Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Page #4

When you go home, you must

remember to thank your families.

Their families not know, Father.

Their parents tell them

they must not come.

They say that Jesus Christ

killed Falashadey.

Falashadey, that was her name?

They come to school because

they think if they do not come...

...maybe Jesus Christ

might kill them too.

Joseph, James, come here.

Jesus Christ did not kill

that young woman.

The British major did.

And it was very, very wrong.

Jomo, no. You must not.

Anderson, get some medical help

in here.

Joseph!

My son.

What did he say?

What did he say?

He said...

...that he had to kill them to stop

the Christian evil from spreading.

This, Father?

Is this how the Almighty treats those

who have kept faith with him?

Yes.

No.

Father. Father Francis.

What is it? What's happened?

I think you'd better see for yourself.

My God.

How did you...?

I didn't.

Not intentionally.

This may be more your province

than mine, Father.

It's a miracle.

I have to get Merrin.

Will you be all right?

Yes.

Maybe you...

...are the one proof of God

in this terrible place.

Because you're certainly

the only innocent creature.

You know my guilt?

The spirit of our Savior.

It's in you.

And it will point the way

out of this darkness.

O Lord...

Lord, I pray thee...

...hear my voice as I have heard thine.

Let this blessed child

continue to be thy messenger...

...that we may know thy will...

...and thy wisdom.

In the name of the Father,

of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

God bless this child.

Don't ever touch me

with that again, priest!

The boy must be baptized.

You're still recovering

from that blow to the head, Father.

That's an awfully weak attempt

to explain this away.

Yes, it is.

Then you accept it?

An evil spirit at work in this town?

I didn't say that.

Things you think you heard...

...things you think you saw

You're saying I'm hallucinating.

What about the burn on his forehead?

Did I imagine that?

It's an injury

in the rough shape of a cross.

The rough shape.

You've had a nervous breakdown

Breakdown?!

I think it's you who have been

through too much, Merrin.

Will you please try

to control yourselves?

The boy needs rest.

And what about his perfect English?

Oh, of course,

I must be imagining that too.

All right.

Let's assume what you say is true.

What harm could there be

in his being baptized?

A great deal.

Those people hate and fear Cheche.

You want to expose him

to further danger...

...by having him join a religion

they equate with evil?

Say it. Say it, Merrin. Or can't you?

The work of Satan.

It's the work of man!

Why can't you accept that?

Because my only concern...

...is the eternal soul

of that young man.

Are you so arrogant, Merrin...

...that you would involve the rest

of the world in your crisis of faith?

That you would deny to someone

what you once cherished...

...simply because you now doubt it?

What makes you think he wants it?

You could try asking him.

He's awake now.

See.

Doctor, please, would you ask him

if he would like to become...

...a Christian like Appa and myself?

Unless you object.

Cheche.

He would like it.

Good.

Good, Cheche. Good.

He wants to do it in the church.

He seems to think

that's where you live.

He wants to be as much

like you as he can.

Unless you want to explain

your misgivings to him.

There's a beautiful baptismal font

in the church.

We could use that.

Major Granville.

Major Granville, sir.

Sir, are you...?

Are you all right, sir?

All right.

I shall be down in a moment.

Sir.

Oh, and sergeant major.

Sir?

I shall need you to give Mr. Merrin

a message.

Tell him...

Tell him I know now

how it's been for him all these years.

But tell him there's no way out.

Other than...

Sir!

I just need one or two more things

from the hotel, doctor.

I'll have him ready, Father.

Thank you.

Don't bother, doctor.

He asked me to give you a message

before he'd shot himself.

Said he understood

what you were going through.

That this was the only way out.

Any idea what he meant?

No.

He never meant to kill that girl.

That went against every part

of the major's nature.

Something got into him.

Mr. Merrin, sir...

...some of the boys, they...

They're not too happy.

The major was well liked.

So if you have any pull

with the spearchuckers...

...I'd advise them to step quietly.

I'll do what I can.

Thank you, sergeant major.

Carry on.

What do you make of that,

sergeant major?

I don't know.

But get on the radio to town.

I want all available men

up here on the double.

Come on.

Okay. We're gonna go down.

Just like that.

That's perfect.

Open the gate!

What is it?

It's music for battle.

Father.

Cheche.

His fever's come back.

Quickly, doctor.

But

Please, this is no miracle.

Help me.

Hold the child's head over the font.

I warned you about that, priest!

It is Sebituana.

He wants to talk

to the British commander.

Some sort of trick, then?

I'll go.

No.

We'll go.

Corporal Williams,

Private Standish, join us.

Arms at the ready.

Sebituana does not wish to fight.

Well, they ain't dressed

for ballroom dancing, Chuma.

What does he want, then?

For the church to be buried again.

That, and...

He wants Father Francis. He says only he

brought the Christian evil and soldiers.

He must die. So must the boy.

Only Cheche has drawn strength

from all the evil that has happened.

The British, if they leave now...

...will be spared.

Right.

You can tell Sebituana and his friends

to disperse quietly and go home...

...and we'll be the ones

doing the sparing.

If it's a fight they want...

...it's a fight they're gonna get.

You had no idea...

...what you were toying with,

did you?

The book of rituals...

...I have a copy.

I've got to get to town.

This boy is possessed.

Where's Rachel and Cheche?

Still inside.

The boy is...

I must get the book of rituals.

Satan is real.

I am perfection.

Francis!

No.

It's too dangerous.

I'm gonna maintain

the perimeter until daybreak.

We'll look for the Father then.

We have to clear those doors.

We have to get them out.

I've got my men to think of right now.

They're trapped in there!

We'll wait till the sun to come up.

Then we'll start moving the rubble.

All right, sir?

Well, are they gone or not?

There is no way to know.

Right, then. Corporal Williams,

send a detail of men...

...to help Mr. Merrin clear that rubble.

Then I want you and another detail...

...to go out there and see

if our friends are gone or not.

And have a look for Father Francis.

The rest of the squad's

to stay on the perimeter.

How could you leave him like that?

We didn't know what to do, sir.

Private Standish, cut him down.

Father Merrin.

He's alive.

Get a stretcher.

Do it!

Chuma, get the nurse,

tell her to come to the clinic.

Tell her she must come,

tell her it's Father Francis.

It's him. It's him.

It's him.

You'll be fine. Give me a hand!

It's him.

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