Is very confusing, this duppie business. Is part of what Calla do, but is the part that make me afraid. The part that make me draw away from wanting to follow in her footsteps, even though I know she would like it.

Helping Calla mean she long time ago put me under her protection. Make it be known, I is the one she favour. Most times is a good thing, like when she ask Busha Davis to release me, so I can help with all the funeral rites, and him can’t say no. Other times, is not so good, mean slaves going keep them distance, don’t want to come too close, in case Calla use Obeah to gain power over them. As far as I know, Calla only use her power for good, but ask somebody else and them might tell you different.

I don’t care what them think. Calla is the only one seem to care bout me. Can turn to her when me feeling sad, feeling low, want answers to questions. Mind you, I never outstay me welcome. Never want to feel the wrath and fury side she can bring down on some poor slave head.

We finish the cleaning business just in time, before the mourners start to arrive. If you didn’t know somebody dead, you know it now. You can hear them bawling and screeching from way off, where them gathering at the edge of the plantation. Start walking up the long drive towards the Great House. Hear the wailing get louder as them coming up through the dogwood trees. And when them get outside Jonnie hut, the weeping and wailing so loud, I must cover up me ears.

This mourning business take plenty strength, not everybody can do it. Is a group of women that come together just for mourning and them learn it from when them was a pickney. Some come from Rock Pleasant, but many come from all round.

Stella and Sydney is two of the mourner women. I don’t see them at first because everybody look the same. Them covered in white from head to foot. White dress. White turban. White ash on them skin, on them arms. All over them face.

Is the first time Stella enter Calla world. The first time I come to understand the power that lay between them. Stella rule over the Great House, but Calla have the bigger power. She rule over the plantation, and the world between the living and the dead.

Backra say preaching Obeah, working magic, is a crime. All them backra like Massa can send Calla to gaol. Put her on trial. Find her guilty. Hang her till she dead. But she too valuable. Is she that control the slave them on the plantation. Not the driver, not Busha. She is the one in charge. If she say jump in the river, swim with the crocodile them, the slave going jump.