Curse of the Kin: Return to Jamaica

By Colin Andrews

Michael Campbell, an absentee husband and father, decides to take his family on a cruise to the Caribbean. The first port of call is Falmouth in Jamaica and they decide to get off to explore the town, but they should never have.
The excursion triggers a curse, and with it, a series of unbelievable events that turn their world upside down. It brings each of them face to face with death and forces them on a quest to save themselves from certain doom.
All in a day, they are forced to believe in things intangible and to interact with characters, both alive and dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Colin Andrews
• Release date: Feb 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9789769553316

Colin Andrews

I live in Northampton, UK Nine years ago (while my partner was expecting our 1st son) I had a motorcycle accident which left me in a wheelchair for four months. And?...I hear you say, well there's not much to do when you can't get out and about and go to work, so I decided to write a short book for my child to read when he was older and that's where it all started. I managed to get 25,000 words written in about three months, then our first born son decided it was time to arrive and that was the end of that...I never managed to get back to writing until last year when my son (now 9 years old) decided he wanted to read the first part and has bugged me ever since to finish the book. The Problem is... that ten years or so is long time and you end up adding or coming up with new ideas, or at least my son and I did, so I had to re-write the whole first part again and the idea for the book is so large now I've had to split it between three books instead...now possibly four..we'll see.

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Curse of the Kin

Return to Jamaica

by

Colin Andrews

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This writing is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and activities are either derived from the author’s imagination, whether wholly or partly, or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual entities whether persons (living or dead), or businesses or events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Edited by A R Collins

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced; stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright © 2013 DCollins

Published by DCollins at Smashwords

ISBN-13: 978-976-95533-1-6

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To Jordan, Lindxee, Stephen and Qamal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Map of Falmouth

Map of area around Falmouth

Chapter 1 THE PLEASANT SURPRISE

Chapter 2 A VISIT TO CHURCH

Chapter 3 THE BOY LEAVES THE SHIP

Chapter 4 LEARNING TO SPEAK JAMAICAN

Chapter 5 A QUEST MADE KNOWN

Chapter 6 THE CHINEY MAN

Chapter 7 THE CURSE REVEALED

Chapter 8 VISIT TO MODDA

Chapter 9 CONTEMPT OF COURT

Chapter 10 CREATURES OF THE TEMPLE

Chapter 11 GUARDIAN OF THE TOMB

Chapter 12 THE TREE AND THE BIRD

Chapter 13 THE LODGE OF THE DEAD

Chapter 14 THE RIVER PATH

Chapter 15 THE DUPPY HORSE

Chapter 16 THE POLICE STATION

Chapter 17 ONLY ONE TO CHOOSE

About the Author

Map of Falmouth

1. THE PLEASANT SURPRISE

Andrew, this is the third time this month that I have had to come to school for you!

His mother was obviously upset; grunting as she exited the Principal’s office.

What’s the matter with you? Do you want to get an education or not? she continued.

She shook her head in disbelief that this had happened again. Not very long after, though, her voice grew a little calmer and she paused, knelt down, and stared him straight in the eyes.

I know you miss your father Andrew, but it’s time to start controlling yourself. You’ll be thirteen years old next Sunday.

She rose back to her feet quickly and continued to scold him as she tugged him by his arm through the hallway. Soon afterward she paused again.

You have to choose how you react to your situation son, but I hope you heard what the principal said, if he has to call me again, you’re going to be suspended!

I don’t care, Andrew tried to murmur under his breath, but it came out loud enough for his mom to hear.

What? What did you just say? she responded in an igneous tone.

Well, we’ll see about that. If you won’t take care of your future, then….then…. and she pulled him even more firmly but then her voice began to crack and it became increasingly muffled.

Andrew pretended not to notice, but he did. He pretended not to care that she seemed to be hurting, but he did and it forced him to reflect on his actions. He knew he was rude, very rude, but he didn’t know why or how he got here. A few months ago he was in line to be nominated as the ‘most helpful student’, and by not just one, but by all four of his teachers. He had tried many times to understand what was happening to him, even at times asking himself questions aloud and answering back, but how could he? His behavior could be explained by no less than trained psychologists and he was nowhere near that level of acumen. How could he then control himself if he could not understand what was happening to him? And why even bother? Why should he seek to control this monster inside him that kept rearing its ugly head? After all, he felt much better after he vented. Much better.

Now in the car on the way home, the only interruption to the silence that pervaded was that of his mother on her cell phone, informing her boss that she was taking a sick day. Home was thirty minutes away, and surprisingly, it passed very quickly. By the time they drove up the driveway, there was a visible change on Elizabeth’s face.

You hungry? she asked as she stepped outside the car.

At first he didn’t respond. He wasn’t ready to talk yet and he felt that she was trying to get him to speak.

Andrew, do you want something to eat? she asked again.

Sure Mom. Thanks, was his feeble reply and she then proceeded to the kitchen.

Peanut butter and Jelly or Tuna? It’s all I have now. I have to go to the supermarket later.

Andrew turned up his nose. He was tired of those options. In fact, he could bet that one of the two was in his lunch kit that he had not opened as yet because he was forced to leave school before the lunch period. It didn’t bother him much though, for he would do what he had done a few times before. He was simply going to throw it in the bin as soon as his mother turned her back and cover it with some other trash so she wouldn’t see it.

When you’re finished eating, we have to talk, she declared as she handed him the sandwich.

OK Mom, he replied.

She estimated that it would take him at least ten minutes to finish and so in the meantime, she decided to call his father to inform him of what had happened. She removed herself to another room to make the call, but she didn’t really speak too softly. Andrew was hearing everything. He heard his mother defending herself against some apparent accusation that it was her fault. He heard her cast back those same accusations at his father and, as usual, he knew she would be quite upset, as she almost always was, when she came off the phone. No need to worry over that now, he thought to himself. He had to make haste to cast away this insipid substance that he was dished.

Shortly, his mother was approaching and like on the two most recent occasions, she had a smile on her face that caused him to ponder.

What’s she up to, again? he thought to himself.

It was a mystery to him. This moment she was sounding intensely aggressive on the phone, and then in a split second, she was in front of him smiling. He really didn’t know what to make of it but it was happening too often now and in his little mind, he had to begin to re-evaluate his situation. It had benefited him in the past to have both of his parents arguing, for when they were divided, he knew he had the power to do what he wanted. While not doing it often, Andrew had instigated or promoted such arguments and over trivial things, so that he could manipulate each of them. But now, if Mom came off the phone smiling then it could only mean one thing: that she and Dad were in one accord. This was not good for him, because now, he was the common challenge.

How would he deal with this? he thought to himself. Why not behave even more badly?

He started to scheme but at some point he happened to glance back at his Mom’s face and at that bewildering smile that was piercing him to his inner most being. It completely interrupted his thought processes and he could no longer turn away to ignore it for she was now sitting right beside him. She said nothing. She was just smiling and if she was using reverse psychology on him, it was certainly working. Now he yearned for her to start talking to him so that he wouldn't have to look at that ridiculous smile on her face.

What is it Mom? he asked. Aren’t you going to talk to me?

Later dear, his mother replied, taking up a few bills from the table.

This was the worse answer that she could have given him.

Mom, I want to talk now, Andrew insisted.

Later dear, she responded again. When your father comes home.

Dad is coming home? Andrew blurted out, elated. His eyes opened wide. When? When is Dad coming? He asked tugging at her anxiously now.

Elizabeth could not contain herself at the thought either even as Andrew moved over to squeeze her with a hug.

He’s coming this weekend and he has a surprise for you.

Andrew’s smile became even wider.

What is it Mom, what’s the surprise? Tell me please.

It’s a surprise, his mother insisted. I don’t want Dad to feel bad. He wants to tell you himself.

Is he coming home for good? Andrew asked, eagerly awaiting an affirmative answer, but it was not forthcoming. The question resounded like a huge bell in Elizabeth’s ears, however. Other boys would have first asked for a truck or a car or a train; a new toy perhaps or a new bike. Andrew didn’t.

When your father comes on Friday night, he will tell you.

Andrew was completely overjoyed and to his mother’s surprise he then asked her to take him back to school.

I promise I’ll behave myself, he tried to reassure her, but she had some doubts.

Are you sure Andrew? If you go back to school, I will be going back to work and I can’t afford to come back and get you.

I promise I’ll be super good Mom. I promise, he stressed.

Elizabeth was happy to hear that. Her desk was piled with things to do and she could ill afford the day that she had been forced to take.

OK I’m going to call your Principal and see if he is willing to welcome you back today. Are you sure Andrew?

Yes Mom, I’m sure. Please call. I have to tell all my friends.

For the rest of the week, Andrew once again became the person that everyone at school knew and loved before his father had been assigned out of town. It wasn’t the first time that his father was working away from home, but this last time took a heavy toll on him. It seemed that every time that they could be together as a family, something always came up to take his father away. No wonder the boy was so happy at the news. Around the school, he told everyone that his father was coming, over and over again. It got to the point where they became tired of hearing about it but no one dared complain to him because they all knew of his recent history for conflict. By mid-week, they were all as anxious as he was for Friday to finally come.

The wait was over and that morning Andrew got up extra early. He had not slept well the night before. His mind had been restless. He took extra care in dressing himself and put on some of his best clothes, just in case his father were to pick him up from school and wanted to take him somewhere. He wasn’t sure at what time Dad was coming; his mother had not given him any clue about it. When he asked her, she kept insisting that she did not know.

The day went by with no sign of his father. School had finished and Andrew was getting ready to take the bus back home. He kept looking around, a bit disappointed, but certainly not down. He had really hoped that Dad would have picked him up so that he could show off but it didn’t materialize. Dad usually came late, sometimes even after he had fallen asleep, but he would always come. Once Mom said that he was coming, Andrew could count on it.

When the bus pulled up across the street, Andrew was surprised to see his Mom’s car already parked in the driveway. She shouldn’t have been home as yet, well not before him. On a normal day he would have had to wait at the neighbor’s house for at least an hour for her to get home because she didn’t trust him to be in the house all by himself. Andrew quickly exited, knowing that she must be at home with him. He went straight to the front door and knocked frantically.

Mom! Mom! Open up! He was eager to confirm that his Dad was there.

The door was soon opened and a burst of energy instantly shot through him. There in front of him was his father, arms outstretched, ready as usual to raise him from the ground and give him a great big hug. Michael had not contemplated that Andrew would have had such a growth spurt in just the six months since he last saw them but he figured that he could manage anyway. Andrew didn’t think so though. At a little shy of five feet he knew that the time had come to do away with that expectation to be swooped off his feet and into the air. He was getting bigger and the boy knew that he had reached the age where he would have to begin to appreciate different things about his father. Nevertheless, he released his bag from his shoulders and rushed to fill the open arms. This was what he truly longed for, a great big hug from Dad. Playing could come later. All he wanted now was that reassuring hug that unmistakably told him that Dad still loves him and that he would always come back home.

His relationship with his mother was, to put it mildly, different and it was one that was constantly changing but at a pace that he could manage. She had never really played with him, nor did she fancy the idea. She was always complaining that she was tired, or that he was too heavy, or that he was too big now for all that stuff, or another of a myriad of excuses, and they all now seemed to have come true. Never mind that Dad was usually much stricter than Mom. Any swift punishment that Dad would meet out for his wrong doings could never cause Andrew to love him any less.

It took about an hour for Andrew and his father to finally settle down and only because Elizabeth insisted that both have something to eat. The evening routine would continue after that; Andrew would have his bath, put on his pyjamas and watch some TV. Andrew was so happy that he didn’t even remember the surprise. Elizabeth noticed, but said nothing. She didn’t want to prolong the time that Andrew and Michael were spending with each other. All this time she had been patiently waiting on her turn.

The next morning, Andrew again woke up very early, went straight to his parents’ room, climbed into the bed and placed himself squarely in the middle. He shifted and turned and shifted and turned, trying deliberately to wake up someone and it didn't take long before he succeeded. Usually Elizabeth would have been very grumpy, but she knew that it was not her attention that he required, and so she laid there and pretended to be sleeping still. When his father finally made a turn, even though just a slight one, Andrew whispered to him in an anxious voice.

Daddy, what’s the surprise that you have for me? Mom said you had a surprise. Where is it?

His father was still in a stupor. His brain was not ready to respond to any inquiry. He shifted himself a bit more in an attempt to ignore Andrew but the boy simply removed the sheet from over his head, put his mouth closer to his ear as he repeated his question in a softer, more gentle tone.

Daddy, where’s my surprise? Mommy said that you have a big surprise for me. Where is it Dad?

Like a CD track that was stuck in playback mode the boy kept repeating and repeating until his father could take it no longer. Michael turned again, but this time, whether deliberately or not, his movement caused Andrew to roll and hit Elizabeth, who really was not amused. She didn’t blame Andrew for the act; she laid it squarely on Michael.

Why don’t you answer him honey? she asked in an insistent tone, even as Andrew retaliated, thinking that his father did it on purpose. He became aggressive in playing and with his loud laughing and erratic movement, Elizabeth had to open her eyes.

Daddy, he called out as he began to hit him in his side, where’s my surprise?

Now, Elizabeth was peeved.

Wait until your father wakes up Andrew! his mother tried to interrupt in a rather crooked voice.

Your father is tired, he’ll get up soon.

It was unclear whose side she was on, or perhaps no side. She simply wanted peace so that she could stay in her bed just a little while longer and sleep but that didn’t impede Andrew one bit. He was determined to get an answer, and to get it now. Being the smarty that he was, he looked at his mother and asked,

What’s the surprise Mom? You know, you tell me. Dad is here now so he won’t mind.

Elizabeth withdrew herself under the covers. She wasn’t going to ‘put up’ so she fully accepted that she should ‘shut up’. A few minutes later and Michael was waving his white flag. He surrendered and was ready to talk.

Son, he began, to the brightest smile he had seen in a long time.

I thought about getting you a big shiny truck for your birthday, but I couldn’t find any that I liked. I thought about buying you a set of toy cars, but I said to myself, Andrew has too many of those, and plus, look how tall you have grown; you’re probably too big for that stuff now. I thought about a drum set, but your Mom said, 'No way, too much noise.'

What else could I get for Andrew that he would like? I thought to myself. Well son, after thinking long and hard, I said to myself, Michael, you’ll just have to be there for his birthday. You know he would want that, right? So here I am son. Surprise!

Andrew didn’t really acknowledge his father’s response, why should he? He didn’t hear what he wanted to hear and like the typical child of that age, he had the uncanny ability to completely ignore what sounded like something that he didn’t want to hear. He continued to pest his father.

Dad, but where’s my surprise? Daaaad ……..Where’s my surprise?

His father got out of the bed, stretched and made his way to the bathroom. When he realized that Andrew was almost on his heels still yapping away, he quickly closed the door behind him to keep him out. Andrew replaced himself on the mattress and patiently waited for him to emerge. Shortly, there was a sound from the faucet, the door opened and Michael came out looking refreshed. He also now had a big smile on his face, but more important to Andrew, he had his hands behind him as if he was hiding something. Excited, the boy launched off the bed and advanced towards him at full speed, but before he reached, one hand was brought forward and in it was what seemed like a full page photograph. Standing now right in front of his father, Andrew perused the picture.

What’s this Dad?

Read it Andrew. What does it say?

La..ba..dee, Labadee Haiti. What’s that Dad? he asked with a bit of a perplexed look on his face.

Well, see the picture Andrew, isn’t that a pretty place? Do you remember on the news when we saw all those people who didn’t have anywhere to live because there was an earthquake? Remember? That time when I was telling you all about the big earthquakes in history?

Andrew nodded in affirmation.

Well that earthquake happened in this country called Haiti. Do you remember I told you that?

Andrew again nodded in the affirmative.

Well this place, Labadee, is in Haiti. Isn’t it beautiful? he asked again.

I guess so, Andrew responded, not at all excited. Does it still look like this?

Yes Andrew. I think it still looks just like this.

Pointing to another place on the picture, his father went on to ask, And what does this say?

Fal – Mouth, Jamaica.

Good Andrew, have you ever heard about Jamaica?

Of course Dad, he declared with a bit of sarcasm on his face. The fastest man in the world comes from Jamaica, he added as he proceeded to imitate the pose usually given by Usain Bolt after he had won a race.

Well Falmouth is a small town in Jamaica and the ‘fastest man in the world’ is from near there.

So what is the picture for Dad? Andrew asked, figuring his father was just trying to distract him from what he really wanted to hear.

Oh, nothing really Andrew. It’s just because of this, and he pulled another picture from behind that had a ship on it. We’re going on a trip Junior; me, you and Mom.

He called him Junior since the boy bore his middle name.

Andrew paused, still a bit serious. We’re going on a ship, Dad? he asked.

Yes son, his father replied with eyes wide open. We’re going on a cruise to Jamaica and to Haiti. Aren’t you excited son?

I am, Elizabeth cried out from under the sheets but Andrew was still apprehensive.

Is that all of the surprise Dad? he lamented as he had hoped for something more tangible, a video game perhaps.

Son, his father addressed him as he placed him down on the bed, taking the obvious cue that Andrew was not in a playing mood.

I’ve been away so much and for so long that I really wanted to spend some time with you and your Mom. I miss you guys so much when I’m away I thought this would be the best way to celebrate your birthday.

After hearing that Andrew was less pensive but it was still clear that he was somewhat disappointed.

What do you guys want for breakfast? his mother asked as she rolled out of bed.

No one answered, as was typical, and so with an alright then she freshened up herself and headed straight for the kitchen.

Michael took the time alone with his son to have a brief chatter. He asked about everything; from the incidents he had at school and how it was affecting him academically to whether he still participated in Sunday school on the few occasions when they attended church. He asked about Elizabeth and what she was like when he was away and also about how he thought his erratic behavior was affecting his mother. He asked about his friends and after a prolonged period of questions, answers and explanations, he finally asked Andrew about their relationship.

You know Daddy loves you, don’t you? he looked straight at him and said. Andrew simply nodded.

You know that if I could be here, I would, don’t you? You know I have to go away and work because I want to make sure that you and your Mom are OK, right? He paused.

Oh Andrew, I miss you guys so much, every day, every minute of the day, but I can’t find any work in town here, you understand right? It’s not that I want to be away, son, I just have to be.

When he was finished Andrew gave him a big hug. Andrew was visibly feeling better. He knew within himself that he really, really wanted to spend some more time with his father and the trip would certainly ensure that. But still, he couldn’t help being a little boy. He still wanted something to push, or to ride or to kick, or to hit or to throw.

OK son, this is what I’ll do, he added as he proceeded to remove the gold chain from his neck.

He gestured to Andrew to bend forward so that he could put it around his neck.

This is yours Son. Whenever you miss me or when you think you really, really need me and I’m not here, just use this to remind you that I will always love you and I will always be here for you. It was passed down to me from my father and it has been in our family for a long time, so it’s very, very valuable. Try your best not to lose it.

Excited, Andrew quickly took the small golden pendant in his hand and began fondling it, fascinated. It was a star, with five points and as he looked closer, he could see little letters inscribed at the apices.

G, W, P, F, S, he read the letters aloud. What do they stand for? he asked his father.

It’s a secret, his father said. If I tell you before you’re thirteen years old, then on your thirteenth birthday, you’ll change into a monkey! his father added, now pretending to be a primate.

Seriously Dad, the boy continued to inquire. Is it good for anything?

Well I’m not sure, Andrew. My father told me that it was a symbol of great honor and that it has mystical powers. Oh, and I remember him saying that it was a part of a bigger and more beautiful thing; a magical compass.

Andrew’s eyes lit up.

So where’s the compass Dad? Why is it magical? What can it do? Andrew belched out the questions.

Some say that it can make your dearest dream come true. Some say that you can use it as a guard against evil, some even say that you can use it to control spirits, ghosts even, his father added.

Have you used it Dad? Did it make your dream come true?

Well Son, I told you that it was a part of that compass and I don’t think that this would work without it. In any event I’m not sure that I believe in that stuff. I think my Dad made it up so that I would take extra care not to lose it. But he claimed that it works.

That means he had the compass, Andrew added.

Yes Andrew, Michael replied, and he gave it to me as well, but I misplaced it somewhere. Man, if my Dad could turn in his grave, I’m sure he would. He would have been so disappointed that I lost it and that is why Son, you have to promise me that you’ll take extra good care of this.

I promise Dad, was Andrew’s quick response before he ran off, happy. He almost bumped into his mother as he moved out of sight.

What was that Michael? What were you guys talking about for so long?

That’s Father-Son privilege honey. You don’t expect me to tell Andrew everything you say to me when he asks, he said to her with a kinky look on his face.

I gave him my star, Michael confessed to her. Just something for him to remember me by when I’m away.

Like this ring that’s on my finger? she asked holding up her wedding band. Michael when are we going to be together again, like a real family?

Once things get sorted out, he replied as he moved over to hold her.

Just then, Andrew reappeared.

Mom, can I turn the computer on?

Sure honey. Do you have some homework to do?

No Mom, he replied. But there is a web address here on this picture that Daddy was showing me that I would like to check.

OK Andrew, his mother replied, but you can do that after you have breakfast, and breakfast will be ready in two minutes.

Very well Mom, and with that, he disappeared. He re-emerged five minutes later to see both parents waiting on him around the table.

Andrew, his father said, go get my bag, please.

Andrew sighed and moved off. He shortly returned with the laptop case and handed it to his father. Dad opened it, took out a sheet of paper, closed it and handed it back to him.

Can you put this back for me Andrew? he asked. And be sure to put it in the closet, out of the way. I have some important stuff in there.

K Dad, Andrew replied, dragging his feet.

Very soon afterward Andrew was blazing at full speed into the kitchen.

Thanks Dad, he said joyfully, carefully holding on to his new tablet.

Can it connect to the internet? he asked looking at his mother, and knowing full well that it should be able to.

You’re not getting access to the net until I figure out how to set some features on that thing, Elizabeth quickly answered. You know the rules Andrew.

But Mom? What’s the use of having this if I can’t surf the web?

His father wanted to say something, perhaps in Andrew’s defence, but he held his mouth. There was obviously a power play going on here, a challenge to authority and he knew that if he interjected, it would make things worse for Elizabeth when he left. When they both saw that Michael stood silent, Andrew whimpered while Elizabeth was emboldened.

Andrew, you can have a go at that later. You need to eat first, she insisted. She then turned to Michael.

By the way, aren’t you going to the barber? Your hair looks like it could do with a little trim, and you can take Andrew with you too for him to get his shaped up.

I don’t think my hair looks that bad, he replied. And besides, if it gets any worse on the trip, I’m sure they will have barbers on the ship that I can use.

Andrew in the meantime had tried to ignore what his mother had just instructed him, especially since she seemed to be distracted, but with her attention turned back to him now and with the insistent look on her face, he certainly knew that there was no room for foolishness. He put down his new toy, went straight to the table, took his position and began