Page 58 of Meet Me on Greenwood

The man moved toward Houston until they were nearly nose to nose. "I don’t care if you are Mary, mother of Jesus. We can handle this, so step back."

The crowd whispered. I watched in horror as money began to exchange hands and men made their bets.

Houston clenched his fists tightly. "Let me through so I—"

He never finished. The first punch was fast, and it came without warning. Houston staggered back as it connected with his gut, but didn't go down. Houston swung back and caught the man across the jaw. A second man came to his aid, and Houston was able to duck the assault and trip him before a third man came for him. I watched as the three men moved attacked Houston like a pack of hyenas, working to kill.

Houston fought like a man who had done it before, like he’d had to for survival. He was efficient, controlled, like this was a procedure that he needed to perform. He continued, one against three, until they had him by the arms.

I stepped forward.

Not running. Not hesitating. I walked straight toward the injured man.

"Come with me. It is not safe here."

He flinched when I crouched beside him, pressing himself back against the fence, chest heaving, eyes tracking everything around us.

"My name is Gema," I said quietly. Level. Like we were the only two people here. "I'm not going to hurt you. I only want to help. Can you tell me your name?"

His breathing slowed by a fraction. His eyes found mine and stayed.

"Paul," he said. Barely a sound.

"Paul." I nodded once, like that was exactly what I needed to hear. "Alright, Paul. You're alright. I've got you."

He shook his head. "Miriam. I can’t leave her here."

Houston took a fist to the gut, and I flinched wanting to stop it, but I didn’t know how.

"Where is she?"

He put his hands over his ears. "I don’t know, I don’t know."

"Come with me. I’ll find her for you."

He turned and peered at me for the first time. His eyes lit up, as recognition donned his face. "Miriam?"

"Yes," I said quickly. "I am Miriam. Come."

He looked at me in awe and nodded. I wasn’t sure what he was seeing, but whatever it was, it wasn’t real.

Paul put an arm around my neck, and I helped him walk away. I paused briefly to catch sight of Houston. He was fighting bravely, but he was going to lose if it stayed three against one. A Black vendor looked on in horror, turning his gaze to me. "Best, you stay out of it, ma’am. Let them take care of their own."

"I can’t," I said, fishing out a few dollar bills. "I need to buy fireworks."

I told the vendor my plan and he gave me the materials I needed for free before closing his shop. Others did the same. They wanted no part in what I was planning.

"Stay here," I told Paul. "Cover your ears." He was huddled on the ground. I squeezed his shoulder before I moved to the back of the crowd.

Houston looked awful, but he was still fighting. I lit one firework, pouring moonshine over the flame which lit the others nearby, and ducked behind a vendor stand. The fireworks sizzled for a long while, but eventually fizzled out. This wasn’t working! I looked toward Houston who was nearly passed out on the ground. I had seconds. The amulet around my throat warmed as I lit my last match. This time I did not hide, wanting to make sure the explosive stayed lit. When it started to fizzle, I leaned forward as if drawn to its warmth. I did what every parent told their children not to and moved my face near the firework and blew. That was enough to hear the familiar sound of a rocket as the firework took off along with the others. I was fortunate I wasn’t burned as they flew towards the crowd. The noise agitated the animals, who brayed and broke free from their pens. Cows, horses, and large pigs pushing their way through the crowd as people watched, dumbfounded.

I was already moving.

Houston was down on one knee in the dirt, blood trickling from his hand where his stitches were ripped open. The others had abandoned him, running from the stampede. Houston looked up when I reached him, trying to form words.

"Don't," I said, getting under his arm and pulling him upright. "Walk as best you can. We have seconds."

He found his feet, but I didn't let go.