Napoleon's Gift

by Alie Infante

  I was surprised because the constable with him. I turned wide eyes to Granny, and she frowned. I heard a commotion at the front door, and moments later, they appeared.

  “Are you one Marié Antoinette Basile?” The constable asked as if he had no clue who my grand was, and my grandmother stood.

  “I am?” She replied, I noticed her chin raised a notch, and I smiled to myself.

  “I am here to serve writ that this entire property, and its inhabitants, are under the temporary jurisdiction of one Mr. Jean Charlot Marrow, until further notice. Haven Plantation is in temporary hiatus, until we are able to distinguish if the newly deceased Tobias Jones has any fit relatives.” He declared glaring at me, and I noticed my grandmother grasped her chest.

  She teetered, then toppled to the floor.

  “Granny!” I screamed, and Abel rushed into the room.

  “Send for doc Augustin, right away Jacques!” He shouted, and Jacques ran from the room.

  Abel gathered my grandmother up, and was about to place her on the settee, when Mr. Charles spoke.

  “I am sure her quarters will be more suited to the task. Please leave us.” He commanded, Abel frowned, then glanced at me.

  “She shall stay.” Mr. Charles stated, and I turned wide eyes upon Abel.

  Abel stood his ground, until I touched his arm.

  “Go, please, Granny requires you at the present.” I whispered, he nodded, then looked at Mr. Charles again.

  I felt my bravado depart from the room with Abel.

  Mr. Charles walked to where I was standing, turned my face up, then smiled. However, there was no mirth in that smile, it was pure evil.

  “We shall have our time mon amour, as soon as I am completed with this dreadful business here.” He stated, then nodded me from the room.

  My salvation surged through my body, as I hurried towards my grandmother’s house.

  When I arrived, the doctor was already there. He glanced up as I hurried into the room.

  “You do understand that your grandmamma is very ill right child?” He asked as he pushed his glasses up with his middle finger, and I nodded.

  “I merely just found out this day. How terrible is it?”

  “Well, her aliment is the Addison chil, but her heart as well.” He said, and I gasped again.

  Addison’s was notorious for a death sentence.

  “Heart as well? Will she wake?” I cried, surging to my feet.

  “That I cannot rightly declare as of now chil, we shall simply have to wait and see.”

  If the breath had left me beforehand, at the moment I was suffocating.

  “But how will we survive? Mr. Charles has by now taken over my fath… Mr. Jones’ properties?” I cried, and the doctor frowned.

  “That he cannot accomplish child.” He stated frowning deeper.

  “But he has, the constable only just pronounced.” I wailed.

  “And Benjamin?” He questioned, and I frowned.

  “Benjamin?”

  “Mr. Waverly child, when is he due to arrive. I had spoken to Tobias of this at length. It was my understanding that he was to be here?”

  “I do not know sir.” I moaned, and he sighed.

  “Well, we shall weather that when the time comes, at the moment, we necessitate to concentrate on Marié.”

  “Yes sir.” I said calmly, but I felt nowhere near calm.

  What the devil would I do?

  Haven

  Plantation…

  One week later…

  Granny had not roused for a week now, and I was nowhere to calculating what we would carry out, than I was last week. Mr. Waverly still had not arrived, and I recognized the only reason Mr. Charles had not noticed me, was for the reason that he was preoccupied with renovating Mr. Jones’ home. I knew if Granny were awake, she would spit fire at the very thought of it.

  I watched out the window, as they took the furniture from the house. I gasped, as I saw my mother’s portrait, then ran from the house before I realized it. I snatched the portrait from Abel, and he smiled down on me despite my rudeness.

  “I was merely on my way to you chil.” He said softly, I sighed, then smiled.

  “Please excuse my manners Abel, I was not deliberating.” I sighed shamefaced.

  “I imagine hunny, and Marié?”

  “The equivalent, she has not repositioned in a week. I have to accomplish something Abel, Granny and I cannot trust Mr. Charles.”

  “I knowed that. Go on down and see Claudette. Maybe she has some kind of labor, you can do, at least until Marié wakes. I believe with you chil that she will. Marié Antoinette Basile is too stubborn to leave here like this.” He grinned, and I smiled.

  That was completely true.

  My grand would not leave me without a fight.

  I embraced Abel, then turned towards home with the portrait of my mother.

  I placed the portrait next to Granny’s bed, then sighed as I looked at it.

  I figured my father had been correct in his statement, because the more I looked at that portrait, I realized I was a carbon copy of my mother. The only exceptions were, I was lighter skinned, and had hazel-green eyes, where hers were brown.

  I sighed again, kissed Granny’s cheek, then left the room.

  ***

  As I walked through the tall oaks, I thought of Benjamin.

  What would he look like now, after all these years?

  My mind instantly went back to a hot summer day; we had spent at the river together.

  “I do declare ye are the finest swimmer I have ever seen Ginny.” Benjamin said grinning, and I smiled as I rose out of the water, and his brow rose as we watched me.

  He swallowed hard, then walked towards me.

  “Has anyone ever told ye, that ye are absolutely beautiful?” He whispered, then kissed me.

  “You are insanely addling Benny.” I cried as I moved away from him, then cuffed him.

  He frowned, then grinned.

  “I have no notion what came over me, however, I do say that I am famished.” He laughed, and we both hurried to put our clothes on, then ran towards the house to see what Marié had made for luncheon.

  I grinned to myself as I walked towards Ms. Claudette’s home. Even then, Benjamin had been a very handsome lad.

  Although I was completely and haplessly in love with him, I never told him the truth, especially after the incident with Maribel Clavier and her cousin at Basil-leaf plantations, and the Dubios’ annual summer ball.

  I frowned as I walked on, because what I felt for Benjamin after that day, waned, even if he swore it was not his fault.

  Ciel ici-bas (heaven on earth)

  Plantation

  I saw Claudette walking across the gardens, and ran to catch up with her. She turned, saw me, then smiled waving me towards her. If ever I had seen a beautiful woman, it was Claudette. Her mother was French Creole, and her father pure African. Mrs. Mongè was a beautiful woman herself. However, because she was French, she was a bit more liberal than the whites here were, and she had had a scandalous affair with a strapping slave named Marcus, and nine months later Claudette was born.

  From what I heard, she high-tailed it back to France, leaving Claudette here with Marcus. Claudette was so fair of skin, that most people around here forgot she was half-African, so she was a bit more privileged. Not to mention, Marcus Bonaparté was a free colored, and I believed related to Napoléon some how.

  “Well hello chil, what brings you out today? I heard the dreadful new of Marié, and I am so sorry.” She said, as she kissed both of my cheeks, and I returned her kisses.

  “I know, I am at a loss. Abel thought you might have some kind of labor for me to do, to take my mind off the situation. I have no means of paying the doctor for his services, and the medicine Grand-mier will need.”

  “I truly wish I did chil, but as of right now, père is in France with

  Monsieur Boule. I know how frighten you must be.” She replied as she motioned to the swing
on the veranda.

  “I have nothing without Granny Claudette.”

  “And your father, did he not make arrangements for you to be taken care of in his last testament amoureux?” Claudette asked, and I looked up at her surprised.

  Did everyone know he was my father?

  Of course, Granny finally told me, but I was twelve years old by the time she did.

  “I have no notion, Mr. Charles came last week with a writ, which he assured us, gave him permission of the lands, and the people.”

  “That foul bâtard, I shall never believe Tobias would give him the dirt under his fingernails, let alone his daughter!”

  “It is exactly what Granny said, but we have no means of proving it, not to mention it would be a colored’s word against a white. Moreover, now that Granny’s in coma, I am at a loss as to what to do. I cannot buy the things doctor Augustin needs, to take care of her.”

  “Well, chil, I can take care of that.” Claudette said, and I shook my head.

  “I’d rather you did not. There may come a time, when I just may have to ask for something more substantial, so I would see it then. I have no notions of what my living state will be now that Mr. Charles has taken over the properties. If it were his wish, since we are all free, he could actually have us removed.” I countered, and she nodded.

  “Well, papa will be back soon, and as soon as he does, I’m sure he will find something for you to do.” She countered smiling, and I nodded again.

  I kissed both her cheeks, said I would visit her at the end of the week, and she nodded as I waved good-bye.

  What the devil would I do?

  Granny needed that medicine.

  When I reached Granny’s, I immediately went to her room. I was surprised to see old Millie there.

  “Well how’s ma petit today?” She asked as she kissed my cheek, and I returned it.

  “Pas très bien du tout.” Not very well at all, I replied as I sat down on Granny’s bed, then leaned in to kiss her cheek. Her eyes fluttered for the briefest of seconds, then she was still.

  “Mon amour, I have a little argent saved, surely you can…”

  “Ms. Millie, I love you for that, but what happens next time? I have to find some kind of occupation that will keep Granny and I secure. Equally, Granny told me you were saving that money to bring your daughter up from Mississippi; I could never take it from you.”

  “And what shall you do chil, surely Miz Claudette has something?” She questioned, and I shook my head.

  “Abel sent me there this morning, but she said Monsieur Marcus was in France at the moment, so as far as some kind of occupation, she would not know until he came back. I need to find work now Ms. Millie. I fear if I do not, Mr. Charles will realize I am no longer in the house, and come looking for me. At least if I have some kind of occupation, I can buy Granny’s medicine, and avoid Mr. Charles at the same time, until Mr. Waverly gets here; which God only knows is when. Can you stay with Granny?” I asked, she nodded, then frowned.

  “And où vas-tu?” Where will you go, Millie asked, her frown deepening.

  “Pour le seul endroit que je connaisse où une fille de couleur peuvent trouver du travail Mme Millie.” To the only place, I know of where a colored girl can find work Ms. Millie. I said, and she gasped.

  “Mais sûrement, il doit y avoir un autre moyen pour vous de trouver du travail

  Fillette?” Surely, there must be another way for you to find work chil, Millie cried, and I sighed.

  “I have no intentions of doing that Ms. Millie, maybe I can be a servant girl or something. Anything that will allow me to buy Granny’s medicine. Now, I will return as soon as I can. Can you please stay with Granny until I return?” I asked as I gathered my shawl, kissed Ms. Millie on the cheek, then walked from the room as she nodded.

  Vieux Carré

  (The French Quarter)

  Rue Bourbon Street…

  As I walked towards the Absinthe House, I felt a chill spring up my spine.

  The Absinthe House had many a tale to follow it. The building endures the name of Jean Lafitte, because of the rumored meeting of the Pirate Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson, as they planned the victory of the battle of New Orleans on the second floor.

  Built in 1806, this building was erected by Pedro Front and Francisco Juncadelia of Barcelona, to house their importing firm. For the next forty years, trade continued in the bartering of food, tobacco and Spanish liquor. In 1815, the ground floor was converted into a saloon known as “Aleix’s Coffee House” and was run by the nephews of Senora Juncadelia. This coffee house was later rechristened “The Absinthe Room” and has been called that ever since.

  For those not familiar with Absinthe, Granny says it is liquor made from, among other things, wormwood. It is said to have a bitter, licorice flavor and is greenish or chartreuse in color. Originally brought to popularity in Europe, Absinthe found quite a following here in New Orleans, our own little Paris of the New World.

  Of course, when in New Orleans, the Absinthe House is a favorite spot for those who wished to imbibe the spirit. Absinthe was a favorite drink of many, many famous people Granny said, particularly artists and writers who found inspiration in their Absinthe-induced stupor. It is said that Edgar Allen Poe’s writings were essentially under the influence of nearly fatal mixtures of absinthe and brandy. Many have been welcomed through its doors according to Granny, Oscar Wilde, P.T. Barnum, Mark Twain, Jenny Lind, and General Robert E Lee. It was also said that Poe transformed himself into the “enchanted spaces of the unreal.”

  As it turns out, Absinthe is indeed a dangerous substance, as the wormwood used for making it has narcotic properties. The consumption of Absinthe is associated with hallucinations, delirium, madness and even death sometimes. I had never partaken, but I did know a few people who had. I daresay it is not something one should mess about with.

  Granny warned me of this part of town; however, I saw no other choice. I passed Madame Soleil’s, paused, then frowned as I glared up at the establishment.

  From what Granny told me, the earliest recorded mention of prostitution as an occupation, appeared in Sumerian records from before 4000 BC, and describes a temple-bordello operated by Sumerian priests in the city of Uruk.

  The ‘kakum’ or temple was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar and housed three grades of women. The first group performed only in the temple sex-rites, the second group had the run of the grounds, and catered to its visitors. The third and lowest class lived on the temple grounds, but was free to seek out callers in the streets.

  In later years, similar “temple” or “sacred” bordellos and parallel classifications of females were known to have existed in Greece, Rome, India, China and Japan.

   I sighed again.

  Could I truly do that?

  Could I truly make myself available in that manner?

  I saw a pair of very attractive colored girls glancing my way, then giggle.

  “Elle ne serait jamais!” She would never, the first one laughed, and the other nodded.

  “Vous pouvez voir briller la pureté partir d’ici.” You can see the shining purity from here, the other laughed and I frowned. I squared my shoulders, sent them both a look, then pressed the entry open.

  As I walked in, I was in awe.

  The place was drenched in red satin, deep burgundies, and the carpet under my feet was a striking red and yellow. A curved staircase led its way upstairs, and I gasped as I saw the half-clothed women lingering on the stairs, in a variety of outlandish outfits, with their gentleman callers following.

  The beautiful chandelier, hung from the ceiling in all its glory, the shards of light reflecting off the women’s faces, who sat on the numerous settees, eloquently sipping their wine, with the men practically throwing themselves at their feet.

  The deep wine-red curtains shrouded several rooms from view, but it was fairly obvious what the happenings in there were, from the laughter, not to mention the subtly slap of flesh.

&nbs
p; I gasped as I saw old Mr. Simmons from Dieu Ciel plantation sandwiched between two young women, who were feeding him grapes.

  I noticed Madame Soleil in the far right corner, squared my shoulders again, then resigned this as my fate.

  Madame Soleil was a stern looking women, one not to be trifled with. Conversely, in quite the contrast I also noticed a softness about her as well. Something so quite, her years of service to her craft had most likely deadened. Her long ebony tresses hung to her waist and her full bosom was accentuated by the tight fitting black and red bodice. However, it was her piercing green eyes, which drew attention, and right now, they were trained on me.

  Certainly, there must be something here I could do, beside what I had been witnessing for the last several moments.

  I did not see any colored girls in her establishment, so that meant she did not deal with coloreds.

  I breathed a silent “whew”.

  I gathered my shawl tighter around my hair and shoulders, and just watched astonished.

  I gasped again, as Mr. Farley, from the church’s rectory manhandled one of the young women, threw her over his shoulder, then commenced to take her upstairs laughing.

  I wondered if the good Reverend Brant knew of these shenanigans.

  ***

  Madame Soleil looked up taken aback as she saw the young colored woman standing in the center of her bordello. At a more scrutinized glance, she realized it was Marié Basile’s granddaughter and gasped.

  Why would she be here?

  She wondered, then motioned for Monique to refill her wine glass.

  This could be quite interesting.

  Madame Soleil thought with a sinister grin.

  “Bring her to me.” Madame grinned; Monique nodded, then walked off.

  Madame watched as they spoke for several moments, the girl took the shawl from her head, but refused to look around. Madame Soleil noticed the reaction of the men in the room, then smiled.