12 Exorcisms
Hawkeye waited until the morning and then went over to Father Mulcahy's tent. He felt very weird going over there for the reason that he was going for. He was about to ask him about exorcisms. Something that people rarely bring up. It's not something that you casually bring up in a conversation. Besides, a man like Father Mulcahy, he would be very hesitant about doing one. Hawkeye didn't really know what all was involved or required for an exorcism, all he knew was that Margaret could use any help that she could get. Hawkeye slowly approached the door and knocked on the door.
"Father Mulcahy?" he asked.
"Come in," he said.
Hawkeye opened the door to see him sitting at his desk writing.
"Come in," he said and then turned around.
"Just writing a letter to my sister Teresa. In her last letter she told me that all the nuns were taking a poll on when they thought the war would end and I thought that add my thoughts to it," he said.
"Really?" Hawkeye asked.
Hawkeye walked in and closed the door behind him. He was nervous about talking about this.
"Hey, uh, Father? May I ask you a question?" Hawkeye asked as he came and sat down on the bed.
"Why certainly my son," Mulcahy said.
Hawkeye just watched as Father Mulcahy turned around and faced him with an anxious face.
"What do you know about exorcisms?" Hawkeye asked.
Father Mulcahy's face suddenly went from willing to listen to perplexed.
"Not a lot. May I ask why?" he asked.
"I just need to know," Hawkeye said.
"Okay. Well, I know that in order for one to be done the church has to investigate and approve of it. That's because we found out about mental illness which led a lot of people to believe that they needed one when they weren't necessary. I also know that the person has to have faith in the exorcism to allow it to work," he said.
"Would you know how to perform one?" Hawkeye asked.
He knew that Father Mulcahy would need more explanation. This was awkward to be talking about something like this. He could just imagine what was going through the Father's head right now. Being asked to perform an exorcism in the middle of a war. Why not? He knew that there had to be an investigation, but he also knew that he would do it if necessary to save some one no matter what he was told by the Church.
"Well, yes I do," he said unsure of whether he was saying the right thing or not.
"If I told you that one could save some one's life, would you perform one with out the Church's permission?" Hawkeye asked.
"Yes I would," he said still confused.
"What if I told you that one might save Margaret?" Hawkeye asked.
Father Mulcahy just stared blankly as he waited for Hawkeye to explain further on. Hawkeye sighed.
"Margaret has been waking up scared to life and finding cuts and bruises on herself that weren't there when she went to sleep the night before. We've even had her in our tent. No person is doing this to her, but I know that someTHING is," Hawkeye said.
"Oh my," he said looking down and thinking.
Hawkeye watched as Father Mulcahy stood up.
"Is she alright?" he asked.
"Almost died tonight," Hawkeye said.
"I woke up and found her on the ground. She was passed out with a bruised and scratched up neck and could barely talk and her wrists were slit," Hawkeye said.
"Could I go see her?" Mulcahy asked.
"Come with me," Hawkeye said
Meanwhile, Clara was over in post op with Margaret asking her questions. The room was darkened and most of the others were asleep.
"How long has this been going on?" Clara asked.
"Two," Margaret said softly.
"Weeks?" Clara asked.
Margaret nodded.
"Does it follow you where ever you go?" Clara asked.
Margaret nodded.
Clara was starting to get the idea that she was right. That Margaret was indeed doing this to herself out of guilt.
"Before this happened, were you by any chance, feeling guilty about anything?" Clara asked.
Margaret thought for a moment. There was nothing that she could remember feeling guilty about. She just shook her head.
"I see," Clara said.
"Why?" Margaret asked.
"Because, what you've got sounds like a poltergeist. Now those are sometimes found to be brought upon by our selves. In the strongest feeling that one can have, they unconsciously trigger something. Maybe a want, need, who knows? But they trigger psycho kinesis, or telekinesis, which ever one you prefer. But either, that would mean that you started this and only you could stop it," Clara said.
Margaret just sat there frozen. She couldn't believe the fact that this could all be her fault. There was no way that she could have wanted this brought upon herself. The thought that she could be killing herself without wanting to scared her.
