The Mystery of the Singing Serpent - M. V. Carey [43]
You’ll have to help her, but you may enjoy that. I’ll go get her.”
He went out of the room and returned shortly, bringing with him a wrinkled woman whose hair was bound up with a number of scarfs. Mara’s blouse was a faded pink, and her wide green skirt reached to the tops of her scuffed shoes. There was an air about her of dust and old clothing, but there was also a brightness. Her black eyes sparkled under shaggy brows.
She picked up the serpent. “Is this it?”
“That’s it,” said Dr. Barrister.
“Hah!” said Mara. The gypsy nodded to Allie and the boys. “We will work together,”
she told them. “You do what I say and you say nothing. Do you understand?”
“We understand,” said Jupe.
“Is the woman upstairs?”
“Yes,” said Allie.
“Then we will go.” Mara made for the stairs, carrying the serpent.
“Merciful gracious to heavens!” At the foot of the stairs, Aunt Mathilda came face to face with Mara and seemed about to go into shock.
“It’s all right, Aunt Mathilda,” Jupe assured her. “Why don’t you wait with Dr.
Barrister?”
“Dr. Barrister? Is Miss Osborne’s doctor here? Why didn’t you call me? What are you up to?”
“Dr. Barrister will explain.” Jupiter turned to the professor. “This is my aunt, Mrs.
Jones. She’s been taking care of Miss Osborne.”
“Delighted to meet you, Mrs. Jones,” said Barrister. “Come and sit down and I’ll explain. You won’t believe me, but I’ll explain it all.”
Aunt Mathilda stood firm. “Jupiter,” she said, “I want you to tell me here and now —”
“Woman, you are in my way!” said Mara.
“What?” cried Aunt Mathilda.
“I have important work to do,” said Mara. “If you stand in my way, you will regret it.”
The gypsy’s bold eyes locked into Aunt Mathilda’s stern gaze. For a few seconds, Aunt Mathilda glared at Mara. Then, to Jupe’s amazement, his aunt stepped aside. Mara did have gifts.
The gypsy went up the stairs and let Allie lead her to Pat Osborne’s room. The Three Investigators followed after.
Pat Osborne did not see Mara until the gypsy stood at the foot of the bed and called out.
“Oh, cursed one!” cried Mara. “Listen to me so you may live!”
Under the covers, Pat Osborne shuddered.
“More pillows,” said Mara to Allie. “Put pillows under her head so she may see.”
Allie scooted out and got three pillows. She coaxed her aunt to a half-sitting position and propped her up with the pillows.
“Look!” Mara held up the golden cobra. “This is the bringer of evil!”
Pat Osborne winced. “Belial!” she whispered. “The serpent is the messenger of Belial!”
“Hah!” said the gypsy. “Ten spirits I have, each more powerful than Belial. But he who summoned Belial will feel the curse.”
The gypsy came around the bed and thrust the shining cobra toward Pat Osborne. “You must take this into your hands.”
“No! No, I can’t.”
“You must hold it, woman,” ordered Mara. She took Aunt Pat’s hand in her own and closed the trembling fingers around the snake. “Hold it firm if you would save yourself!”
For the first time, a spark of hope seemed to liven Pat Osborne. She grasped the serpent.
From some fold in her wide skirt, Mara took a green cloth sack. “Green is the colour of spring,” she told Aunt Pat. “It is the color of life. You will put the evil thing into this green sack.”
Without taking her eyes from Mara’s face, Aunt Pat did as she was told.
“Good.” Mara pulled the drawstrings at the top of the sack, closing the snake inside.
“Lock the door,” she said to Allie. “Then light a candle.”
There was no shortage of candles in the room. They stood about on every surface —
green ones and purple, red ones and white. “A red candle,” said Mara. “Red has power.”
Allie lit a red candle.
“Now, no one may speak,” said Mara.
No one did. No one but Mara herself, and
when she spoke it was in a high, reedy voice, in a
language that none of them understood. She held
the