Part 19 (1/2)

From habit, under his breath, Dawit began to recite the simple Hebrew phrases he had dragged from the recesses of his memory: ”The Blood is the vessel for Life. The Blood flows without end, as a river through the Valley of Death.”

Khaldun, no doubt, had believed Dawit remained unconscious when he performed the Life ritual on the last of his brethren in the underground temple. Dawit was not supposed to have heard those words. None of his other brethren had, he imagined, so perhaps that was why none had attempted to bring anyone into their Life fellows.h.i.+p. He alone had heard.

The instant Satchmo's ammonia-filled belly stopped its faint movement, Dawit had injected him with the blood from his veins and recited those simple words. By morning, when Dawit returned, Satchmo was awake.

Again, Dawit glanced at his watch. He had already been away from Jessica for nearly twenty minutes. He must begin his work, or else the Ritual might find him still here by morning.

Dawit played with the plunger of the clear syringe until the liquid inside crept to the tip of the needle in a bead. He held it steady in his right hand and kneeled beside Teacake, stroking the cat's head. ”I wish there were another way,” Dawit said to Jessica's cat.

And what was the harm of it, really? Why hadn't he done the same with Princess, when he watched his dog writhe on the veterinarian's exam table and take her last, shallow breaths? He should have had his blood waiting for Princess. Or dear Adele.

By now, Dawit's vision was blurred by tears. In a quick motion, with one arm, he lifted Teacake beneath the front legs to expose the soft fur of his underbelly. Estimating where the cat's stomach rested, he jabbed the needle deeply into it, pus.h.i.+ng the plunger in with all his might.

Teacake howled, and Dawit felt the cat's claws slash furiously against his face, near his eyes, before Teacake thrust himself away from Dawit with his strong hind legs. Teacake nearly stumbled over himself in his terrified effort to run from Dawit, scrambling behind a cardboard Christmas tree box in a corner of the shed. He made low, threatening sounds that resembled growling.

Cursing, Dawit touched his face. Bleeding. He was lucky the animal hadn't scratched his eyes out. Would one injection be enough to work quickly? He didn't know. He wanted to inject Teacake once more, to be certain, but he didn't relish the thought of another encounter with those sharp claws. Teacake was a much heartier opponent than any of the lizards had been.

From his sanctuary, Teacake's growls turned to frightened cries. Perhaps he was already in pain, or simply confused. Dawit prayed he would not be too loud, or he would have to chase Teacake and knock the beast unconscious. This was already difficult.

Mahmoud was wrong; there was no sport in killing for him. And killing a loved one, even a pet, was more daunting than he had imagined. Why hadn't he simply asked for a tranquilizer from the vet so Teacake would not suffer? It would have required an explanation, but he should have gone to the trouble for Teacake's sake. He would need more merciful methods in the future, he decided. Much more merciful.

Thankfully, after a few more minutes, Teacake was silent. Then, Dawit heard the animal make retching noises. The first dose of poison was doing its work.

”What are you doing?” Jessica asked Dawit, trailing after him as he walked out of the house carrying two UM duffel bags to the minivan. She'd been watching morning cartoons with Kira in the living room when she noticed him pa.s.s through with the bags. He detected accusation in her voice.

”We're taking a trip,” he announced, smiling.

”Who is?”

”You and me, babe. It's all set up.” He hoisted the bags into the van's cargo bin, grunting. ”Bea's taking Kira for the weekend. Then, you and I are camping out in the Everglades for two days away from civilization. I found a guy who rents a cabin out there. It's great. You have to ride an airboat to get there.”

Behind Jessica, Kira giggled. ”Did you know about this?” Jessica asked, turning to look at her.

Kira nodded, smiling. ”I'm sleeping at Grandma's.”

It took all of Dawit's energy to maintain his jovial exterior, since his spirits had been crushed all morning. He'd been so methodical-holding a mirror up to Teacake's nose to gauge exactly when his breathing stopped, checking for the cat's pulse, injecting the blood exactly as he had with Satchmo. He'd said the incantation slowly, not stumbling over his words.

Yet, at dawn, when he'd stolen back outside to check on the cat's progress in the shed, he lifted the towel he'd spread over Teacake and found him lying motionless, his glazed-over eyes open, his joints already stiff with oncoming rigor mortis. Still dead.

Only five hours had pa.s.sed. Perhaps it was still too early.

No, Dawit told himself, he had to face facts. He had killed the f.u.c.king cat, another family catastrophe he would have to deal with when he returned from the weekend with Jessica. That is, if Jessica would return with him at all after he found the courage to reveal what he intended. Teacake's death, realistically, was the least of his worries at the moment. The future of his family was very much at stake.

He had not mentioned the trip in the house, nor used any of the household telephones to plan or discuss it, because he hoped to keep their destination a secret from Mahmoud. Mahmoud's ears were everywhere. Dawit would need privacy for his days away with Jessica. He hoped Mahmoud did not suspect what he was up to.

If only Teacake had lived! That could have served as evidence enough in his own mind, and in Jessica's, that he could be trusted to carry out the Life ritual on human beings. What now? What was the purpose of revealing everything to Jessica if he could not ask her to join him with Kira?

But he must. Mahmoud would surely return. Clearly, he had threatened to harm Jessica and Kira, and Dawit did not doubt his sincerity. Mahmoud had been softhearted when Dawit first met him, often hesitating with his spear when he should have struck, but the years had changed Mahmoud. The years had changed them all.

He would have to explain why their departure must be sudden, and not to France, after all. The Searchers would find them without much trouble in France. He must take them to Africa, somewhere they could easily vanish for years.

Could he expect Jessica to agree to such a thing?

”I like your nerve, planning a trip without even asking me,” Jessica said, startling Dawit from his thoughts as he arranged the duffel bags. ”What if I had big plans for this weekend?”

”You don't have any plans and you know it.”

”Isn't the Everglades a swamp? We're camping in a swamp?”

”Swamps are very romantic and secluded. There aren't many people there. Only alligators,” Dawit said, and Kira squealed in mock fright.

Jessica nodded. ”Uh-huh. Well, do you know that quote by Jerry Seinfeld? *Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.'”

”Who's Jerry Seinfeld?” Dawit asked.

Jessica rolled her eyes. ”Never mind.”

Kira tugged on Dawit's belt loop. ”Is it time to go, Daddy?”

”Stand back, Pumpkin,” Dawit said, and he slammed the rear hatch closed on the van before turning to Jessica to hold her shoulders. ”You're not mad, are you?”

She shook her head. ”I guess most people would kill to have a husband who'd plan a surprise weekend trip. I'm slightly speechless, that's all.”

”Good,” he said, kissing her forehead. ”Then, go upstairs and get dressed. I think I packed most of what you need, but you can see what I overlooked. Hurry, though. We have to drive way out west, about sixty miles. The guy's meeting us at the Big Cypress National Preserve with his airboat at noon. If we miss him, we'll never get to the island.”

”What about-”

”I've packed plenty of food. Plus, it's an island, so there's fis.h.i.+ng, and he said he has poles at the cabin.”

”What about Teacake, Daddy?” Kira asked suddenly.

Dawit's stomach sank, but his smile remained frozen on his face as he ma.s.saged Kira's scalp. ”We'll leave the kitty-door unlatched for him. I've left two days' worth of food and water. Let's just trust the racc.o.o.ns won't get to it first.”

”I'm going to find him and say bye-bye,” Kira said, turning to sprint back into the house.

Jessica wrapped her arms around Dawit's middle and snuggled her face against his bare chest. She kissed his nipple. ”A secluded island, David? You're amazing. And what a great public relations tactic, letting Kira stay with Mom for the weekend. Mom, of course, won't say anything, but she's very upset about this idea that we could move.”

”That we will move.”

”That's what I meant,” Jessica said.

Dawit patted Jessica's firm backside. ”Go on in and get dressed, mi vida. I need to put a few more things in the van, then we can get out of here.”

”'Kay,” Jessica said, looking up at him with a girlish smile. ”This is going to be great. You shall be adequately rewarded for your creativity and spontaneity. Did you pack the ma.s.sage oil?”

Her eagerness made Dawit sad. He shook his head slowly.