Refuse and detritus floated past her and became entangled in her hair as the feeling of weightlessness began to pass and the weight of her wet clothes began to pull her down into the river.
Suddenly, a sharp, stabling panic pierced her heart and she began to regret jumping from the dock. Without her consent, her arms began to paddle and her feet began to kick. She inhaled deeply, sputtering as she was pulled under the angry water.
Before she knew it, she wasn’t alone in the water. She felt the strong arms of a man whose face she couldn’t see grasp her around the waist. She tried to push him away, but her strength failed.
She could neither scream nor struggled, and as she was carried from the water onto the mud and rocks at the narrow bank, she allowed herself to be placed onto the squishing, filthy ground. Opening her eyes, she hoped to see Charles—dripping, staring down at her with relief and recrimination. Alas, his was not the face she saw.
A dark countenance scowled at her. “What’d you want to go an’ do that for?” The man growled.
At first, Barbara felt the urge to rise up and slap the black man for daring to speak to her in such a way. But, she soon realized that though it had not been worth saving, the man had saved her life.
“I fell.” Barbara coughed.
“Nah,” the man groaned, plunking down into the mud next to her. “You done went and jumped right in. I seen ya.”
Barbara didn’t answer.
“Who you belong to?” the man asked.
“Myself.” Barbara sputtered.
“Don’t think so.” The man shook his head. “A girl with your looks don’t not belong ta someone.”
“Thank you for helping me, but I’m all right now.” Barbara said, trying to sit up.
“No, ya ain’t.” The man smiled calculatedly.
“Really.” Barbara said. “You may leave.
“Nah.” The man winked. “I think I just got myself a real lucky break.”
Meanwhile, Marie Laveau sighed as she tried, once again, to explain her wishes to Iolanthe Evangeline.
“I have already heard you argument,” Iolanthe spat. “I don’t wish to hear it again, and I don’t want you thinkin’ that I do.”
“Now, Iolanthe,” Marie replied angrily. “I don’t see why you’re fightin’ me on this. I ain’t like it don’t fit into what you were already gonna go and do for your own self anyway.”
“She’s right, Iolanthe,” Ulrika interrupted. “And, she’s saved you the trouble of having to retrieve Edward’s child.”
“I don’t recall askin’ you.” Iolanthe growled.
“Well, then, really, why’d you bring me?” Ulrika moaned.
“I don’t know now.” Iolanthe said stiffly.
“The two of ya are somethin’.” Marie chuckled. “Now, listen, Iolanthe. You are getting’ everything handed to ya. I’m only askin ya to give me one little thing. That ain’t so bad. What’s the problem?”
“I swore when I first broke my ties to you, Marie Laveau, that I’d never return to your ways again.”
“Your ways ain’t so much better, Iolanthe, nor are they very different.” Marie smiled.
“But, they’re mine.” Iolanthe shrugged.
“I ain’t askin’ for ya to come back here and live with me. Jus’ do for me this one little things and we’ll let all that old hate and hurt we got between us go. It may just prove to be what we both need.”
“Just agree to it, Iolanthe.” Ulrika sighed.
“”Listen to the girl.” Marie said hopefully.
“Very well.” Iolanthe grumbled. “But, only this once.”
At that very moment, above the dress shop in the French Quarter, Robert’s eyesight became blurry as his eyes burned with sweat and tears. He’d tried blowing his own air into Julian’s body, he’d tried compressing the man’s chest, but still he would not breath.
Robert looked down at Julian’s increasingly blue face and wept.
Marjani and Adrienne both tried to help Robert to his feet, but he would not budge. “I’ve got to save him!” he shouted.
“I don’t know how you can, my dear.” Adrienne said softly.
“He’s got to save himself,” Marjani shook her head.
Just then, unbeknownst to the people outside of him, Mr. Punch was fighting a fierce battle with Jack Ketch, striking him mercilessly with the stick he’d imagined.
“Die!” Punch screamed as he clubbed the hooded figure.
“Never,” The hangman barked.
Punch panted and growled as he barraged the hangman with blow after blow.
“Punch! For God’s sake!” a voice called out from beyond them.
“Master?” Punch said, not pausing in his assault on the hangman. “Is that you?”
“No!” the unfamiliar voice cried. “You’re fighting the wrong foe!”
“What?” Punch grunted.
“Don’t forget the rest of you!”
Did you miss Chapters 1-284? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 for Chapter 286 of Punch’s Cousin. We’ll be taking a brief hiatus on Sunday and Monday for the holiday, but the Chapter Archive is always available.
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