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Show 118 onto the steps of the church, the sleeves of his cassock falling back from his upraised arms. "All of you, listen to me! Bring the children to mass tomorrow. We will pray to God that he will take away the illness." "They may be too sick to come to church tomorrow, Father," the mayor answered, rising wearily to his feet. "If they are well enough to dance, they are well enough to come before our Lord." Father Johann spoke resolutely - he was never indecisive about religious matters. "It may be that they are p..possessed!" Gasps rose from the crowd, and the people began to make the sign of the cross. "I...I do not say that this is the case, but bring the children to the house of God tomorrow on the Sabbath," the priest shouted. "Perhaps they will be better tomorrow, and we will praise God for his divine aid. But if they are not better, we will begin to s..suspect. If he finished the sentence, I did not hear the words because a burst of groans and wails rose around me. "Demons!" "Devils!" "Possession!" Almost as one, the people reached for their children and dragged or carried them home,, |