The Night Of The Goat Excerpt 4

INTRODUCTION: Yet another in the seemingly endless line of The Night Of The Goat excerpts. This is following Lucifer in the five-subject notebook. I probably could have just strung together all the "excerpts" and finished the novel THAT way! Notice here the glowing pentagram; in Lucifer there was mention of people being put "under a spell." In the newest stories, the emphasis on magic and the supernatural has been greatly diminished in favor of suspense and drama. In the unwritten stories there are to be references to reincarnation, stigmata, spontaneous healings, and the like, but the stories remain more drama and faith centered than supernatural, and many of the seemingly "occult" occurrences can be explained either by supernatural means or normal means; the best example is Romany Keemo's knowledge of Damien's quest in D Is For Damien. Damien is stunned by this knowledge...but Keemo could have easily obtained it from Wolfgang, who had been listening in when Damien was explaining all of this earlier in the story. Interesting, huh? Another example, nowadays instead of "put under a spell," I just have "brainwashed"!

Likely 1991.

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Excerpt from
D is for Damien 2:
The Night of the Goat

Damien groped in the dark, stumbling to find the way out. It came to the point finally when he couldn't walk. He fell down, exhausted. Feeling a pulsing heat, he drew up his left hand to look at it.

The pentagram was glowing icy green, but it burned like fire. Damien clenched his fist so he couldn't see it. He dragged himself along, struggling to the illuminated doorway. [Note--I seem to remember pretending or just imagining this scene up in my brother's old bedroom.]

It seemed to take forever! The closer he got, the farther away the doorway seemed. What's happening to me! he thought. I can't let this happen! I can't let the Goat take over! I just can't!

Stretching out his hand, he clutched at the carpeted floor. The searing pain continued in his other hand. His claws dug in and he dragged himself forward several inches. [Note--ZOMG! "Claws"? Looks like an anthro reference sneaked itself in!] He was fearful, not for himself but for the others. What would happen to his friends? What would happen if-- He shoved those dark thoughts out of his mind.

I have to warn them! he thought. They don't even know. Think, the Lamb...oh, I can't think! Don't let the Goat take over! Please...don't...

As he reached up weakly, light flooded the room and a towering figure stood over him.

Don't...don't...oh, please...don't...