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"She knows," said Merrick sadly "She's a powerful and crafty spirit If you tell me as Superior General that you want to attempt an exorcism, and that you want me to communicate with her, I'll do it¡ªbut on ive in to her She's too clever She's too strong "

"I'll never ask you to do such a thing," I said quickly "Come, sit beside me here Let me hold you I'm too weak to do you any harm "

Now that I look back on these things, I'm not sure why I didn't tell Merrick all about the spirit with the oval face and how he had continued to appear to hout my illness, and especially when I was close to death Perhaps we had exchanged confidences about my visions when I was feverish I only know that we did not discuss them in detail e took stock of the whole event

As for my personal reaction to the spirit, I was afraid of him I had robbed a place that was precious to hih the illness had burnt away much of my desire to explore the mystery of the cave, I feared the spirit's return

As a ain

It was ht in Barbados when Lestat caainst my will

As you well knoas no longer the elder David It was after our dreadful ordeal with the Body Thief I felt invincible in ht to ask Lestat for eternal life When it was clear that he ht him with all I had

At some point in this vain attempt to save els, anyone who ht help uese Candoue

I don't know if my prayers were heard by my orisha, but the room was suddenly assailed by shten or hinder Lestat in any way And as he drained my blood to the very point of death, it was the bronzeskinned spirit of the cave wholimpsed as my eyes closed

It see the battle to live, let alone the battle to benear me with his arms out, and I saw pain in his face

The figure avering, yet fully realized I saw the bracelets on his ar red robe I saw the tears on his cheeks

It was only an instant The world of solid things and spiritual things flickered and went out

I fell into a stupor I re until the moment when Lestat's supernatural blood flooded my mouth By then, I saw only Lestat and I knewon yet another adventure, one which would carrydreams

I never saw the cave spirit again

But let reat deal more to be said