Excerpts from

READING,RIGHTING, andREVENGE

 

Al looked disgustedly at Eddy as he retorted, “I don’t believe in your Indian woman. The only people on this earth have bodies that can easily be killed. I’ve done it enough times. Once dead, they stay dead. There are no supernatural beings. But the Association does exist. It is the Association you have to fear, Eddy.

“This has to be some trick. I’ll bet that Linda Garza knows what is going on. I had her roommate Arlene Spencer put on The Lincoln Gazette. We’ll find out what Linda knows. Linda can not escape the Association.”

 

***

Arlene dreamed she was running through the night. Slowly a mist began to form. She realized she was lost. She looked around and could not find one soul of whom she could ask directions. Then she noticed a brown-skinned woman gliding toward her. She was very beautiful. Her white clothing seemed to be coming from the mist. Tears were streaming down her face. She looked at Arlene, threw back her head and cried, “¡Aayyy!”

The cry vibrated throughout Arlene’s body. She sat up and screamed.

Linda immediately jumped out of bed and ran to see what had happened.

“What’s the matter, Arlene? Why did you scream?”

“You and that damn Carlos, that’s what’s the matter. I just had a dream about that stupid Indian woman both you and Carlos say you’ve seen.”

“Tell me about it.”

Arlene told her everything. She described the Indian woman and her clothing.

“You saw her, all right, Arlene. But why you? Do you have Mexican blood in your veins?”

“Are you kidding? Do I look Mexican? I’m black! Black, black, black—African American! Get it?”

Linda didn’t say another word. She returned to bed. Sleep did not come quickly. She lay there thinking, What is the meaning of the dream? Why did Arlene see La Llorona? Is the evil that threatens Carlos and me reaching out its tentacles for Arlene?

 

 

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