〃Yeah； well； I guess I thought I'd have more time。〃
〃Time for what？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he replied。 〃To say goodbye。〃
〃You can't say goodbye； but you can go back and make some preparations；〃 I said。 〃I'll explain everything after the ceremony。〃
I crouched down and poured out the contents of the bag I'd brought back with me。 Luckily； Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo had just the sort of things that would help in my little charade。 Candles； skulls； charms； unidentifiable bones； incense； and assorted effluvia tumbled onto the carpet。 Feathers I'd picked up in the park came from my jacket pocket。
I shoved everything to one side。 〃Stand here；〃 I instructed； pointing to the center of the room。 I placed the candles around him in a rough circle； then lit them。 The incense I lit and stuck in…between the drawers of the bureau。 Then I switched off the lights and went over to the window and drew the drapes。
The effect was getting pretty good。 Lots of sandalwood smoke wafting through flickering candle light。 I made him hold out his hands and dropped a skull into one and the strange bones into the other。 Then I made him open his mouth and popped one of the charms inside。 I almost started laughing at the face he made； but I knew that would break the spell。
The rest of the charms I placed in his pockets and down his shirt。 Then I began to chant softly and wave my arms in front of him。 In Sanskrit I told him what a plete imbecile he was and how his mother was probably a goat…herder who slept in cow dung for fun while she mated with snakes at the bottom of a cesspool。
From the expression on John Mortimer's face