Bayou Phantasia II by Chris Segura

Author:Chris Segura
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, history, fantasy, paranormal, ghost, ethnic, cajun
Publisher: Chris Segura

Conte 12 A Fair Deal

The office of the director of the Louisiana World Exposition had large glass windows overlooking the grounds. James Eloi Trosclair – Jet – shook hands then sat so that his reflection was superimposed against the colored flags, sparkling lights, eagerly hustling tourists. Benet Daniels, director, had invisible defensive plates of armor drawn up around him.

"I'm going to tell you quite frankly, Mister Trosclair," he said, shaking his head before his rump had even touched the seat, "I'm very reluctant to … uh … to employ your services. You … uh … can realize what the publicity ...."

"Yes, but you have employed my 'services' as you call them. And they're needed or you wouldn't have called. By the way, payment would be directly to the Departmental Fund, Louisiana State University Department of Parapsychology, LSU, Baton Rouge. Now, your World's Fair is haunted, Mister Daniels, accept it and admit it. Tell me about your problem."

Daniels sighed. He leaned forward resignedly, elbows on the desk, hands slightly apart as though he were going to describe the size of a fish he had caught.

"Call me Ben," he said. "At first, we thought it was some kind of electrical failure. Then we hoped it would prove to be squirrelly winds, things like that."

"Any violence? That's the important part."

"Not from the.. .uh .. .is 'ghost' the right word?"

"Are you comfortable with that?"

"Not altogether," Daniels admitted.

"Is there another word more comfortable?" Jet asked. Daniels considered.

"No," he said.

"The word doesn't matter. Maybe you'll get used to the word 'ghost', ainh? You were telling me about violence."

"Yes. Not violence from the … uh … ghost. It is more that the ghost inspires violence."

"Ainh? Uh ... what? Explain."

"There've been some fights between men over some ladies getting … well … getting fondled."

"Fondled?"

"That's right. You know … felt up?"

"By the ghost."

"Apparently," Daniels said with a sigh that told Jet this was his first real admission to himself of even the possibility.

"We've got a live one," Jet said. "By that I mean lively, not a-live. I'll get started right away."

He stood to leave. Daniels stood, too, and put out his hand, although the expression on his face indicated that he thought there'd be much more to the interview. Jet had determined over the years that his own impressions were most useful. He didn't like to infiltrate his own feelings with the observations of others.

"I certainly hope ..." Daniels started to say. Jet interrupted him.

"Hope is the most dangerous of all human qualities, Ben," Jet said. "Apparently, only human beings have it but it clouds intelligence, clouds intuition. You just sit tight. Me, I'm going to work."

Jet began by strolling through the fair. It was a fascinating show. He was more interested in the tourists than in the displays, absorbed by the glitter and the ambiance.

The first manifestation was in the hearing. A mist of foreign music all around him, music not foreign by geography but by time. A whisper of light street banter, Irish brogue and a gritting sound like an old mill wheel against grain.

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