The Dark Valley Page #2

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though he had never lain with her?

He must have been full of rage...

and felt helpless.

If he had chased Mary away,

everyone would have understood.

But he was pious...

and didn't want to bring shame on her.

And so he acquiesced,

knowing that his son

came from a higher being.

Joseph understood

that the Lord

had not imposed a sacrifice upon him,

but had sent him a gift from heaven.

And what did the Holy Mary say about this?

"Even if he uses me

and my womb...

I shall not protest,

for he is one

who knows better than I

what is good and what is right."

Amen.

I want to confess.

Confess?

Now?

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

May God,

who has enlightened every heart,

help you to know your sins

and trust in his mercy.

Amen.

I have sinned

against the fifth commandment.

I have killed.

One in the woods,

one man while hunting.

Who are you?

You knew my mother.

What happened back then,

more than 20 years ago,

is still talked about.

One lad took a stand

and wouldn't hand over his bride.

He didn't want Brenner to lie with her...

not only on the wedding night,

but until she fell pregnant...

as he had done

with every woman in the valley.

Her folk were famished

when they arrived in the valley...

like everyone else who came here.

Our people wanted to send them away,

but first they had to ask Old Brenner.

Brenner needed fresh blood...

and he liked what he saw.

That day Brenner told her parents

how things worked up here

when it came to young women...

and that he decided

who could stay and who should go.

They begged and wept,

but their hunger was stronger.

So they made a promise

to Old Brenner...

and stayed.

Then the day came when Brenner

asked them to make good on their promise.

She couldn't believe it

when she heard a knock at the window.

Her lover had come to rescue her.

They thought the innkeepers

would hide them if they paid.

But Brenner paid more.

She was greedy, the innkeeper's wife...

and a coward, too.

Then they punished the couple...

so everyone would know what happens

when a woman fails to fulfill her duty.

But then the Lord had mercy after all,

though some say

the devil was caught off-guard.

No one saw the woman ever again.

She escaped the valley. Forever.

Brenner punished others for it:

the bride's parents.

He wanted them gone.

And they left the bridegroom

hanging there...

till nothing was left of him.

Her!

Music!

Go on.

Dance.

Dance!

Or I'll dance with her.

Now me.

- Now me.

- I'm not done yet.

I'm not done yet.

Stop it!

No!

Please stop!

Please!

Stop it! Stop!

What? What do you want?

Let's go. It's time, anyway.

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