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Chapter 3
Azzie found Mother Joa
"It's the Devil's own job, untangling this knot," she declared.
"Why, then, better let me have a go at it," Azzie said cheerfully.
She handed him the tangle of ropes. Azzie held up his left forefinger and blew on it; his forefinger turned a bright canary yellow, all except the fingernail, which extended itself into a steel-colored talon. Azzie tapped the knot with his talon, and a green nimbus of fire danced around it for a moment. When it died away, he tossed the bundle of ropes back to Mother Joa
"How on Earth…" she began.
"A fakir's trick, learned in an Oriental bazaar," Azzie said, gri
Later that evening, the pilgrims were gathered around the fire; all were there except Azzie, who had declared his intention of taking a stroll in the woods to relax before bedtime. Oliver and Mother Joa
"The new fellow," Oliver said. "What do you think of him?"
"He fair puts the wind up me," the abbess said, reverting to an expression of her childhood na
"Yes," Oliver agreed. "There's something unca
"Indeed I would. In fact, just an hour ago, I had a little encounter with him that has left me thinking."
"So did I!" said Sir Oliver. "When I had trouble starting the fire, Sir Antonio did it himself—with his forefinger."
"His forefinger and what else?" asked Joa
"Nothing else. He pointed it, and flames sprang up. He said it was an old fakir trick he learned in the Orient. But I say it looked like witchcraft."
Mother Joa
"It's not normal," Oliver said.
"No. It most certainly is not."
"And it's not some Oriental fakir's trick, either."
"That it is not," Mother Joa
"How could I overlook it?" Oliver said. "It is a devil mark, is it not?"
"That it is," Mother Joa
Just then Azzie reappeared from the forest, whistling merrily. Over his shoulder he carried a young deer.
"I would be pleased if you'd let me provide tonight's di
Chapter 4
The pilgrims were awake before first light. As the morning sun came filtering through the leaves, they packed, made a hasty breakfast, and were under way. All day they journeyed through the forest, keeping close watch for signs of trouble, but not encountering anything fiercer than mosquitoes.
By early evening Sir Oliver and Mother Joa
They were afraid he had deceived them. But he was as good as his word, and suddenly the i
They were greeted at the door by Brother Francois, a large, burly, bearded man. He shook their hands as they trooped in one by one.
Azzie was the last to enter, and he gave Brother Francois a bag of silver coins, "To pay for our stay." He laughed and gave Francois a peculiar look; Francois staggered back as though struck by some unpleasant thought.
"Sir," the Dominican asked, "have I not made your acquaintance before?"
"You might have seen me in Venice," Azzie said.
"No, it was not Venice. It was in France, and it had something to do with bringing a man back to life."
Azzie remembered the incident, but he saw no reason to enlighten the monk about it. He shook his head politely.
After that, Brother Francois seemed upset and absent- minded. He explained about rooms and victuals to the pilgrims, but seemed scarcely able to keep his attention on his own words. He kept glancing at
"Not long at all," Oliver said. "Has he shortchanged you?"
"No, no. To the contrary."
"What do you mean?"
"He agreed to pay six centimes for use of the room, and he put the copper coins in my hand. Then he said, 'What the Hell, I might as well be generous." and he pointed his finger at the coins. And the coins changed to silver."
"Silver!" cried Mother Joa
"Of course! Look for yourself." He held out a silver centime bit. All three of them stared at it as if it were the Devil himself.
Later Oliver and Mother Joa
"How very curious!" Oliver said. "Why, do you sup-o »
pose: Mother Joa
"But if he thinks Antonio is a demon, why did he not at least tell us?"
"I think he was afraid to say a word," Mother Joa
The soldier and the nun sat silently for a long time, staring gloomily into the flames. Sir Oliver poked at the coals, but he didn't like the faces he could see in the flames. Mother Joa
After a while she said, "We can't just let this situation continue."
"No, certainly not," Sir Oliver said.
"If he's a demon, we must take steps to protect ourselves."
"Ah! But how to find out?"
"We'll come right out and ask him," Mother Joa
"Do so. I would be most grateful," said Sir Oliver.
"I mean, I think you should come right out with it. You are a soldier, after all. Address him to his lace!"
"I wouldn't want to insult him," Sir Oliver said, after giving the matter some thought.
"This Antonio is not a human."
"Whatever he is, he might object to our knowing it, though," Sir Oliver said.
"Somebody has to speak to him."
"I suppose so."
"And if you're any sort of man…"
"Oh, I'll speak to him, all right."
"He is definitely a demon," Mother Joa
"A demon! Right here among us!" said Sir Oliver. "If that's the way it is, I suppose we should kill him. Or it."
"But could we kill a demon?" asked Mother Joa
"Is it? I have no experience in these matters."