Down On The Bayou Detective Agency - Case Files

Chapter 13

Case # 19 - The Shady Shaman Part 1

Definitions:

Magic - the ability to change one's consciousness in order to bring about that which the magician desired.

~o0o~

Previously:

Six months after Case File #17

~o0o~

The unusual silence of Bella and Edward's home was disturbed by the ringing of Edward's cell phone. "Hey, Edward!"

"Sam, how nice to hear from you. Bella and I were just talking about you. Been over a month since we saw y'all. What's up? Got something for us?" Edward asked.

"Not sure, Edward, but I would like to talk to you about something. Angela thought we could do a couple of things at once. We haven't seen the twins in forever, and I'm sure our godchildren have gotten much bigger."

"You know, we've had to buy new clothes for them twice in the last six months. I don't know what Bella's feeding them, but it's really making 'em grow like weeds." Edward laughed. "Look, why don't we make it a family affair. You up for a backyard barbecue?"

"Hang on, let me ask Angela." Edward could hear muffled conversation before Sam came back on and said, "Angela said she'd call Bella and Lauren, and they'd work out a menu together. We'll bring our own drinks. Now, when?"

"My turn, hang on. Bella? Can you come here please?" Sam smiled as he listened to Edward asking Bella for her thoughts on when the two families could get together. "Bella suggests this Saturday. Three days from now?"

"Sounds good. I'll bring my file too. Three days gives me a bit more time to do some more research. I suspect this is gonna be one that Angela, Lauren, and I will work on, but we'll see after I give you the rundown. It'll be good to see y'all again. I miss being able to just walk over to your houseboat."

"I know, Sam, but the twins are just way too active now." Edward laughed. "We'll see you Saturday."

They both disconnected.

~o0o~

"What did you tell Edward, Sam?"

"Nothing really, Cher. He'll already know, though, by the time we get there. I'm not even sure there's anything we can do. Ghost busting isn't really our forte."

Sam walked around the kitchen counter to where Angela stood, peeling shrimp for gumbo, and kissed his wife's cheek. "Don't know what I'd do without your gumbo!"

Angela threw a shrimp at him as he fled the kitchen.

Sam sat down at his desk and opened the book that he had order from Amazon, which had just been delivered by UPS. Since he and Angela had set up housekeeping on the river, FedEx and UPS knew how to get to the landing where Sam and Angela moored their luxury houseboat. If Sam wasn't ordering books, Angela was ordering a variety of domestic items. It was actually easier to just go online than it was to get in the truck and travel the winding dirt roads to the general store. The Uley's did buy their groceries there, but Angela would occasionally order specialty products for a new recipe she wanted to try.

Today the book Sam was pouring over was called "Spirit Walkers", which was about Navajo skin-walkers oryee naaldlooshii, who were powerful black magic practitioners who had the ability to curse and injure. His friend, Hástin Yázhe, had written to Sam asking for help.

As much as Hástin hated to admit it, he'd confessed that he'd encountered what appeared to be very powerful black magic that he was unable to un-work, so he asked for his help. Sam had never been to nor participated in any Navajo ceremonies, but he knew some of the Navajo ceremonies took up to nine days. He also knew that being a medicine man required lifelong study and practice, just like training to become a Hoodoo Man.

Sam knew if Hástin was asking for help, it must have been important, so he'd ordered several books on the subject. Sadly, he discovered that those books were of little help. He would have to go there and experience what was going on first hand. Of course, that was dangerous, but he just didn't see anyway out of it.

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Saturday morning found Angela and Sam carrying their coolers down to their SUV and heading for Bella and Edward's house. Edward and Bella both came out to help carry everything into the backyard patio.

After everything had been settled into the most advantageous spots next to the outside kitchen Edward had installed shortly after they'd moved into the house two blurs appeared before Angela and Sam.

Lizzy was bouncing from one foot to the other, begging to be picked up and hugged. The same went for Masen, who was clinging to his godmother's legs.

"They seem to be learning some manners, Bella," Angela laughed. "There was a time they'd come flying into us."

"I am very aware," chuckled Bella.

When Sam put Lizzy down, she immediately went to Angela for what hugs and kisses were due her while Masen took his turn with Sam.

Esme and Carlisle took the children back into the house, so the two couples could talk a bit before they started slaving over the hot barbeque.

Edward and Sam walked out further into the back yard and sat down on the bench that surrounded the girth of the huge Live Oak. It was estimated the tree was about 300 hundred years old. When the house the Cullens lived in was being built, there had been talk of cutting the tree down, but the neighborhood residents raised such a stink it was left. Leaving it meant that only one family dwelling could be built on that property. That was fine with Edward, even if it meant the cost was almost twice that of the other homes in the neighborhood. There was the most beautiful and helpful Dryad living in that tree, and she was able to tell Edward the history of the land, which was very interesting.

"So, Sam, what's this case that's got you bothered?" questioned Edward.

"Did I ever tell you about the Navajo Medicine Man I met when I was working a case in Phoenix several years ago?"

"I think so," Edward replied. "Weren't you attending some lecture series on Sympathetic Magic?"

"Yes, one of the presenters used excerpts from Joseph Campbell's Primitive Mythology for examples of Sympathetic Magic while the second day was centered around what they called Imitation Magic. That form of magic centered more around what I use, effigies and fetishes to affect the environment of people.

"I was standing outside of the lecture hall smoking when this man came up to me asking for a light. Naturally, we got to talking as we'd seen each other attending the lectures. One thing lead to another, and we knew we needed to keep in touch. Over the years since, we've corresponded a lot and learned more about each other.

"His name is Hástin Yázhe. He's a powerful Navajo medicine man, and I've never known him to need my help, so when I got his letter asking me for help, I knew he must be desperate. There seems to be a Skin Walker at work on his reservation, and Hástin can't determine who it is. He's asked me to come to the reservation and see if maybe together we can stop the evil that's taken root."

Edward smiled. "What are you doing here? You should be on your way to his reservation."

"I'm kinda at a loss, Edward. I've tried everything I would normally do in order to find someone, but I can't do it alone this time. I'm thinking that I need to go and see if together Hástin and I can figure it out."

"Do you want me to come too, Sam?" Edward asked.

"I don't think it's necessary, but I kinda like it if you'd stand by, just in case."

"Sure, Sam. Whatever you need, you know that."

"Meanwhile," Sam continued, "If you could read up, or do what it is that you do before you take on a case, on Navajo magic. I know you have more ways than I do when it comes to somethings."

"Sam, again, whatever you need. I'll see what I can come up with tonight after everyone leaves. I suspect it'll take some very deep meditation." Edward said.

"Thank you, Edward. I knew I could count on your help."

Just as they finished their talk and were heading back to be with their wives, Emmett and Lauren arrived. The twins made a sudden appearance, got their hugs from their uncle and aunt, and were once again herded back into the house.

Before too long, the smell of bacon-wrapped shrimp, hamburgers, and steaks filled the air. Soon, the table was set with platters of freshly grilled meats, steaming bowls of rice, and two different kinds of green salads.

All in all, the day was very relaxing for family and friends.

Tomorrow was soon enough to begin to dig into the mystery Sam had brought to Edward.

~o0o~