"I'm busy." "You're going to be busier." " I wouldn't even have the strength..." " A call from up stairs." "Trouble with the Valdemar mansion." "The auction's been brought forward and it hasn't been valued." "All right..." "When do they want it?" "They've ordered a full report by Monday." "What do you mean "ordered"?" "Who?" "The chairman himself rang me and he wasn't exactly in a very good mood." "Let's see..." "This was assigned to Orquicia 20 days ago when there was still plenty of time." " Any news of him?" " None." "And he's not answering his mobile." "I bet the bastard found something really juicy there and took off with it." "From that house?" "Nobody wanted to go there." "You don't find many Victorian mansions like that one in Spain." "It hasn't been catalogued so nobody knows what furniture orfabrics or cutlery are there." "Even the broom cupboard could be an antique dealer's dream." "Orquicia could have found something and be selling it right now to a dealer" " in Canada." " How come nobody kept tabs on him?" "Because the house is protected by the Foundation." "When they gave the go-ahead, Orquicia went straight in." "The bastard would have had a completely free hand." "So what do we do now?" "Get a report one way or another." "If anything's missing we'll have to cover ourselves somehow." "Any other suggestions would be very welcome." "Any idea who we could call?" "Nobody good enough..." "Unless... we called Luisa." "She might kill us." "She willkill us." "She hasn't had a moment since herfather..." "Well... we'd better be prepared fortrouble." "Call the messenger." "Let's hope it's quick and painless." "Okay." "That bastard..." "Some water..." " Who is it?" " Messenger." "Miss Llorente?" "Yes." "Sign here, please." "Okay." " Thank you." " Thank you." "Miss Llorente?" "Eduardo?" "How could you do this to me?" "This is my first free weekend" " in 2 months." " I'm really sorry, Luisa, but listen." "We only have till Monday to value the place and you're the only expert free." "Wait a minute." "It's the Valdemar house!" "Orquicia's doing that." "No way!" "That lazy bastard will only take the credit after." "No, he won't." "He's been officially fired." "Sure." "And what if he gets reassigned?" "No." " I've seen it before." " I give you my word." "All right, on two conditions..." " Whateveryou say." " One:" "You pay the cancellation fees on my ticket." "Fine." "And two?" "I want Orquicia's portfolio." "You're taking advantage and you know it, but okay." "But I want that report first thing on Monday..." ""And on company stationery," I know." "All right." "It was a pleasure negotiating with you." "Bye." "Well, well." "This could be my big chance." "Over 140 files, some worth a fortune." "Give me a "well done" meow." "Very good." "Don't be silly." "Put Mam on." "Mam, it's me." "Yes, fine." "Look, I can't come overtomorrow." "Work." "Yes." "No!" "There's nobody with me, Mam." "Yes, I would tell you." "Look... how about if...?" "Hello." "Good morning." "Sorry to botheryou but I'm lost." " I'm looking forthe Valdemar mansion." " It's here." "At the end of the lane." "I'm Santiago." "I'm Luisa." "Pleased to meet you." "Do you work at the house?" "They didn't tell you I was coming to see it?" "They don't tell me anything." "The cows are the only ones that don't keep secrets from me." "I'll come to the gate with you." "The lock's a bit rusty and you have to push." "Perfect." "I'll just get my stuff." "It's complicated getting here." "Half the roads around here aren't even on the map." "We are a bit off the beaten track." "Sure you want to go in?" "Of course." "Thanks for everything." "You've been very kind." "Now I must go." "I have to value the house." "Again?" "Someone came to do that not so long ago, a big fat guy." "I didn't like the look of him." "Well, I'm here to do a job worthy of the house and those who take care of it." "In that case, fine." "Just be careful." "I wouldn't want the same thing happening to you as to your colleague." "My colleague?" "City folk, they come down here, stay the weekend, then just vanish." "As they never say goodbye, I never know when to lock the house up." "Come and see me, at least to say goodbye." "It's nice to know someone from the capital." "I'll do that." "I won't be too long." "Thanks again." "What an idiot." "Nothing's been catalogued." "Now this is something else!" "A late 19th-century Hadenbruk." "I'd love to take you home and restore you." "Top floor:" "large." "an attic." "The wood of the pillars and buttresses is rotten." "High risk of collapse." "Damp spreading throughout." "Organic rodent killerforthe rats and disinfection will be necessary." "There is a very strong smell." "It could come from a drain not included in the plans but... that makes no sense." "Help!" "Help me!" "The woodshed!" "Go to the woodshed!" "Get me out!" "Let's go!" "It's okay, you're safe now." "What happened?" "Why did you let her in?" "This is Pablo." "Leave a message." "If I don't owe you any money, I'll call you back." "Pablo, this is Nicolas again." "I must have left a hundred messages already." "This is to say that I'm in town now." "I have to meet Maximilian." "I don't know why, but it seems important." "So call me." "We need to talk." "Nicolas." "Get in." "Hello, Maximilian." "How are you?" "Drive on." "Follow that car." "Heavy rain this morning, bright sunshine this afternoon..." "Some people can put up with the changes but my gout can't." "You can't imagine how painful it is." "Good flight?" "Yes, fine." "A bit rough but fine." "I hope I'm on time." "The message said you wanted to see me asap." "I'm glad they called." "I thought you'd forgotten me." "If you don't mind, I'll come straight to the point." "We made you come because... we have a serious problem." "Of the worst possible kind." "Look..." "Luisa Llorente, an expert appraiser of out-of-the-ordinary houses." "Four days ago, she went to value one nearthe forest of Monte Negro." "Lazaro Valdemar's country house." "I never heard of it." "You know Inmoberance's policy:" "discretion at all times." "Only potential buyers get to see the properties." "So what's happened?" "She's disappeared." "It's as if the earth had swallowed her." "We're not even sure she's still alive." "That's why you're here." "Look..." "I want you to find her and bring her back, whatever it costs." "The police and the press don't know anything about this yet." "It must stay that way." "Shit..." "Don't worry." "Don't be afraid." "I'm Damaso, I work with Santiago." "That was my fault." "I must have turned it on when I brought it in." "How do you feel?" "You've been unconscious almost seven hours." "Seven hours?" "Where am I?" "You fainted." "Don't you remember?" "Here, drink this." "My own recipe." "It'll pick you up in no time." "This is our house." "Santiago wanted to bring your car but with this storm, it'll be difficult." "All the roads turn to mud." "You're hurt." "It's nothing." "Really." "Just an accident." "A scratch." "What happened to you?" "You went into the house for my things, didn't you?" "I thought you'd need them." "Get some rest." "Did you go up there... to the attic?" "Didn't you see anything unusual in the corner?" "A stretcher covered with plastic sheets?" "There was a mutilated corpse." "It was Pablo Orquicia, the other valuer." "A man?" "That's not possible." "I went up to the attic but didn't see anything." "I promise you when I went up there, I did see some plastic sheets... but a mutilated corpse?" "Are you sure about that?" "As sure as I am that you didn't have an accident." "I'd preferto talk calmly when you've rested." "Could I at least make a call?" "They'll be worried at work." "They insist we call in." "There's no line." "The storms kept bringing the wires down and the phone company stopped fixing them." "And mobile phones... well, you've seen what the signal's like." "Occasionally we can get the police on the radio." "I can see if it's working." "I'll tell them you're okay and want to tell them about your colleague." "But no promises." "It all depends on the storm." "I'd appreciate that." "It'd put my mind at rest." "Try and get a little sleep." "I promise we'll talk about this in the morning." "You know what's going on here, don't you?" "How do you expect me to sleep if you won't tell me?" "If I told you, you wouldn't sleep forthe rest of your life." "This is where we say goodbye." "There's a train ticket in the folder." "In your compartment you'll find Dr. Nora Cervia, from the Valdemar Foundation." "She'll fill you in on the rest." "You'll go to a hotel nearthe house." "Everything's arranged." "All right." "I'll call in every 24 hours." "I want a direct line to you... no secretaries, no switchboards." "We'll do it that way." "Good luck." "Thank you." "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." "Come on, answerthe phone!" "Hello?" "Yes... sir." "This is Eduardo, sir." "There's a slight problem." "We're getting calls, mainly from Luisa Llorente's mother." "She's distraught because Luisa hasn't called her." "She wants to call the police." "Then tell her some story." "Use your imagination." "You're the creative department," " for God's sake." " Shouldn't we call the police?" "I mean, first Orquicia, now Luisa..." "That's two people missing." "You ring the police and it'll be three." "I'll see to that." "This goes no further." "Is that clear, Mr. Campins?" "Completely, sir." "Completely." "Are you still there?" "Yes, I'm still here." "I was thinking." "Don't be shy." "Dr. Cervia, I presume." "Smart alec," "I presume." "You can call me Nora but don't get any ideas." "What shall I call you?" "Nicolas." "Nicolas will be fine." "Perfect." "I don't mind people calling me by my first name as long as it's with respect." "That's how I treat others." "I think it's essential if there's to be the slightest degree of respect." "That's fine by me." "Are we travelling alone?" "No, not alone." "It's you and I." "If you mean the other passengers, we've bought all the tickets forthis compartment." "We'll have more freedom to talk." "I see you have everything under control." "What's the next step?" "To make two essential points clear." "Nicolas, you know why I'm here?" "Not completely." "I know you're a top executive" " at the Valdemar Foundation." " I'm the president." "The president of the Foundation." "And we both have our priorities." "Yours is to find that woman and mine as president is to have the property valued." "Again?" "It's more like a recount." "We sent in the first valuer several weeks ago and have heard nothing from him since." "We suspect embezzlement of some kind." "Why was no investigation launched when the first valuer disappeared?" "Because there was no one to care about him disappearing." "So end of story." "I beg your pardon!" "Don't tell me you knew him." "Yes." " We were old friends." " Now that is astonishing." "What?" "My knowing him?" "No, not your knowing him." "The fact that he had any friends." "Well, I can see you didn't like him, though you seem to have good reason to believe he plundered the property." "Just conjecture, that's all." "For example?" "First there's the connection between yourfriend Orquicia's disappearance and the possible theft of items he catalogued." "A matter of putting two and two together." "Second, in its 180 years of existence, the house has never been plundered." "Valdemar mansion always remained" ""intact" and unaffected by the passing of time." "Actually it's known as the "avoided house"." ""Avoided house"?" "What does that mean?" "It's a fable, a myth." "The oceans have their romances..." "The case is the same with some old houses." "They have... theirtragedies, their legends." "Yes, sir, whateveryou say." "Fine." "Yes." "All right, goodbye." "Everything okay?" "Sure." "Like a dream." "It's all so good that they've made us private eyes." "We've even got our own code names:" "laurel and Hardy." " Really?" " Go ahead and laugh but this is all getting out of hand." "What did he say?" "That we have to find Luisa." "We got her into this, so we have to get her out." "So tonight we're sleeping at a hotel nearthe house and tomorrow a private detective is taking over." "In the morning we join the hunt." "We'll only get in the way." "What good will we be there?" "Elementary, my dear Watson." "However, boss's orders." "Oh, yeah..." "I think it's to stop us answering Luisa's mother's calls." "But if we don't answer, she'll get even more distraught." " Elementary again, Mrs. Watson." " Stop that." "He gave me one overriding order." "Call this lady..." "Luisa's mother, and tell her Luisa's been cut off by snow and we're going to get her and that she told us to tell her not to worry." "I'm sure you'll think of more details." "I don't like the idea." "I don't think she'll fall for it." "And if something has happened to her, we could be in real trouble." "The orders came straight from the boss, Ana, so we'll obey them." "Let him take the rap." "These are Leonor and Lazaro Valdemar." "This is their diary." "They look happy." "They were." "Much more than most married couples today." "They met in jail." "He was serving a sentence for an alcohoI-related offence and she helped him to rehabilitate himself." "They were nice people, friendly, and ahead of theirtime." "Leonor ran an orphanage at the house while her husband worked full-time in a field that was taking off:" "photography." "As they couldn't have kids of their own, they dreamed of making enough money one day to adopt one of their orphans." "I see." "After a time, Lazaro got bored of taking family photos and began experimenting with optical illusions: diffusion, black backgrounds, double exposure... and discovered how well-suited his research was to everything connected with the occult." "He had a great success with what he called "psychic photography"." "Like taking pictures of people's auras?" "No, it was a fraud, a huge confidence trick." "But you have to see it within the time context: the 19th century." "Spiritismwas new and appealing." "It was soon very much in vogue." "Join hands." "Lazaro took advantage of that and came up with something different, bold, something unique." "Photographs of people with the spirits invoked." "Gradually his séances became private, exclusive affairs and his photographs luxury items." "The middle-class couple made so much that soon they were moving in high-society circles." "Thank you." "Adopting a child began to look possible." "Do you know what?" "There's still some money left, even after vaccinating all the children." "If it goes on like this, by year's end we may be able to put in an application for adoption." "Put in an application there." "Rememberthe doctors advised you not to become with child, my love." "There is a limit to science." "Afterthat God takes a hand." "Let's ask Him forthat favour." "Will you ask Him or... shall I?" "Madam..." "I have something foryou both." "It was definitely the best time in their lives." "But Lazaro was too trusting and forgot the illusionist's golden rule:" "improve your tricks constantly." "She was happy, wasn't she?" "This was the beginning of the tragedy." "All right, let's get this overwith." "What do you want?" "Tell me... how much do you make a year with this set-up?" "40,000?" "50,000?" " Don't be ridiculous." "The money takes the form of altruistic, even anonymous, donations, all spent on the children." "So sad." "You provide rich families with children." "You must get something in return." "We do not sell children, if that's what you mean." " We are a charitable institution not..." " A market?" "You haven't got much business sense." "I'll ask you again... what do you want?" "I'm a journalist." "I do my job and it's my duty to inform the public." "About the truth." "Let me suggest an alternative... an alliance... an agreement..." "Imagine two different headlines." "One praising the incredible charitable work you do with those poor little orphans, and you keep your little secret..." "The other, rather different, rather more..." "what shall I say?" "More... realistic perhaps." "Between the two there is a difference." "Half of what you get." "That's enough!" "I want your answertomorrow morning." "Your answerwill dictate mine." "Consider it an investment." "With all the publicity from the paper, your income will increase considerably and we'll all be happy." "You, me and, of course, those poor little angels." "Jervas." "You wanted to hear an offer?" "Well, that's it." "The result was quick to come." "The second headline appeared 2 days later." "Though Lazaro managed to hide almost all the evidence, the word "fraud" was too serious." "Lazaro!" "Their friends turned their backs on them." "No one came to their aid." "They were left alone to face the world but... no matter howfar away they might send him, wherever they might put him, one thing they could never do:" "part them." "Beatriz's here!" "Beatriz's here!" "And who taught you to call grown-ups by theirfirst names?" "They look better every day." "It's marvellous what you've done." "How are you?" "I came as soon as I heard." "I can't wait to get some news." "I've sent Jervas to find out what he can." "Be patient, it's only been 48 hours." "They'll keep him there for a few days." "What are people saying?" "All kinds of things." "Most are very fond of you and don't believe it, but the press is influential." "Let things calm down before you do anything." "I don't mind the waiting." "But I hate the idea that our lives are beyond our control." "Jervas, what have you heard?" "How is he?" "What did he say?" "Not much." "Fortunately there's a jailerwho can be bribed." "But I wasn't with him long." "I hardly saw him." "He said... they're keeping him there until the trial." "Madam... he asked about you." "But I'm sorry..." "I couldn't give him his medicine." "But he needs it!" "His liver is very delicate." "One drop of alcohol could be fatal to him." "We've been giving it to him without his knowledge." "He refuses to treat himself." "Who can I turn to for help?" "Superintendent Dartin ranks highest at the jail but he's a hard man and I warn you, he hates our movement." "We've often had to face that." "Please." "I understand he has lunch every day at the casino with the editor." "He gives him inside information for exclusives." "It's indecent!" "Worst of all, everyone knows." "Madam... what are you going to do?" "This is a gentleman's club." "Then neither of us should be here." "I want to speak to Superintendent Dartin." "Sir?" "Madam, I cannot tell you anything about the case against your husband." "Please look me in the eye when you talk to me." "Thank you." "I have not come to speak about my husband refusing to be blackmailed by the press." "He has a very serious liver complaint and needs to take this at least once a day." "I'm told he has been refused it." "I'd like to know why." "Madam... that is a matterfor the police physician." "We cannot risk having things brought in from the outside." "Suicides are all too common." "Your husband should have discussed that matterwith the doctor." "He does not know how serious his condition is." "You must let me talk to the prison doctor!" "Are you giving me an order?" "I think you suffragettes have taken disrespect forthose in authority too far." "Never address me in that tone of voice again!" "Send a letterto the dispensary approved by the college of doctors and we'll see." "But... that would take weeks." "It's not the police's fault if you and your husband keep secrets from each other." ""The Valdemars." "The best guardians for orphaned children?"" "How can you be so cruel and despicable?" "We have been taking in children foryears, saving them from typhus and dysentery!" "But to your newspaper that makes no difference!" "It's much more interesting to gloat overthe suffering of others!" "Gentlemen... this woman and her husband have been cheating people at their séances." "An extraordinary argument." "You find printing rubbish profitable but demagogy should never be used to conceal ignorance and lack of ethics." "Why all this fuss?" "We can still come to an agreement." "The same answer as my husband's when you tried to blackmail him." "Gentlemen, it's your decision whetheryou should free yourselves from the humiliation of being informed by undesirables!" "You're lucky I didn't report you too, as an accomplice!" "Be so good as to sit down, you're embarrassing me." "If your employees can't behave, at least make sure they're house-trained." "House-trained?" "Now let's calm down." "This is known as free publicity." "It'll be a record circulation tomorrow." "Featuring the madwoman who tried to undermine the freedom of the press." "And we'll tell them." "It'll be an exclusive." "Boy, do you know where her husband's being held?" "At the police station four blocks down the road." "Thank you very much, sir." "Good afternoon." "I'd like to speak to Mr. Lazaro" "Valdemar." "He's not allowed visitors." "I'm his lawyer." "Two minutes." "Who are you?" "Excuse me forturning up this way." "I'm Aleister Crowley." "I've come a very long way to meet you." "Why did they let you in?" "Please, they've given me very little time." "I'm a great admirer of yours." "Admirer?" "You mean of my photographs?" "No, no, no." "I'm talking about your other pursuit... your séances." "Your house is famous within certain circles in my country." "I didn't know how to get in touch with you but as chance had it... today I was fortunate enough to coincide with your charming wife." "Leonor." "How is she?" "I saw her briefly this morning." "She's fine but very concerned." "She's obviously a very brave woman." "Having her, I can see why you don't want a lawyer." "She's doing everything she can." "Yes, I expect she is." "But, well..." "Please tell me why you're really here." "I'm sure it's more than just to see me in this deplorable state." "Of course." "My reason for coming is to offeryou all my help to get out of here as quickly as possible." "My dear, unknown friend, that is impossible." "I don't wish to be rude but this is none of your business." "Why do you want to help me?" "The best way to win friends is to act in a friendly manner." "Thank you but you'll find this too complicated." "What do you mean?" "I thought there was no proof against you." "So did I, but I was wrong." "Do you know Garbea?" "The journalist?" "The same." "He has a witness willing to testify." "No one knows who she is but he's sworn to the judge that she exists." "A well-respected woman." "That's why they haven't released me." "There may be a case against me." "All journalists are basically professional failures." "Responding to an attack by the press is like Hercules's attempt to cut off the Hydra's head..." "It has not the least chance of success." "So... another strategy must be sought." "Leave that to me." "Very well." "You have no chance of success, but thank you foryour interest." "That's enough." "If you should happen to see my wife again, tell her I'm well and not to worry." "You'll be able to tell her yourself... very soon." "By the way, Mr..." " Crowley." " Crowley." "Where did you see my wife?" "At a gentleman's club where all women are banned." "Except yourwife." "It took Crowley two weeks to cook up a plan." "He brought it all down to a recipe with three ingredients." "The first had to be some kind of irresistible lure." "You're late, my dear." "Let's hope the wait will prove worthwhile." "He just went in." "He's at the back." "I've heard of him." "You'll have to pay me double." "The fee is higherfor men like him." "And my customers are usually of a different class." "I'm your customer, don't forget that." "You know what you have to do." "He had to pay the landlord a large amount of money to guarantee her safety." "And more still to obtain certain information." "A man's tastes say much about the man, and his weaknesses... and his home." "The second ingredient was to circulate a rumour." "Quick!" "Everyone!" "There's a woman crying for help!" "Rumours have a life of their own, they grow like snowballs." "Swine!" "ScoundreI!" "Wicked man!" "I heard the shouts from my house." " Stop." "He's here." " What is it?" "We'll see." "Open the doorthis moment." "Help!" "And the final touch..." "Constables!" "He said he'd kill me if I didn't testify." "A bit of theatre." "It was terrible." "Don't believe that slut!" "Can't you see she's mad?" "Do you think they believed her?" "Lazaro Valdemarfreed." "Read all about it!" "Lazaro Valdemarfreed!" "Read all about it!" "Well done, Lazaro!" "Aleister." "I really can't thank you enough." "If there's anything I can do..." "There is something." "Recover." "I'll come and see you one of these days." "My regards to yourwife." "Thank you." "Thank you all, really." "Two months." "Two months, Jervas, that seemed like two centuries." "Well, it's all over now and you're going home." "But..." "How are things?" "Where's Leonor?" "I'm surprised she didn't come." "Well, you see, the journey would have been hard... and in her condition..." "Her condition?" "Her condition, Jervas?" "Come here, give me a hug." "This is marvellous, Jervas, marvellous!" "Her condition!" "Don't be faint-hearted." "Got you!" "Let me see..." " Hello." " Hello." "How do you feel?" "Fine." "Leonor!" "What's the matter?" "What is it, Leonor?" "Leonor!" "Leonor, is something the matter?" "Jervas!" "Jervas!" "I'm sorry." "Remember, I did warn you that this might happen." "I'm afraid" "Leonorwill never be able to have children now." "Doctor, can he see her?" "No, not now." "I'll send a nurse to look after her overthe next few days." "Thank you for everything." "I'll see you out." "Take me out into the garden." "The Countess of Bullon is here, madam." "Beatriz." "Hello." "You're very pale." "So yourtiresome old friend is here to look afteryou." " Thank you." " I'm better now." "My husband's given up photography for nursing." "Some fresh cupcakes." "Lovely." "Here are the reports" " on the children." " Thank you." "Please serve yourself." "Do you know that man?" "Not at all." "He's sinister." "Who is he?" "I saw him the day your husband was freed." "He took all the credit for it." "I've asked about him." "His name's Aleister Crowley." "He's English." "He's been expelled from various countries for practising black magic." "A farfrom recommendable person." "They call him the wickedest man in the world." "I don't understand." "Lazaro's never mentioned him." "I've no idea what he wants from your husband but keep him away from that man at all costs." "I see you've regained your strength." "Aleister." "It's good to see you." " It's always a pleasure, Lazaro." " How are you?" "I heard about yourwife." "I'm very sorry." "That's why I didn't come before." "I didn't want to impose on you at such a time." "You're very kind." "And after all the support you gave me," "I haven't found the time to thank you for all you've done." "This might be the ideal time." "I need you, Lazaro." "I need someone who has made contact." "Contact?" "What do you mean?" "I need a link... someone who's made contact between the worldly and spiritual planes." "Yes, but..." "Hold on a moment." "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm afraid you've got it all wrong." "The truth of the matter is..." "The truth is that it was all a trick." "Innocent but a trick nevertheless." "What is this?" "Don't you recognise the pictures from the séances?" "I'm well aware of what they are." "Where did you get them?" "Didn't the police seize them?" "Of course they did." "As evidence." "I said I was your lawyer and they gave them to me when they saw there'd be no trial." "Look carefully in the corner." "If you hadn't been so busy, you'd have noticed." "Behind every brilliant photograph lies a dark negative." "What you believed to be no more than a simple trick turned out to be incontrovertible proof that contact was made." "Perhaps not the kind you wanted, but it was never a trick." "It's logical that, after knocking so often on so many forbidden doors, something on the other side should answer." "So... what are you getting at?" "You must believe this oryou'll never understand." "Your house is full of spiritual energy." "It's like a magnet." "Believe me." "I don't know what you want but I'm sorry." "My wife needs my help now." "What I'm suggesting could help her much more than you imagine." "More than anything else." "Listen carefully... in a few days' time there's a full eclipse of the moon." "The first in 86 years." "There is a forbidden ritual related to that." "The "Dunwich Rite"." "Nothing at all like your little gatherings with widows and teacakes." "This is much greater and has never been done." "The invocation of a primaeval spirit, a being of the first order, that will draw him and bind him temporarily." "Like rubbing a magic lamp and waiting for" " the genie?" " I assure you it can be done, though it is necessary to open a crack between the two portals that can only be opened by someone who has made contact on a regular basis... you!" "Done properly it won't be dangerous or last longerthan one of your séances." "Just long enough to find what we seek." "And what do you seek?" "Power?" "Wealth?" "I want to know more, my friend." "I seek knowledge." "Wisdom." "Agnitio." "Conscientia." "Only the ignorant seek power." "Which you are not." "Think of what we could achieve." "Eradicate leprosy, cure dysentery, improve crops, reduce poverty!" "Imagine the legacy you would leave your descendants." "That wouldn't be so simple." "God has seen fit not to grant us the blessing of having children." "Perhaps you're asking the wrong god." "What's wrong with yourwife could be curable in 50, 80 years' time." "It's all a question of time and knowledge." "I don't know." "What you're suggesting is just too incredible." "This is not just cheap mumbo-jumbo." "My discipline is a science that studies change in things according to the power of the will." "And the power of my will is unquestionable." "Unlike you, I take my research very seriously." "Lazaro!" "Well... we'd better go." " When would this be?" " Next Saturday at your house during the eclipse." "Next Saturday isn't possible." "I promised to take my wife to the station." "She's taking the children to their new parents." "You don't understand the magnitude of my proposal." "This could be one of the most important moments in your life." " Don't turn your back on it." " It's not that easy." "But I want to know one thing..." "You said it would be quick, just a few hours." "That's right." "I'll take you to the station in my car after." "Give me a day to think about it." "Come on." "Lazaro, Beatriz's leaving." "That is my idea too." "Ladies, I believe you haven't met Dr. Aleister Crowley." "A pleasure, although I already knew about you both." "I've been following the suffragette movement closely." "You may not have won many battles yet but in time your endeavours and dedication will be acknowledged." "You'll see." "All we want is to stop being classed as perpetually submissive and leading monotonous lives." "That's all." "Do you think that's too bold, sir?" "I think it's wonderful." "For me, madam, the only law that should exist is" ""Do what thou wilt. "" "Let's put politics aside, shall we?" "We can arrange a debate some othertime." "Nice to see you again." "Goodbye, Lazaro." "Leonor..." "Mr. Crowley." "Madam." "Madam." "I'll have to think how to tell Leonor." "Give me time." "Goodbye." "6 PM on Saturday then!" "Leonor." "Leonor, wait a minute." "Leonor, wait!" "When were you going to tell me you wouldn't be there forthe children and me?" "I swearthis came up today, this morning." "But listen, please." "I still haven't made up my mind." "The point is your even considering other plans!" "You promised me!" "I assure you there's a good reason to tell you this." "The masterwill eat alone." "And prepare him a room." "He can do everything on his own." "Yes, madam." "After several attempts to win his wife over, he turned his attention to a strange parcel Crowley had sent him." "A gift not only to arouse his curiosity but to utterly convince him." ""The Dunwich Rite"." "When our pleas are accepted, the wise spirits will only tell their secrets to a link..." "One whomthey consider a disciple." ""... any question or riddle, however complicated, becomes no more than child's play. "" "They will talk to you, Lazaro." "In silence, in your mind, and you will repeat their words." "Let it be possible." "Please." "Let it be possible." "Sir." "Sir." "Wake up, it's past 10 o'clock." "What day is it, Jervas?" "Saturday, sir." "Saturday..." "With all due respect, sir, have you made up with madam?" "No." "She won't let me talk to her." "Send her a letter." " To smooth things over." " I have but to no avail." "She's taking the children to the station on her own." "I know you're worried, but don't be dismayed." "I shall talk to her." "Draw me a bath, will you?" "Yes, sir." " Right away." " Thank you." "By the way, sir, are you sure about what you're going to do?" "Do you trust that man?" "I don't know, Jervas, but forthe first time I'm beginning to think there's something more..." "And I'm beginning to considerthe implications." "Lazaro, my old friend." "How are you?" "These are ourfellow disciples." "Mrs. Belle Gunnes..." "A pleasure." "Miss Lizzie Borden..." "Charmed." "Mr. Luglio Fuchini... and Mr. Bram Stoker." "Sir, as we have encroached on the privacy of your home, the least we could do was bring you a gift." "Forthe "disturbance"." "You really shouldn't have." "Let's see..." ""Kold Fils Absinthe, 1865 Reserve. "" "Only the great houses can afford this." "At least until it's banned." "Please, that way." "Sorry about putting you on the spot the other day." "Did you enjoy the journey?" "Oh, you're all so sleepy." "It was a long way, wasn't it?" "Down we get then." "Is that everyone?" "I think we're the last." "Then I'll introduce you to the children." "Please follow me." "Though the nature of our success is uncertain, we must have faith in what we are about to do and in what we are all about to ask for:" "knowledge." "In the case of Miss Borden, to find a solution to herfamily drama." "Mrs. Gunnes, on the other hand, desires greater shrewdness in business." "Mr. Stoker inspiration for his literary works." "Our Italian friend a muse to dedicate his opera to." "Mr. Valdemar a solution to his problem of issue." "And I knowledge of arcane tongues." "I have taken the liberty of writing down your requests." "Should anyone wish to change or add to theirs, now is the time." "Mr. and Mrs. Huarte." "Claudia, come." "Quickly." "Come, dear." "This is Claudia." "Claudia, this is Mr. Pablo and Mrs. Maria del Mar Huarte." "They're going to be your parents from now on, although they've loved you for a long time." "Won't you say hello to them?" "Hello, Claudia." "I know this is hard foryou." "It is for us too." "On the way down, we didn't have time for a hot drink." "Would you get me one?" "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Now, where were we?" "I'd have thought that by now you'd have discarded the idea of a kind God." "All you'll achieve by this is to draw the attention of some other." "I have only stopped believing in men... not in this." "Give me the crucifix." "Let me keep it, please." "Give it to me!" "The heavenly bodies should now be aligned." "Come now, join hands." "Look." "Good." "It has begun." "Come hither, immortals." "We invoke thy spirits." "Come to this circle." "Grant our requests so that we may live and prosper as thy agents on Earth." "Lazaro." "It's yourturn." "Lazaro." "Lazaro!" "Lazaro, damn it, wake up!" "Let no one leave the circle!" "Keep still!" "Keep still!" "No one move." "Let no one leave the circle." "Miss Borden." "Miss Borden!" "It's in the cemetery." "What's happened, Aleister?" "Let's go." "Let's get out of here." "Lazaro is upstairs." "Help him." "Children of the devil!" "Sir!" "Sir!" "Help me, please!" "Is there no one in the house?" "Mrs. Gunnes, please." "Yourturn will come soon." "Quickly, quickly." "Come on!" "There, in that chair." "Come on!" "Come on!" " He's bleeding." " Come on!" "Quickly!" "He's bleeding profusely." "Damn it!" "Stay with him." "I'll go for help." "Are you happy with the adoption?" "Very much." "Esther is a delightful child." "Thank you for everything." "An urgent telegram for Leonor Valdemar." "That's me." "What's wrong?" "What the devil happened?" "Something crossed the portal." "It was no conventional spirit." "It was a "devourer"." "They'll do anything to cross but they hardly ever succeed." "In the process they lose their bodies and as spirits they are weak and vulnerable." "Thus they seek a living entity desperately." "Now a terrible power is out there." "Desperate, ready to occupy the first body it comes across." "Well it's made a very big mistake." "If it lives on living things, it's gone to the worst possible place." "No." "The dead are no good to him but it will seek inside them..." "The worms are alive and abound in their thousands." "If it gives thempower, knowledge, it can showthem howto recompose the body, restore tissue, instil life." "This should never have happened." "I'd planned everything down to the last detail." " Unless..." " Unless what?" "Douse the upstairs." "More pressure!" "More pressure up there!" "Jervas!" "Madam, it's all right." "Please wait overthere." "What's happened?" "There was an explosion." "There's glass everywhere." " Where's Lazaro?" " Upstairs but safe." "But we couldn't move him." "Is he hurt?" "He can't be moved." "He's in great pain." "Lazaro!" "Lazaro, Lazaro." "His liver's inflamed." "He must have been drinking." "In that drawer..." "bring me the ethionamide." "Lazaro." "Lazaro." "That rabble ran away when the fire began." "This is terrible." "Like rats abandoning a ship." "Thank God you were here." "I'll go and see what that is, madam." "Lazaro." "O Lord, protect this house and those who dwell in it." "O Lord, protect this house and those who dwell in it." "O Lord, protect this house and those who dwell in it." "O Lord, protect this house and those who dwell in it." "Lazaro!" "Lazaro!" "Lazaro!" "Lazaro..." "Leonor." "Forgive me." "Forgive me, my love." "Don't strain yourself." "What happened?" " They left you." " The others?" "You're all right, that's what matters." "Do you think you can move?" "Wait..." "It hurts... it hurts." "Come on." "I can't." "What was that?" "What have you done?" "Come on, we must get out of here." "Try and bearthe pain." "Wait." "Don't move." "It seems to have stopped." "I think it's come to me." "It must know I can't move." "It's talking to me." "Inside my head." "Leonor!" "What is it, Leonor?" "Can you hear me, my love?" "Hear he who has come." "He is a messenger demanding tribute from this place, this house, this age, for a sacrifice" "that has not been honoured." "That's not possible." "It's not possible." "We never invoked a presence." "We sought only secrets!" "Secrets and knowledge." "No attempt should be made to understand what is not known." "Only dark, unnamable answers are awoken." "Keep away from her!" "Are you all right?" "It hurts to breathe." " Has it gone?" " Yes." "What did you do?" "I was able to communicate with it." "You were the link." "It was you all the time." "Well..." "We must go before it comes back." "No, it's not possible." "It's not necessary." "It'll never do anything to you again." "What do you mean by that?" "A link is a good prize." "If I go, they'll leave you alone." "No." "No, my love." "I'll never allow that." " Never." " Listen to me." "There's no time left to be afraid." "If I don't do it, it'll kill us both." "Only this agreement will keep you alive, and that's enough for me." "No." "I can't accept that." " Help me." " No." "Listen carefully." "You must be clever about this." "Listen, look at me." "You'll be able to communicate with me." "You'll be my link, you hear me?" "No, my love." "Help me up." "Help me." "I'll get rid of it." "Don't go." "Don't go, Leonor, please!" "No!" "Once safe, Lazaro tried and tried to bring her back, but in vain." "Leonor was no more than an empty shell." "In time the tragedy led to legend and legend to myth about the cursed house." "You seem affected by the story." "If you're so deeply moved by the past, you may forget yourtask in the present:" "finding Luisa Llorente." "Still remember her?" "Of course." "This will all help my investigation." "It's an incredible story." "You won't find what you need forthat among private papers." "Then perhaps you with your experience and wisdom will find a light" " to guide me." " I shouldn't have told you." " It's only a legend." " That's good." "It means there's nothing to fear." "Know what happens to curious kids?" "They're forever looking forthrills... until they find them." "What do you want of me?" "What do you want of me?"