CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Dinner was quiet that evening, with everyone trying to figure out where the reverend was hiding.

“Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve. He’s going to make it big,” said Nine.

“I know. I have a feeling the same thing will happen. He wants people to recognize his work, and now that we know who he is, he has nothing to lose. I think we need to keep patrols in the Quarter area,” said Gaspar.

“Are we sure he’s going to keep going back to the same well?” asked Ian.

“I’m not sure of a damn thing,” said Gaspar.

Outside, the winds were howling once again, almost sending an omen of things to come. He looked up to see his mother walking hunched over and wondered what she was doing and where she was going. Almost willing to blow it off, he then noticed that she wasn’t hunched over. She was carrying something and hauling something behind her.

“What the hell is Mama doing?” asked Miller, standing.

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” said Gaspar, “but I know that I have to.”

The men stood, leaving believing they’d left their wives behind as they walked outside to see Irene pulling a large wagon. So focused on the case, none of them noticed that their own wives had left the cafeteria an hour ago.

“Mama? Mama!” he yelled when she ignored his first call. “Mama, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean, Gaspar? I’m walking with my wagon.”

“Mama, you don’t own a wagon. What is in that wagon, and why is it covered?” he asked, taking a step forward.

“I want to know why it’s not a little red wagon,” smirked Nine. “That’s much larger. What’s in there?”

“You know, Nine, you outta watch yourself,” said Irene, frowning at her son’s friend.

“I’m sorry, Mama Irene,” he laughed. “I just know you.”

Miller walked up to the wagon and stared beneath the cover. His eyes grew huge, and he took two steps backward, then forward again.

“What is it?” asked Gaspar, almost afraid to ask.

“Mama, tell me these are pygmies,” said Miller. She stared at him with her wide eyes, and he shook his head.

“Pygmies? What the fuck are you talking about?” asked Gaspar, staring at his brother. Then he knew. “No. No, don’t tell me. Mama! Where in the ever-loving hell did you get baby hippos?”

“Now, listen,” she said calmly. “They’re mama died, and they didn’t have anyone that would nurse them.”

Luc stepped forward, opening his mother’s coat. She had two massive bottles filled with a milk-like substance. He took them from her, showing them to the other men.

“Thank you, Luc. Those were gettin’ heavy. Take Harry, feed him, and give the other to your brother. He can feed Harriet.”

“Harry and Harriet? You named the fucking hippos Harry and Harriet?” said Gaspar. Again, the blank stare nearly buckled him. “Mama, hippos are dangerous. Truly one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. They’re deceptively fast and have one of the most powerful bites in the world.”

“And they like water and swampland, and they can be sweet as honey when treated right. These babies deserve a good beginning to their life, Gaspar.”

“Mama, you and I both know this isn’t a beginning with you. You intend to keep them forever. Here. At Belle Fleur!”

“Well, I haven’t exactly made up my mind, but they are cute,” she smiled. Gaspar looked at Luc and Baptiste feeding the baby hippos and cringed.

“Are you shitting me? You two are into this?” asked Gaspar.

“Mama’s right. They’re damn cute and pretty sweet right now. If their mama is gone, they need us. Maybe we need them.” Miller stood over his brothers, watching them feed the hippos. He was impressed with how damn cute they were.

“Pierre, you’re fucking with me right now, aren’t you?”

“No, mon frére,” he laughed. “Look, she was right about Alvin, although she shouldn’t have hid it from us. She was right about Semu and all the others. I don’t know what skill she has, but Mama seems to be the animal whisperer, and maybe these animals are here for a reason.”

“I’m never gonna win these arguments,” he muttered. Nine walked toward the hippo that Luc was holding and touched her smooth skin. She had big fat rolls at her legs and neck, but it was the cutest shit he’d seen in a while.

“Not you too,” asked Gaspar.

“Look, you’re right. We’re never going to win the argument on animals here. It’s your mother’s passion in life. Save the lost. She saved all of us. She’s saved more than a few folks wandering around out there. Maybe her next purpose was to save the animals.”

“Am I to assume that Harry and Harriet will not leave us any time soon?” he asked his mother.

“Well, they can’t leave until they’re old enough. Maybe a few years. Then we have to find a zoo that can take them, and that’s always hard to do.”

“Alright, alright, Mama. You win. Harry and Harriet stay. But if they start eating the giraffes and other animals, they gotta go.”

“They’re not gonna eat any of the animals,” laughed Irene. “We’ve had a long talk, and they know they have to eat what we give them or the fish. That’s all.”

“Alvin likes them,” said Trak, standing beside the alligator at his feet.

“Son-of-a-bitch, I’m gonna have an aneurysm,” muttered Gaspar.

“Irene? Irene, honey,” yelled Matthew, walking toward them. “Oh, good. You told them. I’m so glad.” She was shaking her head imperceptibly, but Matthew didn’t notice in the near blackness of the night.

“Told us what?” said Gaspar.

“Yes. About the hippos and the badgers.” Gaspar’s eyes grew wide, and he turned to his mother with his mouth wide open.

“Gotta run, son.”

“Mama!”

The men couldn’t help but laugh as Gaspar chased after his mother, trying to get her to understand that badgers were deadly creatures as well.

“Pops, she hadn’t told us about the badgers,” smirked Miller.

“Oh, I know,” said Matthew. “I wanted her to, though. I’m not worried about the hippos. They’ll love bein’ in the bayou and swimming around the islands. Those badgers, though, they could be trouble if we don’t watch them. Besides, Gaspar and your mama are more alike than they care to admit.”

“Pops, you’re something else,” laughed Antoine.

“So are all of you. Listen, I don’t know where the reverend is, but I do know he’s finding his next victims. You boys need to stop this one before he changes his face and disappears.” Matthew walked away, and the men all stared at one another, nodding. They knew it as well. The reverend wasn’t going to stop unless they stopped him.

“Get some rest,” said Nine. “The next thirty-six hours are critical. We head to the Quarter early tomorrow. Sweats, hoodies, loose clothing. Look homeless, look younger.”

“Younger?” frowned Pork.

“He’s only killed one old man. His age preference is young, healthy, and a sinner in his eyes. Overpowering youth is a turn-on for him. Let’s see what he does with all of us.”