The Urge - Part 14

Brock stood in the middle of the crowd and began to sweat. The plan had been in place for months; he knew exactly what to do. He didn’t like getting hurt, but he knew it would be temporary. Wilma would heal his wounds, and he’d have weeks to recuperate in solitude.
Wilma was going to be great at her part. The plan was rather simple. Brock would climb up to the bull, begin to cut it loose, and fall. The medicine that Wilma had given him would kick in soon and he wouldn’t feel anything. 
The crowd was beginning to stir, so Brock made his move.

* * * * *

Dorn saw Brock move and had to conceal a smile. Everything was going wonderfully. Dorn joined the crowd in crying out as Brock fell to his death. 
The village fell into a panic. Mothers began shielding their children’s faces and several men ran forward to check the body. 
“He’s dead!” yelled Gilford. He was the village minister and the first on Dorn’s list. 

* * * * *

Wilma was also sweating. As Brock began to climb to the top of the fountain, she began to go over the ingredients she had given him. A mixture of herbs and plants designed to stop his heart. Wilma finished her calculations and was content that she had mixed everything correctly. 
As Gilford called out his findings, Wilma began her act. 
She made her way up to the front of the crowd.
“People, listen! Something is not right. The devil must be at work here!” 
The townspeople were so distraught no one seemed to even question her statement. 
“Gilford, I suggest we pray and afterwards we bury the body.”
Gilford was still shaken, but nodded in agreement. 
Gilford began his prayer. “Oh, Father of Heaven and Earth! Protect your people! Shield us from the evil one!” Gilford’s voice trailed off as he began to weep. 
Wilma took up the charge. “And Father, speak to your people. Show us how we may be spared. Amen.”
Gilford gathered himself together and called several of the men to pick up the body. 
Later that day, the entire town came together to bury the body. 
The village cemetery sat outside the village behind the church. The view to the fountain was blocked. 
As the men came forward to lower the body, Dorn and Wilma took special note of who touched it. The connection had to be clear the unmistakable. The village had to believe that the body was cursed. 
The men stopped and Gilford placed his hand on Brock’s wrapped head and prayed for God to gather him into his kingdom. 
Dorn and the others had planned everything. Ellen, however, now acted in a way they did not plan. 
As the men began to lower the body into the shallow grave, Ellen came fourth and stopped them. The village looked on as she placed a single rose on his chest. 
Wilma watched in horror as Ellen’s hand brushed the body. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run over and pull Ellen back. But She didn’t. The plan had to go forward. 
Dorn smiled slightly. This will work wonderfully. The village knew he was to marry Ellen. And his loss was just what he needed to keep all accusations at bay.