Ruby (Landry 1)

"She's actually quite frightened and upset,"

Beau said.

"Sit you down, girl," Nina said, pointing to a

chair by the table. "I'll get you something to make

your stomach sit still. You hungry, too?"

I shook my head.

"Did you know Gisselle had a sister?" Beau

asked her as she went to prepare something for me to

drink. She didn't respond for a moment. Then she

turned.

"I don't know anything I'm not supposed to

know," she replied. Beau lifted his eyebrows. I saw

Nina mix what looked like a tablespoon of blackstrap

molasses into a glass of milk with a raw egg and some

kind of powder. She mixed it vigorously and brought

it back.

"Drink this in one gulp, no air," she prescribed.

I stared at the liquid.

"Nina usually cures everyone of anything

around here," Beau said. "Don't be afraid.

"My grandmere could do this, too," I said. "She

was a Traiteur."

"Your grandmere, a Traiteur?" Nina asked. I

nodded.

"Then she was holy," she said, impressed.

"Cajun Traiteur woman can blow the fire out of a burn

and stop bleeding with the press of her palm," Nina

explained to Beau.

"I guess she's not a zombie girl then, huh?"

Beau asked with a smile. Nina paused.