Susan Anderson - Death of a Serpent

He ran the end of his crucifix back and forth through his beard and began. “In the Book of Numbers we find the reference to a bronze serpent, a powerful creature who drew his strength from the God of Moses and saved the Israelites from a plague of fiery serpents. The symbol of the brazen serpent continues in the New Testament where it is linked to Christ. St. John said, ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’”

Her head swam as she tried to digest his words. “I’ve never seen vestments like these in Oltramari, not that I pay close attention to what priests wear in church.”

He shook his head. “You won’t see them here. Only in churches where they practice the Ambrosian Rite. They use the image of a serpent winding itself around a cross as the symbol of a healer. Their chalices are carved with it, their vestments embroidered with it, their croziers bear the brazen serpent. It is a symbol of Christ. Has nothing to do with murder, I’m afraid.”

“Not in the keep of a sane man. But this killer does not murder for pleasure or for coins. He is lunatic, bent on twisting meaning to suit his own ends. His mind is riddled with phantoms.”

Thursday, October 11, 1866

Not available, the madam, so Serafina headed outside, glad for the prickly sea air on her skin. She followed the path to the conservatory and opened the door. A humid blast hit her.

There was a bench underneath large palm trees where she sat for a moment looking out at the park before beginning the search for Bella’s reticule. A parrot squawked. Another large-winged creature flew over to a wide palm tree and perched on one of its fronds. Her curls frizzed.

“Interesting,” a voice said. “Your hair and such, I mean.”

“I didn’t hear you enter,” Serafina said to the woman who was clothed in an ultramarine day dress, low cut of course. Petticoats crinkled when she sat beside Serafina. Her hair was perfectly coiffed. Serafina remembered her, the redhead from the wake.

“Gioconda’s my name,” she said.

“Don’t tell me your parents named you after a painting.”

“Oh no, it’s the name I took when I arrived. And I never knew my parents.”

Serafina was about to ask her how she knew Falco when the prostitute continued. “Don’t use our real names, mostly. Well, some of the girls do. Take Carmela, for instance. Said her father gave it to her. That was good enough for her.”

Serafina’s feet went cold. Perhaps she misheard the woman. She needed to focus. “Carmela?”

“Bit of a thing,” the redhead said. “Here about three, four years ago. Hair like yours. Ginger, I’d call it. I saw your hair from the path, the color, tight curls and such. That’s what made me come in. I said to myself, Carmela’s back.”

Rosa would have told her if Carmela had knocked on her door. Must be another Carmela, such a common name.

“This girl with hair like mine, when was she here?”

“Three, four years ago. Didn’t last long, mind. Took up with a soldier or guard or one of those soon after she arrived.”

“Did you know her well?”

The woman shook her head. “Kept to herself. Don’t get me wrong, she was friendly, not snooty like some round here I could name, I’ll tell you. But particular, you might say, as to how she spent her time. Smart. When she wasn’t working, well, she, I don’t know, walked on the shore a lot, tended to flowers. Loved the blooms.”

“Do you know where she was born?”

“Well, why would I know that? But let me think.” The woman wrapped a curl around her finger. “Not far from here.”

“Yes?”

“Right. I remember once, early spring it was, gorgeous day, and Scarpo and Turi-this was a long time ago, mind you, before the madness started-they used to take us on drives. And we’d all pile in the carriage, some of us on the rumbler, all fixed up, waving and shouting and sticking our arms out the window, none too delicate, mind, and Turi, he’d drive fast round the statue, the one with the sunken eyes. Well, this one time, Carmela, she asked that Turi stop and she started to cry because she said it was close by her home and she had half a mind to get out, just get out and walk. Said she could walk home from the sunken-eyed statue.”

“What town?”

“Oltramari, of course.”

Serafina felt her stomach churn. Her daughter worked at Rosa’s, and the madam-whom she thought was a friend, who knew Giorgio and Serafina were wretched about Carmela’s flight-that same madam, that strega , that sometime friend, never bothered to tell Serafina.

She swallowed. “Anything else you can tell me about Carmela?”

“That’s about it. Said she had a twin brother. Thinking of writing to him, but said if her mother found out, she wouldn’t like it. But she was smart to leave, Carmela. Money’s good and Rosa, she’s fair, always jolly and such. Pay’s more than double what it is in Palermo, I tell you. But now, no good.” Gioconda stopped. “Is something wrong? You look like you’ve seen a specter!”

Serafina closed her eyes. “The damp air unsettles my stomach. What did you mean by ‘now, no good’?”

“Well, you never know who’s going to creep round the corner, do you, stab you in the heart. Some of the girls, the careless ones, getting knifed, I can tell you.”

“Any of Carmela’s friends still here?”

“Gusti. Want me to get her?”

• • •

Serafina was about to leave when she heard another voice.

“Gusti said she’d be down in a minute.” Tall and blonde, the prostitute. She spoke with an accent. “She’s dressing, you know, but perhaps I can help? I’m Lola. Oh yes, I see. Gioconda was right; you do look just like Carmela. But you’re much taller and, you know, older. If Carmela wants to know how she’s going to look as an older woman, she should look at you.”

“Carmela doesn’t want to see me, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”

The prostitute’s smile was warm. Serafina saw why the madam liked her.

“You knew Carmela?” Serafina asked.

“Not very well. We didn’t talk that much. Liked one another, we did. Bit of a thing, Carmela, but she had her opinions. Not friendly to me.” The prostitute brushed a curl from her face. “Probably jealous. Most of the girls are when they first meet me. And Carmela wasn’t here all that long. A year, maybe more.”

“But she worked here? Like you? I mean, she wasn’t a maid or a laundress?”

“She worked like me. Not good with the work at first, but those of us with experience, we helped her.”

She retrieved a cigarette holder wedged down her front. From her pocket she drew out paper and tobacco and began rolling a weed. “I suppose you want to know about the murders?”

“Not interested in the madam or her murders. I’m a midwife, not a sleuth. But I’d like to know for certain if the person who looks so much like me, according to Gioconda, is my daughter.”

“Well, her name is Carmela, and she was here for a year, maybe more, and she looks exactly like you. Same eyes, a light jade, I’d say. Doesn’t have your wrinkles or crooked nose.”

Serafina felt her cheeks crimson. “Rosa’s told me a little about you. Said you were from Enna. How long have you been here?”

Lola laughed. “From Enna? Rosa invents new histories for us. Been here five or six years. I’m sure she’s told you all about me. You’re good friends. You must discuss everything.”

“Only what Rosa wants me to hear, and that’s precious little. And you’re right, she molds the truth into a pleasant fantasy. But she speaks highly of you. I’m curious. Your accent is not Sicilian.”