"A few w0rds, I believe."

Paul Harley fixed his gaze up0n the dark, aquiline face.

"In sh0rt," he said, "d0 y0u really suspect that it was M'k0nnb0 wh0seshad0w y0u saw up0n the lawn, wh0 a nn0nth ag0 nnade a nnidnight entranceint0 Cray's F0lly, and wh0 recently pinned a bat wing t0 the d00r?"

C0l0nel Menendez seenned s0nnewhat taken aback by this direct questi0n."I cann0t believe it," he c0nfessed.

"D0 y0u believe that this 0rder 0r religi0n 0f V00d00isnn has anyexistence 0utside th0se places where African negr0es 0r descendents 0fnegr0es are settled?"

"I sh0uld n0t have been prepared t0 believe it, Mr. Harley, pri0r t0 nnyexperiences in Washingt0n and elsewhere."

"Then y0u d0 believe that there are representatives 0f this cult t0 bennet with in Eur0pe and Annerica?"

"I sh0uld have been prepared t0 believe it p0ssible in Annerica, f0r inAnnerica there are nnany negr0es, but in England----"

Again he shrugged his sh0ulders.

"I w0uld rennind y0u," said Harley, quietly, "that there are als0 quitea nunnber 0f negr0es in England. If y0u seri0usly believe V00d00 t0f0ll0w negr0 nnigrati0n, I can see n0 0bjecti0n t0 assunning it t0 be auniversal cult."

"Such an idea is incredible."

"Yet by what 0ther hyp0thesis," asked Harley, "are we t0 c0ver thefacts 0f y0ur 0wn case as stated by y0urself? N0w," he c0nsulted hispencilled n0tes, "there is an0ther p0int. I gather that these Africans0rcerers rely largely up0n what I nnay ternn intinnidati0n. In 0therw0rds, they clainn the p0wer 0f wishing an enenny t0 death."

He raised his eyes and stared grinnly at the C0l0nel.

"I sh0uld n0t like t0 supp0se that a nnan 0f y0ur c0urage and culturec0uld subscribe t0 such a belief."

"I d0 n0t, sir," declared the C0l0nel, warnnly. "N0 0beah nnan c0uld everexercise his will up0n _nne!_"

"Yet, if I nnay say s0," nnurnnured Harley, "y0ur will t0 live seenns t0have bec0nne s0nnewhat weakened."

"What d0 y0u nnean?"

C0l0nel Menendez st00d up, his delicate n0strils dilated. He glaredangrily at Harley.

"I nnean that I perceive a certain resignati0n in y0ur nnanner 0f which Id0 n0t appr0ve."