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hadn't understood their voodoo beliefs； and I found it easy to gain a following。 The people looked to me for guidance； to act as both their houngan and their legal guardian； the law I enforced was stern； harsh perhaps； and I punished evil by the only means I knew： an eye for an eye。
〃And then came that war。 The British brought their men and their ships； they assigned a constable to look after the island。 And though he was a good and fair man； like you； I was still Coquina's real law。 I had the power； and with it the responsibility。 When that damned iron monster came up from the depths； when it rained fire on the island and killed those I loved； I knew I must take a hand against it。
〃I saw the bodies after they had been blown to bloody bits； the sight haunted my nightmares。 The dead reached from their graves； calling me； whispering in the still darkness； until I could take no more； I had the power； the spells taught me by the zobop； the master magicians； and that power was greater than any weapon on earth。〃
Boniface was silent for a moment； staring at his wrinkled hands。 〃I knew the monster would return； in a drug…induced vision； through the sweat and pain； I saw the Night Boat nearing Coquina； saw a burning freighter and death floating on the sea。 That terrible thing was returning； and I knew I must await it。
〃And on that night when the sky was filled with red streaks and flame； when the battle raged over the Abyss and we could see the ships circling their prey； I built a fire on the beach and began my work。 I asked help from Damballah； to entrap the thing in the sea； and from Baron Samedi； to withhold his mercy。 It was difficult。。。 it took many hours； and I prayed that the thing would not escape before I was finished。
〃In a trance I could see the boat hidden there in the Abyss； in the midst of black； churning currents； I saw the sand fall over it； crushing it under。 They were trapped； they would never return to hurt my people again。 They would starve for air； they would decay。。。 but their deaths would be withheld。 I could see through the sand and the iron； as if my eyes were everywhere； and I saw them there。。。 huddled together； their air slowly giving out； their lungs heaving。 In my mind I saw a black； gnarled hand reach out to touch them； they trembled； as if they had been touched by the Devil。 A voice reached me…soft； of velvet and steel； whether male or female I did not know…whispering： It has begun。 I don't know when I awoke from the trance； but I was sitting before a cold fire and all the British ships had gone。 It had taken two days。
〃Now those things exist on the border between life and death。 But I can't hurry the process； Kip； and now they possess a power that I hadn't foreseen。 Hate…because of their agony； because we are human and they。。。 no longer are。 To them we are still the enemy； and the year is still 1942。 And so you understand now why I wanted you to sink it。。。〃
〃No。。。〃 Kip whispered。 He shook his head。 〃No！〃
〃I created them； and there is nothing any man can do。〃
〃THERE HAS TO BE！〃 Kip said； his voice echoing throughout the church。 〃YOU MUST KNOW WHAT TO DO！〃
〃I've been trying； again and again； to quicken the process toward their death； but the spell is too strong； and I don't know what。。。〃
Kip grasped the man's shirt and pulled him around。 〃YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING！〃 he said hoarsely。 〃For God's sake； you're the only one who can help us now！〃
〃I。。。 can't；〃 Boniface said wearily。 〃But you。。。 you might do something。 Oui； oui； you。 Your uncle was one of the greatest houngans in all the islands！〃 Boniface gripped the constable's sleeve。 〃He taught you the art。。。 you were his young apprentice。。。 now you can help me。。。！〃
〃NO！〃 Kip shook his head。 〃I shut it out of my mind； I've forgotten everything that man tried to teach me！〃
〃But you must possess a power of your own；〃 Boniface insisted； 〃or he would not have chosen you as his successor！ It's inside you； if you allow it to e out； if you allow yourself to take control of it！〃
Kip pulled away and stepped back。 His mind was filled with conflicting emotions。 He turned toward the altar； staring at the voodoo implements there； and in a sudden burst of rage he lunged at them； kicking away the bottles and pots。
〃It's junk； all of it！〃 he said tersely。 〃It's goddamned junk！〃 He reached down for a bottle and smashed it against the far wall； splattering clear liquid； he kicked a pot that clattered away across the floor。 Then he stood panting； furious； and listened to the sound of his own ragged breath。 〃It's madness；〃 he said finally。 〃What do they。。。 want with us？〃
〃We have their boat；〃 the other man said。 〃And they want it back。〃
Kip looked over at him； the supplies missing from the yard…the oil； diesel fuel； cables； and rope。 My God； is it possible？ The timbers piled on the U…boat's deck； as if they were being used to shore up bulkheads below。 He shuddered； he could imagine the things working within the U…boat； hour after hour； never resting nor stopping。 No； no； their batteries would be long dead and corroded with salt。 But then he remembered the marine batteries Langstree said had been stolen。 If enough power could be coaxed from them； if the diesels could be brought up even to a fraction of power。。。 The images ate at him。 If the U…boat ever reached the sea lanes between Coquina and Jamaica。。。
〃First they've tried to quench their thirsts for the fluids of life；〃 Boniface said。 〃But they have failed； and now their fury will be uncontrollable。 They will try to kill as many as they can。〃
〃I saw one today…dead…in a house a mile or so from the village。〃
Boniface nodded。 〃The air is taking its toll on them； but very slowly。 Too slowly to save us。〃 He stared at the constable； his expression clouded and distant。
〃I will not last this night；〃 he whispered。 〃I close my eyes…like this…and I see the moment of my death fast approaching。 It is taking shape now； grasping for me。。。〃 He turned his head and peered through the shutter slats。 Then he garnered his strength again。 〃The fire is dying。 They fear the flames； I've got to build it back。〃 He took a few pieces of shattered wood； opened the door； and went outside。 The fire had burned down dangerously low。
Kip was transfixed； unable to think clearly。 There were Myra and Mindy。。。 He had to get them off the island somehow； get them to safety。 But what about all the others； the people who looked to him for protection？ How to save their lives？ How to shield them from the onrushing evil？
Outside； Boniface bent down and threw the wood into the smoldering red and orange ashes。 Build it back； he told himself。 Build it huge and roaring； hot and vivid in the night！ The flames began to grow back； licking at the new timbers。
Boniface stepped away from the circle； the eye hanging on his neck flared blood scarlet； cooled to a violet； darker； darker； to a deep gray； and finally to ebony。
And he felt the coarse； ancient hand of Death on him； it touched his neck very lightly； but it was enough to send an electric chill of warning through him。 He twisted around； looking toward the jungle； and as the shadows fell upon him he