White Man's Promise

[Etienne Mbane]

(( Standard Disclaimer: The White Man is not a reference to individuals of Caucasian decent. The White Man is a figure in mythology, a spirit who protects those with good intentions, but no understanding of Truth or the consequences of their actions. For Etienne, it is used to represent outsiders to his people. ))

Another hour threatened to come to a close in silence. Of course, this would lead to another appointment being made, and another hour of silence. Etienne had nothing to say to the kind woman, and the woman never pried. He answered her politely, and directly. He learned from childhood on not to go into detail with outsiders.

"Etienne, how are you fitting in?"

The question always started the next barrage, so he took his time before answering.

"'Bout as well as I can, Miss Wilson."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, I got friends, I guess you'd call dem. But I know I ain't really going be de most popular kid in school."

Finally, Counselor Wilson had something to respond to, something that she could try to get through to the boy.

"What do you mean, you'd guess you'd call them your friends?"

"Well, ain't friends understand who you is?"

"Not always."

"Dey ain't 'posed to be feared of you dough, is dey?"

Wilson nodded. "That is true. You think everyone is afraid of you?"

"Ain't dey? Ain't you?"

It wasn't a question that she was prepared to answer, and certainly not one she expected to be asked. Sure, troubled students had tried to intimidate her in the past, but Etienne asked the question with calm and sincerity, as if he wanted the answer to be no. For once she considered her answer.

But before she could speak, Etienne stood. "Dat de end of de hour, Miss Wilson. I got get back to classes."

Wilson started to object, then saw the clock. "I'll put the next appointment in your mailbox by the end of the day, Eteinne. Thanks for coming in."

[Etienne Mbane]

Butterflies swam in Etienne's stomach as he got ready to go to Mr. Druce's field exercise. He figured if he began the ride before arriving, then it would be more difficult to identify exactly what he was doing. He encountered other heroes who used forms of possession, and while that didn't really match what Etienne did, the White Man would be unlikely to know the difference.

The mounting was difficult, normally it felt like having something poured into him, like drinking warm chickaree, but this time, it felt like a cross between too hot soup and an ice cream headache. He gasped as the Loa filled his senses.

Rarely do the experiences he gets from the Loa manifest as physical sensations. Normally, only when he muled for a powerful Loa, or their need was pressing. It seemed, this time, that the Loa fit both. He fell to his knees, struggling between all the sensations; pain, hopelessness, despair. As he had been trained, he took a moment and shoved those feelings aside, not so they would cease, but so they would no longer distract him.

Tank you, Loa. We need to go to a class like dis.

::Frivolous::

I know, Loa, but dem outsiders, dey got dese rules we got to follow.

::I bow not to the White Man, mule. The White Man feeds me better than any. No, if anything, mule, the White Man bows to me::

If I do not attend dis exercise, den dey won't let me mule up here. I need to be ready when--

The Loa scoffed, interrupting Etienne. ::You seek knowledge? Reconnaissance? Let me show you my needs, mule.::

Rarely, powerful Loa with a great need could bring mules visions. Images flashed in front of Etienne's eyes as events unfolded before him. A family, scientists maybe, or activists, the Loa had little understanding. Spiders crawling in from the shadows and ensnaring them in their webs to be dragged away. The spiders separated them, but seemed most interested in only one of them. They bit into the mother, chittering at her, filling her full of their venom. They tormented her, never quite letting her pass through the Gates, but never letting up. She must have had something, or knew something the spiders wanted.

The father was brought in, and tormented as the mother was, where the mother could watch. Etienne saw tears flow freely from her eyes as he suffered. Still, she remained silent. The largest spider turned to the others, and several of them left. Etienne knew where they were going. They were going to bring the children.

Etienne understood. No exercise mattered when the Loa had so great a need. He lowered his head, humbled that he had been chosen for this task.

Show me, Loa. Dis suffering too great, even for you. Hunt wit me.