=====Mud Hunting in the Bayou=====
Date: 1867-10-18

Celeste, taken with the idea of getting some clay for Deco's Christmas present but without the means to acquire it, approaches Jeanne and Ollie for help in getting some nice river clay. Jeanne and Ollie jump at the excuse to get back in the bayou.

<#bill: Cole would want to go, but let's say they decide he won't because he's needed to help cover for them/another person sneaking midday makes it more likely they'll get caught. He makes Jeanne and Ollie promise to take him sometime soon because he wants to see the bayou and catch rides with strangers. #>


It's been miserable weather for a week or so, but on this Friday the clouds break and it is sunny at last, so they finish their chores as fast as they can, and sneak a ride on the back of a stagecoach headed in that direction. A while later, they're all knee deep in a murky section of some anonymous delta stream, feeling around with their bare toes.

<#ann: Celeste is fascinated, never having been to the bayou before. I think this is her longest and most adventurous sneak so far too. They're still pretty young at this point. Do we want to make it when they're a bit older, or are Ollie and Jeanne so excited by the idea of the bayou they're willing to take bigger risks? #>
<#jonah: I think it's ok if you're ok with it — Jeanne and Ollie are pretty comfortable snagging rides from strangers. It's pretty much the only way they've gotten around, other than their Dad's boat. The bayou folks are friendly enough. #>

<#ann: I'm okay. I think Celeste is wide-eyed with wonder throughout the entire experience. She's clearly never done any of this before, and (at least until the run-in with Arkadius) is clearly proud of herself for being able to do all of this "by herself." She's feeling special and independent. For all that she's often sent out by herself to run errands for Louis, this is totally different, and she's smiling and excited the entire day. She makes sure to thank Ollie and Jeanne for taking her. She's not entirely thrilled with getting dirty and mucky in the bayou, but it doesn't stop her at all. #>

<#court: Jeanne seems especially free-spirited all day, happy to be back in this environment. She clearly takes pride and pleasure in showing Celeste around ("This type of moss is good for this, and those berries are good for that," etc) and grins at Ollie often, breathing the air deeply and cavorting around in a way she does not usually at the orphanage. #>

Eventually they find what they've come for: a patch of perfect clay, and they scoop it up into a jar (secreted out of the kitchen by Celeste). They turn to find their way back to the road, when suddenly a man appears, where none had been a moment before. He is a black man standing alone, well-dressed and astonishingly clean for standing in the middle of a muddy swamp. It's as if the place doesn't touch him, nor he it. The unnaturalness gives off a creepy vibe. He starts talking, but it as if he is talking to himself, as though the children cannot hear him, though they can.

**"Hmm, three young flowers, in their prime. So youthful, uh-huh, so pure. They have done well."
"Oh children you will be so good, but not ripe yet...." Looks at Ollie. "But soon...ooo child so soon." *creepy smile. "soon you will be ripe, and ready. Ready for the Doctor."
"Hmmm....no no solider man can't keep you from me. No matter what bargains he makes. Oh no, I will have you when you are ripe. But not yet, no no, seasons yet. Oooo child...."
Then he fades into the underbrush and vanishes.**

<#court: Jeanne, who has been standing stock-still and pale as a ghost throughout this episode, elbows Ollie hard as the man vanishes. "That's HIM," she whispers urgently. She looks at Ollie, angry tears filling her eyes, and switches to French, talking softly as she tries not to cry. "That's him, that's the doctor, the one who cursed us that day." She is starting to shake. #>

<#ann: Celeste is scared, but it's more excited-scared than terrified-scared, until Jeanne is freaking out, and then she gets scared for real. She definitely wants to know what Jeanne is talking about, the curse and where she knows him from and what does she know about him, and generally picking Jeanne's and Ollie's brains, all the way home and then any time she can get them alone. #>

They run back to the road, and manage to hitch a ride back to town from a farmer. #>

<#court: On the way home, as the shaking dies down, Jeanne explains to Celeste that she and Ollie had an older sister. She and Jeanne were out on the bayou one day, collecting moss, and they ran into Arkadeus for the first time. "He spoke a curse at us and we ran, but he must have sent a snake after us, because it bit my sister and she died that day. I had not seen him again... until today. Feels like he's following me..." She trails off and starts shaking again, and doesn't volunteer much after that. #><#jonah: Ollie tries his 6-year-old best to comfort his sister, but seems a bit scared himself at seeing Arkadeus, and at how it was affecting Jeanne. #>

<#ann: The farmer's horse is terribly slow, and they are late for afternoon lessons with Lizzie. Lizzie is not pleased, and they each receive a smack on the butt from Lizzie's yardstick. #>

<#bill: Cole has told Ms. Lizzy a lie to cover their lateness. When the three of the arrive, however, he can't communicate the lie to them fast enough and they inadvertently expose his lie. He gets two smack on the butt because Ms. Lizzy says that lying is worse than being late. #>

<#ann: Celeste is usually a bit ashamed at upsetting Miss Lizzie, and is never late for lessons, but for once she doesn't seem to care. The trip was worth it. #>