Babayaga

“Countess? Countess?” A sharp voice interrupted Noelle’s thoughts, and she turned to see the hotel manager stepping quickly out from behind the hotel’s front desk, wearing a pressed and polite smile. “Countess, excuse me for a moment, pardon me, but are you checking out?”

Without pausing, Elga pointed at the luggage. “I was looking for you,” she said. “Take these and come with me.” Noelle followed as the old woman led them both out through the revolving doors to where a sedan waited at the curb. Elga walked up to the car and knocked at the window. The window rolled down and a dark-haired man stuck his head out.

“Que se passe-t-il?” he asked with a bad American accent.

Elga waved her thumb toward the manager. “We need to pay him.”

The American looked at her as if he did not comprehend what she was saying, but she merely stared back at him, clearly happy to wait until she got her way. Finally the man got a checkbook and started to write. Leaning back out, he asked the manager, “How much?”

The manager mentioned the figure and the American shook his head dismissively but then went back to writing. Noelle looked over at the other man, sitting in the passenger seat; he was small and bald and he wore a cream suit and a white panama hat. He did not seem to be paying attention to the curbside exchange. Finally, the American tore the check loose and handed it to the manager.

“Thank you, Countess, we hope to see you again.” The manager bowed, stepping back from the car. Elga ignored him and pointed for a hovering bellboy to put the bags in the trunk. Then she climbed into the backseat. Noelle followed.

“So, where to?” said the American.

The old woman did not answer at first, she simply stared straight ahead. Noelle looked up into her eyes and it seemed as though Elga’s irises were vibrating ever so slightly. Noelle nudged her gently and the old woman broke out of her silence.

“I have snake dust stored in the priest’s barn. It will help us find her,” Elga said. “His place is not far out of town. I will show you the way.”

XIV