The Exorcist

    "I don't know," Merrin answered. "I don't know. And yet it never seems to happen. Never. Never." Merrin put a hand to his face, tightly pinching at the corners of his eyes. "Damien... what a wonderful name," he murmured. Karras heard exhaustion in the voice. And something else. Some anxiety. Something like repression of pain.

    Abruptly, Merrin pushed himself away from the wall, and with his face still hidden in his hand; he excused himself and hurried down the hall to the bathroom. What was wrong? wondered Karras. He felt a sudden envy and admiration for the exorcist's strong and simple faith. He turned toward the door. The singing. It had stopped. Had the night at last ended?

    Some minutes later, Sharon came out of the bedroom with a foul-smelling bundle of bedding and clothing. "She's sleeping now," she said. She looked away quickly and moved off down the hall.

    Karras took a deep breath and returned to the bedroom. Felt the cold. Smelled the stench. He walked slowly to the bedside. Regan. Asleep. At last. And at last, thought Karras, he could rest.

    He reached down and gripped Regan's thin wrist, looking at the sweep-second hand of his watch.

    "Why you do this to me, Dimmy?"

    His heart froze.

    "Why you do this?"

    The priest could not move, did not breathe, did not dare to glance over to that sorrowful voice, did not dare see those eyes really there: eyes accusing, eyes lonely. His mother. His mother!

    "You leave me to be priest, Dimmy; and send me institution...."

    Don't look!

    "Now you chase me away?..."

    It's not her!

    "Why you do this?..."

    His head throbbing, heart in his throat, Karras shut his eyes tightly as the voice grew imploring, grew frightened, grew, tearful. "You always good boy, Dimmy. Please! I am 'fraid! Please no chase me outside, Dimmy! Please!"

    ... not my mother!

    "Outside nothing! Only dark, Dimmy! Lonely!" Now tearful.

    "You're not my mother!" Karras vehemently whispered.

    "Dimmy. please!..."

    "You're not my---"

    "Oh, for heaven's sake, Karras!"

    De

    "Look, it simply isn't fair to drive us out of here! Really!

    I mean, speaking for myself it's only justice I should be here! Little bitch! She took my body and I think it only right that I ought to be allowed to stay in hers, don't you think? Oh, for Christ's sake, Karras, look at me, now would you? Come along! It isn't very often I get out to speak my piece. Just turn around -now."

    Karras opened up his eyes and saw the De

    "There, that's better. Look, she killed me. Not our i

    Karras swallowed.

    "Yes, or no," it prodded "Is it fair?"

    "How was... the head turned around?" asked Karras hoarsely.

    De

    Karras pondered, a dryness in his throat. Then he picked up Regan's wrist again; And glanced at his watch in a move of dismissal.

    "Dimmy, Please! Don' make me be alone!"

    His mother.

    "If instead of be priest, you was doctor, I Live in nice house, Dimmy, not wit' da cockroach, not all by myself in da apartment! Then..."

    He was straining to block it all out, but the voice began to weep again.

    "Dimmy, please!"

    "You're not my---"

    "Won't you face the truth, stinking scum?" It was the demon. "You believe what Merrin tells you?" It seethed. "You believe him to be holy and good? Well, he is not! He is proud and unworthy! I will prove it to you, Karras I will prove it by killing the piglet!"

    Karras opened up his eyes. But still dared not look.

    "Yes, she will die and Merrin's God will not save her, Karras! You will not save her! She will die from Merrin's pride and your incompetence! Bungler! You should not have given her the Librium!"

    Karras turned now and looked at the eyes. They were shining with triumph and piercing spite.

    "Feel her pulse!" The demon gri

    Regan's wrist was still gripped in his hand, and now he frowned worriedly. The pulse beat was rapid and...

    "Feeble?" croaked the demon. "Ah, yes. A trifle. For the moment, just a bit."

    Karras fetched his medical bag and took out his stethoscope. The demon rasped, "Listen, Karras! Listen well!"

    Karras listened. The heart tones sounded distant and inefficient.

    "I will not let her sleep!"

    Karras flicked up his glance to the demon. Felt chilled.

    "Yes, Karras!" it croaked. "She will not sleep! Do you hear? I will not let the piglet sleep!"

    As Karras stared numbly, the demon put its head back in gloating laughter. He did not hear Merrin come back into the room.

    The exorcist stood by him at the side of the bed and studied his face. "What is it?" he asked.