min, indicating the chair next to her.
Tamara looked at the chair almost longingly, as if the one thing she wanted most in the Multiverse was to sit down, but she seemed frozen.
“Let’s all sit,” said Livvy.
Ursula and Livvy moved slowly over to the couch and sat. Min sat in the second chair and exchanged looks with Ursula.
Finally, Tamara moved to the first chair, reaching out a hand toward it as though she were on a tossing ship. She felt her way along the back of the chair to the arm, came around the front, and sat down heavily. Suddenly, she brushed frantically at something on her arm, but there was nothing there.
Livvy waited and watched. The drugs Tamara had said. If the woman was an addict, they might be watching the initial stages of withdrawal. The advent of goggles had precluded Livvy’s use of drugs as an entry to the Multiverse. Even so, from medical school she knew that the hallucinogens preferred by shamans weren’t addictive. They could, however, become a gateway drug to others.
“Gods, I want to be clean,” said Tamara, looking at the floor.
Clean. As in free of drugs.
“Dominique provides the drugs,” said Livvy.
Tamara nodded. “Cocaine,” she said.
“She gives you drugs?” asked Min, incredulous. “Even though you’re using goggles?”
“I did not start with goggles,” said Tamara, still staring at the floor. “It was cohoba. Coke came later.”
“Junkies,” Ursula said with disgust.
“Yes,” Tamara said without flinching as she looked up at Ursula. “Junkies.”
“But you’re networked through goggles,” said Livvy. “You’re in the Multiverse with a network.” The sudden appearance of all the shamans together made that obvious.
Tamara nodded again.
“So the drugs?” said Min.
“A reward,” said Tamara. “A necessity,” she corrected herself, shuddering.
“So all those shamans are addicts?” asked Min.
“Yes,” said Tamara. “Now, most of them are high. Any drug you want, as much as you want, after the defeat of–” She shot a look at Livvy, aware of what she was just about to say.
“It is an nkondi, is it not?” Ursula asked, her tone a challenge.
Again, the woman only nodded, as though it were obvious.
“Ursula knew it,” she said.
There were a few moments of silence as they processed what they’d heard.
“So, Tamara,” said Livvy. Tamara immediately looked at her, the feverish face searching Livvy’s for any hint of what was coming. “You want to be clean,” Livvy continued. “And you want help to do that.”
Ursula tsked.
“Why now?” asked Livvy.
“In the Multiverse,” said Tamara, “you were against Dominique, but you do not want to hurt people. You want to help them–that woman.”
“That woman, the client,” said Min icily, “she died.”
“Yes,” Tamara said as she slowly shook her head. “I also do not want to hurt people. I did not but I am sorry.”
Livvy remembered the quake that started and stopped and the way it had toppled the other shamans.
“It is Dominique,” Tamara said quietly, looking at the floor. “Nothing can stop her.”
“You’re all responsible,” said Min.
“We’re all responsible,” corrected Livvy.
“I hate her,” said Tamara suddenly and then louder. “Hate her, hate her, hate her!”
Min jumped a little at the sudden vehemence.
“Then help us,” said Ursula, leaning forward. “Give us the nkondi.”
Tamara looked up at her as a frown pulled down the corners of her mouth. “You think I did not think of that? It is never alone. Never.”
“Humph,” Ursula grunted and sat back.
“You could tell us where she is,” suggested Min.
“She is–”
“So we could what?” asked Livvy.
“Toss in a grenade,” said Ursula.
Min actually nodded in agreement.
“Do you hear me?” pleaded Tamara. “She wants control of the Multiverse. She stops for nothing. She can find you there no matter where she is here.” Her voice was steadily rising. “The fight is not here, it is there. I want to help but I do not know how.” She was nearly screaming now. “I want her to stop but I do not know how!”
They were all silent for several moments.
“Fight fire with fire then,” said Ursula.
All eyes turned to her.
“I will make an nkondi for Dominique,” she said.
Tamara’s eyebrows flew upward and she seemed alert.
“Can you do that?” asked Min.
“Ursula has not forgotten the old ways,” she said, nodding. “It would be a powerful nkondi indeed.”
“Wait a minute,” said Livvy. It felt like the tide was turning but maybe too fast. “We’re not trying to harm anyone,” she said. “These shamans with Dominique may not be there of their own free will.”
Tamara nodded vigorously at that.
“We don’t have to harm anyone,” agreed Min. “But if we can see into her world, like Ursula says, maybe we’ll know what she’s doing, what she’s up to. You know, like get the drop on her, instead of vice versa.”
Livvy thought about it. The nkondi wasn’t a weapon, just a way to see someone, find them. Maybe this could work. Maybe if Dominique knew she had the same ability, the knowledge would be enough to put a stop to this whole thing.
“Ursula needs something of Dominique’s,” said Ursula, looking at Tamara. “You know what would be necessary.”
“Me?” exclaimed Tamara. “I can help you in the Multiverse but I cannot go back there!”
“Yes, you can,” said Ursula. “You must.”
“You say you want our help,” said Min.
“Wait,” said Livvy. “Tamara,” she said, looking directly at her. “You will have our help, no matter what.”
“But–” started Min.
“No buts,” said Livvy. “We wouldn’t refuse to help you. You need to be clean.”
Tamara relaxed.
“I know it took a lot for you to come here today and we’re grateful that
you won’t be working with Dominique. But if we’re going to try to end this without anybody else getting hurt, or dying, we need you to help us.”
Tamara grimaced but remained silent.
“Did you tell her you were leaving?” asked Min.
“No, no, no,” said Tamara, shaking her head.
“So, she does not know that you are here?” asked Ursula.
“No!”
Ursula and Min both nodded and exchanged looks. Then Ursula looked Tamara directly in the eye. “Something of her,” Ursula urged quietly. “That is all Ursula would need.”
Tamara's face screwed up. She had obviously made her choice, had left with no intention of ever going back. Now they were asking her to go to the one place in all the worlds that she never wanted to see again. She looked at the three of them, each in turn, landing finally on Ursula.
She took in a deep breath. “I can try,” she said.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“SK, WHAT’S THE matter?” he heard Livvy say as he brushed by her at the front door. Then he heard the door close.
He slammed the crystal pyramid onto the coffee table and wheeled around, unable to stop himself. “You summoned your mother?” he yelled.
She looked as though he’d struck her. She backed up against the door, staring at the pyramid.
“So it’s true,” he muttered.
Somehow he’d been hoping it wasn’t, without even realizing it, until this moment.
“How did you–” Livvy said. “Did Min–”
“Min?” he screamed.
Livvy flinched.
“So Min knew?”
He threw up his hands before letting them fall to his sides. Of course Min had to know. She’d been in the Multiverse. She’d known and not said anything.
He suddenly laughed and shook his head. “It’s like a bad soap opera,” he said. “I really am the last to know.”
“But how–”
“Dominique,” he sneered, as though it were obvious. “Oh, of course,” he continued, “she couldn’t wait to tell me.”
“Dominique?” Livvy said, her face in complete shock. “But–”
“She called me,” he yelled. “Asked for a meeting. Here, all this time I’m trying to find her, and she just calls.” He laughed again. “It’s too funny.”
Olivia Lawson Techno-Shaman Books 1 -3 Page 48