"My God, you're brutal!"

"Somebody has to be," said Mrs Dane Calthrop. "Always envisage the worst. You've no idea how that steadies the nerves. You begin the worst. You've no idea how that steadies the nerves. You begin at once to be sure it can't be as bad as what you imagine." at once to be sure it can't be as bad as what you imagine."

She nodded at me reassuringly.

"You may be right," I said doubtfully.

Mrs Dane Calthrop said with complete certainty that of course she was right. was right.

I proceeded to details.

"You're on the telephone here?"

"Naturally."

I explained what I wanted to do.

"After this - this business tonight is over, I may want to keep in close touch with Ginger. Ring her up every day. If I could telephone close touch with Ginger. Ring her up every day. If I could telephone from here?" from here?"

"Of course. Too much coming and going at Rhoda's. You want to be sure of not being overheard." sure of not being overheard."

"I shall stay on at Rhoda's for a bit. Then perhaps go to Bournemouth. I'm not supposed to - go back to London." Bournemouth. I'm not supposed to - go back to London."

"No use looking ahead," Mrs Dane Calthrop said. "Not beyond tonight." tonight."

"Tonight..." I got up. I said a thing that was out of character. "Pray for me - for us," I said. for me - for us," I said.

"Naturally," said Mrs Dane Calthrop, surprised that I should need to ask. ask.

As I went out of the front door a sudden curiosity made me say: "Why the pail? What is it for?"

"The pail? Oh, it's for the schoolchildren, to pick berries and leaves from the hedges - for the church. Hideous, isn't it, but so handy." from the hedges - for the church. Hideous, isn't it, but so handy."

I looked out over the richness of the autumn world. Such soft still beauty... beauty...

"Angels and ministers of grace defend us," I said.

"Amen," said Mrs Dane Calthrop.

III.

My reception at the Pale Horse was conventional in the extreme. I don't know what particular atmospheric effect I had expected, but it don't know what particular atmospheric effect I had expected, but it was not this. was not this.

Thyrza Grey, wearing a plain dark wool dress, opened the door, said in a businesslike tone: "Ah, here you are. Good. We'll have said in a businesslike tone: "Ah, here you are. Good. We'll have supper straight away." supper straight away."

Nothing could have been more matter-of-fact, more completely ordinary... ordinary...

The table was laid for a simple meal at the end of the panelled hall. We had soup, an omelette, and cheese. Bella waited on us. She We had soup, an omelette, and cheese. Bella waited on us. She wore a black stuff dress and looked more than ever like one of the wore a black stuff dress and looked more than ever like one of the crowd in an Italian primitive. Sybil struck a more exotic note. She crowd in an Italian primitive. Sybil struck a more exotic note. She had on a long dress of some woven peacock-coloured fabric, shot had on a long dress of some woven peacock-coloured fabric, shot with gold. Her beads were absent on this occasion, but she had two with gold. Her beads were absent on this occasion, but she had two heavy gold bracelets clasping her wrists. She ate a minute portion heavy gold bracelets clasping her wrists. She ate a minute portion of omelette but nothing else. She spoke little, treating us to a of omelette but nothing else. She spoke little, treating us to a faraway wrapped-up-in-higher-things mood. It ought to have been faraway wrapped-up-in-higher-things mood. It ought to have been impressive. Actually it was not. The effect was theatrical and impressive. Actually it was not. The effect was theatrical and unreal. unreal.

Thyrza Grey provided what conversation there was - a brisk chatty commentary on local happenings. She was this evening the British commentary on local happenings. She was this evening the British country spinster to the life, pleasant, efficient, uninterested in country spinster to the life, pleasant, efficient, uninterested in anything beyond her immediate surroundings. anything beyond her immediate surroundings.

I thought to myself, I'm mad, completely mad. What is there to fear here? Even Bella seemed tonight only a half-witted old peasant here? Even Bella seemed tonight only a half-witted old peasant woman - like hundreds of other women of her kind - inbred, woman - like hundreds of other women of her kind - inbred, untouched by education or a broader outlook. untouched by education or a broader outlook.

My conversation with Mrs Dane Calthrop seemed fantastic in retrospect. We had worked ourselves up to imagine goodness retrospect. We had worked ourselves up to imagine goodness knows what. The idea of Ginger - Ginger with her dyed hair and knows what. The idea of Ginger - Ginger with her dyed hair and assumed name - being in danger from anything these three very assumed name - being in danger from anything these three very ordinary women could do, was positively ludicrous! ordinary women could do, was positively ludicrous!

The meal came to an end.

"No coffee," said Thyrza apologetically. "One doesn't want to be overstimulated." She rose. "Sybil!" overstimulated." She rose. "Sybil!"

"Yes," said Sybil, her face taking on what she clearly thought was an ecstatic and other-world expression. "I must go and prepare..." an ecstatic and other-world expression. "I must go and prepare..."

Bella began to clear the table. I wandered over to where the old inn sign hung. Thyrza followed me. sign hung. Thyrza followed me.

"You can't really see it at all by this light," she said.

That was quite true. The faint pale image against the dark encrusted grime of the panel could hardly be distinguished as that encrusted grime of the panel could hardly be distinguished as that of a horse. The hall was lit by feeble electric bulbs shielded by thick of a horse. The hall was lit by feeble electric bulbs shielded by thick vellum shades. vellum shades.

"That red-haired girl - what's her name - Ginger something - who was staying down here - said she'd do a spot of cleaning and was staying down here - said she'd do a spot of cleaning and restoring on it," said Thyrza. "Don't suppose she'll ever remember restoring on it," said Thyrza. "Don't suppose she'll ever remember about it, though." She added casually, "She works for some gallery about it, though." She added casually, "She works for some gallery or other in London." or other in London."

It gave me a strange feeling to hear Ginger referred to lightly and casually. casually.

I said, staring at the picture: "It might be interesting."

"It's not a good painting, of course," said Thyrza. "Just a daub. But it goes with the place - and it's certainly well over three hundred it goes with the place - and it's certainly well over three hundred years old." years old."

"Ready."

We wheeled abruptly.

Bella, emerging out of the gloom, was beckoning.

"Time to get on with things," said Thyrza, still brisk and matter-of- fact. fact.

I followed her as she led the way out to the converted barn.

As I have said, there was no entrance to it from the house. It was a dark overcast night, no stars. We came out of the dense outer dark overcast night, no stars. We came out of the dense outer blackness into the long lighted room. blackness into the long lighted room.

The barn, by night, was transformed. By day it had seemed a pleasant library. Now it had become something more. There were pleasant library. Now it had become something more. There were lamps, but these were not turned on. The lighting was indirect and lamps, but these were not turned on. The lighting was indirect and flooded the room with a soft but cold light. In the center of the floor flooded the room with a soft but cold light. In the center of the floor was a kind of raised bed or divan. It was spread with a purple cloth, was a kind of raised bed or divan. It was spread with a purple cloth, embroidered with various cabalistic signs. embroidered with various cabalistic signs.

On the far side of the room was what appeared to be a small brazier, and next to it a big copper basin - an old one by the look of brazier, and next to it a big copper basin - an old one by the look of it. it.

On the other side, set back almost touching the wall was a heavy oak-backed chair. Thyrza motioned me towards it. oak-backed chair. Thyrza motioned me towards it.

"Sit there," she said.

I sat obediently. Thyrza's manner had changed. The odd thing was that I could not define exactly in what the change consisted. There that I could not define exactly in what the change consisted. There was none of Sybil's spurious occultism about it. It was more as was none of Sybil's spurious occultism about it. It was more as though an everyday curtain of normal trivial life had been lifted. though an everyday curtain of normal trivial life had been lifted. Behind it was the real woman, displaying something of the manner Behind it was the real woman, displaying something of the manner of a surgeon approaching the operating table for a difficult and of a surgeon approaching the operating table for a difficult and dangerous operation. This impression was heightened when she dangerous operation. This impression was heightened when she went to a cupboard in the wall and took from it what appeared to be went to a cupboard in the wall and took from it what appeared to be a kind of long overall. It seemed to be made, when the light caught a kind of long overall. It seemed to be made, when the light caught it, of some metallic woven tissue. She drew on long gauntlets of it, of some metallic woven tissue. She drew on long gauntlets of what looked like a kind of fine mesh rather resembling a bullet- what looked like a kind of fine mesh rather resembling a bullet- proof vest I had once been shown. proof vest I had once been shown.

"One has to take precautions," she said.

The phrase struck me as slightly sinister.

Then she addressed me in an emphatic deep voice.

"I must impress upon you, Mr Easterbrook, the necessity of remaining absolutely still where you are. On no account must you remaining absolutely still where you are. On no account must you move from that chair. It might not be safe to do so. This is no child's move from that chair. It might not be safe to do so. This is no child's game. I am dealing with forces that are dangerous to those who do game. I am dealing with forces that are dangerous to those who do not know how to handle them!" She paused and then asked, "You not know how to handle them!" She paused and then asked, "You have brought what you were instructed to bring?" have brought what you were instructed to bring?"

Without a word, I drew from my pocket a brown suede glove and handed it to her. handed it to her.

She took it and moved over to a metal lamp with a gooseneck shade. She switched on the lamp and held the glove under its rays shade. She switched on the lamp and held the glove under its rays which were of a peculiar sickly colour, turning the glove from its which were of a peculiar sickly colour, turning the glove from its rich brown to a characterless grey. rich brown to a characterless grey.

She switched off the lamp, nodding in approval.

"Most suitable," she said. "The physical emanations from its wearer are quite strong." are quite strong."

She put it down on top of what appeared to be a large radio cabinet at the end of the room. Then she raised her voice a little. "Bella. at the end of the room. Then she raised her voice a little. "Bella. Sybil. We are ready." Sybil. We are ready."

Sybil came in first. She wore a long black cloak over her peacock dress. This she flung aside with a dramatic gesture. It slid down, dress. This she flung aside with a dramatic gesture. It slid down, looking like an inky pool on the floor. She came forward. looking like an inky pool on the floor. She came forward.

"I do hope it will be all right," she said. "One never knows. Please don't adopt a sceptical frame of mind, Mr Easterbrook. It does so don't adopt a sceptical frame of mind, Mr Easterbrook. It does so hinder things." hinder things."

"Mr Easterbrook has not come here to mock," said Thyrza.

There was a certain grimness in her tone.

Sybil lay down on the purple divan. Thyrza bent over her, arranging her draperies. her draperies.

"Quite comfortable?" she asked solicitously.

"Yes, thank you, dear."

Thyrza switched off some lights. Then she wheeled up what was, in effect, a kind of canopy on wheels. This she placed so that it effect, a kind of canopy on wheels. This she placed so that it overshadowed the divan and left Sybil in a deep shadow in the overshadowed the divan and left Sybil in a deep shadow in the middle of outlying dim twilight. middle of outlying dim twilight.

"Too much light is harmful to a complete trance," she said.

"Now, I think, we are ready. Bella?"

Bella came out of the shadows. The two women approached me. With her right hand Thyrza took my left. Her left hand took Bella's With her right hand Thyrza took my left. Her left hand took Bella's right, Bella's left hand found my right hand. Thyrza's hand was dry right, Bella's left hand found my right hand. Thyrza's hand was dry and hard, 'Bella's was cold and boneless - it felt like a slug in mine and hard, 'Bella's was cold and boneless - it felt like a slug in mine and I shivered in revulsion. and I shivered in revulsion.

Thyrza must have touched a switch somewhere, for music sounded faintly from the ceiling. I recognised it as Mendelssohn's "Funeral March." March."

"Mise en scne." I said to myself rather scornfully. "Meretricious trappings!" I was cool and critical - but nevertheless aware of an trappings!" I was cool and critical - but nevertheless aware of an undercurrent of some unwanted emotional apprehension. undercurrent of some unwanted emotional apprehension.

The music stopped. There was a long wait. There was only the sound of breathing, Bella's slightly wheezy, Sybil's deep and sound of breathing, Bella's slightly wheezy, Sybil's deep and regular. regular.

And then, suddenly, Sybil spoke. Not, however, in her own voice. It was a man's deep voice, as unlike her own mincing accents as was a man's deep voice, as unlike her own mincing accents as could be. It had a guttural foreign accent. could be. It had a guttural foreign accent.

"I am here," the voice said.

My hands were released. Bella flitted away into the shadows. Thyrza said: "Good evening. Is that Macandal?" Thyrza said: "Good evening. Is that Macandal?"

"I am Macandal."

Thyrza went to the divan and drew away the protecting canopy. The soft light flowed down on to Sybil's face. She appeared to be deeply soft light flowed down on to Sybil's face. She appeared to be deeply asleep. In this repose her face looked quite different. asleep. In this repose her face looked quite different.

The lines were smoothed away. She looked years younger. One could almost say that she looked beautiful. could almost say that she looked beautiful.

Thyrza said: "Are you prepared, Macandal, to submit to my desire and my will?"

The new deep voice said: "I am."

"Will you undertake to protect the body of the Dossu that lies here and which you now inhabit, from all physical injury and harm? Will and which you now inhabit, from all physical injury and harm? Will you dedicate its vital force to my purpose, that that purpose may be you dedicate its vital force to my purpose, that that purpose may be accomplished through it?" accomplished through it?"

"I will."

"Will you so dedicate this body that death may pass through it, obeying such natural laws as may be available in the body of the obeying such natural laws as may be available in the body of the recipient?" recipient?"

"The dead must be sent to cause death. It shall be so."

Thyrza drew back a step. Bella came up and held out what I saw was a crucifix. Thyrza placed it on Sybil's breast in a reversed was a crucifix. Thyrza placed it on Sybil's breast in a reversed position. Then Bella brought a small green phial. From this Thyrza position. Then Bella brought a small green phial. From this Thyrza poured out a drop or two on to Sybil's forehead, and traced poured out a drop or two on to Sybil's forehead, and traced something with her finger. Again I fancied that it was the sign of the something with her finger. Again I fancied that it was the sign of the cross upside down. cross upside down.

She said to me, briefly, "Holy water from the Catholic church at Garsington." Garsington."

Her voice was quite ordinary, and this, which ought to have broken the spell, did not do so. It made the whole business, somehow, the spell, did not do so. It made the whole business, somehow, more alarming. more alarming.

Finally she brought that rather horrible rattle we had seen before. She shook it three times and then clasped Sybil's hand round it. She shook it three times and then clasped Sybil's hand round it.

She stepped back and said: "All is ready."

Bella repeated the words: "All is ready -"

Thyrza addressed me in a low tone: "I don't suppose you're much impressed, are you, by all the ritual?

Some of our visitors are. To you, I dare say, it's all so much mumbo jumbo. But don't be too sure. Ritual - a pattern of words and jumbo. But don't be too sure. Ritual - a pattern of words and phrases sanctified by time and usage, has an effect on the human phrases sanctified by time and usage, has an effect on the human spirit. What causes the mass hysteria of crowds? We don't know spirit. What causes the mass hysteria of crowds? We don't know exactly. But it's a phenomenon that exists. These old-time usages, exactly. But it's a phenomenon that exists. These old-time usages, they have their part - a necessary part, I think." they have their part - a necessary part, I think."

Bella had left the room. She came back now, carrying a white cock. It was alive and struggling to be free. It was alive and struggling to be free.

Now with white chalk she knelt down and began to draw signs on the floor round the brazier and the copper bowl. She set down the the floor round the brazier and the copper bowl. She set down the cock with its beak on the white curving line round the bowl and it cock with its beak on the white curving line round the bowl and it stayed there motionless. stayed there motionless.

She drew more signs, chanting as she did so, in a low guttural voice. The words were incomprehensible to me but as she knelt voice. The words were incomprehensible to me but as she knelt and swayed, she was clearly working herself up to some pitch of and swayed, she was clearly working herself up to some pitch of obscene ecstasy. obscene ecstasy.

Watching me, Thyrza said, "You don't like it much? It's old, you know, very old. The death spell, according to old recipes handed know, very old. The death spell, according to old recipes handed down from mother to daughter." down from mother to daughter."

I couldn't fathom Thyrza. She did nothing to further the effect on my senses which Bella's rather horrible performances might well have senses which Bella's rather horrible performances might well have had. She seemed deliberately to take the part of a commentator. had. She seemed deliberately to take the part of a commentator.

Bella stretched out her hands to the brazier and a flickering flame sprang up. She sprinkled something on the flames and a thick sprang up. She sprinkled something on the flames and a thick cloying perfume filled the air. cloying perfume filled the air.

"We are ready," said Thyrza.

The surgeon, I thought, picks up his scalpel...