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<p no=97>
Although my certificate in Sociology had not yet come, I knew that my next
and most important study must be Theology, only so I could understand the
situation that my children would face in the future, and other people's
children would have to meet as well.
<p no=98>
Within a week there was surrender in the Far East.   The bells crashed out
again, I went quietly into the Church myself, carrying Heather.   Then we
spent the evening listening to the music of the young people's party by
the Roman Catholics in their Hall opposite.
<p no=99>
Yes, something certainly was over, but something else had just began to be
thought about.
<p no=100>
We were glad of the bells, we were glad of the music.   We were glad of
the good fish my father brought for us to celebrate with.   Yes, fish it
was for the mental energy to face our new situation.
<p no=101 segment_break>
"Baron Samedi, the strongest and most dangerous of all the voodoo
houngans.   No one knows who Baron Samedi is, but they believe he is both
dead and alive.   He lives in two different worlds.   Many people are so
frightened of him that they are afraid to say his name."
<p no=102>
Conway looked at the picture.   "Baron Samedi!" he laughed.   "How can
these people be so stupid?   Still, it will be easy to make money if they
think like children."
<p no=103>
A few minutes later, Karen came back.   She picked up the book and put it
in her bag.   As she was sitting down, the lights in the aeroplane came
on.
<p no=104>
"We are going to arrive at Port au Prince airport in a few minutes.
Please stay in your seats and put out your cigarettes.   The time in Haiti
is 3.15.   It is a warm day and it is 30C.   We hope you have enjoyed
flying with Air Haiti, and we hope that you will fly with us again.
Thank you.
<p no=105>
Down below them, in the village of Bussy, not far from Port au Prince, Kee
was in his small wooden house among the trees.   Outside, a few brown
chickens were trying to find something to eat in the garden.   There was
not much rain in the summer and the ground was dry and dusty.   The old
man Kee was sitting by the window in the front room.   Suddenly he felt
that something was wrong.   In the garden the wind blew harder, and the
dust from the dry ground flew into the air.   He stood up, went to the
window and looked out.
<p no=106>
"I can feel danger," he thought.   "Someone bad is coming." He looked out
into the trees, but he could n't   see anything.   Then he looked up at
the sky, and saw the plane just before it went behind a cloud on its way
to Port au Prince airport.
<p no=107 segment_break>
When Captain Pugwash retires from active piracy he is amazed and delighted
to be offered a Huge Reward for what seems to be a simple task.   Little
does he realise what villainy and treachery lurk in the little town of
Sinkport, or what a hideous fate may await him there.
<p no=108>
It was business as usual in the ancient seafaring town of Sinkport.
There were the usual minor excitements: a murder in the churchyard, a few
muggings in the back-streets and alleys, and the election of a new Mayor
with all the bribery and corruption which accompanied such an event.   But
the citizens of Sinkport were far too busy with fishing, boat-building,
buying and selling and making money out of the tourists to take much
notice of such happenings.
<p no=109>
So the arrival at the Grand Quay of that famous pirate ship the "Black
Pig" caused no excitement, and Captain Pugwash, the Mate, Barnabas, Willy
and Tom the cabin boy attracted little attention as they stepped down the
gangplank and set off to view the sights of the town.
<p no=110>
For Captain Pugwash it was, he hoped, the end of a long and infamous
career.   He had done well out of piracy and had even, with the help of
his cabin boy, escaped the fury of his arch-enemy Cut-throat Jake.   Now,
home from the Caribbean Sea, he was seeking a comfortable spot in which to
retire, and Sinkport, with water all around its ancient houses and its
church crowning the hill, seemed as good a place as any.   His crew too
were happy at the thought of leaving the sea.  They had always found
buccaneering terribly alarming, and felt seasick at the slightest sign of
bad weather.
<p no=111>
And Tom the cabin boy had a favourite aunt in Sinkport and was glad to
have an opportunity to visit her.
<p no=112>
"Funny sort o' joint," grunted Pirate Barnabas as the little party started
up Barmaid Street, " Kinda  old  ennit!"
<p no=113>
"Do n't fancy these 'ere cobbled streets," grumbled Willy.   "Us'll 'ave
to start wearin' shoes if we're goin' to stick around these parts!"
<p no=114>
"Shame on you, fussin' over such mundane matters," pronounced the Mate
grandly.   "Sinkport is hysterical.   Werry hysterical indeed." "You mean
hist or  ical, Mister Mate, but you're right of course," said the Captain.
"Look at that, the ancient Barmaid Inn, rebuilt in 1420 and still as good
as new!"
<p no=115>
Soon the pirates had reached the top of the street.   "In there", pointed
Tom, "is Mutton House, the grandest dwelling in the town.   Over there,
beyond the church, is Witchball Street.   That's where my Aunt Clarabel
lives.   She runs the Jolly Jailor Inn." "I hope it's more comfortable
than  that  place!" remarked Captain Pugwash, pointing to a dark fortified
building further on.
<p no=116 segment_break>
They walked on through the graveyard, and Kee said, " My grandfather is
here in this graveyard.   He was my mother's father.   I remember the day
when he died.   I cried for a long time when I saw that big dark hole in
the ground, and we put his body in the grave.   It was raining.   I was
twelve years old.   My mother and father were with me, and they were
crying too.
<p no=117>
"I'm sorry," said Karen.
<p no=118>
"Oh, it was a long time ago," said Kee.   "But my grandfather's grave was
the last on this hill.   After he died, they made a new graveyard on the
other side of the village.  That's why nobody comes here now.   Nobody
remembers the old people here."
<p no=119>
"But you do."
<p no=120>
"Oh, yes.   I could never forget my grandfather.   He taught me about
voodoo, about the spirit of the rain and the spirit of the wind.   You
see, nothing is really dead.   There's a spirit in everything, in every
tree, in the sun, in the sea.   If you understand voodoo, you can talk to