"Christine felt as if her face was bustling as if embers were born within, were coming to life, were crawling over her face, over all her limbs, as if everything was alive... and crawling over the whole body" "and then she saw, in the pale flash of lightning, countless long-legged, poisonous black spiders walking over her limbs, out into the night, followed by more countless, long-legged poisonous spiders." "Let's stop her for a moment." "What happens to Christine" "Gotthelf's impressive text describes how spiders come out from everywhere and crawl around." "Is this symbolic?" "What did you say, Margrit?" "Nothing... it's private." "That's enough now." "Either you take part or then you can leave." "With pleasure!" "I need 250." "Have you got time?" "Fuck off!" "I've got enough dough." "Get lost or I'll box your ears!" "Silly cow!" "Get lost!" "Has Dani turned up?" "No, that's just it..." "He has to check the new connection." "Can't you manage it?" "You still owe me 1000 francs." "You're worse than a credit bank." "I need the dough" "Have you finished work?" "Fuck you." "Jimmy." "You don't have to lend your ass to drunkards." "It really makes you sick when they breathe on you." "You don't make dough standing around." "hanging around" "No more clients for her." "They all shy away." "Gladly go home to their old woman" "Can't you see she's going through cold turkey?" "I need a kick." "No streetwalking without a kick." "There are only drunkards around anyway." "Where's he got to...?" "We gave him three grand yesterday and we're still without poison." "It's better to get drunk." "The State would be pleased, it's good business" "What's up?" "Stop it!" "Don't act as if you'd never been loaded." "I'll try and get hold of the dope myself next time." "If I were you I'd shut up." "First, I don't like those two guys... second, Dani's here" "You can get a refill." "It's high time" "Look at Mesche, she's going through cold turkey" "Mesche gets the first one, you hear?" "I wouldn't mind an O.D." "What a fucking mess!" "Once you're without dough" "You can be glad if you get a free shot." "Don't think I'm going to believe that!" "You were too soft" "I wouldn't have come if it weren't true." "You can go yourself next time, gigolo!" "Look at that chicken!" "No more money... no more connections." "After all that big talk:" ""Don't worry brothers and sisters," "I will get you a new connection in no time." "All I need is dough!"" "And what does this clown do, eh?" "He lets them cheat him like a beginner." "I should have knocked your brains out." "Stop it, you fool!" "Think about what we should do next." "3 ½ grand is more than a months wage in my fucking computer job." "No more streetwalking now either." "Put your name down at the drop-in." "That'd be fun." "Free holidays in the loony bin, withdrawal, then you're a good boy again who goes back to hard work." "Why don't we break in at a pharmacy?" "Are you crazy?" "Now that the whole town is full of cops because of that dealer who got bust?" "!" "Are you nuts?" "Do you remember that farmer.." "who wanted to let that house to us?" "Do you expect to get dope from him?" "No, but the chemical factory's there... where Dani used to work as a lab assistant." "Reporting back from round F." "Right." "Everything is okay." "Alpha calling!" "Enzo, answer!" "Here Enzo, everything okay." "Very good, over." "Mr. Weber.." "you take over round C, the laboratory animals." "Switch the feeder on, and let it run for four minutes, okay?" "I'm sure it isn't here." "Of course." "You think it's in the caretaker's house?" "I thought you knew your way around?" "Well, where is the stuff?" "Get out!" "Good God, Weber, don't make a fuss!" "Take ten men and block the road!" "I don't care." "Get them where you can find them." "Alert stage 3!" "We've had enough now." "No, we haven't." "Let's just clear out." "You think they didn't hear the alarm?" "Here we've had it, no chance." "We'll risk all now." "I'm going to pass out any moment." "Have you forgotten the farmer?" "What do you mean?" "You're right, Mesche, damn it all." "What's the matter?" "Good Lord!" "..." "Cordon off everything... and alert everybody on stand-by duty!" "I'll be right there." "Make sure it doesn't cause a stir." "I'll come as soon as possible." "What... what the hell's going on here?" "Get out immediately, or I'll call the police!" "Leave that... or you'll have shit for the last time" "Zaugg, you take a car and five men and go to no. 4." "Good you're here." "Look." "What shall we do?" "Thank goodness nobody lives close by," "Please clear the main entrance." "Old farmer Hornbach lives next door." "We can't evacuate him." "He'd cause a lot of trouble." "It wouldn't be the first time." "We must block it off." "Make sure nobody enters." "What's going on anyway?" "We've got nothing to lose." "He's got.. money, you can tell." "Rubbish!" "If you go now I'll turn a blind eye," "Then I didn't see nor hear anything." "I'm hard of hearing anyway." "But go now." "She needs a shot immediately or she'll go mad." "Where's your money?" "You can't..." "I can." "Paul and Josy search the place." "Mesche stays here" "This is no longer Kindergarten." "I'm serious." "Otherwise..." "That's enough!" "Want me to make it clear?" "The dough!" "Dani, stop it!" "Shut up!" "It makes no difference now." "Paul will get new dope with the dough." "I'll kill... myself laughing, damn it all!" "We are in low water because of you." "And now you're playing Charlie Bronson as the gang's boss." "I'm about to puke..." "I've got some schnaps" "That might help." "That's what I take when I feel sick." "Now put that damn knife away!" "600 francs..." "I'm overwhelmed" "Won't even buy us half a gram." "Where's the dough?" "A bumpkin like you has dough in the house." "Where?" "Where?" "I haven't got any money!" "Can't you heat the place?" "What do you suggest?" "How much time have we got?" "What is the outlook?" "I don't want to take the responsibility and run a risk...." "If the wind turns..." "The consequences?" "If this cloud..." "With a diminished concentration?" "Nausea, body temperature can drop later on rashes..." "Hello Alfred." "I'm glad I got hold of you." "We've got some trouble in one of our laboratories." "No, no, everything's under control, but it's better to be careful." "To avoid all risks we'd like to evacuate a few houses within a radius of 50-100m as a precaution." "You got the key?" "You want to make off?" "Somebody has to get the dope." "I feel sick." "How much have we got?" "The farmer's 600 francs." "1'000 from the streets" "You bitch!" "All of a sudden, eh?" "Cough it up!" "It's my dough." "Another word and I'll do you in, bitch!" "You make me sick!" "I'll be off." "I might still have a connection." "But the dope isn't quite clean." "It doesn't matter any more." "Why are you still here, you fool?" "!" "My nut's going to explode." "Fuck off!" "Don't think you can get away!" "Yes, and rat on us." "like you did last time, you bastard!" "Stop it... otherwise..." "No funny ideas!" "I'll be off then." "A revolver on top of it!" "What about him?" "Not that one!" "For goodness'sake!" "The black spider's been in there" "Since father's, grandfather's and great-grandfather's days." "Take whatever you want but don't touch that post!" "Are you drunk?" "Not that one!" "The plague's in it!" "I'm sure the idiot believes it." "Stop screaming or I'll strangle you." "you silly cow!" "Leave that." "Dani!" "Listen, I got hold of something in the factory..." "But I don't know what it is." "You mean bastard, give it to me!" "Oh boy... this is pure speed!" "Got a light?" "Stop it, Mesche!" "Who knows what it is!" "If you felt like I do... you wouldn't care." "Somebody has to try out the stuff." "Oh boy, what a shot!" "Darling... come back!" "Are you crazy?" "Do you want to call an ambulance and we all get nabbed?" "She's dead." "Are you crazy?" "Look outside." "The Martians have landed." "Completely nuts!" "Cops all over." "Now we've had it." "Listen," "I did a first-aid course." "There's some schnapps upstairs." "She wants Schnapps rubbing in." "Rubbing in won't help any more." "Grandpa." "It's over." "You can still bring the schnapps." "But not to rub in." "You idiots... an overdose!" "Mesche's taken the golden shot" "And the cops are after us!" "I feel awful..." "We've had it." "And this old man... damn it all!" "A schnapps..." "What are you waiting for, you twerp?" "...new types of pesticides are said to have been developed and tested in these laboratories." "A spokesperson of the firm maintains that the evacuation of 1'900 people is a purely preventive measure." "There is no danger whatsoever." "Those responsible in the firm and the authorities have got the development of the poisonous gas under control" "The spokesperson indicated at the press conference that the incident could be by anonymous environmentalists." "Now we'll fleece the old man." "Come on, we'll take out the spider!" "You bumpkin..." "Where's the dough?" "All right." "But give me that post." "Promise me you won't touch it... and I'll tell you where the money is." "See!" "Haven't you had enough with Mesche?" "She won't need a dentist any more..." "Bastard!" "Catch it, Jimmy!" "Here's your plague sugar stick..." "Step by step..." "Where's the dough?" "Behind the oven door." "in the cherry-stone bag." "Are you stupid?" "I want to go on a trip." "I only took very little." "Brothers and Sisters" "We've no more money worries." "At least 30,000 francs." "This I call "big dealing"!" "Big dealing..." "Until you meet the next cop..." "They are coming closer and closer." "This way." "Your Excellency." "You can sit there." "Knighthood isn't what it used to be..." "Keep turning." "What are you staring at?" "Mind your tongue, dwarf!" "Friends, the roast is ready." "Bring me the split!" "Did you see that?" "He uses his sword to carve the boar." "This sword, young squire... has taught more heathens the gospel than the sword of a Polish squire." "Hey." "Your Excellency." "Have you said Mass for the soul of the poor boar?" "Knight?" "!" "Blasphemer!" "What's got into you, dwarf?" "Do you want to spoil our appetite?" "Go on... fetch your lute!" "We want music to go with the meal." "I'll play you something" "To my new castle!" "I'm proud of it." "Within only three years" "I squeezed it out of my peasants" "Nothing's missing." "I'm not so sure about that." "Something's missing." "What, little squire?" "There's no tree for shade." "When returning from" "Boar hunting I noticed no tree..." "It's as bare" "As a baby's bottom." "My little squire" "There is enough shade at Bearhegen Castle." "Even for cheeky squires!" "What are you staring at?" "!" "Shall we make a bet, squire Stanislas." "that within 30 days there is a shady avenue of 100 trees... at Bearhegen?" "Shall we bet on it?" "Now you're quiet..." "Is your purse empty, squire, eh?" "Fetch my peasants, all of them!" "Now - eat and drink." "The matter is as good as settled." "Where's the jester?" "I want music!" "My dear boar you were yesterday what we are today... and you are today what we shall be tomorrow..." "What is the meaning of this?" "Go away you death herald." "if you can't think of anything more gay!" "Well, you don't smell such good food every day, do you, you starvelings?" "But you can take my word for it." "The Commander will arrange a feast for you that you will never forget." "Come on, move!" "Why didn't you rabble plant a shady avenue?" "Sir..." "Shut up and listen!" "Easy, Hasso... yes, I know... you can't stand the rabble." "In 30 days there will be 100 trees from Münneberg standing here... with branches and roots." "You are to plant fully grown trees." "And if there is but one missing," "I'll recover my losses" "From your life and property." "There's food and drink downstairs," "Fortify yourselves, you'll need it." "The first tree will be planted tomorrow." "You talk about food and drink, we think that you," "Sir, are well disposed towards us," "Therefore I dare to say... we should get down to sowing." "You rabble!" "I'm good to you and you make fun of me!" "Yes, you, peasant Hornbach..." "Didn't I help you to a wife at your age?" "But that's what you're like!" "You should take a look at Poland." "There they're glad to be alive and would kiss our feet." "You have house and home cattle and children but you're not satisfied." "But I will teach you" "Either the 100 trees are there within 30 days or I'll have you flogged." "And I'll throw your women and children to the dogs." "Get out, you Rabble!" "Out you go!" "We should sow and do all sorts if we don't want to starve in the winter" "We're 3 years behind because of that castle." "In 30 days, he bawled." "30 days or 3 years, it's all the same." "Trees from Münneberg, whether from there or somewhere else..." "The beastly man!" "In one day we'd have to dig up, cart and plant more than three trees - but our oxen and carts already went to pieces carting those stones..." "Christine won't half go at me... if I go home with this news instead of with a piece of smoked meat." "What's the matter with you?" "You're pulling faces enough to scare a child." "No offence, but nobody can help us, especially not a hunter." "You never know..." "I've heard people speak quite differently." "Possibly, but a hunter hasn't got ox and cart, people and tools to cart trees." "What wants doing now..." "That gentleman over there wants 100 trees by his castle within a month." "And we're supposed to plant them." "We aren't think what will be next." "but he'll think up something." "What beastly folk!" "But the devil will be after them," "You can rely on it." "But..." "I can help you." "I've got what it takes... even more... if necessary." "I'll cart the trees for you... and I won't ask for too much - to please you and to spite the Commander." "If you're serious, how much do you want?" "I don't want much at all..." "I'd be..." "Satisfied with an unbaptized child." "I'll be back for an answer in 3 days." "Hey, Ruedi, where are you going?" "You're lucky he didn't notice you weren't there" "I'm going to Kehracher..." "If you think you can put up with" "Womanizing in times like this..." "You'd soon stop if you knew what the knight has thought up now." "You went womanizing too, one from the castle on top of it - a foreigner" "He'd better leave us alone or he can do the work himself." "Who's to pull the cart if they let the oxen drop dead?" "He won't leave us alone!" "We've got 30 days... to plant 100 big trees at Bärhegen!" "All you can do is moan!" "I'd have a word with him." "I worked there as a maid, after all." "I'll go to the castle and plead with the master." "That's no good, Christine." "People only talk." "You know what I mean." "That isn't all..." "It was eerie in the forest." "The devil was waiting for us and offered to cart the trees." "He asked for an unbaptized baby." "I hope you didn't sin..." "You goddamn hypocrite!" "You should have done it all the more." "He might be satisfied with less in return." "And as it's for the castle it wouldn't have harmed your souls." "And who knows... you might get at the devil by cunning." "He's said to be a man." "Christine... come over here..." "Why make such a fuss?" "You didn't mind the knight, why not..." "Don't you like it?" "Only with the men that suit me." "Let go of me!" "I'm warning you..." "If I tell my husband he'll forget you're his brother" "The fool... has long forgotten how it works." "What the devil's going on?" "Three days have passed and not one tree has been planted..." "I told you:" "If I lose my bet..." "I myself will skin you with my whip!" "Wonderful trees." "but unfortunately aren't at castle..." "Closer... is very far for shade for castle..." "Sir, I have to talk to you." "Out of the way!" "Sir Hans..." "Nice custom!" "Stupid folk use Commander's first name." "Just say "Sir Hans"." "Nice custom!" "She's the last one I practised" "The "ius primae noctis" with." "the right of the first night." "when I married her to one of my stupid peasants." "Go away... or I'll ride you down!" "Bastard!" "What's up?" "And what have you done?" "As if it was bewitched..." "A big beech tree fell over and made Furehans..." "lame." "The car and one ox..." "Come on!" "Moaning won't help you" "Get a single tree to Bärhegen" "How right you are!" "Don't be afraid the Commander and Ruedi are rougher..." "How do you...?" "I know a lot that should remain secret." "But people run away from me, although..." "If you're the one I think you are... then why do you frighten people?" "Bad conscience... most likely." "But you didn't run away." "I like courageous women..." "And it's a long time since I've seen such a pretty woman." "Couldn't you demand something else?" "A child is a human being, after all." "That's the payment I ask for." "What is a newborn baby anyway?" "There's no birth in view." "These are hard times." "An eternity more or less, what of it?" "But there will be babies... and if you promise to give me the first unbaptized baby, then that's all I desire." "I'll see to the knight's shady avenue." "What do you say?" "That'd be good news for the men in the village." "I'm not waiting for those blockheads." "I'll accept your word for it." "Shake hands on it!" "I myself..." "Wouldn't hesitate one moment..." "But if the men don't agree later on," "I won't be to blame." "They're good at running away when something needs doing." "Now I suppose I'll have to - that's what they say anyway - sign your pact with blood." "Nonsense!" "All I want from such a pretty woman is a kiss to seal it." "If this misfortune continues, then nothing and nobody can help us." "Pray" "What?" "Pray!" "If one can help us, why not the other?" "The Lord?" "You think so?" "Why can the master up there do just as he pleases?" "A member of the clergy?" "No...." "leave... under the cover of night... try and work for another master." "That would be best" "If we'd have spoken to him..." "Why didn't you say anything?" "He looked horrible" "And the smell of sulphur..." "We all ran away." "What about Christine?" "Ran away, too." "What would you have done?" "It'd be the first man she ran away from." "Maybe the hunter was satisfied with Christine, it wouldn't harm anybody." "and we could make a bargain" "She's a foreigner anyway from the castle." "That's enough, Scandalmonger!" "Christine's my wife." "You'd hardly notice." "Christine!" "Where were you so long?" "We were waiting." "What did he do to you?" "While you were moaning..." "And the men running away like hares... without giving us a thought... and while you've been sitting here slandering me as usual..." "I settled things for you." "Within two days the one hundred trees will be at Bärhegen by the castle." "What?" "You got involved with the devil?" "The knight or the devil, what's it matter?" "Be careful you don't go beyond the village fence during the next two days... and don't go beyond the church." "Oh, God, help the one who will be with child." "Margrit, shut up!" "Many people would be glad if they could swallow words" "Ruts... 46..." " 47..." "Smashed to pieces..." " 48..." " 49..." "There are exactly... 50 holes... and what holes!" "Fifty trees!" "He must have hard-working men," "Damn it all!" "Great heavens!" "We could use him for ploughing and" "Sowing whilst he's here." "I bet he'd finish a big plot in no time." "If it's true what they say, Ruedi, you'll be punished for your blasphemy." "I thought big wolf only in Polska." "Why didn't you tell me" "I could hunt big wolf here?" "The last wolf, squire greenhorn, in this area was killed a few years ago." "Out there are two rows of sappy, shady trees, squire." "What industrious peasants," "I'll be damned!" "Holy Mary, Mother of God!" "Could it be the werewolf, Commander?" "Even if it was the devil," "I don't care how they did it." "I gave orders, they carried them out." "Bring some more wine!" "Jester, play the lute!" "We'll cure the squire of praying," "A German knight fights and drinks... and bets... but he doesn't pray when he hears a little wolf howl." "Go to the church, look over the crest and tell us what you see by the castle." "Come back straightaway!" "They're standing!" "They're standing!" "I hope he'll leave us alone now." "How you're going to pay for it... that's up to you." "If I think what she had to do" " I'd loath myself" "She's no great loss." "She's only a foreigner." "Hey, open up!" "What is it you beggars want now?" "Shut up!" "Go tell the Commander that the shady avenue is finished." "He can come and look at it." "See how he's tamed down!" "The trees are standing, that's a fact." "One hundred, they're all there, Sir." "and not one is withered." "Then we can call the curate so that he can duly consecrate the planting." "What's the matter?" "Come closer to the fire." "Are you cold?" "You look like it." "I'll see you get a few casks of wine and that a feast is prepared for you." "You are to celebrate the shady avenue." "You deserve a little compensation." "Hurry up, men!" "I beg you, please..." "Don't listen to the bad things they say." "What you offered the hunter..." "Everybody knows..." "Nobody deserves it that I take it" "Upon myself to outwit the devil." "What is it you said?" ""We can't help it if it hits the foreigner, that's her business."" "Yes." "I know..." " But... " "I'll do it..." "I already thought so when I saw him." "After all, the devil's only a man and wants to be outwitted." "He deserves no more than the others." "That's it, lass." "you have plenty of fight in you." "But still - to outwit the devil!" "He who has so much power!" "Think about the trees!" "As if I could ever forget them..." "This is what I've thought out." "We must baptize the baby." "Before he can reclaim his pay." "in this room straight after the first cry." "I'll gladly be its godmother." "Once it's baptized, nothing can happen." "What about you...?" "Don't worry about that." "People are already calling me the devil's mistress..." "Yes?" "Somebody should call for the priest." "And then?" "We'll have to confess to him." "Or he might not come... or the baptism won't be valid." "Then we'll have to confess." "He can get me into trouble." "I'm used to it." "That is the whole truth, Reverent Sir... so help me God." "Such an extreme..." "Godlessness!" "In my parish!" "This will bring disaster upon us," "Take my word for it!" "Forgive us, Reverend," "but his Lordship the Commander is in our parish and he..." "Don't look for excuses for your malice!" "...The Lord is with you" "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." "Breathe deeply..." "Push, a little more, a little more" "The head's here..." "Stefan, I baptize thee in the name of the Father.. and of the Son... and of the Holy Ghost." "Amen." "I want to see you at Mass on Sunday" "You can confess it." "From beginning to end." "The Lord be with me." "What's the matter?" "What are you doing?" "Can you see anything?" "I can't see anything." "You must have been in a draught." "It'll pass." "I saw her." "Where?" "She's prowling round that house." "Come on!" "I can hear you..." "I can hear you..." "You don't have to wait much longer..." "I'll bring them to you." "I'll bring them all." "Anneli, come here!" "You want to refuse rent and tithe because idleness and baptism prevent you from working." "I want my tithe at the castle soon." "to the last Heller and to the last corn.." "or I'll show you what I'm made of." "Give praise to the Lord." "Give praise to the Lord." "I don't want your shady business to make me lose what is due to me." "You'll see how I'll proceed with you hereafter." "Men!" "" "Lead the first cow you find to my castle" "My knights and my men are hungry." "The endless tolling of the knell and your lamentations don't make us feel like hunting." "Tomorrow we'll fetch the next cow." "I swear we will," "As sure as I'm Hans von Stoffeln." "Take my advice, this advice is free." "Make sure that those who made that pact... keep to it... or I'll also recover my losses from innocent newborn babies." "We'll find out what agreement you" "Reached with the hunter." "You know it as well as I do" "You've brought death and misery." "Suddenly there's room for all of us in one circle." "Spit it out!" "What's up?" "He kissed me... and it's out of that kiss that these spiders came." "And they won't leave us alone" "Until the pact is fulfilled." "You know the conditions..." "How about killing her?" "Try it!" "Whoever raises his hand against me" "Will have to Take over the pact." "We'll have to..." "Just you think... all our herds are dying... then the widespread deaths..." "It's only a baby... that can't be glad if it doesn't have to live in this sinful world." "Like it or not, we hardly have a choice." "All right... we'll have to do it, willy nilly... but I'll have nothing to do with it." "All right, it's only a baby... but you might sin... and I wouldn't want to do that." "But you..." "I'm not going to have a baby." "If that's all it is..." "Name one... and I'll take it to him." "Why not at your house?" "Ruedi's wife, that would be easiest." "Do you feel anything?" "Hey, lad... you know Ruedi, don't you?" "Tell him to call the priest quickly." "I'll give you ten centimes." "You understand?" "What's the matter?" "You're soaking." "Did you fall in the stream?" "Hornbach's Gret wants the priest to come." "I'll tell Ruedi... when we've finished loading with cart." "What's the matter?" "I'm afraid..." "Why have you locked yourself in?" "I'm so afraid..." "What is it, good or bad news?" "Have a sip." "It'd be a shame if the old women drank it all." "Well I never... what a surprise... to get something good like this." "The priest hasn't finished yet anyway." "Is it time, Ruedi?" "Yes, Father." "You might have prepared my things!" "The midwife said there was no hurry." "Quick!" "Two godparents!" "No, we'll have nothing to do with it." "Gottfried, this is our sacred duty." "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, of the Son... and of the Holy Ghost." "Amen." "Has courage turned into cowardice?" "The one who used to fight the dragon, is he now afraid of little black beast?" "Where are the creatures, stupid peasants?" "Knight, take the time for the Lord's prayer."