Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Page #3

So good of you to come.

Not a problem.

I told them to bring her here, but...

So I've sent some morphine.

What, do you think they count them?

Do you think they count them

every night?

Might do.

Might do.

You got no more sense

than the fuzzies, corporal.

Here.

Respect the stripes, boy.

Oh, "respect the stripes" now, is it?

I tell you, they got thousands

of the things.

Just a handful would make us rich

for the rest of our lives.

Or get us hung.

Yeah?

Well, they can't hang us

for having a look, now, can they?

His wounds are healing well.

I hope we do as well with this.

He's young.

His bones are strong.

Jesus Christ!

Hundreds of them.

Every kind of precious stone.

Just a handful is all I need.

All we need, private.

We pool the take. Yeah?

Yeah.

Cover them.

Sorry, sir?

They're British soldiers.

I won't have them left like that.

Of course, sir.

Richardson. Avery.

Get some blankets

and cover those soldiers.

You will keep me informed

about Cheche?

Yes, of course.

Merrin.

Merrin.

What's going on here?

What do you mean?

What's going on here?

This whole valley.

Why don't you stay a couple of days.

You hardly had any rest. I'll show you

the dig, the church we found.

Who's in charge here?

Military. Major Granville.

Not you?

No.

No, not me.

You take care of yourself,

Lankester Merrin.

Yes.

Thank you.

Who, Merrin?

Why?

Well, these were on the ground.

They'd been pried out

of the mosaics.

Maybe they were trying

to stop a robbery.

Got killed by the thieves.

Of course.

Bloody savages.

No.

There's no reason to suspect

the Turkana, major.

What?

The style of the killings...

...the positioning of the bodies.

He's right.

It's Christian imagery, not pagan.

John the Baptist,

head on a platter.

Peter the Apostle crucified

A Christian is responsible?

You're both insane.

Merrin.

Chuma, get that man out of here.

Jomo saw what happened, major.

Did he?

And what was it

this Jomo saw precisely?

Jomo watches from the hills

that lie above this place, and...

And?

He says...

He says he saw

the two soldiers argue.

One killed the other

and then stabbed himself.

What the devil are you saying?

They were stealing jewels. Then

some sort of madness overtook them

Be quiet! I won't hear another word!

That is the most...

Tell this man that if he repeats

such absurdities, I'll arrest him, Chuma.

And you as well, do you understand?

The idea's absurd.

I'm supposed to accept

this was some sort of...

...acrobatic ritual murder and suicide?

It's not only absurd, it's an insult.

Those men were with me for years.

Major, please, please try

I don't need opinions, Merrin.

I've been lenient with you people,

Chuma...

...but warn the elders...

...that unless they hand over

the men that did this...

...life in these parts will become

distinctly less pleasant.

I will get to the bottom of this.

Major, please.

Do not choose the wrong side

in this, Merrin.

Remember what you owe...

...to whom.

The wrong side, major?

This is not war.

Hello, Rachel.

Is he all right?

Take a look.

He started to run a fever

early this morning.

And there was a warmth

radiating from the cast.

I took it off,

expecting to find gangrene.

You can imagine my shock.

So it's better.

It's on its way to being healed.

This should have taken weeks...

...not days.

And the fever's dropping.

I only hope that...

Hope what?

There are cases of false recovery...

...of a body's system

appearing to improve...

...but it's actually evidence

of a deeper problem.

Any reason to believe that's the case?

No.

No, there isn't.

So many terrible things have happened

in the last few days...

...you just can't see a good thing

for what it is.

I'm just glad there is something

to be grateful for.

This village has been

on the verge of an explosion.

I don't know

who's more likely to ignite it...

...Granville or the Turkana.

Mara quit.

The elders told her not to work here.

Because of the baby?

That's part of it.

What's happening?

I suppose you've all had

a good laugh...

...thinking what fools you've

made of the British Empire.

But you've fooled no one.

I told you I'd get

to the bottom of this.

Major, please stop this.

You don't understand.

Sergeant major!

Sir.

I want these people kept at a distance.

If they attempt to interfere,

they're to be arrested.

And if they resist, shoot them.

Sir?

Do it!

Yes, sir!

Not him.

I'll need an interpreter.

And interpret carefully, Chuma.

Tell them I have waited long enough

to find out who killed my men.

This is a small town. One of them

must know who is responsible.

I'll give them one more chance for that

person to reveal the murderer's name.

Major!

Mind your own, priest.

Sebituana says that everybody knows

that your men killed each other.

They were stealing and they went mad

Shut your mouth!

You think you're the law here,

do you?

You go on hiding your murderers

because you don't fear me yet.

Well, my friend, let me assure you...

Major, stop this!

...if a reason for fear is what you need,

then I can oblige!

Hold that man!

Corporal Williams.

Sergeant major.

Have the men stand down and fall in by

the lorry. Allow the natives to tidy up.

Move it!

Private Evans! On the guard wall!

Places on the guard wall!

Sir. To the car, sir.

Left, right, left, right, left, right...

I'm sorry I startled you.

Did you manage to sleep

through the night?

Yes.

I wish I could say the same

for Rachel.

She woke several times after you left.

Seemed afraid something

might happen to the boy.

She finally calmed down

when I said I'd watch over him.

Which seemed the least I could do.

Don't.

Don't what?

Don't acknowledge the fact that I was

the one that asked Granville to come?

You didn't ask him to shoot the girl.

There's only one person

responsible for what happened.

How is he?

He seems fine.

I'll take over.

You've got things to do.

Not much, I'm afraid.

I doubt there'll be much of a class.

Well, the children seem to genuinely

like school and you.

I'm sure some of them will turn up.

Are you all right, Merrin?

Is it cold in here?

Prayer, Merrin.

It's all we have at times like these.

Yeah.

It's like having nothing, isn't it?

Lankester.

May I speak to you

at a personal level?

Of course.

Christian to Christian?

"Evil may gain sway

over our lives for a time...

...but the ultimate power of faith...

...lies in its ability to strengthen men.

Not to conquer evil,

but to survive it."

You wrote that. I read it.

A young man's theories.

But you proved it.

I survived, if that's what you mean.

But did I live?

Not really.

He didn't force you

to wander from him.

He allowed you to...

...out of love.

And if you find now that you're lost,

you must have faith...

...that his love will guide you back.

All you have to do is ask.

You mean well,

but you can't see my soul.

I'm God's servant. He can.

Well...

...I didn't think I would see

so many of you today.

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