th inspired words； and he cried out with more passion than he had ever felt before in his life： 〃Satan； in the name of the Lord I rebuke you！ I mand you to depart from this boy； from this room； from this house forever！ Never again seek to possess a soul in this place； or the power of God will wreak destruction unto the uttermost bounds of hell！〃
Then silence。 Except for the boy's breathing； which seemed labored。 There was such peace in the room； such exhausted righteousness in Thrower's own heart； that he felt convinced the devil had heeded his peroration and retreated forthwith。
〃Reverend Thrower；〃 said the boy。
〃Yes； my son？〃
〃Can you take that Bible off my chest now？ I reckon if there was any devils here； they're all gone now。〃
Then the boy began to laugh again； causing the Bible to jump up and down under Thrower's hand。
In that moment Thrower's exultation turned to bitter disappointment。 Indeed； the fact that the boy could laugh so devilishly with the Bible itself resting on his body was proof that no power could purge him of evil。 The Visitor had been right。 Thrower should never have refused the mighty work that the Visitor had called him to do。 It had been in his power to be the slayer of the Beast of the Apocalypse； and he had been too weak； too sentimental to accept the divine calling。 I could have been a Samuel； hewing to death the enemy of God。 Instead I am a Saul； a weakling； who cannot kill what the Lord mands must die。 Now I will see this boy rise up with the power of Satan in him； and I will know that he thrives only because I was weak。
Now the room was stifling hot； choking him。 He had not realized until now how his clothing sogged with sweat。 It was hard to breathe。 But what should he expect？ The hot breath of hell was in this room。 Gasping； he took the Bible； held it out between him and the satanic child who lay giggling feverishly under the blanket； and fled。
In the great room he stopped； breathing heavily。 He had interrupted a conversation； but he scarcely took notice of it。 What did the conversations of these benighted people amount to； pared to what he had just experienced？ I have stood in the presence of Satan's minion； masquing it as a young boy； but his mockery revealed him to me。 I should have known what the boy was years ago； when I felt his head and found it to be so perfectly balanced。 Only a counterfeit would be so perfect。 The child was never real。 Ah； that I had the strength of the great prophets of old； so I could confound the enemy and bear the trophy back to my Lord！
Someone was tugging at his sleeve。 〃Are you well； Reverend？〃 It was Goody Faith； but Reverend Thrower did not think to answer her。 Her tugging pulled him around； though； so he faced the fireplace。 There on the mantel he saw a carven image； and in his distracted state he could not at once determine what it was。 It seemed to be the face of a soul in torment； surrounded by writhing tendrils。 Flames； that's what they are； he thought； and that is a soul drowning in brimstone； burning in hellfire。 The image was a torment to him； and yet it was also satisfying； for its presence in this house signified how closely bound this family was to hell。 He stood in the midst of his enemies。 A phrase from the Psalmist came to his mind： Bulls of Bashan stare upon me； and I can tell all my bones。 My God； my God； why hast Thou forsaken me？
〃Here；〃 said Goody Faith。 〃Sit down。〃
〃Is the boy all right？〃 demanded Miller。
〃The boy？〃 asked Thrower。 Words could hardly e to his mouth。 The boy is a fiend from Sheol； and you ask how he is？ 〃As well as can be expected；〃 said Thrower。
They turned away from him then； back to their conversation。 Gradually he came to understand what they were discussing。 It seemed that Alvin wanted someone to cut away the diseased portion of his bone。 Measure had even brought a fine…toothed bone saw from the butchery shed。 The argument was between Faith and Measure； because Faith didn't want anyone cutting her son； and between Miller and the other two； because Miller refused to do it； and Faith would only consent if Alvin's father did the cutting。
〃If you think it ought to be done；〃 said Faith； 〃then I don't see how you'd be willing to have anyone but yourself cut into him。〃
〃Not me；〃 said Miller。
It struck Thrower that the man was afraid。 Afraid to lay the knife against his own son's flesh。
〃He asked for you； Pa。 He said he'd draw the marks for cutting； right on his own leg。 You just cut a flap of skin and peel it back； and right under it there's the bone； and you just cut a wedge in the bone that takes out the whole bad place。〃
〃I'm not the fainting kind；〃 said Faith； 〃but my head is getting light。〃
〃If Al Junior says it's got to be done； then do it！〃 said Miller。 〃But not me！〃
Then； like a rush of light into a dark room； Reverend Thrower saw his redemption。 The Lord was clearly offering him exactly the opportunity that the Visitor had prophesied。 A chance to hold a knife in his hand； to cut into the boy's leg； and accidently sever the artery and spill the blood until the life was gone。 What he had shrunk to do in the church； thinking of Alvin as a mere boy； he would do gladly； now that he had seen the evil that disguised itself in child…shape。
〃I'm here；〃 he said。
They looked at him。
〃I'm no surgeon；〃 he said； 〃but I have some knowledge of anatomy。 I am a scientist。〃
〃Head bumps；〃 said Miller。
〃You ever butchered cattle or pigs？〃 asked Measure。
〃Measure！〃 said his mother； horrified。 〃Your brother is not a beast。〃
〃I just wanted to know if he was going to throw up when he saw blood。〃
〃I've seen blood；〃 said Thrower。 〃And I have no fear； when the cutting is for salvation。〃
〃Oh； Reverend Thrower； it's too much to ask of you；〃 said Goody Faith。
〃Now I see that perhaps it was inspiration that brought me up here today； after so long being away from this house。〃
〃It was my pebble…headed son…in…law brought you here；〃 said Miller。
〃Well；〃 said Thrower； 〃it was just a thought。 I can see that you don't want me to do it； and I can't say that I blame you。 Even if it means saving your son's life； it's still a dangerous thing to let a stranger cut into your own child's body。〃
〃You're no stranger；〃 insisted Faith。
〃What if something went wrong？。 I might slip。 His previous injury might have changed the path of certain blood vessels。 I might cut an artery； and he could bleed to death in moments。 Then I'd have the blood of your child on my hands。〃
〃Reverend Thrower；〃 said Faith； 〃we can't blame you for chance。 All we can do is try。〃
〃It's sure that if we don't do something he'll die；〃 said Measure。 〃He says we got to cut right away； before the bad place spreads too far。〃
〃Perhaps one of your older sons；〃 said Thrower。
〃We got no time to fetch them！〃 cried Faith。 〃Oh； Alvin； he's the boy you chose to have your name。 Are you set to let him die； just cause you can't abide the preacher here？〃
Miller shook his head miserably。 〃Do it； then。〃
〃He'd rather you did； Pa；〃 said Measure。
〃No！〃 said Miller vehemently。 〃Better anyone than me。 Better even him than me。〃
Thrower saw disappointment； even contempt； on Measure's face。 He stood and walked to where Measure sat； holding a knife and the bone saw in his hands。 〃Young man；〃 he said； 〃do not judge any man to be a coward。 You cannot guess what reasons he hides in his heart。〃
Thrower turned to Miller and saw a look of surprise and gratitude on the man's face。 〃Give him them cutting tools；〃 Miller said。
Measure held out the knife and the bone saw。 Thrower pulled out a handkerchief； and had Measure lay the implements carefully within it。
It had been so easy to do。 In just a few moments he had them all asking him to take the knife； absolving him in advance of any accident that might happen。 He had even won the first scrap of friendship from Alvin Miller。 Ah； I have deceived you all； he thought triumphantly。 I am a match for your master the devil。 I have deceived the great deceiver； and will send his corrupt progeny back to hell within the hour。
〃Who will hold the boy？〃 asked Thrower。 〃Even with