Chapter 17

To the Cafê [Café] de l'Opéra. Go down the street and keep a few steps in front."

Manuel turned into the Cafê [Café] de l'Opéra, a tumble-down frame shack with a corrugated iron roof, to order a cooling drink and to puzzle out this utterly baffling mystery.

The Cacos may be described as Haitian patriots or revolutionists, devotees of serpent and voodoo worship, loosely organized into a secret guerille [guerilla] army.