A little farther on she was drawn to a shop that was displaying a variety of charms and amulets. She went in and listened to the shopkeeper describe the virtues of various items. The woman hinted that if Dema was looking for more potent charms or potions, she had access to darker magic than was represented by the items on display. She learned that the woman's name was Bianca.

"You have dealings with a true brujo, then, Bianca?" Dema asked.

"Si, I deal with several of them."

"Do you know the most powerful brujo in Catemaco?"

"Ai, si. I know of him, the most powerful brujo in Catemaco, perhaps in all the world. But I cannot name him. To speak his name aloud would bring bad luck."

"Could you arrange for me to meet him?"

"Oh, senorita, you would not want to meet him. He is mucho dangerous, in league with the devil himself."

"Just the same, could you tell me where to find him? I have reason to seek just such a man." Dema produced a sheaf of U.S. money, and laid a fifty-dollar bill on the counter.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and her hand crept toward the bill seemingly of its own accord. "I cannot tell you where to find him right now, but if you will return tomorrow perhaps I can find out."

"There is another bill like that one for you if you do," said Dema.

"Come back tomorrow, then," and the hand snatched up the bill and made it disappear into the folds of the woman's dress.

Dema headed back to her hotel, content with her evening's work.

The next morning as she sat in the hotel dining room eating breakfast she sensed she was being watched. She was careful not to look around, she wanted them to think they had the hidden hand. It meant that Bianca had done her part, and the brujos knew of Dema's interest, and were checking up on her. She lounged there for a while, then went out into the street and headed for the little amulet shop.

On the street the watch changed hands. The one from the hotel had been pretty obvious, the new one he passed her to was more withdrawn. But Dema managed to casually catch a glimpse of her, and although she was dressed like a local and was hiding her thoughts, she seemed familiar enough that Dema was sure it was Chaos.

This was good and bad. Good that Chaos was here and Dema had spotted her, bad that Chaos knew that Dema was here and could advise the brujos who they were dealing with. She continued on to the shop. When she turned in the door, Chaos faded out of her awareness. Having satisfied herself that Dema was the one who wanted to meet the brujos, she had gone away.

Dema took out the promised second fifty-dollar bill as she approached the shopkeeper. She laid it on the counter and said, "What do you have to tell me."

The woman hesitated, but said, "I was told to say there will be a meeting tonight in the Devil's Cave, and you will be expected."

"Where is this Devil's Cave?"

"In the mountains to the south. Any taxi driver can take you and show you where it is, although they will not go very close to it."

"Who will be there?"

"It is a meeting of brujos, so brujos will be there. More than that I do not know."

Dema slid the bill across the counter, and the shopkeeper's hand quickly took it.

"Gracias," Dema said. "I am very pleased that you were able to make this arrangement. I look forward to meeting the brujos."

Bianca's face took on a look of concern. "I did as you asked, but I beg of you, do not go to the Devil's Cave. It is a place of evil, and brujos who go there are bad men. I fear greatly for your safety if you go."

"Thank you for the warning, and for your concern," said Dema. "I promise you I will be very careful."

Bianca became even more agitated. She grasped Dema's arm to keep her from leaving, and said, "No, please, do not go!" She fumbled in the folds of her dress and brought out the two fifty-dollar bills. "Here," she said, thrusting them at Dema, "I return your money. I do not want to be the cause of sending you into danger. It would damage my soul."

Dema stepped back, "No, you keep the money. I will not hold you responsible. You only did what I asked of you. Your soul is safe. I will come back tomorrow to show you I have not been harmed."

Reluctantly Bianca let her go, and Dema left the shop. She toured the streets for a while longer. The unusual atmosphere of Catemaco was making an impression on her. Like a carnival, or any tourist attraction, there was an altered set of expectations about the place. The vendors set the tone, but the tourists fell into agreement with it, suspending their normal disbeliefs, their normal fixed realities, allowing the sense of magic and mystery to sway their perceptions. It all seemed innocent enough to Dema, but it was quite different from a normal town. In spite of the presence of cell phones and neon signs, it felt like a carry-over from an earlier age, when the possibility of magic was more accepted, and the material side of life was less intrusive on the spirit.