“Course I did, Pierre. We need the world to know that men like Allen Snow can’t touch things that are so importantto the people. He’s got to be stopped. He can’t just walk into communities and take control of precious things. We won’t allow it any longer.”
“Jesus, she’s lost it,” mumbled Baptiste.
“Heard you, Baptiste Robicheaux,” called Irene. “You got somethin’ you wanna talk about, son, you come on up here. But you, and Jesus, know that I haven’t lost anything. I’m as sane as any of you, which ain’t sayin’ a lot.”
“Mama, I didn’t mean to be cruel, but have you considered that you’re going to have to tell the world that you are a woman, an old woman, over one hundred years old, that figured out how to climb a tree, make a home for herself, and is in protest?”
“Y’all must think I’m daft,” she said, staring at their faces. They all raised their brows, their shoulders hunched, and she held up her hands. “One word from any of y’all and I’m gonna show you just how crazy I am. Don’t make me bring on the rain.”
“Can she do that?” whispered Nine to Gaspar. He looked at his friend and started to speak, then shook his head.
“Hell, if I know.”
“I didn’t create a home up here. Grant did,” she smiled. “It’s a fine job too. He had the boys come down here last night, put up a platform with a roof to protect from the sun and rain. He got a chair up here for me and a radio, even got a small refrigerator runnin’ on solar power. Got everything I need, except my Matthew.”
“Pops is at home,” frowned Gaspar.
“No, I ain’t,” said Matthew. “Morning, love. Brought you some things you might need. I’m gonna come up there in a bit but wanted to be sure you didn’t need anything else.”
“I’m good, my sweet man,” she smiled.
“Dear lord,” muttered Antoine. “Mama, what are you going to do when you need to use the toilet?”
“Oh, we got that figured out. Grant helped me with a little compostable toilet. It all goes in a bag, I seal it, and it gets disposed of properly. Must say, it’s a fine contraption, and all the branches, leaves, and things hide me real good.”
“Irene, we had this handled,” said Nine. “We ran him off yesterday, and we’re going to make sure he doesn’t touch the park. You have to believe we wouldn’t let him do that.”
“I believe you, honey. The problem is Snow believes he’s above the law. He already got two council members to agree to his plan. Two. If he gets a few more, this park is done.”
“How the hell did he do that?” growled Ghost.
“Money. How else?” scoffed Irene. “He’s bribin’ people left and right. Folks around here ain’t rich. If he throws enough money at this, he just might win. So, I’m not takin’ any chances. I’ll sit right here until we can be sure he’s gone.”
“Mama, this is too dangerous,” said Gabriel. “You’re going to need protection.”
“Oh, I got it,” she laughed. Irene let out a shrill whistle, and Zeus and Monster came lumbering toward her into the Square. They scared the pants off of the vendors and nearby spectators. Sniff followed with a ladder, and the dogs climbed up, happy to lie by their favorite human. With great effort, she pulled the ladder up, wanting to keep it nearby for the dogs to relieve themselves.
“Since when do the dogs climb ladders?” frowned Nine.
“I trained them,” laughed Sniff. The others glared at him. “What? Come on, you have to admit this is entertaining.”
“Sniff, that’s my one-hundred-and-ten-year-old mother. No one needs to know that she’s that old and looking all of sixty. This is not funny. Not to mention the fact that Snow doesn’t seem to give a fuck who he hurts in this process.”
“Your mother is a good woman,” said Grover, suddenly standing at the base of the tree.
“Good morning, Grover!” called Irene.
“Morning, Miss Irene,” he smiled. “See. She’s a good woman, and she’s trying to help me get home.”
“Grover, we’re happy to help you get home, but this is very dangerous for her. Snow is a violent man who doesn’t care who he hurts,” said Miller.
“I know that. I don’t know how I know that, but there’s something very familiar about him.”
“Have you encountered him before?” asked Gabe with a strange expression.
“I don’t think so. I mean, how would that be possible unless he was here in New Orleans before? I can’t explain the feeling. All I know is that when he’s around, I feel sick to my stomach.”
“Does he see you?” asked Miller suspiciously.
