I promised to buck up, but I knew that I was going to shit carpet tacks every time we had big losses, or even little losses, for that matter. I rememb...red how the loss of Jud way back when had affected me. Dammit, I had to get myself in hand or resign from the triumvirate, and I sure as hell didn't want to do that!It was almost crazy the way the defectors became such fanatical supporters of New Ochnee. Most of them had switched to our side because they really weren't anxious to kill anybody.. Maybe you're the father, not me.''Now let's not get into a big scene here. I've come along to have a sensible chat, see if we can help each other. Understand what I'm saying? Jayde wants to have this kid, she doesn't want to get rid of it, that's the truth. She thinks you're its dad. If you help me, tell me about this prophecies thing and The Rocking Boulders, maybe I can persuade her to back off from pointing the finger at you.'He must have thought she had worried me enough for this bit of. She does it every week on Wednesdays.”I smiled. I knew that from talking to Wahida.“And she leaves you all alone?” I shook my head as I handed her the jar of candied dates. “Well, this is a thank you gift from me for the hospitality your husband showed me by holding my wedding here.”“Of course, of coursed,” said Fahima. She took it from me and led me into her house. It had that same spicy, sandalwood scent as my own. We passed a large shelf covered in leather-bound books with titles in Arabic.I. I scream as I swing back and forth in the air, maybe 15 feet up. Spinning around, I see the stem that binds me is attached to what looks like the largest venus fly trap plant I have ever seen. Good grief! Like something straight out of the Little Shop of Horrors movie. I scream until my throat hurts. "Oh dear, you didn't listen to me," she says in her ragged voice.I turn my head to see the little voodoo witch staring at me. "What is this?" I shriek, hanging from the tightening stems. "Why this.