CHAPTER 4 - THE PROPHECY
They resumed their seats and Jose looked at his wife and new mother-in-law. He basked in the glow of the candlelight and wine, smiling warmly. To his great delight, Julia smiled back.
"First we will finish eating," she said. She reached down and took up the small, drawstring pouch of divining shells and held them before her. "And then we will talk."
It had been a very fine meal, the best Jose had ever eaten, and he remembered the experience fondly to this day. His new mother-in-law had been favorably impressed with the evening and his new job at the hotel. He was married to the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the entire world.
So, he mused, on this wonderful day-of-days, what could possibly go wrong?
Well, Julia was about to discuss the possibilities in frightening detail. After the wonderful meal, they relaxed for a bit until Julia asked Maria to "tidy up." Apparently, that meant to take up a few dishes and remove them to the kitchen. But it was only a token effort, as Maria understood she was to remove herself from the little house. Julia had important matters to discuss with Jose and so, Maria dutifully went for a walk.
Julia deftly cleared away the dishes in front of her and opened up her little pouch. "We will speak of the future," she said, casting the tiny seashells on the table before her.
"I am a Christian," Jose protested, "and it is against all teachings of the church."
"Silence!" Julia hissed and his protest died away. She riveted him to his seat with her eyes and, although he squirmed a bit, he didn't seem to be able to speak or rise from his chair. He returned her stare in miserable frustration. Julia turned her attention to the pattern before her. The spirits spoke to her through the mouths of those shells. Julia considered their message carefully and, when she turned back to Jose, she was ashen.
"You have no idea who Maria really is," Julia accused. "You have no idea what is expected of her. My daughter has been prepared from birth to take the power when the time comes. That time is nearly here. And now you have dared to interfere with her destiny. To alter the future." Jose tried to turn away, but Julia brought her face close to his, forcing him to look at her.
"The harm you have done, the changes you have forced upon the orishas cannot be undone at this point in time! You must not be separated from Maria for you are now a player in the greater scheme of things. And you must play well or many people will die. If you make a mistake," and here Julia pointed at a grouping of shells, dropping her voice to a whisper, "the very gods will be displaced."
Jose was a Christian, but as Julia spoke, strange, superstitious feelings grew. Jacob was a Jew and he believed in her gods. What if the things she said were true? "No! No!" he protested, throwing up one hand as if to ward off her words.
"Listen well, husband-of-my-daughter," Julia continued. "Maria may play at being a Christian for the time being if that pleases you, but when the time comes, she must fulfill her destiny. If she does not, there will be much death and suffering. And all your children will die."
Jose caught his breath. "What do you want me to do?" he begged. Julia softly intoned her instructions and Jose listened carefully.
"Your love for Maria must be true and it must be strong. Allow no one to break your family." Jose nodded and Julia continued. "There is a friend from my childhood who lives in the city. When Maria asks to visit her, you must let her make the journey and stay as long as she needs to. If you can remember to do this, you will be rewarded with a beautiful baby daughter."
Jose appeared puzzled.
Julia snapped, "You need not understand. Just do as I say if you wish to preserve your family!" Jose nodded miserably. "Also," Julia continued, "keep your job at the hotel no matter how difficult things become. When matters are darkest, you will meet strangers who will come to your aid."
Before Jose could react, Julia scooped up the shells and tucked them safely into her pouch. She was standing by the door before Jose realized he had somehow crossed the room and was now standing beside her.
"I am glad that you allowed love to conquer, gracious lady," he smiled, moving to kiss her hand as Jacob had done. Julia permitted the kiss and smiled in faint amusement.
"In the end, I could not move against the father of my grandchild." Jose reacted in surprise. "Yes," Julia laughed, "and this first child will be a boy. Maria will decide to name the baby Luis. Remember, Jose, all of us are protected by different spirits. You are a child of the orisha Eleggua. He is most powerful and, through him, all things are possible. He controls the pathways by which all other orishas may come to us."
Jose frowned at this and Julia patted his cheek, speaking patiently as if to a child. "Even if you do not believe, Eleggua will protect you in all things. But you must stand before him with good intentions or he will turn from you." Julia withdrew a small bag from her purse. "This is special," she said. "Keep this safe and do not open it. Keep it with you always." She sighed as she put it in his hand. "It should help."
Julia began walking toward the road and called back over her shoulder. "Remember my advice. It will keep you safe and strong. Maria will be true to you, Jose. You must never break the family."
He stood staring after her retreating form. When she had gone part way down the road, she turned and waved to him. Jose waved back. It was the last time he saw Julia alive.
By the time Maria returned home, it was well after dark. She cleared up the table and fell wearily into bed. "But surely not too weary to make love until dawn," Jose whispered, nibbling his new bride’s ear. And so, they didn’t fall asleep until it was almost light.