The Cottoncrest Curse: A Novel

Chapter 64

225 Chapter 64 “And the Acadians brought you all the way here in a pirogue?” “No, Zig. They got me to Des Allemands. I gave the bearskin to those two young people as compensation for their getting me that far, and there I met up with Otto Schexnayder. He and I have been doing trading a while, and he owes me three more installments on two knives and some goods. I forgave the balance in exchange for him ferrying me across the river here to New Orleans.” Jake, wrapped in a blanket, sat on a velvet ottoman in front of the fireplace. He stroked the thick stubble on his cheeks and chin. He hadn’t shaved in almost a week. At this rate, he thought, he would start looking like his father or Uncle Avram. They wore their beards long, never shaving. Jake had finally stopped shivering from the cold. Still, he was not warm. He started to sip the cup of steaming coffee that Zig had now refilled for the third time. “You can’t stay here, you know. There have already been flyers distributed at the shul about you and three Negroes. The Rabbi says that a scrawny fellow from Cottoncrest with a big badge accompanied by an evil-looking man have been around twice to ask questions. It just isn’t safe. I can’t have you here with Leah and the children.” “I’m not asking for that, Zig. There’s someone I must meet here, however, before I can head north. There’s something I have to know. What I need from you is just time.” “Time? How can I give you time?” “Time to repay you.” “But you don’t owe me anything. We’re square from your last trip to town when you brought in all those fine furs.” “We may be square until this minute, but I’m soon going to owe you 226 a lot. I need cash, and I need it now. When I get to New York, I’ll repay you. It may take a while, but I’ll repay you. With double interest.” Zig trusted Jake. For over two years Jake had always been as good as his word. Zig walked over to the wall and moved aside a huge portrait of Leah and the children that hung in its gilded frame from wires attached to a track in the molding near the ceiling. Behind the picture was a safe. Zig opened the safe and withdrew a wad of bills. Zig reached in again and pulled out a Freimer knife with a six-inch blade and, turning to Jake, said “This I give you as a gift. I don’t know why you are in trouble, and I don’t want to know, but I’m sure you can use this.” Jake reached behind his back and withdrew from his belt the teninch Freimer blade, the one Rossy had given back to him. “Thanks, Zig, but I’m prepared already for whatever might await me. Hof oif nissim un farloz zich nit oif a nes,” Jake said, meaning hope for miracles, but don’t rely on one. Zig smiled. Jake would be fine. “Since you’ll need a place to stay while you’re here where no one will dare bother you, doing whatever it is you need to do, go down to the Red Chair on Customhouse Street, next to Faubourg Tremé, and ask for Antonio. It’s a two-dollar house. For seventy-five dollars he’ll be happy to help. Just keep the rest of this money in your shoe and keep your shoes on, if you know what I mean. And be strong. Very strong. They will take advantage of you if you don’t. Az me est chazzer, zol rinnen fun bord.” Jake knew what Zig had said in Yiddish was right. If you’re going to do something wrong, enjoy it. ...