The Soul Stealer. Alex Archer

the priest said.

      “We didn’t see you out in the field,” Bob said. “We thought perhaps you had missed the hysteria.”

      Father Jakob smiled. “I live in a small village. I see and hear everything.” He took a sip of his coffee and then set the mug down. “I was out there much earlier today. With the coming storm, however, I busied myself with preparations. As such, I was absent while you were there.”

      “What do you think of it?” Annja asked.

      “There is much the world at large does not know,” the old priest said. “There are still many remote regions. Many legends that do not have an easy way of dismissing them.”

      “You believe it?” Annja asked.

      “I believe there is something out there. Yes.”

      “But the legend of Khosadam?” Annja shook her head. “It just doesn’t seem possible to me.”

      “And you’ve never had anything in your life that seemed impossible?” Father Jakob peered closer at her. “I would have thought you would be more accepting of such things, my child.”

      Bob perked up. “Why so?”

      Annja swallowed. Could the priest see that Annja had her own secrets to keep hidden away?

      Father Jakob swallowed more coffee. “Just a thought.”

      Bob glanced at Annja, but she turned away. Gregor cleared his throat. “The villagers are quite worried.”

      “As they should be,” Father Jakob said. “If the legends are true, then the beast will hunt one of them.”

      “Not you?” Annja asked.

      “I am a holy man. I tend to think that perhaps my soul is not to the beast’s liking.”

      “You sound pretty sure,” Bob said.

      Father Jakob spread his arms. “I do not have much material wealth being a lonely priest. But I do like to think that the wealth of God is with me. He will look after a kindly old servant long forgotten by the rest of the world. Perhaps I am presumptuous, but then perhaps I am allowed to be.”