IC - Day 3 - Don't Look Back in Anger

[Mephistophilis]

Mendoza drives Laurent and a reluctant Henninger to the Hounfor district and they return to the zinc-roofed hounfor Laurent visited the night before. They climb the steps and knock on the bright red door. Compared to yesterday the whole place is silent.

Eventually the houngan Auxian Ramses opens the door a crack and peers out, he looks tired, drawn. When he recognises Laurent he opens the door wide. 'Welcome Laurent Toussaint. Please, introduce me to your friends.'

[Mr. Handy]

"These are Dr. Mendoza and Monsieur Henninger from the Hotel Azagon," says Laurent, indicating each in turn. "Gentlemen, this is Auxian Ramses. I believe he can help." He addresses the houngan. "How is Ti-Jean Lazaire doing?"

[Mephistophilis]

Ramses is now dressed in loose white linen suit and shirt. He takes them through the narrow corridor hung with cloth, shells, and animal skulls. The air is at least a bit clearer than last night, the scent of incense almost gone. In a side room off the corridor there's a cot made-up underneath a black cross riveted to the wall.

In the cot lies a man. At the sound of them entering he props himself up onto his elbow and gives a weary smile in greeting. It's Ti-Jean Lazaire, still in the white shirt and bright blue trousers he was wearing last night. He looks tired, worn out, the previously cheerful fresh face has gone. But there's no sign of that leering death's head at least.

'Ti-Jean bon ami, how are you doing?'

Ti-Jean emits a little laugh then winces in pain. 'I have been better mon ami, I have been better.' He looks up at Laurent. 'And I hear I have you to thank for saving me from the Gèdé jenn gason. Mèsi anpil.'

[Mr. Handy]

"You're welcome," says Laurent, "but I would not have known what to do if Ramses had not told me."

[Mephistophilis]

'So how can we help you gentlemen?' asks Ti-Jean. Ramses smiles sadly and places a reassuring hand on the younger man's arm, 'I fear they want to know a little more about the Gèdé Cinq Jours Malheur'

All the colour drains from Ti-Jean's face. 'Gèdé Cinq Jours? He is not one you want to ask after. He is not one I want to think about.' He goes silent for a while, while Ramses just stands there with his hand on his arm.

Eventually Ti-Jean speaks again. 'The gèdés are the loa of death and fertility. They are...unpredictable, capricious, spiteful even. But Gèdé Cinq Jours, he is different to the rest. Angry, vicious, vengeful. When Gèdé Cinq Jours rides you he stays for five days. Five painful days that you might not survive. It is punishment. Punishment for breaking the rules of the mystères. If you had not struck him with the pyè-tonnè I do not know what would have happened to me.' He lapses into silence again.

Ramses takes over talking. 'Gèdé Cinq Jours Malheur does not just enter into people without a reason. He is like the shérif of the loa. Punishing those who have offended them.' Ti-Jean winces at this.

With a weak smile at Lazaire, Ramses says 'But I do not think Gèdé Cinq Jours' was targetting my friend here particularly. No. There is something happening. The loa are restless. The loa are angry. I do not think it was a coincidence that Gèdé Cinq Jours' appeared when we were calling on Agoué. No, I think Agoué sent him. He is telling us something. There is a message there if we can just find it. Something is wrong. Something is wrong with Agoué and his domain. Something is wrong and the loa are not happy. Perhaps they are not happy with you, Gèdé Cinq Jours' only arrived after you came.'

Then he looks at Laurent with a mixture of awe and pity, 'And as you pointed out yesterday. You just hit one of them on the head with a thunderstone.'

[Mr. Handy]

""Oui, says Laurent. "We have to find out what is wrong with Agoué and his domain and set it right."

[Mephistophilis]

'Oui, but that is not going to be easy,' says Ti-Jean. Ramses nods, 'I do not think I want to invite any loa in right now. Not while Gèdé Cinq Jours is waiting for his chance.'

[Mr. Handy]

"Oui, vous avez raison," says Laurent. "If we open a door, he could slip inside. So how can we find out how to help Agoué?"

[Mephistophilis]

Ramses frowns. 'Maybe we cannot. If the loa cannot ride us then...'

'Then perhaps we find another way to talk to Agoué?' says Ti-Jean.

'Well, if we cannot bring Agoué to you, could you go to Agoué?'

'Agoué's domain is the sea. It is in the sea you will find him. If you can find him anywhere.'

[Mr. Handy]

"That is a thought," says Laurent. "We could go out to sea in a boat."

[Mephistophilis]

'If there is one thing we have plenty of in Dame Marie, it is boats,' smiles Ramses. 'Your friend from the other day, he is a fisherman, non?'

Mendoza has remained quiet all this time but he scoffs at the suggestion of taking a boat. 'I don't know much about your Voodoo, but I doubt the spirits are just hanging out in the sea.'

'Non, you do not know much about Vodou, that is clear enough,' says Lazaire.

[Mr. Handy]

"Oui, we can go out on his boat!" says Laurent.

[Mephistophilis]

Mendoza laughs again. 'I have had enough of this. Go and talk to the fishes if you want young man. I have a job to do.' He makes to leave the Hounfor.

'Au revoir doctor...' Ramses shouts after him.

OOC:   You want to go look for a boat or anything else you'd like to do?

[Mr. Handy]

Yes, let's go look for a boat.

[Mephistophilis]

Henninger watches Mendoza leave. He shrugs but looks put out. 'I've never liked that man. But I can't say I know anything about Voodoo either. If you need any assistance young man, please let me know. Otherwise I will return to my duties at the hotel.'

OOC:   Moving here.