A Spell for Saints and Sinners

Edie

Help me sit up. Against the pillows, just like that. Now don’t start with that shaking your head. And stop crying. I got to tell you something.

My little Budgie. My girl. You know I have given you all my worldly goods … this house, the business … but there’s something more I have to give you. A gift I’m afraid is gonna be a burden to you. But I’ve got to hand it over. If I don’t, sure as shootin’ more pain and heartache’s gonna follow.

Evil upon evil …

It’s the pirates you have to look out for. You hear me, girl? Pirates, every which-a-way. Just scanning the horizon for a ship to take …

Budgie, come here. I remembered what I wanted to tell you.

A long time ago, there was a wrong done to me.

I told myself that I should forgive … keep silent, but that was a mistake …

and because I didn’t speak, the darkness grew.

Now, here I am at the end, and I see it all.

I see the Great Balance—the shining gold scales that measure every good and wicked thing—and it’s all wrong.

Do you understand, Budgie?

The Christians say a false balance is an abomination to the Lord. What they don’t say is that while it’s the rich who falsely weight them … it’s the least of us, the poor and the weak, who have to right them. That is what I’m asking you to do, little bird.

Right the balance …

Now listen to me, my Budgie. Listen closely. You must do it in the light. You must always stay in the light. If you don’t … if you stray off the path, into the shadows, that’s where danger is.

There are pirates out there, you know … in the dark. Pirates who’ll see your light and wanna snuff it out. They’ll shadow you, girl, flying a flag that belongs to another. Listen to me. They’ll sail closer and closer until they spot your weakness. And that’s when they come in for the kill.

You gotta watch for the pirates. Their false flags. You gotta be careful …

Do you hear me, Ingrid? Are you listening?

I wish I could explain it all to you, but I’m so tired right now. I’ll say more when I’ve had a rest. I promise.

Just do your spells for good. Always for good, Budgie.

Do ’em for the pirates. Sure, why not?

Do ’em for the saints and the sinners …