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Page 34
Colonel Menendez seemed somewhat taken aback by this direct question.
"I cannot believe it," he confessed.
"Do you believe that this order or religion of Voodooism has any
existence outside those places where African negroes or descendents of
negroes are settled?"
"I should not have been prepared to believe it, Mr. Harley, prior to my
experiences in Washington and elsewhere."
"Then you do believe that there are representatives of this cult to be
met with in Europe and America?"
"I should have been prepared to believe it possible in America, for in
America there are many negroes, but in England----"
Again he shrugged his shoulders.
"I would remind you," said Harley, quietly, "that there are also quite
a number of negroes in England. If you seriously believe Voodoo to
follow negro migration, I can see no objection to assuming it to be a
universal cult."
"Such an idea is incredible."
"Yet by what other hypothesis," asked Harley, "are we to cover the
facts of your own case as stated by yourself? Now," he consulted his
pencilled notes, "there is another point. I gather that these African
sorcerers rely largely upon what I may term intimidation. In other
words, they claim the power of wishing an enemy to death."
He raised his eyes and stared grimly at the Colonel.
"I should not like to suppose that a man of your courage and culture
could subscribe to such a belief."
"I do not, sir," declared the Colonel, warmly. "No Obeah man could ever
exercise his will upon _me!_"
"Yet, if I may say so," murmured Harley, "your will to live seems to
have become somewhat weakened."
"What do you mean?"
Colonel Menendez stood up, his delicate nostrils dilated. He glared
angrily at Harley.
"I mean that I perceive a certain resignation in your manner of which I
do not approve."
"You do not _approve?_" said Colonel Menendez, softly; and I thought as
he stood looking down upon my friend that I had rarely seen a more
formidable figure.
Paul Harley had roused him unaccountably, and knowing my friend for a
master of tact I knew also that this had been deliberate, although I
could not even dimly perceive his object.
"I occupy the position of a specialist," Harley continued, "and you
occupy that of my patient. Now, you cannot disguise from me that your
mental opposition to this danger which threatens has become slackened.
Allow me to remind you that the strongest defence is counter-attack.
You are angry, Colonel Menendez, but I would rather see you angry than
apathetic. To come to my last point. You spoke of a neighbour in terms
which led me to suppose that you suspected him of some association with
your enemies. May I ask for the name of this person?"
Colonel Menendez sat down again, puffing furiously at his cigarette,
whilst beginning to roll another. He was much disturbed, was fighting
to regain mastery of himself.
"I apologize from the bottom of my heart," he said, "for a breach of
good behaviour which really was unforgivable. I was angry when I should
have been grateful. Much that you have said is true. Because it is
true, I despise myself."
He flashed a glance at Paul Harley.
"Awake," he continued, "I care for no man breathing, black or white;
but _asleep_"--he shrugged his shoulders. "It is in sleep that these
dealers in unclean things obtain their advantage."
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