From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Ti-Jeanne shrank back, trying to hide Baby’s face from the terrifying sight. But he chortled and stretched baby-fat hands out in the direction of the Jab-Jab. Tony had more sense. Behind her, she could hear him whisper, “God Almighty

Ti-Jeanne shrank back, trying to hide Baby’s face from the terrifying sight. But he chortled and stretched baby-fat hands out in the direction of the Jab-Jab. Tony had more sense. Behind her, she could hear him whisper, “God Almighty! What the hell is that?”

The Jab-Jab turned its appalling grin of living wood in their direction. It hopped right up to the three of them, split its wooden lips wide, and hissed in their faces—a hot, stiff wind.

Which was exactly how the roti shop felt. As the tune of the Caribana hit “Raise Your Hand in the Air” crashed against her eardrums, Ti-Jeanne opened her eyes again, to find herself in Roopsingh’s roti shop. As always, the roti shop was hot and noisy. The single, rickety ceiling fan only stirred the super-heated air around. ... In disorientation Ti-Jeanne asked Tony, “What happen? Is where we was?”

Tony frowned at her. “Huh? We were outside, you started running, I followed you inside. You shouldn’t be scared by Crazy Betty, you know.”

What was he talking about? Slowly, Ti-Jeanne’s surroundings registered on her and she realised: Tony hadn’t seen what she had! Fear was like ice in her chest. Lately the visions had been growing stronger, more vivid. This was the worst one yet.

Tony didn’t seem to notice how dazed she was. He turned to the shop owner, a slight, middle-aged East Indian man, and said, “God Almighty, Roopsingh; what the hell is that crap you playing on the stereo?” He was speaking to Roopsingh with almost the same words he’d used in her vision.

The thought of the ’burbs scared Ti-Jeanne. She knew it was safer. She knew that there were hospitals and corner stores and movie theatres, but all she could imagine were broad streets with cars zipping by too fast to see who was in them, and people huddled in their houses except for jumping into their cars to drive to and from work. It had been years since she’d seen any cars actually running, except for Mercy Hospital ambulances and Rudy’s elegant grey Bentley.