Do you like stories with mystery and suspense? Strange and “wyrd” ones? Well, if you do, keep reading and enjoy Eggcentricsagas. If you are just joining Eggcentricsagas, you might want to start from the beginning: A La Mano: Part 1-The Treasure
Charlotte and Betsy lingered outside the soothsayer’s tent and looked at the signs. On the right side of the dark opening was a painted sign of a large eye with a blue iris. Below the picture was a name in big, bold, gold letters: Madame Mariposa. Under her name in smaller, curlicue script was: Knows All, Sees All. On the other side of the doorway was another placard with a drawing of a large palm with symbols. Underneath it was the words: Your hand is the Mirror of Life. Step inside to learn your destiny.
Betsy gave Charlotte a nudge. “C’mon, let’s have some fun. Why don’t you get a reading?”
“No. I’m not in the mood,” Charlotte replied rather petulantly. She and Betsy had just seen Johnny with his arm around his new love interest walking towards them. He was nuzzling the girl’s neck, and she was grasping the stuffed teddy bear that he had won for her in one of the games. Charlotte had nearly pushed Betsy over to get them behind the nearest carnival tent to avoid him seeing her.
“No, you’re in a mood. A bad mood.”
“Sorry.” Charlotte smiled sheepishly at her best friend. “I just don’t believe in all that hocus pocus,” she said dismissively.
“Geez, I’m just trying to cheer you up. Getting your mind off of him would certainly help.” Betsy put her hands on her hips. “I thought that’s why we came to the carnival today. To have fun and forget about him,” she stated emphatically.
Charlotte relented. “Fine. But what should I ask about?”
“How about your love life?”
“That’s the last thing I want to know about,” Charlotte said wryly. Betsy giggled and pushed her inside. A few steps in, a beaded curtain barred their way. As Charlotte parted the beads, the small bells at the ends of the strings tinkled to announce their arrival.
The back of the tent was dark; only two tall, wrought iron candlesticks with flickering tapers lit the interior. The only other thing in the tent was a large table covered in a red tablecloth. The gold embroidered symbols on it glittered in the wavering light. On top of the table were a human skull, an oversized stuffed raven, and a deck of cards. Charlotte noticed that the cards looked very old and used with tattered edges and a faded fleur-de-lis design.
At the back of the tent, a curtain parted. An old, hunched crone with a scarf around her head stepped into the shadowy space. “Welcome to Madame Mariposa’s realm,” she uttered in a gravelly voice. “Are you here for a palm reading or would you like your cards read?” She waved a gnarled hand towards the table.
Charlotte looked at Betsy. She acknowledged by shrugging. Not wanting the old toad to touch her hand, Charlotte answered, “Ummm… A card reading for me, I guess.”
“You?” the old woman turned her steely blue gaze on Betsy. Frightened by her owl-like eyes and intense stare, Betsy shrank a little behind Charlotte and shook her head.
The soothsayer grimaced and then instructed them, “Sit.”
The two girls complied and then, adjusting her tiered, gauzy black cotton skirt, the ancient woman sat. She picked up the deck and began to shuffle it. Closing her eyes, Madame Mariposa took some deep breaths as she continued to manipulate the cards. Betsy gently kicked Charlotte’s foot under the table. Charlotte glanced at Betsy, and they both smirked.
With her eyes still shut, loud speech erupted from the gray-haired hag that startled the young women. “Hathor, All-Seeing One, grant me your power. Light my indwelling fire. Put your Eye on my brow and illuminate the future of this girl.” The crone paused momentarily and then nearly screeched the following invocation. “Weret hekau; Great-of-Magic! Give me the clarity to see the vision.” Then she raised her wrinkled face, fell silent, and continued with her long, drawn-out breathing keeping her eyes closed the entire time.
This odd behavior sufficiently rattled the two girls. They looked at each other with wide-eyed expressions. Then they looked back at the spectacle in front of them. Opening her heavy-lidded eyes, the seer placed the deck of cards on the table and fanned it out in a long line. She looked at Charlotte and croaked, “Pick three with your left hand, remove them from the rest and turn them over.”
Charlotte did as she was commanded.
The old woman looked at the cards and said, “Queen of Hearts, Two of Hearts, King of Spades. You are the queen; charming, attractive but prone to moodiness. Your spiritual intuition is your best asset. The King of Spades is the most powerful card in the deck. He is the highest initiate and controls the element of Air. Be wary as this magic man may sweep you off your feet.” The soothsayer paused as her blue-eyed stare bore through Charlotte. Then she cackled vigorously and said, “This card can also represent an untrustworthy man or your shadow self.” Pointing to the two of hearts, she said, “The sweetheart card sits between the queen and king. You have the concept of ideal love in your head. Let go of this idea and you will be much happier.”
Then she stood and said, “Three dollars please.”
“Was she creepy or what?” Betsy said to Charlotte after they had moved away from the tent. Not waiting for Charlotte’s reply, Betsy continued, “Gosh, she reminded me of the Evil Queen in the Snow White Disney film. Do you remember when she drinks the magic potion, becomes the old hag and gives Snow White the poisoned apple?” She stopped and grabbed Charlotte’s arm. Turning Charlotte to face her, Betsy asked, “What did you think about her reading? Do you believe what she said?”
Before Charlotte could answer, a colossal flash of lightning lit the sky and booming thunder quickly followed.
Next: The Magician’s Hat: Part 4-The Maelstrom
