The Book of Night Women Read Online Free PDF Page B

ajar and Lilith hear quick footsteps.
    —Massa Jack coming! Massa Jack coming! The voice say. Lilith know the voice but couldn’t recollect the face.
    —Gorgon, what you talking ’bout? Homer say.
    —Me riding past de field and hear ’im shouting ’bout how two missin’.
    —Damn. He did always have a sense ’bout them things. That backra could just look at a crowd of nigger and know one gone. Not even old age—
    —Homer, he lef di field and go straight to Circe hut.
    —Shithouse.
    —Shit for true. Me no want dat man see me here, Gorgon say.
    The first footstep didn’t stop the kitchen goings-on, but the second footstep stop everything cold. Lilith hear the footstep circle the kitchen one, two and three time.
    —Homer, Homer, Homer, have you been losing step of late? Have you been slipping, you old cow?
    —Me know me can still do a good day’s work, sah, Homer say.
    —Bloody hell, ask Homer a question and God be damned, a Homer answer you shall receive. Are you getting forgetful in your old age, perhaps even a little mad, is what I ask.
    —Not yet, sah, by the grace of God.
    —Good for you. Because for some reason, unbeknownst to me, of course, everybody on this bloody estate seems to think I am.
    —Oh no, massa—
    —Oh, don’t oh-no-massa me. I knew you from when you still shat yourself. And so my newest Johnny-jumper and my newest field slave have both gone missing and yet not a soul has news on either. Uncanny, eh? Eloped, have they, Homer?
    —No, sah. Me don’t know—
    —Damn, Homer, don’t add tiresome to your list of flaws. Not now. You know of everything, I daresay even God gets his news from you. Are you saying you have no knowledge of their whereabouts?
    —Me don’t have no knowledge of the boy, sir.
    —And what of the girl? You know how I feel about being taken for a fool, Homer.
    —She, she downstairs, sah.
    Lilith jump. She hear strong footsteps stomp across the kitchen then stop. Then two hard slap and a yelp.
    —Crossing me now, are you? Is that how you’ll have it? I give an order to send the girl to the field and you take it upon yourself to change it? Who for the sake of a fuck is the master here? Who?
    —You, massa.
    —Been far too long since you’ve met the cowskin, that’s what I think. Far too long.
    —No, massa! Me never mean to cross you, massa!
    Another slap.
    —No, please, massa. Is the mistress! Is the mistress demand more things to be done and we did need another slave and me didn’t want to trouble you to go town to buy a new one so me just look at who be the newest and weakest, who if she leave won’t trouble the field much. That is all, massa, God truth. God truth.
    —Really? And you know nothing of this Paris boy?
    —No, please, massa.
    —That’s not what I heard from Circe.
    The room pause. Silent.
    —Circe living with Tantalus a long time, massa, Homer say.
    —Aye, indeed. Indeed. Maybe he did run away as the jumpers say. I shall send word to the constable today. Let him mount a search party and then we shall see what’s what. And to what use have you put the girl? I will see her now, Jack Wilkins say.
    —Yes, Massa Jack.
    The door swing open, wider than before and the whole cellar wash in dim daylight. Jack Wilkins march down the steps with Homer right behind him. Lilith think first to hide but then decide to stand still and take what coming to her.
    —And what have you been doing here all in the dark?
    —She make the place clean and pretty, massa. Clean and pretty can’t done. She—
    —For fuck’s sake, Homer shut up. I’m sure God blessed her with a tongue.
    Homer shut up and bow. Lilith don’t know who disturbing her more.
    —Me working, massa, Lilith say and bow.
    —You working. Working on what?
    —Whatever need working in the cellar, massa.
    —Whatever need working. Doesn’t seem like you’re very busy down here, Lilith.
    —Oh, she plenty busy, massa. Is like she have three hand and—
    Right then Massa Jack swing round and