The Cacos came out of the hills that night.
“Francois. Get the servants and arm them. I mean to fight these savages off.” Hans said.
“Hans, the servants have fled. We are on our own here.”
“Fled? Already?”
“They fled hours ago.”
“Why wasn't I informed!?”
“Hans, what is it?” Adele asked.
“That bastard Sam has finally come for us. We could hold them off but the servants have fled. They must have been scared off beforehand.” Hans turned to look at Adele standing in the doorway. She was a Haitian girl from a prominent family in Haiti. She had light brown skin, long black hair, short and dainty. She was also Hans wife.
“Why would President Sam come for us?” she asked.
“Why do you think? He has been waiting for this opportunity, to drive us Germans out of the country. He can do it too the bastard. We, I mean Germany, are caught up in the war in Europe right now, so the President has free reign here in Haiti.”
“They've stopped outside in the yard.” Francois said. He was also Haitian, with light brown skin and black hair. Only Hans, Adele and Francois were left in the house.
“Kochons. We know you hide in there. Come on out to face free Haitian men. We are here for our land. Come out befoe we burn you out.” A man yelled, standing in front of the mob outside. They were armed with an assortment of weapons, from pitchforks to old muskets. The man himself was wearing an top hat and shorts, but bare chested. His face as painted like a skull.
“Why does that voice sound familier?” Hans said.
“It's Emmanual.” Francois answered.
“Our Emmanual?” Hans looked at Francois in surprise. Emmanual was a former gardener of theirs, having worked there up to a month ago. He stopped showing up after Hans berated him for stirring unrest with his fellow employees, “Now I know why the servants left before this mob showed up.”
“Do you hear me in there? Baron Samedi is knocking on your door, and he wants to party. I'm the only one who can keep him at bay. Come out before he demands the price of your lives.”
“You and your Baron can take a flying leap off a cliff.” Hans yelled back. The men in the mob jeered at Hans. Inside Adele gasped, staring at Hans, eyes and mouth open in shock. Francois was also looking at Hans, but he couldn't read his face.
“What? What is it.” Hans said, not understanding.
“Baron Samedi is Loa of the dead. Sort of like lord of the dead in the vodou religon.” Francois answered.
“So? I thought you two were smarter then that. There is no Baron, you should know that.”
“Of course.” Francois looked back outside. Adele seemed shaken, and didn't answer.
“You heard how the Kochon mocks Baron Samedi, like he mocks the whole Haitian people!” Emmanuel yelled, now speaking to the mob, “You are part of the great Caco army. President Sam will reward you when we get rid of Kochons like the ones inside here! Kochons, you hear me in there? You have one minute to get out here or you will all go up in flames!”
“How do we know you aren't just going to burn us alive when we go out there?” Hans yelled.
“I give you my word Kochon. We just want our land back. Come out, and we will escort you to Port au Prince, and put you back on a boat to Germany.” Hans had no desire to return to Germany. The war was far from over, and there was still doubt Germany would come out on top.
YOU ARE READING
McConnell House
Historical FictionTy, a young man riding the rails is swept up in the events of the Great Depression. He has seen many hardships, like most of that era, and has survived them. But he is about to encounter something even more disturbing when he arrives in Calgary...
