Chapter 24


    This Old Man


    "Gather ''round me." The downcast, grey-haired, boney old manmanded his family around a fire


    that was burning inside the small stone hut that was hidden deep within a forest.


    Collected amongst him were a younger man and woman, along with eight small boys and girls. Each


    and every member of the family all sat Indian-style on the floor before the old man.


    "We must find food before the day is through, great-grandfather." The younger man said.


    Staring directly at the man, the old man replied, "Your food is not important. But I tell each and every


    one of you dis, I shall not eat until de dawnes back."


    All ten seated before him listened intently. The rain came thrashing down upon the hut with the full


    force of a hurricane in the making. They were all ustomed to it, but on that particr evening, the


    sound of rain never felt so nerve-wracking.


    "I am an old man." His scratchy voice spoke softly. "I have seen a century''s turn, and a storm''sings


    and goings. I have seen men of great stature speak great tings, and other men of great stature devour


    de living. But in all my time, I never see such a grave dilemma as de one dat has befallen us. Dere


    have been a many a ting in my life dat I wish I no see. Many people who say dey be de devil; but I tink


    not.


    I am but an old man. I have no sense. Dese people, deye, and dey go. Dey speak, and before you


    know, dey speak no more. Dis old man, he see many suns, and many moons. I see de sun cross in


    between de moon two times. But I see someting else, too. I know it be de devil, ''cause it always look


    you in de eye. It alwayse in de day, and in de night. It take your life and my life. I see ite and


    look like you and me, before it runs like a dog.


    Do you see de devil? No, only it see you. It no care if you scream and yell. It no care if you boy, girl,


    woman or man. It no care if even it kill its own.


    Yes, in my life I see many a ting. Many people covered in blood for many years. De blood is all we have


    left.


    Have you ever seen fresh blood? It is thick, and it bubbles, but it always flows like de rain dat punishes


    dis great earth of ours. De blood is what de devil has been cravin'' for years. It craves for it now as I sit


    here and speak. And you...you speak of food?


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    It is much better for you and I to not fill our bellies. Too much fat and de devil smell you better. De devil


    hear a grumbling stomach. It sound like an elephant in its ears.


    No, our food can wait, but de devil needs to eat more. It shed blood more and more as de days carry


    on, until...dere is no until.


    Dis never, ever ends. Dat is why dere be no God. No Jesus. No God let such a ting rule. No God sit


    back and watch as de bubbly blood flows like a river at our doorstep.


    No, I believe in no God, but I do believe in de devil. I see him many times before, as he see me. I am


    an old man, and my time to meet de devil draws nearer each day. I will see his eyes stare into mine,


    but by den, it be toote. God gone, only de devil take me home.


    Now, kill de fire...and make not one sound for deing days.


    For if we die, we die wit empty bellies."