The Serpent and the Rainbow Page #3

Like it says there on the passport,

I'm a tourist. I came to see the sights.

Yes, happy, happy, happy island people.

Then why visit an insane asylum?

I'm an anthropologist.

It's a tax write-off.

I hope you're not with the IRS.

Did you know this woman,

Marielle Duchamp, is a radical?

So was her father.

He was... misplaced.

- Did you know that?

- No, I didn't know that.

So is this man... Christophe Durand.

- Christophe who?

- The man you met in the graveyard.

Graveyard?

I don't know what you're talkin' about.

You're not a very good liar, Dr Alan.

Look, I'm a tourist.

I haven't done anything wrong.

Do you mind if I go now?

This country lives on the edge, Dr Alan.

One weakness in the wrong place and

over it goes, back into slavery again...

...just like with the French.

- I'm not...

The United States would like

anarchy here, I'm sure.

Well, this isn't Grenada, Dr Alan.

I'm here now.

There are people like me

who'd make sure that doesn't happen.

You remember that.

You don't have to prove anything. It

wasn't a note slipped under the door.

- We'd better wait another day.

- We haven't got another day.

If we're outta the city, we're OK.

Come, come, come, come. Come.

We are celebrating my success!

This good fortune, huh?

- So, how's the goat?

- Oh, business before pleasure, huh?

The American way, no?

You saw it die yourself, but it walks.

Nice animal.

You like him?

I throw him in, no charge, huh?

Americans.

The money for the powder,

as we agreed.

You see? Even in America,

they know me.

They come for my work.

You're an idiot.

My powders work. Maybe

I cast a spell on you.

You wanna know what

I think of your powders?

Careful, blanc. No second chance.

Dennis!

It's piss.

You're a dead man.

Dennis, just what do you think

you were doing in there?

We gotta stall him for a little time.

What do you know about radiator caps?

What is it? Some macho death wish?

My God, what if it had been poison?

It was. Rat poison, probably.

Give me your hand. See your palm?

See the coin? And...

...poof! Oh!

See the poison he really gave me?

Tricks of the trade.

Here he comes.

Wait in the car.

You are still alive.

Yeah, I noticed.

I can make you it. The powder you want.

No tricks this time, blanc. $1,000.

The zombie poison. The coup poudre.

- All right.

- But there are rules.

You must make it with me.

There is no other way.

A strong work. Fresh bones. Quickly.

We work here.

You start.

Don't worry, they never

bury them deep here.

That is why I use this place.

- This isn't a kid, is it?

- No, no, this is not a child.

No, no, no.

A real prize, this one.

A sorceress.

When she lived, she had great power.

Now... she is just easier to carry.

Dennis?

- It stinks.

- We will start tomorrow night.

- Now, we get out of here.

- Let's go.

I think I still have

some of my father's old shirts.

- Maybe one will fit you.

- This shirt's fine.

No, it isn't.

Oh! No! No!

Get in the jeep.

Dennis!

You've got a pretty face.

The girls must like it.

Do you like it?

Your pretty white face?

I asked you a question.

Yeah... I like it.

I like it too.

I leave the face.

You made your point.

I'm on the next plane. I swear.

It's not good enough now. It's too late.

You were warned.

I warned you.

I'm a US citizen. Think about that.

I don't see the ambassador here.

Do you?

I'm in medical research.

There's a lot of money in it.

There's plenty for you.

I don't want money.

Yeah? What do you want?

I wanna hear you scream.

Oh, no. OK.

OK, OK.

You wanna hear me scream? I'll scream.

Again.

Not good enough.

Dennis!

For three days, Marielle

has been my guardian angel...

... hiding me, nursing me back to health.

The wound Peytraud inflicted

was struck for fear, not injury.

I'm alive, intact.

She told me this morning that

she wants me to go before they kill me.

But I can't do that.

Agh!

You shouldn't be out here.

You shouldn't even be walking.

Hey, this recipe took a thousand years

to get right. I wanna learn it.

- Oh.

- Rest.

He just went through the scrotum, right?

A little pain, a little terror.

He scared me, OK?

The ingredients of the powder

are terrifically varied.

There is the poisonous sea toad,

Bufo marinus...

... the same animal

Lucrezia Borgia used...

... made even more toxic by frightening it

with a stinging sea worm.

And the puffer fish, which produces

one of nature's most powerful poisons...

... tetrodotoxin.

Plus a whole pharmacy

of herbs, minerals...

... charred, then ground and mixed

with a skill that's astonishing.

All this is woven together with a net

of magic beyond anything we know.

The process will take

three days and nights.

Already there is no doubt in my mind

that for all his joking...

... Mozart could give any Harvard PhD

a run for his money.

You cannot eat the powder

in food. That would kill completely.

The flesh would never rise to serve you.

Squeeze. The bones

are brittle. It will come.

This is the last. Soon, it is done.

A good work.

It is a very frightening thing, blanc.

The first time,

you can't tell good from bad.

Then, after a while, it is

the very thing that sets you free.

It must be buried with her

for one more day.

You want this enemy of yours pretty

badly, to go through such pains, blanc.

I'm all right.

- Did he take your woman or money?

- No.

Then why would you stand up

to a crazy man like Peytraud?

Oh, yes. I hear these things.

The poison's not for him.

The poison's for nobody.

I wanna use the poison for good,

to... help people who are sick.

My poison can be used

in such a way, huh?

Yeah, I think so.

I think it can be known

all over the world.

You will tell them about me? You will

tell them the name of Louis Mozart...

...and they will know

my work all over the world, huh?

All right, blanc. Come back in 24 hours

and you will have your powder.

24 hours usually doesn't seem

like such a long time.

In more relaxed times,

I've felt a day go by like an hour.

But, as sweet as Marielle was...

... the day and night at the beach house

lasted a lifetime.

Dennis.

Get outta here!

Dr Alan?

No!

No!

Agh!

Marielle. Marielle.

We gotta get outta here.

Not this time, Doctor,

we're beyond that now.

These canari hold the souls of those who

were masters in the realm of the spirits.

Now their spirits serve me.

She knows I'm telling the truth,

that such things are possible.

I know the price you will pay

for what you have done.

The photographs we took today

are quite convincing.

If you return, you'll be tried for

the murder of Christophe's sister.

The courts will take your life,

but that will be only the beginning.

After you're dead...

...I'll take your soul.

What'll happen to Marielle?

You go home.

She's home. She's Haitian.

I have no reason to hurt her

once you're gone.

Just... leave, Dennis.

It is the only way.

By the way, Dr Alan, what did you

dream about this afternoon?

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