Американские боги

           Castertonfoundthewitheredarmunsettling,andsoshewassoldtotheLaverefamily,whowereoutforayearfromLouisiana:M.Laverewasafat,cheerfulman,whowasinneedofacookandamaidofallwork,andwhowasnotintheslightestrepulsedbytheslaveDaisy’switheredarm.When,ayearlater,theyreturnedtoLouisiana,slaveSukeywentwiththem.

           InNewOrleansthewomencametoher,andthemenalso,tobuycuresandlovecharmsandlittlefetishes,blackfolks,yes,ofcourse,butwhitefolkstoo.TheLaverefamilyturnedablindeyetoit.Perhapstheyenjoyedtheprestigeofhavingaslavewhowasfearedandrespected.Theywouldnot,however,sellherherfreedom.

           Sukeywentintothebayoulateatnight,andshedancedtheCalindaandtheBamboula.LikethedancersofSt.Domingueandthedancersofhernativeland,thedancersinthebayouhadablacksnakeastheirvoudon;evenso,thegodsofherhomelandandoftheotherAfricannationsdidnotpossessherpeopleastheyhadpossessedherbrotherandthefolkofSt.Domingue.Shewouldstillinvokethemandcalltheirnames,tobegthemforfavors.

           ShelistenedwhenthewhitefolkspokeoftherevoltinSt.Domingo(astheycalledit),andhowitwasdoomedtofail—"Thinkofit!Acanniballand!"—andthensheobservedthattheynolongerspokeofit.

           Soon,itseemedtoherthattheypretendedthatthereneverhadbeenaplacecalledSt.Domingo,andasforHaiti,thewordwasnevermentioned.