Blackwood Farm - Anne Rice [208]
“We had reached the tombs and I showed him Rebecca’s headstone. Of course he knew the full story. We went into the little chapel. I was distressed to see so many leaves. I would have to tell Allen to sweep it out.
“ ‘I’m the man of this place now,’ I said, my voice echoing off the limestone walls. ‘I’ll have to run it from Europe. That won’t be an easy feat.’
“ ‘I have another promise I want from you,’ he said, looking out the door, as if to make certain no one was coming up on us. ‘If you do see this creature again, try not to think of anything that she can read from your mind. I know this is obvious, but try to use definite techniques to cleanse your mind of anything important. You wouldn’t want her finding out, for instance, as I have this very afternoon, that you have a new relation by the name of Tommy Harrison whom you’ve come to like—if not love—in a brief meeting yesterday morning.’
“I was shocked. I wasn’t conscious of having thought of Tommy.
“ ‘You give that fodder to Petronia,’ Stirling said, ‘and she’ll use it against you, the same way she might use Mona. And believe me when I tell you that it’s a good thing Aunt Queen will soon be beyond her apparent reach as well.’
“I shuddered. ‘Aunt Queen,’ I whispered. Then I remembered the way that Petronia had taken her leave of Aunt Queen and the words she’d spoken: You’ve been very gracious to me. I won’t forget it.
“ ‘I wish I had this gift for reading minds,’ I said. ‘I’d know what you’re holding back.’
“ ‘It isn’t such a great gift,’ he said as we walked on up the slope towards the house again. ‘You can’t take Tommy to Europe with you, can you?’ he asked.
“ ‘Oh, that would be splendid. I don’t see why not. I bet Terry Sue would allow it. Not with Brittany of course. That’s the little girl. She’s the workhorse. But Tommy. Tommy’s the dreamer who reads books in the woods. I’ll talk to Aunt Queen about it.’
“ ‘Whatever you do, try not to do it after nightfall. If you must make plans, and certainly you must, do it in New Orleans. Do it perhaps at the Grand Luminière Café in Mayfair Medical. That ought to give you time to see Mona. She’ll be in the center all day today and into the evening. I’m meeting her and Michael and Rowan there for dinner myself.’
“ ‘You know, I like your outspoken manner but it amazes me, the ease with which you make your suggestions. Again, I know you’re holding something back.’
“ ‘Know this, and I mean it from the heart. I hold back what I think I should hold back and nothing more than that. Take your Aunt Queen and Nash to dinner at the Grand Luminière Café tonight. Heed my advice on that.’
“ ‘But why is it so important?’
“ ‘Because creatures like Petronia don’t like witches. And they never go where they are.’
“I was dumbstruck. I couldn’t quite imagine what he meant.
“ ‘She’s a mind reader, no? And a trickster on top of it, wouldn’t you say?’
“ ‘Yes,’ I answered.
“ ‘Take my word for it,’ he replied. ‘She’ll never get within a hundred yards of Mayfair Medical. Rowan Mayfair would know she was prowling in an instant. So would Mona.’
“ ‘But what do you mean when you say they’re witches, Stirling?’
“We walked on to the Mercedes, which was parked in the shed. I opened the door for him and then came around to the driver’s side.
“He waited for me to back the car out and head down the road. I crossed in front of the house, turned right and went down the long pecan-tree drive.
“ ‘A witch to those of us in the Talamasca,’ he explained, ‘is a mortal man or woman who can see spirits and manipulate them, bring up spirits and exorcise them, communicate with them and control them, talk to them and hear their talk.’
“ ‘Then I’m a witch,’ I said, ‘on account of Goblin.’
“ ‘Very much more than likely,’ he said. ‘Though I don’t think you’ve experienced all the aspects I just explained.’
“ ‘No, I haven’t. But I think that I could. And if Rebecca comes back, my powers of exorcism may be taxed.’
“ ‘I’ll be here for you if you need