فصل 07

Chapter seven

Conway’s Hopes

Kee looked at Conway. He said, ‘I am a houngan, and I understand voodoo. I know you come from America, and you Americans do not believe in things like that.

But I can do many things that you do not understand. I will help you if you are good to me.’

‘You’re very kind,’ said Conway, laughing at the old man. ‘But I really don’t think your voodoo can give me all the things I want in life.’

‘What do you want?’

‘I want a lot of things,’ said Conway.

‘Tell me.’

‘I want to live in a big house, with lots of rooms.’

‘That will not be difficult,’ said the old man.

‘Oh, but I want more than that. I hate housework. I want lots of people to clean the rooms and bring me food. I want to have a lot of money in the bank. Oh,

‘All right,’ said Kee. ‘You can have those things.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Conway, laughing. ‘Now, I’ve got work to do.’

But Kee sat quietly on his chair and smiled. ‘I can see that you do not believe me,’ he said. ‘You think I’m just an old man who doesn’t want to see new shops and houses. Just wait for a few days, and you will see.

I’ll give you everything that you want. But you must not build shops and hotels in the graveyard. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, yes, yes, of course I understand,’ said Conway. He was beginning to get angry. ‘I won’t build shops and hotels there, and you will give me everything I want. Thank you very much for your help. Now, please, get out. I’m a busy man.’

‘Goodbye,’ said Kee. ‘Thank you for talking to me. But don’t forget, Mr Conway, you must not do these things. If you do, you’ll be sorry.’

‘Yes, yes, yes, I understand. Now go!’ said Conway. Kee turned and went to the door. For a moment, as the old man was walking out of the door, Conway remembered the face in the book on the plane. Suddenly he felt cold and afraid.

When Kee left the room, Conway picked up the telephone. He talked to Marie. He was very, very angry.

‘Marie!’ he shouted. ‘Why did you send that man to my office? He’s mad. Coming in here talking about voodoo! Telling me he’s going to give me a lot of money! I don’t want to see him again. Do you understand? If you make a mistake like that again, you’ll lose your job.’

‘I’m very sorry,’ said Marie.

‘Good. Now, I want to talk to Pierre and Henri. Get them on the telephone for me.’ He put down the telephone and sat back in his chair. ‘That man Kee is mad,’ he thought. Then he started to laugh. ‘He thinks he can give me everything I want!’ he thought. ‘An old man from a village! Ha, ha, ha!’

The telephone rang again. Conway picked it up. ‘Pierre, Henri, listen,’ he said. ‘A few minutes ago an old man came to my office. He doesn’t want any shops or houses in the graveyard. It’s possible he’ll try to stop us

I don’t know what he can do, but perhaps he’ll go to the police. Perhaps he has important friends. So you must start building the shops and the hotel today. Take away all the stones. Cut down all the trees. You must work fast, do you understand?’

Conway put down the telephone and thought, ‘The old man will be angry, but he isn’t important. I’ll finish building my town and then I’ll be a rich man.’