Molly of Tortuga, Copyright © Michael Stevens 2001-2005, all rights reserved

Often visitors would come bringing gifts, gawking at the albino, and trying to pump grandmother for her secrets of zombification. One evening, coming home from our plant foraging, we found a wheezined little man sitting on the verandah. He looked more like he had been exhumed than Henry did (but then, I had come to see Henry in quite a new light, indeed). The old man arose as we walked up and bowed deeply.

"We have a little jest," whispered Grandmother. "Earn you keep, Henry."

Henry assumed a foot-dragging gait, arms stiff at his side, jaw slack, and eyes glazed. (He had already been limping, for Willie had dived upon his buttocks with a dagger a few evenings past, mistaking him for the white ocelot in the crepescular light.) She fetched him a powerful whack across the already sore buttocks with her cane, to which the ever professional Henry made not the slightest response. She leaned over to me and whispered, "I love my little Henry, I do. He know how to be one good zombie when I need him to."

Then she gave him an even harder blow. Again, he did not react, save for a tear that beaded in the corner of his eye and a quick catching of the breath. "That for rutting up my grand baby, damnable fool," she whispered to him.

Poor Henry's face and chest flushed cherry red, but his walk was most convincing, indeed.

"Greet our visitor, Henry," said grandmother.

The counterfeit zombie obligingly veered in the direction of the old man, who yelped and scurried around grandmother and me until we were between him and Henry. Henry, having now stopped in his tracks, was staring blankly into the distance.

"Henry not hurt you," said grandmother -- she paused and flared her nostrils -- "only if I ask him to." She dwarfed the little fellow, who was fawning, clasping his hands into a little steeple under his chin. Grandmother continued, "What devil bring you to my house, stranger? You come to put salt on my zombi, send them on a rage against me?"

"No, no -- no pranks, great bokor -- gifts I have --"

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