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Isaiah Jones vs the Sea (A 21st Century Odyssey)

The History of Dead Eye Polly:

Rise of the Albino & The Albino’s Judgment 

 Present January 27^th 2022  

Flash back to 40 years ago, a 16-year-old Dead Eye Polly made his move in Havana.  

These are the stories as told by the survivors. 

The Albino’s Judgment 

 The one-eyed albino negro looked around the large table and grinned.

“Right now, he said his lisping adenoidal voice the Latin equivalent of Truman Capotes trill vocalizations, you are in no position to betray me. So, now that you are all under the bruja’s spell, the truth will be easy to detect.  

Dead Eye Polly Ovejero lisped. That is the beauty of it—it softens the will. You have no secrets from me while you are under her control.” 

 The ivory Armani suited 6 foot 9 inch tall, 314 lbs behemoth figure unbuttoned his suits jacket as he walked to the older man seated at the end of the Louis the XIVth antique dining table and put out his lit cigar in his treacherous uncle Luis left eye. The man did not resist or cry out in pain but sat there motionless, aware but unable to respond of his own will as the albino incinerated his eyeball the liquid boiling in the socket around the red glowing cherry of the Havana. His uncle Luis sat at the head of the table, his left eye a smoldering ruin. Polly grabbed the old man by his neck, with one arm lifted him from his seat before he hurled his uncles body like a ragdoll sending it sliding across the table on his back, as the others sat, unable to move or look away. 

 The girl in the corner his aunt Ceecee, 10 years his senior, was his mother’s student and her younger sister. The negrita in white linen rolling the cigars, stood with the bone-handled knife she had been using to roll and cut the tobacco leaves. The ivory-clad dark-skinned black woman with long braids in her hair began cutting Luis’s heart out as he lay on the table, with her on her knees, straddling his body. As she engaged in this grim work, the others watched in mute horror, unable to move or turn their heads without her permission. She held the heart aloft and offered a prayer to Shango and Ogun in a language older than Spanish, understood only by her and the albino. 

 Once the holy words were spoken, she offered the first bite to Polly, then took her turn. They looked at the men remaining at the table, blood dripping down their mouths onto the white clothing of the albino and the priestess. “This will be simple. Those of you who plan to be loyal to me will take a bite, and those of you who plan to betray me or murder me will not be able to take a bite in your state. As I said, you have no secrets. Bon appétit.” 

Of the nine remaining bosses, only six were alive after the test was over. Polly looked at the bodies of the men, then at his uncle. He sighed. “Your way feels so unsportsmanlike. I really wanted to blow his head off for the last ten years, and now it feels… anticlimactic.” 

He sighed again and drew his weapons, Santo Padre and Reverenda Madre, the twin Holland & Holland elephant rifles he had custom-made into a pair of pistols, inlaid with the bones of his mother and father in the handles. He aimed the barrels of both platforms at Luis’s corpse and pulled the triggers. There was a bloody stump where his head should have been. 

“I feel better now. I had dreams of his having a closed casket funeral.” 

Circe and Polly left arm in arm as his new men, formerly their men, cleaned up the mess and took their bloody-mouthed bosses home to wait for the drug’s effects to wear off. Cuba was secure now. He would work on the rest of the islands in the Caribbean. 

[Notes] [on the Cigar Roller: Abuelita Orúnmila (née Circe Catarina DuBois, nicknamed Ceecee DuBois) 

-Age: 69 

-Physical Description: Abuelita Orúnmila is a dignified woman with striking, deep-set eyes that hold a lifetime of wisdom. Her white hair is worn in long, intricate braids reminiscent of the goddess Circe, adding an aura of mystique and reverence to her presence. Her dark skin is marked by the lines of age and experience. She often dresses in elaborate, vibrant clothing that reflects her Afro-Cuban heritage, adorned with symbols of her dual faith in Santería and Catholicism. 

-Background: Born Circe Catarina DuBois, affectionately known as Ceecee, in a small Louisiana town steeped in Vodun traditions, Abuelita Orúnmila was deeply influenced by her family’s involvement in the spiritual and mystical practices of the region. Her mother, a revered Vodun priestess, was a close friend of the late queen of the order—who also happened to be Dead Eye Polly’s mother. Ceecee’s early life was shaped by these sacred traditions, molding her into a powerful and respected figure within both Vodun and Santería. 

-Connection to Dead Eye Polly: When Dead Eye Polly, then a young and ambitious figure in Louisiana, began his rise to power, Ceecee was a constant and loyal presence by his side. She was one of two Vodun priestesses who accompanied him as he left Louisiana for Havana, where he would assume his late father’s position among the powerful bosses of the Cuban underworld. Her role was both spiritual and strategic, guiding him with her wisdom and ensuring a seamless transition fortified by his ancestral traditions. 

-Role in Cuba: Since arriving in Cuba, Abuelita Orúnmila has remained by Dead Eye Polly’s side, serving as his spiritual advisor and confidante. Her expertise in Santería and Vodun has been instrumental in helping him navigate the complex world of the Cuban underworld. Abuelita Orúnmila is not only a master of spiritual practices but also of the ancient art of herbalism. Like the mythological witch Circe, she uses herbs and plants to concoct potent potions and poisons, aiding Dead Eye Polly in his schemes. 

One of her most infamous contributions was during Dead Eye Polly’s bid for power among the Cuban bosses. The cigars smoked by the men at that fateful meeting were rolled by her hands, but they carried more than just tobacco. Each cigar was laced with a toxin derived from the Brugmansia suaveolens, commonly known as the Angel’s Trumpet or “Floripondio.”

This white-flowered plant, native to Venezuela and other areas, is known for its mind-altering properties. In small, non-lethal doses, the toxin causes the mind to become pliable, making the victim highly suggestible. It is commonly used by local prostitutes to drug their clients, leaving them vulnerable to robbery. The effects include memory gaps, disorientation, and a hangover-like state the following day, with the victim often unable to recall the events that transpired. 

-Personal Life: Abuelita Orúnmila leads a life marked by humility and reverence. Despite her high status, she maintains a low profile, focusing on her spiritual practices and her role within Dead Eye Polly’s inner circle. Her home in Havana, like her life, is a blend of the sacred and the practical, filled with symbols of her dual faith and the tools of her craft. 

-Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Abuelita Orúnmila’s presence at Dead Eye Polly’s side is a testament to her unique role in bridging cultural and spiritual worlds. She embodies the confluence of Louisiana Vodun and Afro-Cuban Santería, maintaining a balance between these traditions and integrating them into the fabric of Havana’s powerful underworld scene. Her mastery of herbalism and her deep spiritual practices add a layer of authenticity and reverence to the environment she inhabits, making her an indispensable figure in Dead Eye Polly’s rise to power. 

Notes on the Brugmansia suaveolens (Angel’s Trumpet or “Floripondio”) 

-Description: A large, woody shrub with hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers, usually white, that emit a strong, sweet fragrance. The plant contains potent alkaloids that can induce delirium, hallucinations, and extreme suggestibility. In small doses, it is used by some for nefarious purposes, such as by prostitutes in Venezuela to drug and rob their clients. The effects include memory loss, disorientation, and a profound hangover-like state. Although not typically lethal at low doses, its use is highly dangerous and illegal in many places.] 

The Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (Morro Castle) 

The Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, also known as Morro Castle, is a fortress guarding the entrance to the Havana harbor. Designed by the Italian engineer Battista Antonelli (1547–1616), the fortress was originally under the control of Spain. It was captured by the British in 1762 and returned to Spain under the Treaty of Paris (1763) a year later. The Morro Castle was the primary defense of the Havana harbor until La Cabaña was completed in 1774.