“See gret.”
“Sea grete? Is that a spice?”
“See gret.”
“Don’t mind Eustace none,” Enid said, bringing a plastic tray with a steaming pot and cups. “He ain’t had a whole thought in years. Not since the stroke.”
“I’m sorry,” Cat said.
“Oh, he’s more manageable this way. Fred and him never got on, you know. Eustace loved the hooch. I don’t keep the snake water in my home no more,” she told Seth.
Enid poured four cups and stretched two tea bags between them. She took hers with cream. Cat opted for the lemon. Seth and Cal declined. Enid sat in a padded rocking chair, which made her look even more like a Cabbage Patch doll.
“How did you meet Fred?” Cal asked.
“Well… it was late October, we was having some mighty big weather if I remember rightly. Eustace was out in the barn when Fred just stumbled in. He weren’t feeling right and just passed out.”
“Did you attack him?”
“No, sir. He passed out all on his own. Eustace came into the house and got the shotgun on account of Fred looking so strange. I followed him back. Fred had a bad fever. We pulled him into a stall, got him a blanket, water, and set up a kerosene heater. I tended him ’til the fever broke. When he come to, he had no idea who he was. Couldn’t even tell why he had a horse’s ass ’stead of two legs like normal folks.”
“And the carnie poster?” Seth asked.
“That was Eustace’s idea. Had some problems with locusts that year. Crop was a bust. Thought it might bring in some extra money. But few people come. Too remote. Not like it is now, all hustle and bustle. We got a traffic light in town now. Most folks thought Fred was a trick. Even folks that did come din’ believe it.”
“And Fred was okay with this?” Cal asked.
“Would you like some more tea, hon?” Enid asked.
“Enid?”
“Fred cost us in fixins and medicine. Eustace put him to work. He had to earn his keep. Idle hands is the devil’s tool. We ain’t like you city folk with extra money hidden in the couch. What you see is what we got. Fred didn’t have nowhere to go anyways.”
“Did you keep him here against his will?” Cal asked.
Enid fingered the doily on her armrest and studied the tea set on the table.
“Enid…?” Cat prodded.
“We didn’t encourage him to leave. Eustace had use for him, and I truly believed he would have been hurt if he ventured forth. Folks ’round here weren’t as open-minded as us back then. Fred was a kindly man. A bit innocent. He was ill suited to handle a world of sinners. I kept him company so he wouldn’t be lonesome, taught him to play checkers, read the Bible. Fred took to the Good Book in a big way. Surprising, when you consider his sin.”
“His sin? Did he do something bad?”
“Not him. He was a kindly soul. Well, you know…?”
“No, we really don’t.”
“How he got the way he was. It was clear to anyone with eyes. One of his kin had lain with a beast. The Lord Almighty frowns upon the laying with beasts. It’s a dirty, vulgar sin. Wasn’t Fred’s fault what his mama or papa done, but he was begat of blasphemy.”
Tension crept into Cal’s spine. He could see it in Cat as well.
“Fursd prize, heh,” Eustace repeated.
“But, Enid, you married him,” Cat pointed out.
“I did.” She smiled at the thought of Fred. “He was a gentle soul, twice as wise for only half the man. A good friend. I realized the sacrifice I’d have to make. I couldn’t bring young’ins into the world. The devil’s blood had to end with Fred.”
“But that wasn’t all…?” Cal asked.
“He had to be purified. He was an offense to God.”
“So, you baptized him?” Cal said. A nagging thought knocked on the policeman’s brain. He ignored it. “You converted him to a born-again life.”
“Yes, but more than that. Eustace said he’d be hung before he’d let a beast lay with his sister. He didn’t trust me. Eustace said if I was going to be dang fool enough to tie my fortunes to Fred, he was going to exorcise the Devil from the man first.”
“What are you saying?” Seth asked. “You got a priest to exorcise him?”
“None of them papal devils ever step foot in this home, no sir. We got Fred the chair,” she said pointing to the folded wheelchair in the corner. “But he got terrible sick anyways after many weeks. Wasn’t quite right again. Eustace said the devil ran too deep, that it even polluted the man. I cared for Fred best I could.”
The knocking in Cal’s brain became a physical tumult. The photo, the wheelchair… He rose so fast, he jolted the teacups on the table. “We have to be going,” he said.
Cat looked confused. “Cal? Shouldn’t we tell Lelani…”
“We have to go, now!”
Suddenly, a loud crash blew the front door off its hinges, shaking the home as it bounced off the wall on the far end. Lelani advanced, holding a brown horsetail fastened by four ornate gold rings, and in the other hand rusted iron shackles. She drifted toward Enid holding the horsetail before her.
“Where is Fronik?” she asked in an eerie, calm voice.
“He had to be cleansed,” Enid cried. “I could not wed a filthy beast!”
“Where is Fronik?” Lelani demanded.
Eustace hopped excitedly in his chair, panting. “Fursd! Fursd! Fursd! Heh, Fursd!”
“Daughter of Lilith, I cast ye from my home!” Enid cried. “Leave this sanctuary of the Lord!”
“Lelani, let’s go outside,” Cal said.
“I want to know what happened to Fronik!”
“Now!” Cal ordered her.
“DEAD! HE’S DEAD! WE CUT THE DEVIL OUT, BUT HE WAS MORE BEAST THAN MAN!” Enid cried.
Cal stepped in front of Lelani and pushed her back. She nudged forward with blood in her eyes, moving him backward. Cat joined her husband, grabbing Lelani’s shoulder from the side and pulling with all her strength. Seth sat frozen on the couch.
“HELL HE COME FROM, AND HELL HE GONE BACK TO WHEN THE DEVIL COME CALLED HIS OWN!” Enid continued shouting.
“Seth! Help us!” Cat cried.
Even with Seth’s effort, Lelani crept forward.
Enid backed into the corner in fear. Eustace cackled, banging his cane against the end table. A wet spot grew in his crotch. “Fursd! Fursd!”
“Damn it, girl… I’m a cop,” Cal yelled. “I can’t let you hurt her! No matter what she did, you can’t hurt her!”
“Monster!” Lelani screamed.
Cal sandwiched her face in his hands and locked his eyes on hers. She tried to look at Enid, but he touched his forehead to hers and filled her view. “Listen to me! We cannot leave a trail of corpses behind us. Think of the Blue Forest. Think of your tribe. How will we complete the mission if we’re in jail? How could we search for the boy if we’re dogged by the police?”
At first they thought she hadn’t heard them, but soon, the bloodlust in Lelani’s eyes abated. She pulled away toward the door, throwing off balance everyone who was already pulling in that direction. She went outside. Cat followed, as did Seth. Cal turned to Enid, but was unsure of what to say. These people were indeed monsters. The blue ribbon won eleven years ago taunted him from the mantel piece. Cal tried not to imagine how they disposed of Fronik’s other half. There would be no stopping Lelani if she deduced Eustace’s secret ingredient. They had to leave before Lelani collected her thoughts.
“Get out!” Enid cried. “I’ll have no heathens in my house!”
“One last question. What direction did Fred come from the night he stumbled onto your farm?”
“Why should I help the devil’s minions?”
“Because I’m going to stand right here until I get an answer.” Cal stood there gazing at the old woman as the seconds ticked by. The old woman didn’t realize her life was in danger. She was as ignorant now as she was the day she met Fronik. Centaur codes were clear and absolute in these matters. Every second they lingered there gave Lelani an opportunity to come back and exact justice.