Chapter Thirteen

Shade

 

The following is an excerpt from Chapter Thirteen of Mama Root: The Old Woman of Loop Road

 

 

~~~     “How so, ma’am?”  He thought for moment then added, “You still wearin’ the medicine I gave you?”

          She produced the alligator vertebrae amulet from its hiding place behind the neckline of her sack dress.  “No, no George – it ain’t what ya’ think.  That evil thing ain’t been back since – but yes, thank you, I am still wearin’ it.  This charm worked agin’ the skinwalker, but it don’t ‘pear ta’ chase off bad dreams.”

          “Bad dreams? You’re havin’ nightmares?”

          She nodded.  “’Deed I am.  Gettin’ precious little sleep these times.  Feel as though somethin’s tryin’ ta’ take my soul through my dreams.  Ain’t got me so far, but it keeps tryin’.”

          The big man narrowed his eyes in concern.  “What does?”

          She gestured to a wooden chair across from hers.  “Please, George, take a load off.” 

          There was another rocker in the room, but she knew George would have politely declined.  Gentleman as he was, he felt rocking chairs were for women.  Men were meant to sit in something befitting their gender, preferably something with a hard back and no cushion on the seat.

          She responded to his question.  “It’s a loathsome thing.  It’s a man, but it ain’t a man.  Just calls hisself ‘Shade’, an’ he’s for certain the stuff o’ nightmares.  Got skin that’s a kinda’ ghastly yella’ gray, smooth, with no wrinkles nor even pores, an’ he’s without hair on his head. Ears are pointed like them of a bat but stuck real close ta’ his head.  Got just slits for nostrils, an’ a mouth that near stretches ‘cross his whole face.  An’ that mouth’s froze in this evil grin, an’ it’s chock full o’ fearsome teeth, each one long an’ curved an’ needle sharp, like a serpent’s fangs.  An’ his eyes…”

          She paused for a moment, shivered and hitched herself up in her chair.  Few things scared this woman, but the gooseflesh George Clay saw on her arms was something few people had ever witnessed.  He urged her to continue.

          “…his eyes…”

          She obliged.  “…his eyes weren’t there.  That’s ta’ say, they was covered over with skin, so it looked like he had none.  But ya’ could see ‘em movin’ round ‘neath that skin, so I know he’s able ta’ see me.  Had hands with long fingers endin’ in shiny black nails.  He was dressed in red sackcloth that reached near ta’ the floor an’ mighta’ covered his feet, if he had any.” ~~~