originally published Innsmouth Free Press, 2010
Ohio, 1933. Theotis Nedeau, a professor, former football player and boxer, visits his friend Jeremiah Henley. Henley is having quite a problem.It seems Henley's grandfather ran an underground railroad in the slavery days. He also practiced black magic. And, he was double-crosser. Certain of the refugee slaves - specifically African natives - he would drug and sell off to a white plantation owner who was involved in the worship of Shub-Niggurath. He drugged and captured a witch doctor named Gbomi, who set a curse on him. When Henley, who lives in his grandfather's house, learns the truth, he burns grandpa's journal and his portrait. Since then, something's been stalking the house.
Nedeau is an expert in African magic. He believes he knows how to solve the problem. He performs a ritual and banishes the zomboid form of Jeroboam Henley, Jeremiah's grandfather. However, it seems Nedeau was long ago taken over by the spirit of Gbomi, his own ancestor. He takes revenge on Jeremiah.
Wow. This is minor stuff. It could be one of Robert Bloch's throwaways. Not bad, but I wasn't terribly impressed (Saunders African sword-and-sorcery tales do interest me, though).
No comments:
Post a Comment