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voices there was the voice of a man； rising from a whisper to a shout： 〃Serpent； serpent…o； Damballah…wedo papa； you are a serpent。 Serpent； serpent…o； I WILL CALL THE SERPENT！ Serpent； serpent…o； Damballah…wedo papa； you are a serpent。。。〃
The jungle was suddenly cut away to make a clearing； Kip quickly turned off his light and stayed hidden in darkness。 Blazing torches formed a wide circle around a small three…sided； straw…roofed hut。 Directly in front of the hut； surrounded by black and red painted stones； was a fire that licked up toward the jungle ceiling high overhead。 A strange geometric figure had been traced in flour in front of the fire； and placed at points on the figure were various objects： bottles； a white…painted steel pot； a dead white rooster； and something wrapped in newspapers。 The drummers sat behind the fire； and thirty…five or forty people made a ring around them…some lying on their bellies in the soft dirt； some twirling madly in circles； still others sitting on the ground； staring with open； glazed eyes into the depths of the flames。 The drumming was furious now； and Kip saw beads of sweat fly off the half…nude forms that circled the fire。 One of the dancers lifted a bottle of rum and let the liquor pour down into his mouth； then he doused the rest of it over his face and head before spinning away again。 Empty bottles lay scattered about。 Sweat streamed from faces and over torsos； and Kip caught the powerful smell of strong； sweet incense in the air。 One of the dancers whirled in and threw a handful of powder into the flames； there was a burst of white and the fire leaped up wildly for a few seconds； illuminating the entire clearing with red light。 A man in a black suit leaped in the air and crouched down at the base of the flames； shaking a rattle over his head。 It was Boniface； the fires glinting off his glasses。 Sweat dripped off his chin as he shook the rattle and cried out； 〃Damballah…wedo papa； here； Damballah…wedo papa； here。。。〃
A woman in a white headdress fell down beside him； her chest heaving with exertion； her head revolving in circles and her eyes glistening with either rum or ganja。 She lay on her belly； snaking along as if she were trying to crawl into the flames。 It was the Kephas woman； the same woman Kip had seen that very afternoon sitting in a dark corner of her house muttering something he had failed to understand。
Boniface shook the rattle； now in time with the drum beating； and reached into the white pot with his free hand to withdraw a thick snake that instantly coiled about his forearm。 At the sight of the snake there was a chorus of screams and shouts。 He held it up； crying out； 〃Damballah…wedo papa； you are a Serpent。 Serpent； serpent…o； I WILL CALL THE SERPENT！〃
Kip's heart was hammering； his head about to crack from the noise。 The drummers stepped up their rhythms； the muscles standing out on their arms； droplets of sweat flying in all directions。 Kip could barely hear himself think； the screaming and the drums were bothering him； reaching a part of his past he had closed tight； to a place of fearful memories and grinning faces hanging from straw walls。 Boniface turned and draped the writhing snake around the woman's shoulders like a rippling coat； and she cried aloud and stroked its body。 The reverend put aside his gourd rattle； lifted the object wrapped in papers over his head and began to spin in front of the fire； shouting out in French。 The old woman let the snake slide from arm to arm。 She played with it； teasing it with a tetettetette noise。 Boniface lifted a bottle of clear liquid； poured it into his mouth and held it there while he unwrapped the object。 In the light of the fire Kip saw it was a crude wax image of the submarine； Boniface tossed the paper into the flames and sprayed the image with the liquid from his mouth； and as the others shouted and urged him on he held his hands out to the fire； his eyes wild and his teeth bared in a grimace。 In another moment the heat began to melt the wax； and Boniface began to knead the image until wax dripped down his hands and arms。 When nothing was left but a misshapen blob； he cast it into the fire and stepped back。 The others screamed louder and danced like possessed souls。 Boniface spat into the fire。
The old woman stared into the face of the snake； then lifted her chin and let it explore her lips with its questing tongue。 She met the tongue with her own； they seemed like nightmarish lovers。 When she opened her mouth to let the reptile probe within； Kip could take no more and stepped out into the light。
One of the drummers saw him first； the man gaped and faltered in his rhythm。 The others noticed at once； heads turned； and someone shrieked as if in pain。 A few of the dancers leaped up from the edge of the fire and ran for the jungle。 The Kephas woman looked at Kip in horror； the snake slithering from her arms into the grass； and then she too ran away； her skirts billowing behind her。 The rest of them were gone almost at once； the jungle closing behind them； the darkness swallowing them up。
And in the silence； still echoing with the beat of the drums and the shouting； Boniface stood framed against the fire； staring across the clearing at the constable。 〃You fool；〃 he said； trying to catch his breath。 〃It wasn't yet plete！〃
Kip said nothing； but walked to the edge of the fire。 He examined the assortment of bottles。 One of them looked as if it were half…filled with blood。
〃IT WASN'T YET PLETE！〃 Boniface shouted； his hands curled into fists at his sides。
There was another pot filled with water； Kip picked it up and poured it over the blaze。 The timbers hissed and smoke twisted toward the sky。 〃I've let you carry out your ceremonies；〃 he said quietly。 〃I haven't raised a finger to interfere。 But； by God〃…he turned to face the other man…〃I'll not have you making something out of that boat and the old man's death。〃
〃You young ass！〃 Boniface said； wiping beads of sweat away from his eyes。 〃You don't understand； you could never begin to understand！ You fool！〃
〃I asked for your help。〃 He kicked at the embers and dropped the pot to one side。 〃Is this how you're helping me？〃
〃OUI！〃 Boniface said； the anger white…hot in his eyes。 He held Kip's gaze a few seconds longer； then looked back into the remains of the fire。 His shoulders were stooped； as if he had been drained of all strength。 〃You can't see； can you？〃 he asked； in a tired whisper。
〃What was the Kephas woman doing here？〃
〃It。。。 was necessary。〃
〃God； what a shambles；〃 Kip said； looking around the clearing。
〃All necessary。〃
〃I don't want any trouble； Boniface。 I thought I made that clear。。。〃
Boniface glared at him sharply； his eyes narrowing。 〃You and the white man are to blame。 Both of you brought that thing into the boatyards。 Now you are to blame！〃
〃For what！〃
〃For what may take place if I'm not allowed to take a hand against it！〃
Kip looked down into the glowing remains of the fire and saw the clump of wax there； blackened by the heat and ashes。 He kicked it out into the grass and looked across at the reverend。 〃What kind of madness is this？〃
〃I expected better f