Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Page #2

And besides, it is nothing more than

our Lord and Savior would expect.

If you need anything,

anything at all, just ask.

I wish others of our faith

felt that way.

Oh, but, of course, the town

will get the room back soon, since...

Since we have to build a proper school.

Oh, please, Father.

Do not think me a doubting Thomas.

But...

...we may not need

that new school right away.

Hello, Papa.

Hello, Joseph.

Hello, Papa.

Hello, James.

Well...

...it's a beginning.

Call for the doctor.

It is the heat.

Pick him up. Let's take him down.

I'll get some water.

Don't let him take it all at once.

Our friend is back.

Cheche.

Come for food and water again.

It must be even worse for him

in this heat.

I'll try to get him into the tent.

Do not let the men see that

Don't be afraid.

You got here quickly.

Your man made it sound urgent.

Well, is it?

Chuma, try to make him comfortable

in the back of my truck.

He needs rest and rehydration.

Heat stroke.

You're working them too hard.

There's water in the tent if you'd like...

I would. Thank you.

We had another visit

from that boy today.

Cheche?

Yes.

Any luck?

Couldn't even get close.

I had to sedate him two weeks ago.

Just to treat a beating

he took from a villager.

Why don't they help him?

They think he's cursed.

What he needs is sustained treatment.

Yes?

Nothing.

Early this year.

Two of the cattle

have been killed already.

Thank you, Chuma.

I must keep you safe

for the lady doctor.

Cheche.

Cheche.

The sores were very infected.

I've cleaned and dressed them.

There's no permanent damage.

The leg and arm

are a different matter.

Night, Mara.

There's nothing you can do?

Not for the arm.

The leg...

The leg could be theoretical

Theoret

Theoret...

"Theoretically."

Theoretically, the leg

could be rebroken...

...and set properly by a surgeon

from Nairobi.

They fly from...

Do you think he'd allow it?

It was called Chelmno.

That was the Polish name.

The Germans called it Kulmhof.

I was in a processing center

for confiscated items.

It's amazing what you're capable of

when your physical survival is at stake.

Things you think

you could never endure.

Well, nobody knew back then.

Everybody... We heard stories.

I wish they could fix that generator.

No one wanted to believe.

Of course not.

Who could believe such things

were happening?

No one wanted to believe.

It's so much easier to believe evil

is random...

...or an ogre...

...not that it's a human condition,

something everyone is capable of.

I believed God let us decide

between good and evil.

I chose good.

Evil happened.

Now you travel.

What are you looking for?

Nothing.

Sometimes I think the best view

of God is from hell.

This boy here...

You brought something

out of that young man.

God is in that boy that doesn't speak.

Until he tried to speak to you.

He's an unfortunate.

One of God's afflicted.

I think what you're looking for,

Father Merrin...

...is here.

You have been very brave, Cheche.

You're on the mend.

There.

Better, eh?

Better.

Yes. Better.

Merrin was right about you, Cheche.

I thought you'd run away.

Cheche...

...if Appa and I...

If we could make your leg better

Better.

Would you want that?

We'll have a great deal of news

for Appa, won't we?

Merrin, it's magnificent.

Wait till you get inside.

The war in heaven.

St. Michael.

It's so strange.

Churches were built to honor God...

...provide a house of worship,

but this...

This can't have been a meeting place.

No.

This had to have another purpose.

Merrin.

Look at the figures.

Yes.

Church architecture is supposed

to reach for the heavens.

But this looks as if

As if it were holding something down.

These rocks.

These rocks are like plugs.

What is that?

Like a sarcophagus.

What?

You hear that?

Yes.

Chuma.

Bring me some men

and the shear legs.

What is it?

What are you frightened of?

It's a temple of some kind.

What idol could inspire

a place like this?

I'd say it's dedicated to him.

Some pagan god of these parts.

Chuma?

The old people would sometimes

tell stories...

...of mountain demons

to scare us, but...

They built the church on top of this.

That's why they buried it.

To hold this down.

They used St. Michael to emphasize...

...that the old gods

had no power before the one.

But I never believed.

These are bloodstains.

People were sacrificed here.

Yeah.

It's almost like a scene

out of the Inquisition, isn't it?

The hyenas must have

attacked the cattle.

But the cattle...

...killed them.

Then ate them.

And now they die of it.

He wants you to stop digging.

He thinks the church is evil.

His side of the family...

...either old ways or nothing.

No argument.

Look here.

Look how it was done.

The workers who did this were not just

Not just workers. They were artists.

The mosaics came

from across the world.

Here. The great battle of the angels.

The turquoise from Egypt,

malachite from Namibia...

...lapis from Afghanistan.

Extraordinary.

This is St. Michael.

It's his church. It's dedicated to him.

But the violence.

It's the war of heaven.

God's angels fighting Satan

and his legion...

...cast into the underworld.

It's the sort of find

that makes a career.

I thought that at first,

but now it seems...

There is he.

Lucifer, source of light.

He was called

the most perfect of angels.

It will make you, Lankester.

But what will it make you?

You're trying to see through me.

Are you a head doctor as well?

It doesn't take an expert

to see you're suffering.

You're in guilt.

We're all in guilt.

What I told you the other night...

...I never told anyone else.

I told you because of something

I saw in you.

Merrin.

I've got to inform Cardinal Jenkins.

I hope you understand that if word

gets out about what's in there...

...the danger of violation and looting

Which is why we have...

...to inform Major Granville as well.

Ask him to send

a detachment of guards.

Because the British

have proved so trustworthy.

You haven't seen the British Museum?

Everything was looted

from sites like that.

Merrin, please.

You're not the only one involved.

Get on, boys.

All right, come on! Come on!

Out, out!

Welcome, major. Welcome to Derati.

Fall in on the left, quickly on the right.

Fall in and stand easy!

Good morning.

Good morning.

Beloved wherever we go.

Sir.

Sergeant major,

have the men stand to attention.

I have a feeling those good women

report to the local aristocracy.

And I don't want to display

even a hint of disrespect...

...now or at any other time. Am I clear?

Yes, sir.

Respect for the godforsaken

fuzzies at all times, sir.

That is precisely the sort of comment

Squad!

Squad, 'tion!

Men standing to attention, sir.

Thank you.

Mix it with blood or water.

It's for pain.

Sebituana's wife has gone into labor.

She's in a great deal of pain.

This is Dr. Lamu.

Oh, doctor.

Joseph Lamu.

Rachel Lesno.

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