A novel of Haiti, 1991 – 1992
Haitian Man – Labor Organizer
< Previous Henri sees this happening but is having trouble of his own. Somewhere along the line, a nail cut through his right tricep and that arm doesn’t work anymore. He’s got the water jug rope wrapped around his lame arm so tightly he can’t feel it. Another cross-current wobbles them, tangling Henri, Jocylyn, and … Read more
< Previous PART 9: SURVIVE / DIE? Exit Port-de-PaixChristmas Eve, 1991 Late that night, Jè arrives at the Port-de-Paix cathedral and is surprised to find its doors unlocked. He can hear piano music but doesn’t hear voices. He pushes a door open and steps inside. Jè has never been in a Catholic cathedral before, just … Read more
< Previous Mother Mary’s Ashley and Matt arrive with Ti Mon, Jocelyn and her baby, just in time for dinner. The nuns quickly swarm around them. They guide everyone but Matt into a nearby women’s dorm and close the door. Matt’s not sure what to do with himself until an older priest approaches him. Not … Read more
< Previous PART 8: DEFEND Extract Montana Hotel Ashley and Matt are driving their Land Cruiser toward the Montana Hotel. It’s Sunday, so Jocelyn should be at church services this morning. They’re dressed in their best “missionary garb”; Matt in white shirt with clip-on tie and Ashley in her most formal dress. She’s even managed … Read more
< Previous Kevin looks lost in thought and Father Vitor waits for him to continue, “I wasn’t going to mention this today, but my NGO told me that my last chance airline ticket will be at the Pan Am counter on New Years Day.” Father Vitor nods his head, “That’s the signal. You’ve become a … Read more
< Previous PART 8: DEFEND Organize Mother Mary’s The thrice-damned roosters announce the morning as Kevin arrives at Mother Mary’s. The guardian looks carefully in Kevin’s SUV before waving him through the gate. Kevin grins at him and says, “No contraband this time. But thanks for double-checking!” The guard knows enough English to crack a … Read more
< Previous PART 8: DEFEND Adapt November – December 1991 Port-au-Prince, Downtown The airport is under military control and Kevin’s mobility is limited. He avoids public markets, gatherings, or churches and moves between houses frequently. Jè and Henri continue their plan to build out the Ti Legliz comms network. Kevin stays clear of Carrefour and … Read more
< Previous PART 7: MEN WITH GUNS Police State October 1991 Haiti The military rounds up what remains of the political opposition and installs a provisional government with vague assurances of future elections. Haiti is open for business again so come on down and place your bets and bribes. In response, the international community places … Read more
< Previous PART 7: MEN WITH GUNS Martial Law September – October 1991 Petionville Apartment September 30, 1991 Zero-dark-thirty. Kevin jolts awake, his heart racing. He lies still and a few beats later, hears gunfire. He’s asking himself whether if the shots were real or just the neighbor kids raising hell again, when several staccato … Read more
< Previous PART 6: BETRAYAL Huddled Masses North of Port-au-Prince Bon Chance Refugee Camp After finishing up some meetings in Petionville a few days later, Kevin receives a panicked request via Tele-Joel to place a collect call to NYC. He finds a Telco, pays the “seating fee” to wait for a phone and makes the … Read more
< Previous PART 5: LESSONS Choices Ti Legliz Village Now that his mission has been accomplished, Jè suggests that Kevin return to the station the following weekend. Kevin tries to argue that he should finish up a few more projects, but Father Jean points out that Ti Legliz has learned enough about AM/FM radio from … Read more
< Previous PART 5: LESSONS Resilience April – June 1991 Ti Legliz Village Kevin spends the rest of his time at Ti Legiz climbing up and down Mount Boueffe and working on other projects as assigned by Solange or Father Jean. He sends reports to Tim and Head Engineer about progress, never mentioning that he’s … Read more
< Previous Sitting on the ground while considering options, Kevin hears new voices. He looks up and sees an old Haitian man climbing the hill, followed by a young boy. Panielle is already watching carefully. When the man arrives at the tower, he begins telling a lengthy story. Kevin can’t follow it, but Panielle is … Read more
< Previous Southern Haiti Mountain Range, Mount Boeffe Their meal complete, Solange and Father Jean say goodbye. “We’ll be over at the orphanage for the rest of the day if anyone needs us.” Henri takes Kevin, Panielle and the rest of the men into a small garden shed behind the chapel. He turns on a … Read more
< Previous Ti Legliz As they walk, Kevin sees how easily this village can be defended. The houses are arranged around the stone chapel inside a walled town square. He’s heard from reliable sources that the Government of Haiti or cartels will send “tax collectors” into some of these communities, but they never return. Rather … Read more
< Previous ACT ONE – STORMING PART 1: ESCAPE / ARRIVAL Escape December 1991 Caribbean SeaNorthwest of Port-de-Paix, Haiti Henri sinks into the sea, his lungs burning as he fights his way toward the surface. It’s so dark that he struggles to tell which direction is up, but the sound of the storm that capsized … Read more
< Previous As the sun disappears over the western horizon, the wind picks up strength behind them. At first, everyone smiles and laughs as the tiny boat begins to pick up speed and the temperature cools. But as twilight turns to night, Captain begins to look nervously over his shoulder. One by one, each passenger … Read more