Beryl looked very please for a moment,but then her face became stern. “But you must get it right this time. Wehave a solemn duty to Her Majesty. She must be free of the curse. Are you reallysure?”
“I am,” said Bill, who was thinkingmore of saving his friends than the Queen. “I must record it now. Have you apen?”
Beryl handed Bill a pen and he turnedto the page in his journal that recorded the complex chemical mix required forFeeder Jar Two. He scribbled out one part and written a subtly altered versionunderneath. Bill closed his journal and looked at Beryl with some satisfaction.“All done.”
“Then we shall move on to the nextphase.”
“Yes Madam,” said Mordred. “I shalltelephone the Taskforce at once.”
“What, pray tell, is this‘Taskforce’?” said Bill.
Mordred went into the hall to make thetelephone call.
“The Taskforce is our strong arm, ourmen of action. They are travelling to Underwood tonight to round up every Banein the village. The plague of Iamia Daemonium had consumed Underwood andwe must stop it before it spreads far and wide.”
Bill thought of Arthur’s parents,Ophelia, Lilith, Professor Jareth, and all the terrified people he’d seen inthe village. “But what will you do with them?”
“They are to be taken to where theycan do no harm.”
“Where?”
“No concern of yours! You are to gowith the Taskforce and ask no more questions. You have a special job to do.”
“What exactly is this special job?”
“You are to guide the disconnectionand delivery.”
“The what?”
When Underwood is cleared, andBrimstone Manor is claimed back then you will help move the cabinet.”
“You can't take it away. I intend touse it to cure everyone.”
“Your little box of tricks is aspecial circumstance... for Her Majesty only.”
Bill felt angry. “No! My cabinet isfor everyone. Why should the Queen have special privilege?”
Beryl looked aghast. “It is not HerMajesty’s fault that she suffers so. The evil maid who infected her has beenseverely punished.”
“I don't care if they are rich orpoor, all shall go inside.”
Beryl laughed. “How naive you are! Theidea of a 'cure' is not something we even believe in, but we have ourorders. You are the only person who has had the treatment and we do not knowhow much of Satan's blood still flows in your veins. Evil hides everywhere.”
Bill was shocked but managed to say,“But with Vita Dantis they do no harm.”
“Not all those cursed are the same,”continued Beryl. “Those infected by Lord Percy have a more aggressive hunger.Read some of the books I have at the Manor, those which record a secrethistory. There have been rare occasions when a pagan has been resurrected withpagan blood and governments have had to take very drastic action – thetrenches of World War One massacred more than just soldiers. This type ofcreature is called an Iamia Daemonium and is a very dangerous thing. As he claims victims so his powergrows, he can use strong and sophisticated mind control – what is called Mentem Vergentis – to make his victims do his bidding.He virtually consumes their minds. They become his army. He turns into thespirit of Satan, waging war here on Earth!”
“So that is why Lord Percy is sodangerous?”
“Of course! Underwood is full of IamiaDaemonium. Quite different from the snivelling vermin we have here inMiddenmere. For many years these cowardly creatures have hidden in the shadowsand taken Vita Dantis. They have been a grubby, seedy part of societyfor a hundred years. We have great difficulty in finding out who they are butwe know they have no place in a God-fearing world.”
“I can seem them.”
“Yes, you can and that is your gift tous. You were once one of them and can see the Bestia Marcam – your fellowcreatures! Over time you will help us root them out of society. This task willhelp redeem yourself in God's eyes.”
“But they do no harm. ProfessorJareth-”
Beryl’s eyes narrowed and her lipspursed. “Without Vita Dantis they would consume the Earth! Who do youthink manufactures all the Vita Dantis sold in Middenmere? TheApostles!”
“But I thought you want to destroythem, not help them?”
“We cannot fight an army of cursed anduncontrolled. If the city of Middenmere is turned, with its hundreds of thousandsof inhabitants... we control the troublesome ones, those that choose not totake the drug, with culls or arrests. To think all these creatures couldsomeone go into your cabinet is pure folly. They are being created faster thanwe could ever 'cure' them.”
“But there must be a way.”
“You possess a great scientificknowledge but are very naive.”
“But we could try. I could build morecabinets!”
“We still have no evidence that itactually works.”
“I went into the cabinet. I wascured.”
“But Bill my boy are you reallycured? You can see the Bestia Marcam, no human can do that. And when youwere stabbed in the gut we treated you with a paste of mashed human liver – asis the way of curing the wounds of those transformed – and your injury vanishedovernight.”
Bill thought of Beryl’s words and felta creeping horror well up inside. “So I’m still sort of cursed?”
“Your cabinet failed, but I considerit had some success – you no longer lust for victims. That is what has savedyour life so far. But it has to be repaired, to work so the Queen does notbecome young. Do that and we will be satisfied. But be warned. The Queen willbe watched closely, in case evil still lurks in the royal blood.”
There was a loud rapping at the frontdoor.
“Ah,” said Beryl. “That will be theInspector. You will be safe in the care of the Taskforce.” She handed him thejournal. “You may need this when the cabinet is disconnected. You must help theofficers. It is to be loaded onto a van and taken to Trident House. There youwill repair it.”
Bill took the book. He didn’t knowwhat to say.
Beryl smiled. “I still think of you asmy young man,” she said and kissed him on the forehead. “Good luck Darling.”
Inspector Ferret came into the room,looming tall in his long brown mac. He glared at Bill with a pale earnest facethat had bushy eye brows, large side whiskers and was topped with wiry
