the last book I ever read (The Long-Legged Fly: A Lew Griffin Novel by James Sallis, excerpt eight)

from The Long-Legged Fly: A Lew Griffin Novel by James Sallis:

We walked down Decatur to the French Market and trudged over the levee. A cool breeze eased in off the water. Due south along the river’s curve lay the city’s bulky torso, flanked by the wharf with its growth of ships, tugs, barges. The Canal Street ferry was just pulling out of its slip heading at an angle toward Algiers.

That camel’s hump of land over there, directly opposite oldest New Orleans and now the city’s fifth ward, is central to its history. At various times called Point Antoine, Point Marigny and Slaughter House Point, in the last days of French rule it was the site both of the colony’s abattoir and powder magazine—and a depot for shipment after shipment of slaves newly arrived from Africa.

Dr. King had a dream. I at least had History.