The Last Sin Eater

My people

came across an ocean

to live in the mountains

of this new world.

They brought with them all their hopes

of a new life and a new beginning.

But we were also a people

with dark secrets

we attempted to cover with an old ritual.

Yet secrets always reveal themselves

in the light of truth.

In that spring of my tenth year,

the whole truth was finally told.

Pa says I take after you, Granny.

That you do, Cadi.

You also have

your grandpa Ewan's blue eyes

and his soul hunger.

Give your mama time, Cadi.

Granny, whas wrong?

'Tis nothing, love.

If I could wish for one thing right now,

you know what it would be?

To go back in time?

Thad be nice, too, wouldn't it?

But what I'm aching for

is some color and beauty.

I'll be right back.

Cadi, girl? I love you, my dear.

I love you too, Granny.

Granny, I found them! I found them.

Granny?

Oh, no, Granny. Oh, Granny.

Gorawen told me, just days ago,

she heard the mighty voice

from the mountain calling.

She wanted to tarry a while

for Cadi's sake.

- Go on with you, Cadi.

- Yes. Yes, Mama.

Your ma send you out?

Yes, sir.

Gather up the cedar chips

and take them back to the house.

Ill cut down on the stench of death.

Cadi, you must listen to me, now.

Whatever you do,

never look upon the Sin Eater.

Do you understand me?

He has the cast of Hell in his eyes

and he's taken all manner

of terrible things unto himself,

and if you look at him,

his evil will surely spill onto you.

- Do you understand me, Cadi?

- Yes, ma'am.

All right, then.

- Angor.

- Brogan.

I give easement now to thee,

Gorawen Forbes,

that you not wander forever

over fields or mountains,

or along pathways.

And for thy earthly sins, dear woman,

I pawn my own soul.

As I listened to

that sad, wretched man,

I wondered why

he would take on the sins of people

who refused to look him in the eye,

and I wondered how long it would be

before he came to eat my sins away.

Would I have to live to be Granny's age

to be free of all the evil I had done?

By the time I turned around, he was gone,

and with him went my hope

of ever being forgiven.

You forget about him, Cadi Forbes.

He's done his purpose and now he's gone.

Get on home, now.

Who is the Sin Eater?

Who can I tell the truth to?

Who will take my sins away?

Anything I can do for you, Mama?

Cadi, go out

and get some garden sass for your mama.

Yes, Papa.

When are you gonna let this go

and start being a mama again, Fia?

Please, Angor, leave me be.

I can't take your questions right now.

Gorawen's passing...

This has nothing to do

with my mother passing, and you know it.

That child is as heartsick as you

about what happened to Elen and she...

She needs you.

It hurts too much.

How long are you gonna make us suffer?

It shouldn't have been my little Elen.

It shouldn't have been my baby girl.

Are you saying

you wish it was Cadi who died?

Thas it, isn't it?

Thas what you're saying.

You wish it was Cadi who died.

You should not be here, Cadi.

You've been warned to keep away.

Cadi!

Hello, Katrina Anice.

There's a better place

to cross the Narrows.

I know there is. Who are you?

- My name's Lilybet.

- How do you know me?

Everybody where I come from

has heard about what you did.

Everybody knows?

Everybody knows something,

Katrina Anice.

But who knows everything?

- Follow me. I know the way.

- To where?

To find the one

who can take your sins away.

Sin Eater?

- Where do you live?

- Is a long way from here, but not too far.

You're a very strange girl.

That spots no good, Cul.

You should try that spot right there.

Would you shush up? You'll spook my fish.

You couldn't spear a cow, anyway.

Cadi Forbes,

you are lucky I don't have a gun.

I might have shot you for an Indian.

Leave her be, Cul. Her granny just died.

She hollered out

just when I was about to spear me a fish,

a big fish.

Didn't mean to spook you, Cul.

Lilybet and me was just...

- Who's Lilybet?

- That little girl over there.

Well, she was there. She must be shy.

- I heard she ain't been right in the head...

- Stand fast, Cul.

What you doing on Kai land anyhow?

Wasn't paying attention

to where we were going.

Just following the river

down from the Narrows.

Does your mama know

that you were at the Narrows?

That ain't your business, is it?

You hungry?

You must have been going somewhere.

I am, sort of.

You mean besides scaring my fish away?

I was trying to find the Sin Eater.

The Sin Eater?

He's a monster.

He's a devil with fire-red eyes

and long fangs like a wolf.

He's a man who sold himself to the devil.

He smells death.

He spends his whole life

hoping people will die,

so he can feast on their sins.

Aye, and Ma says if he so much as

looks at you with his evil eye...

- You're dead.

- Thas not true.

- How would you know?

- Well, I ain't dead, am I?

You looked at him, didn't you?

At your granny's funeral.

I couldn't help myself.

His voice sounded so sad and lonely.

Now you're in for it.

Pray hard. Pray real hard

evil doesn't get a hold of you.

We best get on back home now.

Come on, Glynnis.

I wonder where he does live.

Only time he comes

is when somebody rings the passing bell.

Well, if anyone would know,

it would have to be somebody

who's older than the trees.

- Where did you disappear to?

- Here and there. Fagan is very handsome.

Mama, I want you to meet someone.

I made a new friend. Her name is Lilybet.

Not now, Cadi.

Thas all right, Katrina Anice.

Maybe another time.

Aye, you're right. Mama is busy

with her loom. Another time.

Coming. I'm coming.

Miz Elda, I was wondering who you'll be

wanting to come to your funeral?

Land sakes, child.

What a question to ask an old lady.

I ain't in the ground yet.

No, ma'am. But it will be too late to ask

once you're there.

Well, thas quite a good point.

And the Sin Eater?

Will you want him to come, Miz Elda?

Indeed. I'll be in sore need of him.

I have got me

a basketful of sins to unload.

- And how'll we find him for you?

- You won't need to find him.

The passing bell echoes right clear

in these mountains.

He'd hear it.

But why all these questions

about the Sin Eater?

I...

I need his help.

Turn around, Cadi.

He can't do a thing for you, child.

Whas done at that tree bridge is done,

and you have to live your life

with what happened.

And try and do good from now on

and you'll only have the one black mark

at the end.

Besides, he ain't coming for you

till you breathed your last.

Then I wish I was dead.

That way, it would be over.

Be careful what you wish for, Cadi.

God might hear you

and take you at your word.

Took my husband

with all his fool complaining.

Now, you better take that right back.

No, ma'am. I can't live my whole life

with what I done.

I need the Sin Eater to eat my sins now.

Please, Miz Elda, can't you tell me

where he lives, so I can talk to him?

- Oh, child.

Hello?

Like his daddy and his granddaddy.

The Kais ain't happy

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