CHAPTER 38 - THE CHOICE
As promised, Jose was at the airport to meet Boy. He was wearing a straw cap that told others of his mood. When the brim was turned to the front, it meant he was on taxi duty. When it was turned to the back, he was done with taking Jacob’s orders for the day. At that moment, the brim was pointing forward, and Jose stood there, full of his own importance, holding up a sign that said LAS NARANJAS. Boy and Manny introduced themselves and Jose led them to the taxi.
Boy hadn’t cared for the plane’s cuisine and was eager to find a good meal before the long drive to Cristo. Boy allowed Manny to choose the restaurant and invited Manny and Jose as his guests. Jose was delighted. "But just wait until you taste the food at Las Naranjas," he said. And their meal would have been perfect if not for the groups of young beggars eagerly pestering them both inside and outside the restaurant.
"Who are these children? I can hardly take a bite without seeing sad eyes and a grimy, outstretched hand," Boy complained. "And who is that guy waiting for them out in the street?"
"They've been sent from their homes because their parents couldn’t afford to keep them," Manny explained. "That man has taken charge of them. They bring any money they get to him."
"So, that’s what Fagin looks like!" Boy snorted. To the ragged, five-year old girl at his elbow, he said, "If you and your friends won’t bother us while we’re eating, I’ll give you money when we leave."
The girl nodded and ran off to warn her companions. True to his word, Boy peeled off several bills in Dominican currency and gave them to the girl as his group exited the restaurant. She reached eagerly for the money, her eyes alight.
"They’re so young," he complained. "What will become of them? I remember reading that such children in Columbia are rounded up and shot so as not to interfere with tourist trade. These kids may not be executed for being here, but I don’t see anyone helping them either."
When they arrived in Cristo, Boy found no reservation waiting for him at the hotel. The women had become nervous about staying alone and asked for a cot to be sent to their suite instead. "But it’s safer this way," they wailed to a disappointed Boy.
"I'm too big to be comfortable on a cot," he grumbled. "If I have to stay in the same room with four gibbering females, I'm commandeering one of the beds." Then he took one look at their tiny rented car and decided to trade it in for the comfort of a van.
The women needed to update Boy and he wanted to fill them in on the information he’d gathered on Santeria. The group decided to order drinks and snack platters sent to Room 206 and Manny deigned to join them.
Boy decided he and the four women would perform a protection spell that very night. Manny was secretly delighted as his own Santero group had planned a similar ceremony. When they’d finished talking, he took Boy aside. "This Ramon is using very powerful magic and surely he ensures its potency with blood sacrifice."
"Are you asking me to sacrifice a chicken?"
Manny shook his head. "He is most probably sacrificing very young children."
"Are you asking me to sacrifice children as well?" Boy’s voice had an edge to it.
"Of course not," Manny insisted, "but, for your magic to be effective, blood must be matched with blood. You might want to start thinking of something larger than a chicken. A nice goat, perhaps."
Robin overheard and interrupted, snapping, "I’m not sacrificing anything! Not even something as small as a mouse!"
"If we must sacrifice someone," quipped Cat, "I’ll just ring for Pedro."
"No! No sacrificing of any kind!" hissed Samantha.
Manny drew himself up haughtily. "You may do what you wish, ladies, but if you do not sacrifice blood, your spell will be inadequate." He turned to Boy. "I must go now. There are many preparations I must make."
When Manny had gone, Boy turned to the women with a weak smile. "He’s right, but I’m not about to draw blood either. Not even to protect myself. At least there’s five of us to raise the power. We are very powerful Wiccans. That must count for something."
"Just as long as we don’t have to do anything harmful," whispered Raven.
Spellbound: a Tale of Magic, Mystery & Murder Page 41
