How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
It's a stone with a god in it, from the old country. A gede lwa, one of our ancestors. It's meant to protect me, so I think, well, now is the time. I hold it in my hand. It's smooth, round. It's like it came from the sea it's so polished. I thought it didn't work when I got shot in the arm and ended up in here. But now I think, what if it stopped me getting shot in the heart? Or in the head? (7.54)
Hmm… that's a head scratcher. Shorty tells us about his pwen and how he's come to appreciate it more now that he has a new perspective. Check out how he describes it as "polished," "round," and "smooth." What does this make you think of? Why is it important that the stone looks perfect?
Quote #8
It is impossible to need a thing without that thing being available for the having. A man may want a green horse that flies, but he cannot need one, for there is no such thing. (8.49)
Toussaint tries to think about the difference between needing and wanting. Just because he might want something, doesn't mean he needs it. The way he describes it? Through magic, of course. It plays a big part in Toussaint's understanding of what he should fight for in life and what can be left behind.
Quote #9
Together, we're Marassa. We have power. We can heal. We can see the future—we can change it, even. I didn't believe this before, but then I thought, what if it's true? (15.245)
As Shorty starts to question whether the supernatural that he's always suspected and mocked is real or not, we see him trying to console himself. We're not saying it's not true, but we also think it's important to think about context. Maybe Shorty just wants to believe it's real so he has a reason to go find his sister.