Blood on Satan's Claw Page #4

We'd like to save her, sir, for Cathy's sake.

But we have not the skill.

God grant we may not waste our pains.

lf she wakes, hold her fast.

(Moaning)

(Gasping)

(Panting)

(Gasps)

(Screams)

(Panting)

(Softer moans)

There. Not so bad.

Oh, the Lord be praised.

There, my chick, there.

There, thou be as right as rain.

- We must burn that skin.

- Yeah.

- Destroy it good and proper.

- Yes, yes.

Oh. There's no blood. That's strange.

Yes, very strange.

(Girl moaning quietly)

- Shall l live?

- Course thou shall, child.

What is thy name?

Margaret.

- l'm the devil's child.

- Oh, hush.

Thou art my child now.

No. l must go to my master.

Oh.

Why do my leg pain me so?

See, thou lucky lass. Ellen cares for thee.

l bring thee flowers.

Soon thou'll be fit to walk as well as l.

Then l shall run away.

Angel wants me.

Now listen here, Margaret.

Angel has gone from these parts.

Thou dost not serve her any more.

Thou stole my master's skin.

Thou shalt pay with thine.

Now leave thy threats

or the Lord will punish thee.

My lord is stronger. Soon he will be.

Come thou and serve him.

We honour thee for it was thee

who first set my master free.

Thou shalt lie with Angel.

Thou shalt lie with me.

Why did l think thou could be saved?

(Moans)

Curse the day l ploughed in Tarrant's field.

Good day, Ralph. How is't with the lass?

Oh, surely you're not afflicted now?

Oh, sir, it is a hopeless case.

She talks of nothing but the devil,

her master.

Oh.

l was certain we could have saved her.

The news from the village is grave, too.

Every day, someone is missed.

They do say the fiend

has been seen hereabouts,

hobbling on one leg, they say.

(Ellen) Margaret!

Margaret?

- Margaret!

- (Ralph) What is it?

Seen Margaret? She's run away.

(Ralph) Margaret!

Margaret. Margaret!

Margaret? Margaret!

(Ellen) Margaret!

(Ralph) Margaret!

(Ralph) Margaret!

(Ellen) Margaret!

l shall be named. She'll report me

to her godless clan. They'll punish me.

(Ralph) Don't you fret, sir. Margaret!

- Who's that?

- They're coming for us.

lt's the master.

(Peter) Ahoy, there! How goes it with you?

l brought assistance.

(Coach driver shouting)

(Mooing)

Whoa!

My lord, we're in a desperate plight.

You can't imagine. The village is going mad.

Welcome back, sir.

The devil himself is coming among us,

like in the book l showed you.

l owe you thanks for that book, Doctor.

Well, dear friends, be brief.

This parish is diseased.

What are the symptoms?

Oh, sir, my poor children, both are gone.

And countless others, maybe.

They give their bodies to the devil.

- My poor Ellen.

- We found a girl has bore the devil's skin.

The doctor cut it out.

Come in. Tell me more of this.

Where is this girl, this devil worshipper?

- She escaped, my lord.

- Ralph, again you just give me stories.

Have you no evidence?

Where, for instance, is this girl

that Peter talks of? This Angel Blake?

My lord, l... l have something here.

- What is it?

- lt's the skin l cut from Margaret.

This will be sufficient.

Yes.

l mean to run this devil of yours to earth,

if he exists.

(Growling)

These dogs know

how to tear the devil's heels.

But sir, many are afflicted.

lnnocent folk may be hurt.

Leave me to judge who is innocent.

Angel!

Angel, are you here?

lt's me - Margaret.

l come back to you, Angel!

(Girl) Who calls Angel?

Margaret. ls it tonight? Am l too late?

(Angel) Tonight.

Save me, Angel. The dogs are after me.

What has thou done, Margaret?

Nothing. l'm afeard.

Let me come with thee.

- (Distant barking)

- Yes, Margaret.

Come to me.

Aah!

(Margaret gasps and cries)

- Telltale b*tch, thou set the dogs on me.

- Course l didn't.

- Get me out of this.

- What dogs? Whose dogs?

l don't know,

they've been chasing me for miles.

Ah. They could be from the farm.

- Farm?

- Edmonton's. They kept me there a week.

- What did thou tell them, Margaret?

- Oh, nothing.

Oh! Nothing. l swear. Get me out of this.

They just kept you there?

Yes. Oh, let me out.

Art thou ready to give thy skin tonight?

Art thou ready?

Let me see.

(Barking)

They did it to me.

There was nothing l could do.

They took it from me.

Save me, Angel.

Thou b'ain't worth saving, Margaret.

Let the dogs eat thee.

Bye.

Angel!

(Barking getting louder)

- (Grunts)

- (Screams)

(Groaning)

Here!

(Grunts)

- What is your name, woman?

- Get it off me!

Who set traps for you?

Pig!

Why do you set the dogs on me?

Bring her.

- Over there.

- (Margaret panting)

Bind her.

Leave us, Ralph.

(Margaret) Ralph!

l do not wish to hurt you.

But l will have the truth. Do you hear?

l don't know what you mean.

l have one mission here.

To destroy your practices.

No consideration will prevent me.

So speak.

Never.

- You'll do better than that.

- l didn't kill no one.

Who will know,

when you're swinging from the gibbet?

Tell me, where is Angel Blake?

You saw her in the woods.

She was the one who trapped you.

(Gasps)

The b*tch.

lf Angel has returned,

where does she meet her followers?

Anywhere.

Where is your meeting place?

Anywhere.

Anywhere that's hidden.

Tonight...

No, no, tomorrow night. lt's past.

Tonight! Where?

ln the old church, like before.

My master will take his form

and the last one will give a limb...

And then... And then...

- (Sighs)

- That is all l need to know.

You be too late.

My master will be complete.

He'll be too powerful for you!

You don't have no chance.

(Crying)

- (Squawk)

- Oh!

(Panting)

(Banging continues)

(Ellen) Ralph.

Thou must not give me such frights.

- What's wrong with thy leg?

- Nothing. Don't touch it.

- Art thou alone?

- Yes.

- There's no one else here?

- No. Why do thee ask?

- Where's Mr Peter?

- Down the village with the rest of them.

Has thou not heard? The judge be

causing a great purge. Thou'lt be missed.

They may come for me.

What's wrong, Ralph?

We'd better go down the village.

As thou loved Cathy,

don't breathe a word to no one.

No, no. No.

- No one goes to the spare room now?

- No.

Ralph? Don't go up there!

(Man) There's going to be a riot.

(Voices)

(Man) Here we are. There we are.

Go on. Out.

Three muskets. Are there no more?

- No, sir.

- Them guns ain't no use against the devil.

- Are you one of his clan?

- l, sir? No, to be sure.

- My daughter's there, sir. Don't shoot her.

- Her daughter be a ruddy witch.

We're to hang 'em all, every one of them.

- What are we waiting for?

- Hold on!

- lt's the judge.

- What are we waiting for?

What are we waiting for?

(Shouting stops)

So we are ready.

My good friends, we go about

the most fearful business.

Only the most strict discipline will save us

in our hour of trial.

Let those who are not resolved

remain behind.

Let us go.

Ellen, what are them lights?

(Low creaking)

(Low knocking)

(Knocking getting louder)

(Distant chanting)

(All) Sanctum fundamentum salve.

(Nasal growling)

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