| FELO-DE-SE |
| Old Quirk calmed down and looked at the boy with a profoundly sad countenance, when, just as if a light went on in his cadaverous head, he panicked and said, "O dear, the dunkel-schatten, I've forgotten to mention the dunkel-schatten!" "The what?" "The pale, master Amos, beware the pale!" "The pail?" "The pale of spirits, so benighted, that to see them is to give up one's soul to despair! They gather at the crossroads for the Wild Hunt, which is on this very night, and they follow their leader, Hecate, and her hellish hounds, as she leads them thro' the back roads and byways, searching for lost souls to carry back to Hades. "They appear, at first, as a swift moving fog, absorbing all of the light in their path. Blacker than pitch, they sweep along until they are upon one; but by then, all hope is lost. If you see it coming, cover your eyes and throw yourself to the ground; recite the Lord's Prayer until they have passed, and whatever you do, address not the Mistress of the Hunt, for your soul shall become forfeit to her whims. "There was a Hessian soldier that passed thro' here once, and he gibbered of it; 'twas he that named it so, although I reckon it probably has numerous names given to it by the myriad souls whom have had the misfortune to witness its' stygian upas. This Hessian had seen his comrade taken by it, and spake of it with such horror, in a raspy whisper. I believe that if his spectral eyes could muster them, they would have welled with tears. I can honestly say that is the only time in which I saw a dead man actually blanch whiter than he already was." "And this horrible thing, this 'dunkel-whatzitz', can be stopped by a prayer?" "The Lord's Prayer; do you not know the Pater Noster?" "No, I don't know." "Well then, say what you do know, and say it with conviction, for this Hadean retinue knows the difference and shall relish in mocking your empty words as they crimp your soul for their spectral ranks." "All right, I get the picture, I'll think of something when the time comes, I'm sure. Look, I should get going, so I can talk to the other guy and get back to the forest before dawn." "Take this road on the left (or is it the right?), and beware, for he is a crafty blackguard and will no doubt try to corrupt or kill you, as he can. God speed master Amos, and remember well the lessons you have learnt here." "Thank you Mister Quirk, I won't forget you, nor your stories, anytime soon, I can assure you." |