The Final Conflict Page #5

- A protest march of one. How disappointing.

On the contrary, I congratulate you

on your perceptiveness.

Well?

- May we go inside?

- I'm sorry...

- Father De Carlo.

- I've had a long day, Father.

If you call my secretary,

she'll make an appointment.

I told you, I need to talk to you urgently.

OK. But... please keep your voice down.

My son's asleep.

"Then Herod sent forth and slew

all the children that were in Bethlehem

and in all the coasts thereof,

according to the time of the birth of Jesus,

which he had diligently

inquired of the wise men."

What are you talking about?

You stated that the common factor

about these killings is

that all the victims have been baby boys.

But there is another common factor.

All the boys were born between midnight

and 6am on the morning of March 24th.

Every child that's still living born

between those hours is in mortal danger,

- if he has not already been killed.

- Are you suggesting they've been murdered?

No, no, I am not. I am stating it as a fact.

- Who on earth would do such a thing?

- He is born again, Miss Reynolds.

And so is the Antichrist. The son of Satan.

As foretold in the Book of Revelation.

I'm sorry, Father. Look, I do respect

your faith, but I don't share it.

- You are not a practising Christian?

- No, I'm a practising journalist.

One rule of journalism

is to be a doubting Thomas.

I need to see evidence with my own two eyes.

Right.

Here is your evidence.

Check them for yourself.

Copies of the dead boys' birth certificates

from the central registry office.

In every case, the child was born

on the morning of March 24th.

Even if I can't appeal to your faith,

I appeal to your logic.

Why else would someone want to destroy

all children born on that date,

were it not in an effort

to destroy one child in particular?

That child is our blessed Saviour,

Jesus Christ, reborn.

Thus fulfilling his promise that,

at the end of times,

he shall come again to deliver

the world from the Antichrist.

And who exactly is this... Antichrist?

The American ambassador, Damien Thorn.

That's ridiculous! I know Damien Thorn.

You may know the man.

Do you know his soul?

Miss Reynolds,

I am a religious man, not a fanatic.

One of the commandments of my faith is

that we shall not

bear false witness against any man.

If I had one shred of doubt

about Damien Thorn,

my faith would command me

to remain silent.

But I've watched him now for 27 years,

ever since his father came to our monastery

to seek help in destroying him.

I've watched him grow from a boy into a man,

seen him exterminate

all those who stood in his way.

Very well. You know Thorn, the man.

I'll leave you with our research on him.

But you must satisfy yourself

before reaching your opinion.

And when you have done so, I would urge

that you contact me as soon as possible,

at this address.

Here.

Day or night.

I...

I can't promise you anything, Father.

You say I know only Thorn, the man -

not his soul.

But if I don't even know my own soul,

how can I see into his?

Only God can show you that.

There is, however, one sign

that identifies him as the Antichrist.

You will find it

in the Book of Revelation, as I told you.

You will also find it on Thorn himself.

Under his hair.

Here.

The birthmark of the devil.

6... 6... 6.

I'll let myself out. Good night, Miss Reynolds.

And may God guide your decision.

The Israelis are onto Schroeder.

We've got to eliminate him - now!

Before they have a chance to make him talk.

Then do it.

But we can't get close to him.

They've got him in Tel Aviv.

- Damien, you're the only one that can do it.

- You can handle it.

- I just told you. We can't get...

- And I told you

that every day the Nazarene lives,

my force would weaken.

- Now, how many boys are left?

- Three or four.

- Including your son?

- Now, wait a minute.

I've already told you,

he was born March 23rd.

- Now you gotta believe me.

- I'll believe you when the Nazarene is dead.

Yes?

Who is this?

It's Kate Reynolds' son.

He's calling from a coin box.

- But how'd he get this number?

- I gave it to him.

Hello, Peter?

Good. Now, listen carefully.

I want you to follow him wherever he goes,

and make sure he doesn't see you, OK?

Yeah, and call me as soon as you find out.

All right.

Be careful, Damien. His mother

was on the phone earlier this morning.

- She wants to see you.

- Why didn't you tell me?

- I wanna talk to her.

- Because she's dangerous.

I decide who's dangerous and who isn't.

Now, get her on the phone,

and tell her I wanna see her

tomorrow at the house.

And don't mention Peter.

Hi, honey! I'm home!

What are you doing in here?

Don't you come anywhere near him,

you murderer!

Murderer? What are you talking about?

You lay one finger on him,

and I'll butcher you,

just like you've butchered

all these other children.

A priest came by today. He came to warn me

that Damien Thorn is the Antichrist,

and he'll murder my baby, like he's killed

these others that were born on the same day.

- You believe some religious maniac?

- No!

I found the proof myself!

You don't know what you've done.

I once hosted a programme,

And Now For The Good News,

- which won an RTA award.

- Really?

For the lowest audience

viewing figure of the year.

Yet now I'm reporting death and destruction,

and my show's gone to the top of the ratings.

- Everyone loves a mystery.

- I think it goes deeper than that.

We might aspire after good,

but our real fascination lies with evil.

- Don't you agree?

- Not really.

Most people confuse evil with

their own trivial lusts and perversions.

Now, true evil is as pure as innocence.

Then what is evil?

Come on.

- I'll show you where Old Nick hangs out.

- Old who?

Old Nick.

He's down there somewhere,

lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce.

He must be at least 40 by now.

We first met when I was about four.

We've been old friends ever since.

You know Old Nick is the name

for the devil in England?

Of course I know.

But it's a great name for a pike.

Do you believe in God?

I think you know the answer

to that question already.

- Look, there it goes!

- Where?

Down there.

Damien! Help me!

Damien! I can't...

Help me!

Well, that should fit you.

I feel like a moth

that's flown too close to the flame.

But who is the moth,

and who's the flame?

Don't stop, Damien.

Don't stop.

Please don't stop.

What's the matter? What's the matter?

You wanna see what I see?

I want you, Damien.

You're hurting me.

Birth is pain. Death is pain.

Beauty is pain.

Damien?

- Was Schroeder on the Thorn payola or not?

- No statement.

- Can't we talk to Ambassador Thorn?

- The ambassador is unavailable.

- He's not even here.

- Where is he?

When he is ready to make a statement,

we will let you know.

Damien, I thought you were up at the house.

The press are goin' crazy for a statement.

I can hold 'em off until I've talked to Buher,

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