The Haunted Palace Page #4

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through which the gods

could regain their control.

That's how they explained

the mutated births...

unsuccessful experiments

passed on...

from generation to generation,

carried in the blood.

What's your

explanation, doctor?

I don't have one.

I advise you

to leave this village.

I advise you to flee it...

as you would from

a madman with a knife...

who feels compelled

to destroy you...

before you can destroy him.

It's a cold night, sir.

You'll need your coat.

Thank you.

You seem troubled, sir.

Is something wrong?

You didn't hear them?

Beg your pardon?

The voices? People?

No, sir.

Must have been the wind.

Perhaps you should ask

Mr. Curwen.

- Curwen?

- Yes.

Maybe he could tell you.

Welcome, Joseph.

Simon. How long?

And whose body is this

I'm now occupying?

His name is

Charles Dexter Ward.

My great-great-grandson.

Perfect.

All the others were useless.

You would not accept them.

No matter.

- Where's Jabez?

- Here, Joseph.

Jabez, my old friend.

We three...

together again.

But... briefly, I fear.

I shan't be able

to hold him much longer.

He fights me.

When will you have full control?

Soon, Simon.

Keep him here

for a while longer...

and he will be all mine.

He has my blood.

I can feel it.

The book.

The book!

Good.

Now leave me, my friends.

He fights me.

He fights to leave me.

What is it?

What's the matter?

Dear, what are you

doing down here?

I don't know.

I must have walked in my sleep.

Please, dear, let's leave here

now, tonight.

I want to, but... I can't.

Why not?

Why not?

Over a whole week

he's been there...

and what's he been doing?

That's what I want to know.

What's he been doing?

Getting ready, that's what.

And meanwhile,

we sit here like sheep.

Willet, I thought

you said he'd be gone.

I thought he would be...

but you made him feel

so welcome...

he's probably decided

to stay for good.

Go on, sneer.

You can afford to.

You have no halfwitted thing

locked in your attic...

and no woman

to worry about, either.

I've got this whole town

to worry about.

The man you fear is dead!

Can't you fools get that

through your heads?

He died over 100 years ago.

He can't harm you or your women.

Don't you forget, doctor...

that the man who died

over 100 years ago...

he did this!

And now... he's back

with us again.

He'll be doing more.

Unless we stop him.

- Where have you been?

- Out walking.

- At this time of night?

- Yes, at this time of night!

Must I report my movements

to you like a schoolboy?

- No, of course not...

- Then mind your own business.

- What's happened to you?

- Nothing whatsoever.

No, you've changed.

I've never seen you like this.

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