Night Magic (23 page)

"Hey, come on it's time to join the fun. We
said we would go down to street level."

Rodney's suggestion was greeted with
enthusiastic yells from the others. Strapping on small packs with
cash and other necessities, they descended through the locked lobby
and merged with the crowd. They were immediately engulfed in a sea
of humanity from all walks of life speaking in different languages
and accents. Stopping in front of a bar, all three couples danced
to the New Orleans ragtime blaring through its open doors. They
found themselves surrounded by others. They were skipping and
dancing with everyone around them. Savannah giggled uncontrollably
when a large man dressed as a sumo wrestler started to do the twist
in front of her. She began to laugh so hard not only couldn't she
dance, she could hardly catch her breath.

"Some friends you are. Why didn't you get me
out of there?" Savannah fanned herself with a menu.

"But you made such a lovely couple," Charice
quipped. She pranced around, gyrating in imitation of Savannah's
portly partner.

It had taken them all quite some time to
regain control after that sight. They stumbled, still laughing,
into a tiny restaurant about four blocks away to grab lunch and
wait for the next parade.

Until dusk they alternated between frolicking
with the mad masses and collapsing in the nearest bar or
restaurant. Holding hands, Paul and Savannah were the picture of a
happy couple. As darkness fell, the area began to glow with
multicolored brilliance from the lights of huge floats that were
part of the fabulous Rex parade. With the knowledge that it would
all end in just four hours, the partying took on a kind of frenzied
pace. Standing close to the curb Savannah shouted in triumph as she
caught a long, gaudy purple and gold necklace with a large
medallion attached. Turning to show the others, she found herself
separated from them. She scanned the crowd but could not see them.
Making a full circle, she stood on tiptoe for a better view. A
smirking white mask, a large red-lipped smile painted on it with
bright red spots on its cheeks, bobbed in the crowd. Savannah found
something disturbingly familiar about it. The wearer waved at her
jauntily before melting back into the crowd. For reasons she could
not explain, an icy stab of fear crept up her spine. Now being
separated from her friends in the crowd made her feel vulnerable.
Pushing against the press of bodies, her search for them took on a
frantic urgency. Suddenly something slammed her from behind shoving
her into the path of the parade. The next few seconds were a flash
of bright hues that blinded her temporarily. Screams pierced the
air as several people close by saw the gigantic wheels of a float
bearing down on her. Savannah opened her mouth wide in a desperate
attempt to call out for help. Her vocal cords refused to work as
the monstrous shape moved to crush her. The fabric of her blue
jeans ripped as numerous hands reached out dragging her over the
pavement and away from danger.

"Damn, that lady almost bought it!" A male
voice cried.

Savannah wavered on knees of rubber clinging
to strong arms. She fell forward and tears flowed as she recognized
the strong, reassuring scent of Paul's cologne.

"You're okay, baby. Shussh now-- it's all
right." Paul held her tightly to him crooning soothingly.

"My God, is she hurt bad?" Charice appeared,
a frightened frown twisting her features. She examined Savannah for
injuries.

"A few scrapes and scratches is all I think."
Sam said.

"Ma'am, we better let the paramedics check
you out to be sure." A uniformed policeman took control, leading
them to a first aid station. The female paramedic gave Savannah a
pat on the arm after gazing at her pupils with a tiny
flashlight.

"She's fine, but she's pretty shook up. Y'all
need to watch for signs of disorientation for the next four or five
hours. If she does, she'll need to see a doctor, okay?""Man, these
people can be real animals when they're trying to get those beads,"
Rodney said.

They were back at the apartment. Savannah was
curled up on the love seat staring into space. Paul only took his
eye from her for seconds at a time.

"With that mob and all the pushing, accidents
happen. You have to be extra careful. Sam, I'm ready to go."
Danielle, examining her lipstick for smudges in a compact, sat
across from Sam with her long legs crossed. Closing it with a snap,
she smiled at him alluringly.

"That was no accident. Somebody pushed me
deliberately," Savannah spoke softly.

"Trying to beat you to the beads, sure."
Danielle stared at her and shrugged.

"No, she was trying to hurt me." Savannah
rubbed her forehead wearily.

"She? She who?" Paul folded her into his
arms.

"LaShaun Rousselle."

"LaShaun!" Charice yelled staring wide eyed
at Savannah.

"Told you Marie Leveau was bad news,
brother," Sam in an undertone to Paul.

"Savannah, that's crazy. Maybe we better get
you to an emergency room." Paul took her face in both hands to
study her closely.

"There is nothing wrong with me. I tell you
it was her. I saw her. She was dressed in red wearing a large
masque. A harlequin I think, or was it a clown?" Savannah shook her
head.

"Come on, you're scaring me. That medic said
disorientation is a sign that you could have a serious concussion
as a result of your head hitting the concrete." Paul tried to get
her to stand up.

"No, damn it. I'm not going to any hospital.
I tell you she was there!" Savanna jerked her arm back.

"That other junk was bad enough, but the
bitch has gone too far now." Charice paced the room glaring.

"Did you hit your head too? And what other
junk are you talking about?" Sam said.

"Charice, shut up. You're right Paul, I guess
I'm more rattled that I thought. Let's go home. I'll be okay after
I get some rest." Savannah tried to smile and failed.

"I want to know what you and Charice are
talking about, Savannah. Why do you think LaShaun tried to get you
killed? Well?"

"LaShaun believes in voodoo and she hates
Savannah because her mama hated Savannah's mama because--"

"Say what? Voodoo? I'm out of here." Danielle
jumped to her feet. "Sam, take me home, now," she said in a
strained voice.

"Wait a minute, I want to hear this." Sam did
not budge from his seat.

"You either take me home now or don't bother
to call me again."

"I will in a few, chill." Sam tried to
appease her.

"I'm leaving with or without you. If I leave
without you, forget you ever knew me." Danielle stood by the
door."Okay, okay. I'll take you home. Fill me in on everything when
I get back," Sam whispered to Charice as he passed her. "This
ultimatum stuff is getting old, I hope you know that." He grumbled
as he opened the door.

"I'm waiting." Paul turned back to
Savannah.

"LaShaun hates me the way her mother hated my
mother. Not because of anything I've done to her, but because
that's what her mother taught her." Savannah spoke in a strangled
voice as she sat twisting her hands."I remember once when I was
about seven years old, she and her mother were in the dime store
shopping at the same time Tante Marie had taken me to get school
supplies. LaShaun's mama stared at us, and then whispered something
to LaShaun. LaShaun shook her fist at me. Tante Marie pulled me
away and wouldn't answer when I tried to question her. It got worse
after LaShaun's mama died in that fire." Savannah paused and
breathed deeply. She looked at Paul with haunted eyes. "Monmon
Odette has always blamed my father."

"But all that happened a long time ago. And
even if she is the one who's been leaving voodoo dolls to scare
you, that's a long way from attempted murder." Paul shook his
head.

"She the hates me that much. You should see
the look in her eyes when we meet." Savannah bit her lip.

"Listen, baby, you've been putting in long
hours at the shop and the library. You're stressed out, not to
mention exhausted." Putting a protective arm around her shoulders,
Paul spoke in a soothing tone. "Combine that with these attempts to
intimidate you, it's natural that you would be jumpy and imagine
all sorts of things."

"I'm not imagining things, Paul." Savannah
gripped his hand. Her eyes begged him to believe her.

"If Savannah says she saw her, then it's
LaShaun. You don't know her, Paul. She can be hell on wheels,"
Charice said.

"This is unbelievable. What are we talking
about? It was an accident. It had to be." Brows drawn down, Paul
rubbed his chin.

"Savannah, you've got to watch your back
twenty-four seven girlfriend. I'm telling you this witch is serious
about taking you out." Charice sat down hard.

"Um-hum. Maybe we better get going, Charice."
Rodney, who had been sitting quietly through their exchange,
startled them. They had almost forgotten he was present.

"Sam's not back yet." Charice handed Savannah
a glass of water.

"So what? Look, it's late, I'm tired. Let's
go. Hope you feel better, Savannah."

"But we were going to follow them back home,"
Charice argued with him as they went through the door. With a
resigned wave, she followed him out.

"Why didn't you tell me about what's been
going on?" Paul glared at Savannah, his voice harsh with
reproach.

"Because, it's my problem. There wasn't
anything you could do anyway."

"Maybe not, but if you're in trouble I want
to face it with you. Promise, if anything else happens you'll tell
me, okay?"

"Promise. Now let's see if we can give you a
happy face." Savannah put her arms around his neck and kissed his
forehead.

"I mean it; tell me if anything else
happens." Paul tried to sound stern but her lips brushing his face
softly melted any attempts to sound tough.

"You've got it. I feel revived knowing you're
in my corner, you big strong man." Savannah hammed it up with a
high pitched simper.

"Joke if you want, but--" He found her mouth
more inviting than trying to finish his sentence.

"You know, I'm not so much scared now as I am
angry. I don't care if it's LaShaun or whoever; I am not going to
let them get to me. I'm going to help the people get their concerns
about the plant heard, and I am going to go on with my life in Beau
Chene. To hell with them."

"Hey, now. Break it up cause I'm back. Where
is Charice?" Sam banged in unzipping his black leather jacket.

"She left. With her
date,
Rodney. You
remember Rodney?" Savannah needled him.

"Right. The guy who wore that sucking on a
lemon expression every time she tried to have a good time."

"I think they make a real handsome couple. So
does Paul. Wasn't that what you said earlier, Paul? How good
Charice and Rodney look together." Savannah poked him in the
ribs.

"Will you cut it out," Paul mumbled.

"Whatever, if that's what she wants. Ain't my
concern." Sam spread his hands as if dismissing the subject. He
lifted his eyebrows in disdain. "I've got several honeys to occupy
my attention. You two going to stay here or what?" Sam stood at the
door.

"We're heading back home." Paul looked at
Savannah as she rose to stand beside him. His arm still encircled
her as if to ward off harm.

"Goodbye, Sam. I feel like we've been buddies
for a long time even though we just met." Savannah pecked his
cheek.

"Take care of yourself. See you, my brother."
Sam grabbed Paul's hand.

The ride to Beau Chene was silent, but it was
an easy silence. Savannah sat close to Paul, her hand on his thigh.
Music from the radio combined with the glow from the dash board
lights to make the car a cozy romantic world with only the two of
them. Words were not necessary. Content with this new intimacy,
Savannah rested her head on Paul's shoulder.

"Say sleeping beauty, we're home." Paul
whispered.

"Humm. Already? Goodness, I didn't think I
was tired."

"You forget we've been up and going since six
this morning."

"This is my house." Savannah wore a
disappointed expression.

"I thought you might want to go straight to
bed."

"I do." Pressing herself to him, she used her
tongue to part his lips.

Without any more discussion, Paul put the car
in gear and headed for his trailer.

*****

After the hoopla that surrounded the
beginning of the trial, the public quickly lost interest in the
long technical explanations and dry legal wrangling, most of which
they didn’t understand. In the third week of the trial, the
audience had dwindled by two-thirds. Even the few reporters left
were obviously bored stiff by most of what they heard.

"It's funny, but everything going on now is
the meat of what will persuade the jury the fate of the plant,
jobs, and even the environment around here. But hardly anybody
shows up to hear what's being said." Gralin Mencer looked around
the courtroom over the top of his glasses. The heavy black frames
made him look more like a school principal dissatisfied with his
pupils than an attorney.

"Don't be fooled, Gralin. Miss Lucille has
been here every day. She is interpreting all this for most of the
folks in Easy Town. They know exactly what's being said and why."
Without looking up from the stack of organized and neatly typed
notes in front of her, Savannah jerked a thumb towards the benches
behind them.

Gralin turned to find Miss Lucille smiling at
him like she knew exactly what they were saying. She waved as if to
confirm what Savannah had just told him.

"I should have known. Nothing important
affecting Black folks in this parish has happened in the last fifty
years that Miss Lucille hasn't been part of a big way," Gralin said
as he returned her greeting with a respectful nod.