White Magic Woman Read online

  Having grown up with tales of voodoo and witchcraft, she knew they had their work cut out for them, but she saw no need to alarm Todd just yet. He’d find out soon enough. But for now, she had to apply some antiseptic ointment on those scratches. They looked painful. Her poor, poor darling. She would’ve preferred not to have to touch the witch’s marks, but those marks were on a body that she considered hers. So, in this, she had no choice, but the fight had only just begun.

  Going to him, she wrapped her arms around him, as far as they could go, and led him back to their bed. “Lie down, I’ll go get some ointment to put on these.”

  “I don’t need any ointment; it will heal in a day or two.”

  This man was so stubborn. He was still trying to act the big macho man. He had no idea that, if they couldn’t get the witch to release her hold on him, his life as he knew it was over. The witch had proven that she wouldn’t be denied the use of his body. She had staked her claim on Simonia’s husband. The witch had brought the fight to her, and if she buried her head in the sand like Todd, she would soon lose him. And this she would not do without a fight. She needed him to recognize that and support her.

  She didn’t need protection. The time for that had long gone. But she had to tread gingerly; Todd was not a man who took orders from anyone. She had to make him believe he wanted this just as much as she did. A bit of psychological diplomacy had to be used here. Counting to ten, she looked up at him and allowed him to see her pain…allowed him to see the hurt she was going through before she lowered her gaze and looked down at his body. She then addressed him, keeping her gaze downcast.

  “Todd, are we going to have an argument about this? I don’t like looking at those scratches on your body, and I have something that will get rid of it sooner than a day or two. I’m trying to contain my hurt and anger that you didn’t see fit to confide in me. I am your wife. We share everything, that is, unless you have a different take on the definition of husband and wife.”

  He knew when he was defeated so he lay on the bed and watched her move about the room, gathering her supplies. In hindsight, he regretted not discussing this with her when it first began, but like most stubborn men, he’d thought he could handle it. Evidently he had been wrong. And he was causing pain to the one person who meant more to him than life itself.

  She climbed in bed next to him. He could see her hands were shaking and was shocked to look up at her face to see tears running down her face unashamedly. He’d seen Simonia cry only at their wedding, and at that time, she’d said they were tears of joy. She was a strong woman, but there she was crying as if her heart was breaking, yet making no sound. Had he not glanced at her face, he wouldn’t have been aware of her tears.

  “Sweetheart, please don’t cry. You know what seeing you cry does to me. I can’t stand it. Please stop.”

  She didn’t respond but continued mixing antiseptic ointment with something soft and white in the palm of her hands. As she mixed, so the tears fell into her hands and on his body. She made no move to wipe them but rubbed tears, ointment, and the white substance on his body. Her touch was gentle and light, but as soon as the mixture touched his skin, the pain and stinging went away. She rubbed every inch of his body that showed evidence of the witch’s touch. When she was done, she stood up and slapped her hands against the bedroom doorframe three times. Turning to him, she gave him one of her dazzling smiles.

  “Now you will have to keep this on for twenty-four hours, no bathing or going near water.”

  “Yes, doctor,” he said, smiling back at her. “I didn’t know you were a medicine woman. You never cease to amaze and surprise me. I’m in awe of you.”

  “Wait, you haven’t seen anything yet. If this woman believes she’ll mess with what’s mine, she picked the wrong man.”

  “What are you going to do? One of the locals tried to help me, but it didn’t work. I have to admit, I didn’t take his mumbo jumbo seriously, and he’d warned that the things would work only if I believed they could. I got tired of the whole thing and left instead, thinking that would put an end to it.”

  “Well, as you’ve seen, you just made her even more determined to have you.”

  “Agreed.”

  “What did the local man give you?”

  “Just before I left, I’d bought a silver necklace from him, which had a cross pendant. He said I should wear it at all times, especially at night, but you know how I feel about jewelry. I never even tried it on.”

  “Where is it? Did you bring it with you?”

  “Yes, I did. It’s in my toiletry bag. Don’t tell me you believe in that too.”

  “I don’t want to give too much credence to that sort of thing, but I know it exists. There’s a lot of wickedness in the world. Also, silver has powerful protective properties, and when combined with the cross, it’s a powerhouse against evil.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “I kid you not, Todd, and do please take this seriously. Go get the cross and put it on. Get over your aversion to jewelry. If anything, wear it for me.

  “I’m going to put in a call to my papino to get some advice from him. Maybe we can take a trip to the backcountry to visit.”

  “I thought you didn’t like visiting the backcountry. You haven’t been there in all the time I’ve known you.”

  “I haven’t been to visit, but I keep in touch with all my relatives. After all, they are my family, and the fact that I haven’t visited them in a while does not make me any less family. I need their help. And you know to us, family is everything. So, I’m assured of my welcome.”

  Lying on the bed, Todd felt like a fool. He could have kicked himself for not telling Simonia about this when he was last here. He’d thought he was protecting her. As it turned out, she was the one protecting him now. It was too ironic to be funny. He was anxious to hear what her papino had to say about his experience.

  Simonia went into her sitting room to call first her father then her aunt and cousins before she worked her way to her papino. As a child growing up, she used to spend a lot of time with her papino. He was a man who did everything with “the Dreaming” ever present in his thinking.

  The Dreaming existed outside of Western concepts of linear time. It referred to a creation era long ago and to a present, supernatural world, which interacted with the natural world. The Dreaming had begun at the dawn of time and remained bound up in the present. It would endure forever.

  Dreaming stories told of the creation by supernatural spirits of the world and everything within it. Those spirits, sometimes called Ancestral Beings, emerged at the dawn of creation from the pre-existing formless earth, from spirit homes in the sky, or from other far-off places. Some Ancestral Beings assumed forms and identities that combined features of humans with other species. Hence, certain Dreaming stories referred to “kangaroo-man,” “serpent-woman,” “brolga-woman,” “shark-man,” and so on.

  In traditional belief, the Ancestral Beings retained the power to intervene in the life of man. Thus, they remained a vital force in ensuring the continuity of human existence and in maintaining the fertility of the land and natural species.

  The central premise to her papino’s belief was that people lived in a world full of Ancestral Dreamtime energy, and as part of this world, they had access to this energy. Someone could tap into this energy to achieve good or evil, and some sorceresses tapped that energy for evil.

  Hanging up the phone, Simonia was disappointed that her papino refused to discuss the matter over the phone. He was adamant that she and Todd should come to the reservation in order for him to make a diagnosis of the problem, and that the sooner they came, the better it was for all concerned. The only information he would give her was that the moon was full, and therefore, the sorceress was at the peak of her strength. That was why she could travel across the ocean. She and Todd needed to work on stopping her before the next new moon, either by capturing her here or by trapping her in her country of origin. A commune was imperati
ve, now!

  He was expecting them by sunset of the next day, which meant they had one day to make the trip. They had to perform a Dreaming; it was critical. She hoped he didn’t expect her to dance. She hadn’t danced since she married Todd. He claimed he didn’t want any other men witnessing the sensual movements of her body that he said should be reserved for only him now.

  In the beginning, she’d been a bit resentful that he’d met her through her dance and now he wanted to take it away from her. But after thinking about it and discussing it with her troupe, they told her that she should keep up her dancing but only in the gym. They agreed with Todd. She gave in, but she had supplemented her dancing with hiking—bushwalking— in the Australian outback whenever she had the time. She had to find something to give her the same mental and physical exertion she had been deprived of, especially when Todd was overseas on assignment. Those days were the hardest on her. That was the reason she wanted a child. She needed someone to shower her overabundant supply of love on.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Returning to their bedroom after hanging up the phone, Simonia felt torn. How was she to convince Todd that they’d have to leave soon because her papino wanted them on the reservation by sunset tomorrow? She had a fight on her hand.

  She need not have worried. Todd agreed with no argument. That was the first indication she had that he was scared out of his wits.

  In the other room, the phone rang. She paused, listening to hear who was calling when the answering machine picked up. It was probably one of her aunts or uncles calling to wish her well. That’s the thing about family; when she talked with one, she talked with all. Like wildfire, the news of her impending visit was flying through their small community. She really didn’t mind, but for once, she wished her papino had kept the news of her and Todd’s visit to himself. She was not looking forward to this visit.

  Hearing the recorded message of the answering machine, Todd raised his eyebrow at her. “Aren’t you going to answer it?”

  “No.” She was not going to be manipulated by any of them. She’d already made up her mind that she would be going. She didn’t need any pressure from her relatives. Also, she wanted Todd’s dignity to remain intact. Had it been anyone else, she would have called and blasted them, but she couldn’t do that with her papino because he wouldn’t understand her need for privacy. So, she had to grin and bear it.

  She was so distraught by this entire set of events she had forgotten that neither she nor Todd had eaten any breakfast. She was not in the least bit hungry, but she knew Todd was probably starving.

  “I’m going to put the coffee on, darling. Would you like me to prepare you something to eat? You know I love making you breakfast.”

  “No. I’m not very hungry, but I won’t refuse a cup of coffee. On second thought, I may be famished by the time the coffee is brewed. Why don’t you prepare me an omelet while I arrange for our trip to the reservation?”

  “Are you certain an omelet will do it? Knowing your appetite, I’ll fix you some toast as well, just in case.”

  “All right then. Funny thing, but I’m looking forward to the trip. I haven’t been to the reservation before, so I’m looking forward to seeing your old, and meeting your new your relatives,” he continued.

  “You are?” She couldn’t keep the skepticism out of her voice. Todd had never expressed any interest in visiting the reservation before. But maybe he needed the diversion going on this trip would give him.

  Todd was not a man who could remain still for long. He was always busy working. When he was not working, he was taking part in one form of physical activity or other.

  He was an excellent skier, and they’d spend several weekends a month in the Snowy Mountains. Their next favorite sport was diving off the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or in the more temperate waters in New South Wales. Todd also went canoeing in the high country with some of his mates. She stayed away from canoeing because of a near scare she’d had on one of the trips she’d accompanied him on. They were a very active couple, so there was always something to do. They’d hoped to have his time back home to themselves, to get reacquainted and to work on getting pregnant. Now all that had to be put on hold, but hopefully not for long.

  ***

  It took them all day to get everything ready for the trip. Cook was devastated to learn they would be leaving the next day.

  “You only just got here, Todd,” she responded when she was told about the trip to the backcountry.

  Simonia didn’t want to tell her the reason for the sudden trip. She believed the fewer outsiders who knew about the problem with Todd, the better.

  That night they stayed up the entire night. Neither Todd nor she was able to go to bed. They were scared of what the witch might do, so by mutual consent, they stayed up talking into the early hours of the morning until it was time for them to leave. She hoped the strength of their love would help them handle whatever the night might bring.

  Simonia couldn’t help thinking that this was the longest night of her life. She was never so happy to see the first streaks of dawn across the sky.

  ***

  It was 5:30 in the morning when Todd drove out of the garage. The streets were deserted, just a stray dog here and there, no sign of anyone. This was the hour when all sane people were asleep in their beds.

  It worked to their advantage however; they made good time on the drive. Normally, the trip would take six hours by car, but it took them only four. Todd drove like a demon. He allowed them only one stop, and that was to use the restroom and to get a quick bite to eat. Driving through the outback countryside, they saw some wildlife and some people walking along the walking trails. They drove past the Aboriginal rock art of Tidbinbilla as they headed farther north. It was decidedly cooler the farther north they went, but the scenery was beautiful. Unfortunately, she was not in the frame of mind to enjoy it.

  It felt a bit uncomfortable in the confines of the car. She couldn’t wait for it to be over. As a rule, she and Todd were never at a loss for words when they were in each other’s company. She’d tell him stories, and he’d tell her about the things he hadn’t had the time to tell her before.

  They talked about any and everything. Today, they were like virtual strangers, each deep in thought. This made for a tense atmosphere in the vehicle. But she couldn’t make small talk, and apparently, neither could Todd. Emotions were too close to the surface. She was never so happy to see the reservation sign looming ahead.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Driving into the reservation was like déjà vu. She could count the times she’d been to the reservation on one hand. Her parents had left the reservation before they had her, and during the time they were together, she’d been to visit her grandparents on three occasions—when she made her first communion, when she graduated from high school, and again when she graduated college. The only other time she came was when she’d begun dancing for the Dreaming.

  She’d returned to learn something of her roots and to meet her relatives. She’d been in her late teens, and the decision had been hers. That was when she’d met Tito. Tito Barbado. He was also a dancer, and he’d taken her under his wing to show her the ropes. Very soon, he was showing her a whole lot more. It was a natural progression that they had become man and wife. The marriage was doomed to fail. They didn’t suit each other.

  Simonia had wasted no time moving to Sydney, where she’d found work as dancer with the troupe. Not long after that, she’d met Todd, and her life had taken on a fairytale quality; that was until now.

  Nothing much had changed since she was last here. There were a few more homes and families, but the structure and designs were unchanged. She had no problem locating her grandfather’s home. It was still there, looking none the worse for wear. She knew her papino would be there also. He’d moved in with her grandfather, his father, after he’d lost his wife six years ago.

  She turned around to reach for Todd’s hands as she entered the dwelling. She wasn�
�t surprised to see a gathering of all her relatives. The common room of the home was packed with her aunts, uncles, and all her cousins.

  It was a bit intimidating at first. Most of these people she didn’t know because she’d never met any of them, except the few who were her age or a little older. She turned around to see how Todd was handling it all. He appeared to be doing just fine. Todd was a charmer when he put his mind to it, and he was charming all the females and even their men. The children were a little shy and clung to their parents in the beginning, but soon it was one big happy family with a lot of love being generated, making for a festive atmosphere.

  Soon she and Todd were sitting down to a feast of some original bushtucker and some of the regular Australian steaks of kangaroo and emu to cater to Todd’s more refined palate. There were all the various plums and fruit. Simonia kept most of her eating to those. Todd had some of Victoria bitter beer, and then the evening came, and everyone settled down to story time.

  It was a wonderful time. Simonia made a promise to herself, regardless of how this trip turned out, she would visit her relatives more frequently. They were, after all, her only living relatives. She didn’t know any of her maternal relatives. Her mother had kept her away from that side of the family.

  It was getting late, and she wondered what her papino had in mind for Todd. She kept looking at her watch, anxious to get this thing started. She wondered if her papino had forgotten the reason why they were there. All this socializing was all well and good, but there was a more pressing problem at hand. She didn't want to let the witch put her hand or any part of her body on her husband again.

  After she looked at her watch for what must have been the tenth time, her papino gave her a reprimanding look. She ignored it and kept looking at her watch. When it was 9:30 P.M., her papino pulled her aside and told her to relax.