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The Death of the Curate
Thenhesleptawhile,andbeganagainwithrenewedstrength,soloudlythatImustneedsmakehimdesist.
"Bestill!"Iimplored.
Herosetohisknees,forhehadbeensittinginthedarknessnearthecopper.
"Ihavebeenstilltoolong,"hesaid,inatonethatmusthavereachedthepit,"andnowImustbearmywitness.Woeuntothisunfaithfulcity! Woe!Woe!Woe!Woe!Woe!Totheinhabitantsoftheearthbyreasonoftheothervoicesofthetrumpet——"
"Shutup!"Isaid,risingtomyfeet,andinaterrorlesttheMartiansshouldhearus."ForGod’ssake——"
"Nay,"shoutedthecurate,atthetopofhisvoice,standinglikewiseandextendinghisarms. "Speak!ThewordoftheLordisuponme!"
Inthreestrideshewasatthedoorleadingintothekitchen.
"Imustbearmywitness!Igo!Ithasalreadybeentoolongdelayed."
Iputoutmyhandandfeltthemeatchopperhangingtothewall.InaflashIwasafterhim.Iwasfiercewithfear. BeforehewashalfwayacrossthekitchenIhadovertakenhim.WithonelasttouchofhumanityIturnedthebladebackandstruckhimwiththebutt. Hewentheadlongforwardandlaystretchedontheground.Istumbledoverhimandstoodpanting. Helaystill.
SuddenlyIheardanoisewithout,therunandsmashofslippingplaster,andthetriangularapertureinthewallwasdarkened.
