Perry said, "The church has been wrecked. Claussen is out of his mind."
Longtree heard him out and did not like any of it. Lauters had assaulted the man and he had now gone quietly-or not so quietly-out of his mind. That much was true. Lauters needed to be put under arrest.
Perry just shook his head. "He's raving, Marshal. He believes this creature is some sort of god and he is its priest."
"Did he call it by name?"
"Yes." Perry swallowed. "Lord of the High Wood. Skullhead."
Longtree paled. "Maybe he's not as crazy as you think."
Perry just stared at him. "What do you mean by that?"
So Longtree told him everything he knew. Told him in detail even though he didn't really have the time to do much explaining. But it was important that the doctor know.
"Like some sort of ogre," was all Perry said. "A monster from a story book."
"Yes," Longtree admitted. "But far worse."