Voodoo by Fredric Brown

 

Fredric Brown (1906 –1972) was an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. He is known for his use of humor and for his mastery of the "short short" form—stories of 1 to 3 pages, often with ingenious plotting devices and surprise endings.

Before reading:

• Can you imagine what ‘voodoo’ means? If not, look up the world in the dictionary.

• What do you think might happen in a story with this title ? Discuss with your classmates.

Voodoo

by Fredric Brown

 

Mr. Decker’s wife had just returned from a trip to Haiti – a trip she had taken alone – to give them a cooling off period before they discussed a divorce.

It hadn’t worked. Neither of them had cooled off in the slightest. In fact, they were finding now that they hated one another more than ever.

“Half,” said Mrs. Decker firmly. “I’ll not settle for anything less than half the money plus half of the property.”

La moglie di Mr. Decker era appena tornata da un viaggio ad Haiti – un viaggio che aveva fatto da sola – per concedersi un periodo di riflessione e darsi una calmata prima di discutere del loro divorzio.

Non aveva funzionato. Nessuno dei due si era minimamente calmato. Infatti, scoprivano adesso di odiarsi l’un l’altro più che mai.

“Metà,” disse Mrs. Decker con decisione. “Non ho intenzione di accordarmi per niente meno della metà del denaro più la metà della proprietà.”

1. What important decision are Mr. and Mrs. Decker taking about their marriage?

2. Why did Mrs. Decker go to Haiti alone?

3. What was the result of the trip?

4. What about Mr. Decker’s feeligs?

5. What does Mrs. Decker want as her share in the divorce settlement?

“Ridiculous!” said Mr. Decker.

“Is it? I could have it all, you know. And quite easily, too. I studied voodoo while in Haiti”.

“Rot!” said Mr. Decker.

“It isn’t. And you should be glad that I am a good woman for I could kill you quite easily if I wished. I would then have all the money and all the real estate, and without any fear of consequences. A death accomplished by voodoo cannot be distinguished from death by heart failure”.

“Ridicolo!” disse Mr. Decker.

“Davvero? Potrei avere tutto, lo sai. E anche abbastanza facilmente. Mentre ero ad Haiti ho studiato il voodoo.”

“Stupidaggini!” disse Mr. Decker.

“Non è vero. E dovresti essere felice che io sia una brava persona, perché potrei ucciderti molto facilmente, se volessi. Allora avrei tutto il denaro e tutta la proprietà, e senza temere conseguenze. Non è possibile distinguere una morte causata dal voodoo da un collasso cardiaco.”

• What is Mr. Decker’s reaction?

• What’s the tone of the following expressions?

  “I could have it all, you know. And quite easily, too.”

• Choose from the following:

  wish, threat, hope, persuasion, warning, promise

• Underline other expressions that sond the same.

  Why is she so sure that she can be succesful?

“Rubbish!” said Mr. Decker.

”You think so? I have wax and a hatpin. Do you want to give me a tiny pinch of your hair or a fingernail clipping or two – that’s all I need – and let me show you?”

“Nonsense!” said Mr. Decker.

“Idiozie!” disse Mr. Decker.

“La pensi così? Ho con me della cera e uno spillone. Dammi qualcuno dei tuoi capelli o un paio di unghie tagliate – è tutto ciò di cui ho bisogno – e te lo dimostrerò.”

“Sciocchezze!” disse Mr. Decker.

1. What items does Mrs. Decker need to carry out her ritual?

2. List all the answers Mr. Decker gives his wife and say what they express. Choose from the following:

hate, indifference, disbilief, annoyance

“Then why are you afraid to have me try? Since I know it works, I’ll make you a proposition. If it doesn’t kill you, I’ll give you a divorce and ask for nothing. If it does, I’ll get it all automatically”.

“Allora perché hai paura a farmici provare? Dal momento che io so che funziona, ti faccio una proposta. Se non ti ucciderà, ti concederò il divorzio senza chiedere niente. Se ti ucciderà, mi prenderò tutto automaticamente.”

• What does Mrs. Decker propose?

“Done!” said Mr. Decker. “Get your wax and hatpin”. He glanced at his fingernails. “Pretty short. I’ll give you a bit of hair”.

When he carne back with a few short strands of hair in the lid of an aspirin tin, Mrs. Decker had already started softening the wax. She kneaded the hair into it, then shaped it into the rough effigy of a human being.

“You’ll be sorry”, she said, and thrust the hatpin into the chest of the wax figure.

Mr. Decker was surprised, but he was more pleased than sorry. He had not believed in voodoo, but being a cautious man he never took chances.

Besides, it had always irritated him that his wife so seldom cleaned her hairbrush.

“D’accordo!” disse Mr. Decker. “Prendi cera e spillone.” Si guardò le unghie. “Troppo corte. Ti darò un po’ di capelli.”

Quando tornò con qualche capello corto nel coperchio della scatola di aspirina, Mrs. Decker aveva già iniziato ad ammorbidire la cera. Ci impastò dentro i capelli e poi gli diede la forma approssimativa di un essere umano.

“Te ne pentirai,” disse e infilò lo spillone nel petto della figura di cera.

Mr. Decker rimase sorpreso, ma era più soddisfatto che deluso. Non aveva mai creduto nel voodoo, ma essendo un uomo prudente, non aveva mai corso rischi.

Inoltre, lo aveva sempre irritato il fatto che sua moglie pulisse così di rado la spazzola per i capelli.

• What does Mr. Decker give his wife to perform the ritual?

• What does the ritual consist of?

• Why was he first surprised and then pleased?

• How did his wife die?

• Was he guilty of killing her? Discuss

After reading:

1. 
   What does it mean to say that someone has been ‘hoist on their own petard’?’– where does this expression come from?

2. Write your own story in which you or someone you know were hoist on your own petard.