Return of the Spirit Rider (Leisure Historical Fiction) by Smith Cotton

Author:Smith, Cotton [Smith, Cotton]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781477806807
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Published: 2009-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

“Tunkan, a sacred stone, like this, is named after the dead person whose spirit lives within it,” Lockhart said. “I was raised in an Oglala village, mostly by a holy man.” He smiled; it wasn’t something he shared often and it felt good. “Sort of a guardian spirit within the rock. It is immortal, living forever. My tribe called it sicun. They believe that, sometimes, it is reincarnated.”

“Ah, fascinating!” Beezah exclaimed. “Could it be the same magic, Governor? May I ask the name of your…stone?”

“It is named after an ancient holy man, Eyes-of-the-Wind. He was quite famous among my old tribe. I think my adopted father knew him—and respected him greatly.”

“Do you think this Eyes-of-the-Wind will come back…some time?”

“Good question.” Lockhart looked at the cat, still massaging Beezah’s leg, and changed the subject. “That’s quite a cat. Yours, I take it.”

“Yes, she is a spirit, I think. I call her Mawhu, the name of the goddess of the moon in my religion.”

Lockhart knelt and held out a hand.

“Be careful, Governor. Mawhu does not take well to…strangers…” Beezah’s caution ended as the cat approached Lockhart, meowed an introduction and enjoyed the businessman’s strokes along its back.

As he patted the cat, Lockhart said softly, “Yes, I know. You are a cousin to the panther.” He stood and said, “Tell me more about your religion. It reminds me of others, yet it sounds quite different.” His interest was genuine and it showed in his eyes.

“Of course. I am surprised at your interest, Governor. And pleased.”

In a few sentences, Beezah explained his religion was voodoo, learned as a boy in Haiti. He had grown up there, coming to New Orleans as a young man. The religion was largely focused on ancestors with each family of spirits having its own priesthood, usually related to the spirits. The word, voodoo, itself meant spirit. His religion, as he was taught, was built around a double-divine concept with the God-Creator, Nana Buluku, as the supreme force, and a group of voduns, or God-Actors, who looked over things on earth.

He shrugged his shoulders and said it was a very complex religion. He reminded Lockhart of Iwa, super natural beings who represented the great forces of nature. They were in the trees, the streams, the mountains, wind, plants and fire. They also represented human sentiments and values, like love, courage, truth, justice, fidelity. In certain voodoo ceremonies, they would enter the human body.

“Voodoo has many pieces, for it is built from African religions and is tightly connected to all that has happened in Haiti over the centures,” Beezah said, motioning in a large circle. “It even has Catholic—and Freemason—tributes within it. I guess you would say it ties the unknown to the known, connecting those of us who are living with the dead and to those not yet born. It is quite complicated.” He sighed.

“Aren’t they all?” Lockhart replied. “It has taken me a long time to understand the different religions of the white man.”

Beezah chuckled. “Ah yes, and each is the only true one.

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