Original subtitles

<i>How did it get to this? </i>

<i>I came here to report on the Great Mangalo Deer Hunt, </i>

<i>a quarter page of fluff, between spots and gossip </i>

<i>not for ... I never intended for this. </i>

<i>I never meant for anyone to be killed.</i>

<i>I have witnessed things here, things that need to be heard. </i>

<i>My name is Godwin Ezeudu.</i>

<i>I am a reporter for the Independent Weekly Gazette, </i>

<i> and this is my story, though it began long before I got here. </i>

- What do you mean by "never"? - I have never shot one before.

- But you've been with us for years.

- I have, but it's usually Ayomide who takes the first shot.

- That's 'cause I'm just too quick for you.

- What is it?

- I'm not here to hurt you. Don't be afraid.

It's okay.

I'm here to help you.

Where are your parents?

- How long do you think she's been out there for? - I don't know.

From the way she looked, at least 2 days.

- Poor girl.

What do you think we should do? - Maybe she can stay here for a while.

- Ayo! We just can't raise a strange girl.

- We just can't let her go on her own. - I was not saying that.

Just that maybe I'm not supposed to be a mother.

I'm not sure I'm ready to take care of a girl that's not our own.

- You have to trust me. We are as ready as we will ever be.

<i> - Mangalo: a small village deep in the country, </i>

<i>2 hours from the nearest train station </i>

<i>and then what felt like an eternity off the beaten track.</i>

<i>When I asked my editor, AJ, for a promotion, I was hoping to be able to do some real reporting,</i>

<i>to do something worthwhile. And, well, </i>

<i> here I was, 50 miles from any semblance of civilization,</i>

<i>skin ravaged by mosquitoes, with the sun scorching on my already-aching head.</i>

Excuse me, sir. I am looking for the village of Mangalo.

I am lost.

<i>AJ didn't give me any background to go on. I guess it came with the territory. </i>

<i>The only thing I could find on the village of Mangalo was one name: Pastor Uchebo. </i>

<i>Looking back, maybe I should have just trusted my instinct.</i>

- Listen, you are a good girl, but you need to stop getting into fights.

Do you understand?

Good.

Then you should understand that I do not, and I repeat,

I do not want to see you in here again.

You may run along now.

Good afternoon. <i>- Good afternoon, sir.</i>

My name is Godwin Ezeudu with the Independent Weekly Gazette.

I was told to meet with a certain Pastor Uchebo. - I am Pastor Uchebo.

And how can I help you?

- I was sent to do an interview about the Great Deer Hunt festival.

Do you think we can do an interview now? - You would be talking to the wrong person.

See, I only run the schools and the church.

But this year, the planning committee is headed by one of our very competent teachers,

Pastor John Moses.

- Do you know where I can find him? - His classroom is just around the corner there.

<i>- Who can tell me the largest river in Africa? Okay, you.</i>

- The Niger River! - Not quite.

<i>- Sir! Sir!</i>

- A-ha, you. - Yobe!

- No. I want you to try something farther north.

Who else?

Asabi, do you want to share something with us?

That's very good, Asabi.

Who wants to tell me the answer before I tell you all?

- Excuse me, sir, I'm sorry to disturb you.

I am looking for Pastor John Moses.

<i>Would that be you?</i> - Okay, I'll be right back.

How can I help you? - My name is Godwin Ezeudu.

I was sent to do a report on the Great Deer Hunt by the Independent Weekly Gazette.

Pastor Uchebo told me to come and talk to you.

- With everything happening today ...

Pastor Uchebo didn't tell me you were coming, otherwise I would have prepared.

- Oh, don't worry. It's all very informal.

Can we talk now?

- Actually, I'm in the middle of a class right now.

But the kids have lunch break in 40 minutes.

- That's no problem. I can wait.

- Mr. Ezeudu!

Mr. Ezeudu!

Mr. Ezeudu.

- Sorry, I was just having an little siesta.

You can call me Godwin, by the way. - Nice to meet you, Godwin.

The festival happens once every year.

The 10 finest hunters all assemble on the edge of the forest just as the sun sets.

And all the other villagers gather around and build a giant bonfire.

But each villager can bring just one piece of wood.

Then the hunters charge into the forest, and they try to catch as many deer as they can,

alive, before the fire goes out.

It is all very traditional and very important to the community.

But I thought to myself last year, this is not so fun for the children.

Every year, while the hunters are out, the grown-ups have a party and drink a lot.

So this year, we have received permission to have a celebration

on the school playing field for the entire evening.

<i>- She's a witch! - I knew it!</i>

- Hey! What do you think you are doing?

Stop this right now! What do you think you are doing?

- But, sir, Asabi is a witch. - She's not a witch. None of you are!

You can't just throw sand and tell her she's a witch!

- But she flinched. She's a witch!

- I don't care what she did!

All of you, go to Pastor Uchebo's office right now.

- But ... - Go there right now!

All of you. Hurry up!

Go inside! It's break over!

Come, let's get you cleaned up. - Is everything okay?

- It is some dangerous superstition. - The sand?

- They think that witches walk upside down, on their hands.

So when you throw sand at their knees, you are actually throwing the sand in their eyes.

When they flinch, they accuse them. - This is what children do.

It's just a game. - Not out here!

Godwin, it's been a bit of a rough day.

Do you mind if we continue this talk tomorrow? We can meet before the festival.

- No problem. - Please, if you need any place to stay ...

- No, no, don't worry. It's okay.

- Let's go!

<i>Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do</i>

<i>Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do</i>

- What can I get you? - Ogogoro, please.

- You're here to watch the match? - Just here to have a drink.

- Here you are, sir. - Thank you, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

Do you know of any hotels or guest houses in the area?

<i>- Hotel? Here?</i> - Yes.

There is a resort 50 miles down the road.

- 50? <i>- Yes.</i>

- That is a bit of a walk, sir. - Well, if you just want a place for the night,

I have a spare room above the bar.

<i>There I was, miles away from home.</i>

<i>Yet, somehow, I still ended up at the bar.</i>

<i>Nonetheless, it was the only place to be once the sun set,</i>

<i>so it seemed like the center of things.</i>

<i>Though, in a place like this, that doesn't mean much.</i>

<i>The locals did not seem to trust me.</i>

<i>Few dared to speak to me, and the ones that did</i>

<i>still seemed suspicious of my intentions.</i>

<i>After a day of nothing but cold shoulders and silent frowns,</i>

<i>perhaps a few drinks could get the people to open up to me.</i>

<i>- Another drink?</i> - Yes.

- You sure?

<i>I arrive in Mangalo</i>

<i>with weary feet and an aching back.</i>

<i>I came to a conclusion that ...</i>

- Godwin! - Yes.

- Good to see you! - You're very scarce!

<i>As the afternoon drew to a close, the festival was still well under way,</i>

<i>drums beating loud enough to hammer the hangover right out of you</i>

<i>and beat a headache right in.</i>

<i>The elders had forbidden me from interviewing the hunters,</i>

<i>not that they were anywhere to be seen.</i>

<i>The elders themselves weren't willing to talk either.</i>

<i>The procession was small but traditional.</i>

<i>A welcome change from the city.</i>

<i>If this was the young pastor's work, then he did well.</i>

- Good evening, madam! - Good evening to you too.

- I noticed that some of you were standing in front of the crowd.

- I was wondering, do any of you know the hunters?

- Yes. They are our husbands, and they are taking part in this year's festival.

- And why are you so curious about who we know?

- I am a reporter, Godwin Ezeudu. I'm here to cover your festival.

- A reporter? Covering our festival?

Surely that cannot be very interesting for you.

- You'd be surprised. It has been very interesting so far.

- Is that so? I am Yejide.

This is Isoke, and the quiet one over there, that's Chinue.

- It is nice to meet you, Chinue.

And who might this young lady be?

- This is my daughter, Asabi.

- That is a very nice name.

- Why are you not playing with your friends? - She won't answer you.

- She doesn't talk.

- You seem concerned.

- People are starting to get worried.

- Why?

- If they do not return with a deer before the fire goes out,

it is bad luck.

- Can't you just put some wood to prolong the fire? - No!

- What happened? Why did you stop?

- The whole forest is empty.

We can't even get a single deer.

- You just have to keep looking! We have to be patient.

- We've tried to be patient. We've tried everything!

I think we failed already. This festival was cursed from the start.

- Nonsense!

Are you men?

- As long as we're still here, the hunt will continue.

- As long as we can ...

- What do we do now?

- Keep going! - It's over.

- We have to go back home. - No, we can't!

<i>- Let's go!</i> The elders will know what to do.

- There's nothing the elders can do.

- We keep going!

- What do you think you're doing? It's been 2 hours!

You scared us half to death!

Two hours since the others have returned. <i>- I had to keep going</i>

- You left us alone and embarrassed.

- I just couldn't come back!

The tradition ... - I don't care about the tradition!

I care about you!

You know you shouldn't be out there alone.

Anything could've happened. - I know how to look after myself!

- What about us?

<i>There are moments in life when things do not go according to plan.</i>

<i>Tonight,</i>

<i>after almost 200 years of tradition and success,</i>

<i>the hunters have failed.</i>

<i>They have not only failed themselves but the whole entire community of Mangalo.</i>

<i>A failed festival. I had nothing.</i>

<i>My assignment was a lighthearted community report.</i>

<i>But the story had not panned out that way.</i>

<i>And so there I was again,</i>

<i>empty-handed,</i>

<i>ready to tuck in my tail and go home.</i>

<i>A feeling I knew all too well.</i>

- Can I have the phone, please?

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

- What do you want?

You have been staring at me.

- I just like observing.

I guess, in that case, you and I are very alike.

- So, you're a journalist?

- Far from that.

- So, where are you from?

- Here and there. - Here and there?

-Mm-hmm.

- So what brings you from here and there to Mangalo?

- Business.

- Business? Here in Mangalo?

- Mm-hmm.

- So what kind of business are you here for?

- Do you really need to ask?

Look around.

The village is cursed.

- So you believe in this superstitious nonsense?

- Superstition you call it, yeah? You see,

that's what I don't like about city boys like yourself.

You think all your money, your police, your government can protect you.

But not here! None of that matters.

When the daemon come to your door,

when the angel fall from the sky,

when the spawn of the devil curse your name,

no one from your precious city can save you.

<i>- We all know that what has happened may seem like a terrible act of fate.</i>

<i>But let me tell you something, brothers and sisters:</i>

<i>It was not an act of fate.</i>

<i>It was not an act of God.</i>

<i>No, brothers and sisters.</i>

<i>What happened</i>

was an act of the devil.

You might ask me,

"Pastor Uchebo, how can we stop someone as powerful as the devil?"

Let me tell you.

We can stop him because we have the power of Jesus on our side!

Yes. Though we have the power,

we have still allowed ourselves to be deceived.

That's right. Satan has come into our village.

He has sent his minions here.

He has disguised them as our own.

No matter how innocent they may seem,

I tell you, daemons can take any form.

But fear not, brothers and sisters.

Though Satan is right here in our village,

he will no longer harm any one of us.

We are not alone.

I'll send for help, help from above!

And when it arrives,

we shall vanquish these daemons once and for all!

- Good afternoon.

How are you today?

I was wondering ... - If you are looking for my husband, he's not here.

- Actually, I was here to have a few words with you.

- Look, I know that you're only trying to do your job.

But I'd appreciate it if you'd leave my husband alone.

Our family has been through enough. - I know, and I'm sorry.

But I can assure you I'm here to help your husband. - Help him? How?

I want to tell his side of the story, about what happened.

- What is there to say? He didn't catch anything.

And now they're saying that he didn't because the village is cursed.

- Asabi, right?

How are you today?

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Well, why don't you tell me how old you are?

- She doesn't know!

- How old is she? - Well, we don't know, either.

My husband found her scared and alone in the forest.

- But where is she from? - We never found out.

She hasn't spoken a word. My husband found her like this.

- I think I'd better get going. Thank you for your time.

Again, again. again.

- Good. It's good. Go!

- Good morning.

<i>- The curse that has been sweeping the nation</i>

has a strong hold of this village,

strong hold!

And all of you are in grave danger!

- How can you let him do this? <i>- The evil ...</i>

- Pastor Uchebo tells me not to interfere.<i> - ... your sons and your daughters ...</i>

- Why not? - This is not our fight.

- And these people are free to believe whatever they want.

- Even if it harms them? <i>- The devil has arrived!</i>

- Unfortunately so, Godwin. All we can do is to educate.

<i>- ... and has recruited your children</i> to fight for him,

<i>to fight against you!</i>

Even Pastor said so.

But, my people, Jesus cannot help you!

<i>If you are to be free, free of the devil</i>

I will help you.

- My god! How much is it charging her?

- Very good.

Come on!

- Ayo.

Ayo!

Get up.

- Where am I? - Somewhere you shouldn't be.

<i>Bartender!</i> Come on.

Your wife is waiting for you. Let's go.

Let's go.

- What happened?

- I believe it's something related to alcohol!

It's okay.

- Careful! I've got him. It's okay.

- Asabi, he's just sleepy.

- What is she doing here?

- Ayo. - Get her out of here! She can go to hell!

- Don't talk to our daughter like that! - Our daughter?

I should have left that little devil where we found her!

The only reason that I brought that daemon into this home

was because you couldn't give me a child of my own!

- I think I'd better be going now.

- Why go, huh?

I have nothing to hide from you!

There's only so much shame that I can bring upon this village.

- Godwin,

please.

Whatever you do, do not show him in a bad light.

He's not doing well right now.

My family has been through enough.

The last thing we need is for anybody in this city to mock us.

- I would not want anyone to mock you.

- What you want may not matter to those who read your story.

- I promise to shed light on the truth.

- I hope you don't mind.

Some of your students told me where I can find you.

- I come here sometimes to read.

- It's very beautiful.

- It's a very nice, quiet place.

- I just stopped by to tell you that

I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning

and to thank you for everything.

- So is there anything I can get you while you are here?

- No. Thank you, Pastor.

You have done enough for me. I appreciate it.

I want to apologize for the things I've said to you.

- You don't need to apologize, Godwin. You were right.

- No. I can see you're trying to do a lot for the villagers.

And I had no right to judge you.

- Godwin, the truth of the matter is things here are far from perfect.

And as long as men like Paladin can extort and hurt the people of this village,

I have failed my job as their pastor.

But, you know, they're entitled to their views, and I cannot simply tell them to change.

The change will have to come from within them.

- And I can see nobody better than you to do that job.

- Thank you.

- Okay, Pastor. Thank you again.

<i>Mangalo felt like a different world.</i>

<i>The people were lost and desperate for answers.</i>

<i>Surrounded by nothing but fear and superstition, they were looking for someone to blame.</i>

<i>Pastor Uchebo and the Paladin seemed eager to help them whet their appetite.</i>

<i>This may not have been the tame community piece my boss wanted.</i>

<i>But it was starting to feel too important to ignore.</i>

<i>My instinct told me to keep going.</i>

Somebody, help me! Please, I beg!

Somebody help me! I beg, I beg!

- Chinue, I'm very sorry for your loss.

I didn't know your husband very well, but I believe he was a very kind and noble man.

- Thank you.

- Good morning, Pastor.

- I thought you'd be gone by now. - I wanted to stay to give my last respect.

- It's kind of you to be here. He was a great man.

- I hear you were there when he passed.

I am so sorry you had to witness such a tragedy.

- It's not me you should be sorry for.

It's the little one.

I think I'd better go inside.

<i>- This man who passed away this very night</i>

<i>was one of the strongest, kindest loving sons of Mangalo</i>

<i>that I have had the privilege of knowing.</i>

But even a man as strong as him,

who had our Lord Jesus Christ so strongly is his heart,

could not defend himself against the evil that has taken hold of us.

I had warned you.

I had warned you that we let the daemons into our midst.

And in doing so

we opened a path for the daemons to destroy us,

to destroy even the mighty Ayomide!

I had warned you.

I had warned you that we cannot lose faith,

and that, if we did,

we would pay dearly for our sins.

But we did not listen.

We were inattentive!

Now we've paid the price.

The Devil is in this village!

The Devil is in this very room!

But fear not.

You all know that, in times of peace,

you come to me for blessing and advice.

But this is a time to remember that, in times of war,

you come to me to defeat the Devil and to lead us to victory.

But how do we do that?

By knowing who our enemy is!

Asabi, please stand up. - Pastor ...

- Asabi, stand up. I just want to take a look at you.

- Pastor, please.

- Asabi, how are you today?

Asabi, are you upset that your father is dead?

She does not respond, nor does she seem to feel upset.

- Pastor!

- Asabi, is this your real name?

Asabi, is this your real name?

- No. It's the one my husband and I gave to her. - Gave to her? When?

- When we found her.

- When they found her! When Ayomide, the mighty hunter,

found her and brought her to our village!

It is just as I suspected.

This girl is possessed by the Devil.

This girl cursed her own father.

This girl cursed her own father and called up to her mighty master

and brought about a storm that struck down the very man that protected her.

She is indeed possessed, but we will deal with her in due time.

But today, today is not the day.

I need some time to determine what we can do with her.

For now, she is restrained outside,

<i>where she can cause no further harm!</i> - Pastor, no, please!

- Did they hurt you?

<i>- How is she holding up?</i>

Pastor John, what are you going to do now?

- I just

have to convince him. - Do you think he's going to listen?

<i>- I don't know.</i>

He has told us that we are cursed before, but it never got to this.

- I have a lot of major contacts in the city. I can have the police here within hours.

- Even if they do not side with Pastor Uchebo, they may not be able to help out here.

- But I ... - Godwin, please.

There is so much going on here already.

I am not sure having an outsider speak for Asabi will help her case.

- Alright.

- Thank you.

<i>- Hi, this is AJ. Leave a message.</i>

- Hey, AJ. It's me.

Listen, I need a favor.

- The church is closed for the night. Is there anything I can do to help you?

This is my church. Surely whatever you ...

- I don't think so.

- It is late, and you are all clearly drunk.

<i>Why don't you come back tomorrow</i> so we talk things over with Pastor Uchebo?

- The talking is over.

No! We don't want to talk anymore!

<i>- Finish her!</i>

- We are here to take action!

- I am a man of God. I will not fight you

or any of you. But if you want to harm her

you will have to pass through me.

- If you will protect her, then you are no pastor of mine!

Now

allow me to carve out the heart of that girl.

- Please, all of you, why don't you calm down?

- John!

- I will not fight you. <i>- But I will.</i>

Put the machete down

before you hurt yourself.

I said, put the machete down

now and walk away.

<i>- We didn't come out here to fight the journalist.</i>

<i>- Let's get back to the bar.</i>

- Let's go.

<i>- We'll come back for you.</i>

<i>- My parents,</i>

<i>rest their souls, never wanted me to come back.</i>

They said after clerical school, I should stay in the city

and do something with my life. - But you came back?

- The city was no place for me.

And my people have always been here.

And even if they come at me with cutlass,

I still believe they need me.

- Okay. Your turn.

- My turn? - Yes!

- Okay.

Most dull story you've had to cover.

- Hey, Pastor!

Most dull story? Where do I start?

Well, my boss wanted me to cover a story of an attack

on a tourist by an animal at a local national park.

Apparently, the attack ... The woman

was complaining that when she had reported the situation to the authorities,

they ignored her plea.

For me,

used to getting this type of news about traffic, deaths, and funerals,

was an opportunity for me to do something different.

I wanted to expose the corruption side of it.

So ...

Can I help you?

- Please step aside. I'm here for the girl.

- That man is here to help you.

He will make you all better so I can take you home.

Don't be afraid. - Chinue, you cannot trust this man!

- So you claim that you can cure the girl?

- I will rid her of the daemons that possess her.

- Okay.

- This man is a fraud. If you really want to save her,

this is not the right way. - I can tell that you really care about her,

and I thank you.

But if you truly want to help her ...

- You stay away from her.

- Please. Let him do this.

- She's the girl's mother. Let her do what she wants.

- Please.

- Pastor, it's okay.

<i>The man was a fraud. His charade didn't impress me.</i>

<i>But, perhaps, if he could convince the village that he was able to cure her,</i>

<i>Uchebo would let Asabi go.</i>

<i>I didn't like handing her over.</i>

<i>But if I had to choose between an angry mob</i>

<i>and a charlatan in a red robe, I know which I would prefer.</i>

<i>I just hoped Pastor John would understand.</i>

- Thank you. - Before I forget, someone called for you,

said his name was AD. - AJ?

- Yeah. - When did he call?

- About 20 minutes ago. He said to call him back as soon as you can.

<i>- Hello?</i>

- AJ, it's me.

<i>- Godwin, it's so good to hear your voice.</i>

<i>Now, listen. I looked into this Paladin fellow.</i>

<i>He is a con man with reputation for extortion and violence.</i>

<i>I found several warrants for his arrest:</i>

<i>fraud, theft, assault.</i>

<i>- The man was more dangerous than I thought.</i>

<i>And I had played right into his hand.</i>

<i>I thought if I was fast enough, I could undo my mistake.</i>

<i>I didn't know it was already too late.</i>

<i>The wheels were already in motion.</i>

<i>- He must know the right people, or at least who to pay.</i>

<i>Listen, Godwin,</i>

<i>I don't know what you're still doing in that village, but you need to come back.</i>

- I need to talk to you. - Not now.

- This is very urgent. - Please, this is hard enough as it is already.

- Chinue,

I have some very, very vital information regarding Asabi, your daughter.

- There's nothing left to talk about.

- Now, I have tried everything in my power.

But this one here, too powerful.

- You promised me! <i>- There are some daemons</i>

<i>that are too powerful to be removed.</i> - No, no!

You have to do it. You said you would. I gave you everything!

- What is going on here? <i>- Pastor,</i>

I have tried to save this girl.

- Who are you to try to save this girl on this holy ground?

Your magic doesn't work here.

Your parlour tricks could not possibly interfere with the work of our Lord.

Now, leave here, now.

In times of trouble, it is me you should seek,

for I have the power of the Lord on my side.

<i>Did you hear that?</i>

- Excuse me, my friend. Not so fast. Where do you think you're going?

- Let go of me.

I'm not needed here anymore, so I'm leaving this place.

- You cannot just walk into her life, take what little money she has

and just disappear in the wind. - Excuse me?

- I am not afraid of you.

Now you give her back that money.

- Walk away.

Walk away, now!

<i>- Satan has poisoned the ears and eyes of the very men who claim</i>

<i>that she's nothing more than a little, innocent girl.</i>

<i>I have the power of the Lord on my side.</i>

<i>And He tells me,</i>

<i>He tells me that these honeyed words</i>

<i>by her advocate mean only one thing:</i>

<i>that this daemon is too powerful to get rid of.</i>

<i>Brothers and sisters,</i>

<i>we will congregate outside of church tomorrow morning</i>

<i>and put this witch to death.</i>

<i>- Hallelujah! - Amen!</i>

<i>- Our service for today is over.</i>

<i>May God bless you all.</i>

- Asabi ...

<i>- You killed him!</i> You killed him!

- Chinue, what do you think you're doing? Stop it right now!

<i>- You killed him!</i>

- Stop!

Are you all right? - Am I all right?

Of course I am not all right! - I'm sorry!

- I do not want you to save me!

You should have let them beat me to death,

just like they'll do to Asabi first thing in the morning.

- They won't do anything to her. I'm sure there's more ...

- More?

You want to do more? Haven't you done enough damage already?

Eh?

- Damage? I tried to save her! - Save her?

They were going to exile her until you opened your mouth.

If you had not told Uchebo that you saw Asabi the night Ayomide was killed,

all of this wouldn't be happening! No, my friend,

you've not done any good here since you came!

All you've done is cause more damage!

My blood, and hers, is on your hands!

- I'm sorry. - Sorry, Godwin?

Why can't you just listen to me

and do what I told you in the first place and leave!

Leave, Godwin! Go!

- I'm sorry.

<i>I thought I could help.</i>

<i>I thought I could outsmart them.</i>

<i>I thought I knew better.</i>

<i>I did everything I could, but that wasn't good enough.</i>

<i>My only hope now is that, by telling this story,</i>

<i>by telling the truth,</i>

<i>I might be able to save another girl from going through what Asabi did.</i>

<i>Who am I kidding?</i>

<i>They condemned her to die today.</i>

<i>They condemned her, and they nearly killed John.</i>

<i>I hope he finds a way of saving that little girl.</i>

<i>And, if not, I hope she finds peace.</i>

- Did you get everything you came here for?

Excuse me,

Is this girl all right?

- Her? Not to worry!

She cannot hurt you. - Hurt me?

What did she do?

- She is a witch.

But now, she cannot cast her spells on you any longer

because we've stopped her. - You stopped her?

What do you mean? - We had to put a nail into her brain.

And now she cannot disturb us any longer.

She only eats her food and sleeps like a goat.

- I told you to leave. <i>- Look,</i>

I know you are angry with me, but that doesn't matter right now.

All that matters is helping Asabi. - Why are you even still here?

You know we did everything that we could.

Uchebo will not listen. - Pastor Uchebo can go to hell!

If doesn't matter whether he listens or not.

- Well, what do you want? - I want to run away.

- Why aren't you gone then? - With her.

I just need you to help me unchain her

so I can take her to the city.

Enough!

Do you know where Pastor Uchebo keeps the keys?

- I don't know. - Okay.

I have to figure something out.

- I want to come with you.

- What about the school?

- As long as that man is in charge, there is nothing left here for me.

- Look, take my bag.

I'm going to search for the keys.

And meet me in 30 minutes.

- Let me come with you. - Don't worry. Just wait.

- 15,000, 16,000 ...

<i>- Do you have to do this here?</i>

If someone sees us together here ... - Relax!

No one will be here this late. - Can we just get this thing done and over?

- This is your half of the woman's payment.

All right, that is it, my friend.

- Thank you.

- I require no thanks for for finding the cursed ones.

- But the hunter ... Why get rid of the hunter?

- Several months ago, he ventured into the darkness

and returned with that daemon.

How come such a man live amongst us?

- City boy, I thought you were told to leave.

- I did not come here to fight.

I just want to take the girl and leave.

- That girl stays here.

And you, now you get out of town.

- It's not that easy, Pastor.

<i>- Listen.</i> - He heard us.

- I didn't!

- I told you to leave.

He heard us.

People like him can't keep his mouth shut.

- Godwin, wake up!

<i>- They condemned her to die today.</i>

<i>They condemned her, and they nearly killed John.</i>

<i>Maybe he was right.</i>

<i>All I did was cause more problems.</i>

<i>Maybe I should just go back to covering weddings,</i>

<i>festivals and children's birthday parties.</i>

<i>I hope he finds a way of saving that little girl</i>

<i>after all that I have done.</i>

<i>And if not, I hope she finds peace.</i>

<i>- 15,000, 16,000 ... - Do you have to do this here?</i>

<i>If someone sees us together here ... - Relax!</i>

<i>No one will be here this late. - Can we just get this thing done and over?</i>

- Last night, after my decision,

I considered whether it is truly wise to execute this girl.

I asked myself:

Why does she have to pay the price for the daemons in her body?

But when I heard what happened to Godwin,

that innocent man she not only coerced, but also killed,

I changed my mind. - Pastor Uchebo!

- Here's one of them, poisoned by her words.

Are you here to defend your master?

- No, Pastor.

I wish to repent and to confess.

- Maybe there is some hope for you after all.

Step forward!

- So, what is it you want to confess?

- When I first came into this village

and pledged my service to Pastor Uchebo,

I made him, and all of you, the promise

that I'll protect you from any evil that may affect us,

that I'll spend my time in the school educating your children,

making sure they grow up to become the individuals you all can be proud of.

But I have failed you, Pastor Uchebo.

And more so, I have failed all of you.

I promised to protect you from evil,

each one of you.

But I have not.

So I confess to the people of this village

that I have been blind,

and I have been wrong.

I promised to protect you from evil,

but this girl is not evil.

The true evil lies somewhere I never dared to look.

- Pastor John Moses, are you trying to play one of your parlour games here?

If she has used her magic on you, I tell you...

- This is not magic.

This is simply the truth.

<i>- Do you have to do this here? If someone sees us together here ...</i>

<i>- Relax! </i> - What?

<i>- No one would be here this late. - Can we just get this thing done and over?</i>

<i>- This is your half of the woman's payment.</i>

- This can be anybody. - Let him finish.

<i>- All right. That's it, my friend.</i>

<i>- Thank you. - I require no thanks for finding the cursed ones.</i>

<i>- But the hunter ... Why get rid of the hunter?</i>

<i>- Several months ago, he ventured into the darkness</i>

<i>and returned with that daemon.</i>

<i>How can such a man live amongst us?</i>

- Look, this can be anybody.

- Don't mind his ... - You killed a man

and accused his only daughter of being a witch.

What do you have to say in your defence, Pastor?

- Am I the one on trial? Look, I'm tired of your tricks.

And I hereby sentence you to death alongside this witch girl!

- Just like you've sentenced Ayomide to die?

Just like you'll sentence an innocent girl

to die simply because she's been different?

- You killed him? - No!

The daemon killed your husband.

Just like she poisoned all your children.

- You killed him! You killed my husband!

You called us cursed, and now you want to kill my daughter!

- Calm down!

Calm down, Chinue.

- He must pay for this. - He's going to be punished, but not like this.

- I want justice. - This is not justice, Chinue.

This is not justice.

This is murder.

Do you really want to taint your husband's legacy by murdering another man?

Nothing you will do will bring him back.

- Pastor John Moses, please step aside.

- I cannot let you do this, Chinue.

- I don't want to hurt you.

- If you kill him,

there will be no one left to take care of your daughter,

no one to take care of Asabi!

I will not let Asabi be raised by a murderer.

- Why do you defend a man that would have you killed?

- Because I promised the people of this village

that I'll protect them, no matter who they are

or what they have done.

So, Chinue, if you really want to kill him

you will have to kill me first.

<i>- Telling stories has never been my calling,</i>

<i>nor is this story mine to tell.</i>

<i>I cannot say that I knew him well.</i>

<i>But in the few days I had the pleasure of knowing him,</i>

<i>he proved to be the bravest man I've ever met.</i>

After being found guilty by the elders,

Pastor Uchebo was arrested and is now awaiting trial.

The man responsible for Godwin's death is still at large.

But this does not mean that his death has to be in vain.

Along with this letter, I am sending you the last possessions Godwin had on him when he died.

Godwin gave his life to save one girl.

If you can help him finish this story,

his voice may save a hundred more.