"COUMBITE (Cooperative labor)" ""THE FLOWER BEGINS, IT JOINS OUR HANDS." "MANUEL IS THE CANAL THROUGH WHICH WATER FLOWS." "THE WIND BLOWS THE SAILS OF THE COUMBITE." "MANUEL IS THE PATH THAT WILL QUENCH OUR THIRST."" "Hey, it's up ahead." " There, there." " Stop up ahead there." "You can stop now." "Wait, I need to take down a bag for him." "Wait." " Thanks." " Okay, let's go." " Good morning." " Good morning, sir." " Are you from here?" " By the grace of God." "I am too." "I've been away for 15 years." "I was in Cuba." "Before, there wasn't such drought." " Lady Santelia, good day!" " Good day, Anaisa!" " How's your family, dear?" " Everyone's good." "How about you?" " Well, my husband's a little sick." " It'll pass." " God willing." " So your name is Anaisa." " Yes." " My name is Manuel." "This is as far as I go." "Anaisa." " Thanks for being so friendly." " It's nothing." "I'm not going very far either." "My home is over there." " Do you know Bienaimé and Délira?" " Yes." " I'm their son." "Oh, my God!" "Have mercy on us!" " But the Lord is the creator, is he not?" " He is." "Well, the earth is barren, so the Lord is the creator of the earth and barrenness." "Oh, don't torment me, Bienaimé!" "Then consider this:" "There are so many creatures asking for things that an irritating noise forms, and God says: "I don't know who needs or doesn't need water."" "You're the one filling the earth with fussing and bickering." "All you do is argue!" "Manuel..." "Manuel." "What's that noise?" "My goodness!" "Boy, get over here and shake my hand!" "Honor and respect, Dad." " Your mother prayed a lot for you." " You're really back!" "You should've told her you were coming." "The shock of seeing you almost killed her." " Is it good?" " It sure is, Dad." " Well, we'll see." " What are you laughing at?" " No, it's nothing, Dad." " Yeah, yeah." "He's gotten like this over the years." "Don't just stand there." "Come have a drink to settle down." "Where's your respect for the dead?" "They're thirsty too." "Okay, I'll go tell everyone that he's back." " You'll never leave again, right, Manuel?" " Never." "I came to put down roots." "Although the soil isn't good for putting down roots now." "It's because there isn't a drop of rain in the sky, son." " God has abandoned us." " This isn't the good Lord's doing." "There are earthly things, and there are heavenly things." "God has abandoned the black man, Manuel." "No, it's we who have abandoned the earth." "Hey, don't talk like that." " I saw that the forest was cut down." " How else could we live, son?" "But without trees, the land won't absorb rain." "It was Man's axe that did that, not the good Lord." "I dreamed you were coming, Manuel!" "Honor, Delphine." "In my dreams, you were a big, strong man, but for some reason, you were much older." " Laurélien." " Manuel." "I said to myself, "A stone thrown to the sky returns to the earth."" "You're that stone, Manuel." " How are you?" " I could be worse." "You don't age, Uncle Bombon." "Hey, don't start!" "The ladies still love me." "It's because they know:" ""An old stick is the best companion."" "Simidor, you're such a mess." "Yes, but you make the best coumbite songs." " What coumbite?" "Have you seen the soil?" " Yes, I felt it." "Well, without water, the drums have no life." " What about Fanchó Springs?" " It dried up." " And Lorie Springs?" " You're persistent, boy." "Not even a drop." "Only Sobi Swamp is left." "It's a pond for mosquitos!" " Hey, Manuel, did they have water where you were?" " Tons." "And their sugarcane was tall and plentiful." " It must be nice to live on land like that." " Well, not quite." "For a black Haitian cane-cutter, it isn't so great." "We are like pots which cook the food, and then can't go to the table because they'd dirty the tablecloth." "That's exactly right." "I could hardly sleep last night." "It's because you're excited to see your son." "Like hell it is." "It's the damn fleas." "Manuel, why didn't you call me?" "When will you stop treating me like a kid, Mom?" "Good morning." "You're the man who just returned from Cuba?" "Yes, that's me." " You're Bienaimé's son, right?" " Yes, that's me." "Any luck, Manuel?" "I tried that once." "I thought there might be a trickle left." "Either it comes from the sky, or not at all." "We just have to accept it." "When a man accepts things, he's left crippled." "Over in Cuba, we didn't accept things." "We staged a strike against the masters." "Maybe men can be reasoned with, but the heavens can't." "If you do earthly things well, the heavens don't matter." " What has your machete gotten you, man?" " This is just the beginning." "Laurélien, I'm going to find water." "If they see you over there, they'll call you crazy." " So don't tell them anything." " Okay, man." "Come on." "If I need you after I find water, can I count on you?" "You bet, man." "My cousin is grown up now and anyone can see her beauty." "Even wicked men." " Are you talking about yourself, nephew?" " No." "I'm talking about someone else." "There's always something new on your mother's head." "I've sent for Madame Joseph." " Madame Joseph?" " Yes, the mambo." " She'll get here tomorrow, God willing." " Ah." "What a pain!" "The saints demand so much, all so they'll grant us water and end this misfortune." "Are you going to help me?" "I have a lot to do, Manuel." "I'll help you, Mom." "Tomorrow I'd like you to find the white calf for me." " Why not wait until it's older?" " What'll we live on, then?" "There'll always be time to eat our teeth down to the gums!" "It's in God's hands." "Manuel, you don't seem like yourself." "I was wondering why a man spat as I went to greet him the other day." "What was he like?" "He was a large man with evil eyes." " Evil eyes?" " Yes." " Red like annatto?" " Yes." "Gervilen!" "That damn stray dog!" "When I came here, I was walking with a girl." "When she found out who I was, she turned her back on me." " Who was she?" " Her name was Anaisa." "Oh." "Rosana's daughter." "Why are we enemies, Dad?" "Blood was spilled." "It was over a piece of land." "A piece that ultimately dried up, like all the others." "Dorisca, Gervilen's father wanted it all for himself." "Salvador, my brother, had a right to it as well." "Then came the arguing, and the clairin." " Dorisca used to badmouth everyone." " Yeah, and drink all the time." "He insulted my brother in front of the men." "So my brother leveled him, and it killed him." "I took my share, too." "Then my brother Salvador died in prison." " The water hadn't run out by then?" " It was starting to." " But the coumbites ended, right?" " Yes, for good." "So we started to die before the water ran out." " What are you saying, Manuel?" " No, nothing." "Nothing, Dad." " Good morning, Anaisa." " Get out of my way." "We're going the same way." " I've looked everywhere for you." " I said move, Manuel." " You remembered my name." " God!" "What are you, deaf?" "Aren't you tired of this hatred between us?" "So help me, Ana." "They might see us, Manuel." " Let's meet tomorrow at Los Lataneros Hill." " I don't know." " I'll be there in the afternoon." " I don't know..." "Philoget!" "Philoget!" "Come here right now!" " Hey, Manuel." " What's up?" "How about your water, Manuel?" "Did you find it?" "Not yet, man." "This is as bad as it's ever been, Manuel." "We are cursed men." "Look, we are the earth." "Without us, the earth is nothing." "But we're poor, Manuel." "That's because we still don't know that we're a single... force." "Some day we'll have a great coumbite to end this misfortune." "Maybe so, man." "Where is that man who came from Cuba?" "I'm here." "I'm here." " Yes, Dad." " Yes, Dad." "No, no, no!" " No, Dad." " No, Dad." "What's up?" "Get me a clairin." " You're just playing heavy ones." " It's all I've got." "You're going to pass to me?" "I hear you're talking to the people here." "You're getting involved in things that don't concern you." "Fine." "Suit yourself, but don't say I didn't warn you." "Is that all?" "Let's see someone beat this!" "What are you, an animal?" "Legba, your corn, your bread, make it rain, Legba." "Legba, your corn, your bread, make it rain." "Legba, your corn, your bread, make it rain." "Mom, come on." "There's hardly any corn." "It's for our old Guinean gods." "First it's a goat and now it's corn, which doesn't even grow now." "Where is your water?" "I'm looking for it, Mom." "I swear I'm looking for it." "Legba, your corn, your bread." "Legba, your corn, your bread." " Hello, Anaisa." " Hello, Manuel." " So you came." " I did, but I didn't plan to." "Earlier, I said I'd go to the market and now I'm on my way back." " Manuel...?" " Yes?" "I'm a serious woman, okay?" "No man has ever touched me." "I came because I knew you'd respect me." " You said I could help you?" " Yes, Ana." "A lot." "Come with me." "Sit down here so your dress doesn't get dirty." "Do you see the valley?" "If this continues, everything will die." "First the plants, then the animals and then, perhaps us." "And what've we done about it?" "Sigh and give up." "We've been selling it all little by little." "We do ceremonies for the souls, but that's useless." "So you... don't believe in the old Guinean gods?" "Not really, Ana." "I don't think a goat's blood will bring rain to the earth." "What would you say, Anaisa if you saw corn down there that's as tall and full-grown as you?" "What if Guinea grass covered all but the cattle's heads?" "What would you say?" "What if water flowed through your backyard?" "Will that ever be possible, Manuel?" " Yes, Ana." "I promise." " Really, you?" "Yes, me..." "Manuel Juan José." " And how will you do all that?" " I won't be alone." "Everyone will help because it'll be a lot of work." "Oh, Manuel!" "Yesterday's friends are today's enemies." "The blood still isn't dry yet." "I know, Ana." "But you see, the greatest thing in the world is that all men are brothers." "You're smart, Manuel." "I know you'll find water." " So you'll help me?" " I don't know what I can do." " I'm not as smart as you." " Yes you are." "To prove it, you'll answer a question for me." "It's a riddle." "Come with me." "Do you see my home?" "Now follow that trail down to the path on the right." "It'll be next to that." "It's a good spot, isn't it?" "One could build a home with a railing two doors, two windows and plant flowers there." "Whose home will that be?" "You haven't answered my question." "I have to go now, Manuel." "You haven't answered my question." "Yes, Ana?" "Yes." "But I have to go, please." "What do you want?" "Your heart should tell you that whenever I'm around." " Gervilen!" " I'm your cousin and I should be your husband." " Whore." " Don't insult me!" "I know who you were with." "So what, we're friends with them now?" "Aren't you my cousin, and aren't I Dorisca's son?" "Speak!" "Answer me!" "Then answer me this instead:" "Will you be my wife?" "You're crazy, Gervilen." "Yeah, I'll show them how crazy I am!" "Get out of here!" "Go!" "My goodness!" "There aren't enough heads in the city to sell all these hats." "As if what's inside them is so important that it needs decoration." "Less talk and more work." "Good morning." "How are you?" "Good morning." "How are you, daughter?" "He finally left?" "He says he can't take it anymore, and he's leaving now." "He's leaving right now." "What do you want?" " Hey, step aside." " What's a man worth if he runs?" "What do you want?" " Haven't you seen how the soil is?" " It's in the dust I breathe." "You think a man can farm here, and raise a family?" "I promise I'll get you water." " You?" "What can you do?" " I promise I'll get you water, Pierli." "Come on." "Good morning, Manuel." " It's high, but it's where the pigeons fly." " Yeah, so?" "They're waterbirds, and they don't come around here anymore." " I know." " Are you tired?" "I'll find it." "I have to find it." " Délira." " Yes, Bienaimé?" "You're a good woman." "But I'm a pain in the neck." "No you're not." "You have your bad days, but it's because of all this misfortune." " I'm a pain in the neck!" " No, you have a very good heart." " Who would know better than me?" " You're so argumentative!" " Fine, Bienaimé." " What's fine?" " That you're a pain in the neck." " Who, me?" " And you're argumentative." " Me?" "Wasn't that what you wanted me to say?" "Go tell the whole world, why don't you!" "He found it!" "He found it!" "He found it!" "He found it!" "He found it!" "He found it!" " What the hell did he find?" " The water!" "Look at him!" "Your son said he'd find it, and he did!" " Is that true, Manuel?" " Yes, I found it." "Son!" "First, we have to install a line of posts, to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion." "Then open a channel from the hill to the valley." "Each person digs one little channel to the main channel." "It's a great task, a general coumbite requiring all of Fonds Rouge." " Everyone?" " Everyone." " Have you forgotten about Salvador?" "A single group can't do it all, Dad." "Besides, it's their water too." "But you found it, and they're our enemies!" " The water is everyone's." " That's enough!" "So what do you say?" "Ash." "For a while now, Salvador and Dorisca have been just that: ash." "And yet we keep burning ourselves in it." "I went into deep mourning after Salvador died." "He was my brother-in-law." "But in my heart, there's no place for hatred." "Hatred isn't caused by bloodshed." "It's caused by poverty." "That's exactly right." "Hey, boss." "Someone found water." "That guy who came from Cuba, Bienaimé's son." "That guy named Manuel." "He brought a piece of wood over there, in his pocket, a piece of wood he brought from Cuba." "A magic wand." "He was over there, but I don't know where." "There was a pile of stones and he touched it with his wand, and a hole opened up, and the hole began to gush water." "But only he knows where it is." "Bienseguro was watching him, but when he went, he couldn't find it." "Well, we still don't know if it's true." "We have to be sure." "A lie is like money lent at interest:" "it has to yield something." "What interest does Manuel have in telling this lie?" "How does he profit?" "They'll be able to water their fields." "Yes, and we'll be watching them and won't get a drop." "Those lucky bastards!" "We have to leave Fonds Rouge, to avoid seeing them enjoy the water." "It's not a question of them hoarding it." "They want to share it with us as well." " Manuel mentioned a general coumbite." " That's a lie!" "At my age..." "I won't be called a liar by anyone!" " Who said he wants a general coumbite?" " Anaisa came and told me." "Ha, Anaisa... seems she and Manuel have a thing going." " Watch it, that's my sister!" " Then take better care of her." " Hey!" "That's enough!" "You, over there." "And you, sit there." "You all know the situation now." "What's your decision?" "What are you afraid of?" "Are you not men?" " That's out of line!" " Shut up!" " You shut up too!" "Let the others talk." "We need to think this over." "Some men have no pride, like dogs!" "Well, there's no rush." "We'll meet tomorrow and we'll make a decision." "Brother Gervilen!" "Brother Gervilen, I want to talk to you." "Save your breath." "Brother Gervilen!" "Brother Gervilen!" "Dad, I don't think you should go." "You won't have time to return today." "Hyah." "Hyah!" "Hyah." " Délira, I'll be back tomorrow." " Okay, all right!" " You'd only be doing your duty." " Yes, and then some." "I could find that water before the others do." "Some more time without water and we'll have them in debt forever." "And to think, that guy is here to ruin everything!" "That Manuel is against the law and the government." "Well..." "I've got no choice." "I'll have to do something." "We have to take the water by force." "But why take it by force if it's for everyone?" "Save your strength for the coumbite." " Honor, Larivoire." " Respect, Manuel." " Good evening, everyone." " Good evening." "The rumors are true." "I've found a great water source." "We all must come together and unite to bring the water here." "Blood is forever, and blood has been spilled." "Blood is death." "Water is life." "Dorisca died, and he was my father." " Or did you forget that?" " And Salvador died in prison." " Revenge has been taken." " Not by my hand." "Brother Gervilen..." "Don't call me brother." "There's nothing between us." " Count me in, Manuel." " You swine!" "Hey, Gervilen!" "Watch your mouth, or some day you'll regret it!" "Now I see." "You've sold your souls for a drop of water." "For clairin, you'd have sold yours." "Out of respect for you, I won't say all that I think." "You've crossed paths twice with Gervilen Gervilí, and once was too many." "What's your answer?" "You've come in good faith, Manuel, but I must give you my answer tomorrow." "Give him a torch so he can see the road." "Who's there?" "Hey, who's there?" "It's your son, Mom." "Come quick!" "Manuel!" "Oh, son!" "What have they done to you, Manuel?" "What have they done to you, son?" "Oh, Manuel!" "Manuel!" "Oh, son!" "What have they done to you?" "Oh, son!" "Oh, son!" "Oh, tell me what they've done to you, Manuel!" "Tell me who did it, son." "Tell me!" "Oh, son!" "Oh, Manuel!" "Tell me who it was so I can tell Hilarión." " Tell me." " No, don't tell him." "Oh, God!" "But they've hurt you!" "They've killed you, Manuel!" "If you tell him, everything will be lost." "There must be no more revenge." "Okay, son." "Okay." "Son." "Easy, son." "Drink slowly." " Mom." " Yes." " Do you hear me?" " Yes, son." "We must save the water." "It's okay, don't worry." " Ask Anaisa about it." " Anaisa?" "Yes, she's the one who knows the way." "Don't worry, son." "Good morning." "What, is he sick?" "Yes, he brought back a bad fever." "What a setback." " The lieutenant is asking for him." " Well, look at him." " When he gets up, tell him to come by the barracks." " I will." "Do you want me to help you dress him?" "Thank you, but I'll wait." " Are you waiting for someone?" " I'm just waiting." "Come in." " What have they done to you, Manuel?" " Keep your voice down." "It was his last wish that you not say anything." "Come with me." "Respect, neighbor." "Gervilen is gone." "Yes, I knew." "But nobody else must find out about it." "I would've liked it if Gervilen were here, so I could repeat my son's words to him." "He said that we made sacrifices to the loas that we offered the blood of our goats and the little corn we have, to make water come." "But it was all in vain because what really counts is human sacrifice." "He also asked that, after his death there be a general coumbite." "In other words a coumbite involving everyone."