Cycle of the Werewolf (OCTOBER)

Cycle of the Werewolf

OCTOBER

When Marty Coslaw comes home from trick-or-treating on Halloween night, the batteries in his wheelchair are almost dead. He goes directly to bed. He stays awake until the half-moon rises in a cold, dark sky. The sky is full of stars, like points of diamonds.

Outside, on the veranda, where a pack of Fourth of July firecrackers saved his life, there is a cold wind blowing. The wind blows the leaves across the yard, and they make a noise like old bones. The October full moon has come and gone with no new murder. It is the second month in a row that this has happened.

Some of the people in the town believe that the terror is over. Stan Pelky, the barber, is one person who believes this; and Cal Blodwin, the man who owns the car dealership in town, is another. They believe that the killer was a stranger, a drifter, someone living out in the forest. And now he has moved on to another place.

Other people in the town are not so sure. Some of these people think a lot about the four deer that were found by the highway. They were found the day after the October full moon. They were killed and eaten.

These people also consider Elmer Zinneman’s pigs that were killed during the full moon in September. The people of the town argue about these things in The Pub while they drink beer and stay warm in the long autumn nights. But Marty Coslaw knows.

Earlier this Halloween night, Marty’s father took him trick-or-treating around town. Marty’s costume was a Yoda costume, with a rubber mask, an old robe and an old stick. Marty’s dad takes Marty in their van because the van has a ramp that Marty can use to get in and out of the van easily.

Marty buzzes in his chair up and down the streets. He carries his candy bag on his lap and they go to all the houses on their street, and then they visit some houses downtown. He visits The Pub, which has a large bowl full of candy for trick-or-treaters.

By the end of the night, Marty visits dozens of houses downtown. He comes home with his candy bag full to the very top. He also comes home with a piece of terrifying, almost unbelievable knowledge. He knows. He knows who the werewolf is.

At one point during Marty’s trick-or-treating tour, the Beast himself, now safe between moons of insanity, has put candy into Marty’s candy bag. Because of the Yoda mask, the monster cannot see that Marty’s face has lost all of its color. The Beast also cannot see that under Marty’s costume gloves, he is holding the stick so hard that his fingers are white.

The werewolf smiles at Marty as he puts candy into the bag, and pats Marty’s rubber head. But it is the werewolf. Marty knows. But Marty knows not just because the man is wearing an eyepatch. There is something else. There is some vital similarity between this man’s human face and the face of the beast that he saw in the full moon so many months ago.

Ever since Marty returned to Tarker’s Mills after his attack, he has been looking for the monster. He is sure that he will see the werewolf sooner or later. And he is sure he will recognize him when he sees him, because the werewolf will be a one-eyed man.

After the attack, Marty told the police about how he hurt the werewolf’s eye. But Marty doesn’t think the police really believe him. Maybe it’s because he is just a ten-year-old boy. Or maybe it’s because they were not there on that July night when the confrontation happened. But it doesn’t really matter. Marty knows.

Tarker’s Mills is a small town. But the small number of people live far from the town center. So Marty has not seen anyone with one eye. And he knows that if he asks people in the town about it, his mother will discover that he is trying to be a detective. And she will not like that. She thinks the attack has traumatized Marty for the rest of his life.

On the way home from trick-or-treating, Marty’s father thinks he is quiet because he is tired from all the excitement. But in fact, that is not the case. Except for that night with the wonderful bag of fireworks that saved his life, Marty has never felt so alive!!

As Marty lies in his bed, he thinks about meeting the werewolf. Marty’s family is Catholic. They attend St. Mary’s church on the west side of town. The man with the eyepatch, the man who put candy into Marty’s Halloween candy bag, the man who smiled at him and patted his rubber Yoda mask, is not a Catholic. The Beast is the Reverend Lester Lowe, of the Grace Baptist Church.

“Sorry about your eye, Reverend Lowe,” Mr. Coleslaw had said as the Reverend put candy into Marty’s bag. “I hope it’s nothing serious.” The Reverend Lowe had smiled, then said that he had to have his eye removed because of a tumor. But it was the Lord’s will, and he was not having difficulty living with just one eye. And he said with compassion that some people have worse problems than he does.

So now Marty is lying in his bed on this cold October night. The moon is only half full. The question he asks himself is this: What does he do now that he knows who the Beast is? He doesn’t know, but he understands that soon he will have an answer to his question.

Marty finally falls asleep. He sleeps deeply and he dreams the dreams that young boys have. Outside, in the cold night air, the wind blows hard. It blows through the trees in the October night. It blows and sounds almost like a howl.

OCTOBER

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Cycle of the Werewolf
Ciclo do lobisomem

OCTOBER
Outubro

When Marty Coslaw comes home from trick-or-treating on Halloween night,
Quando Marty Coslaw chega em casa depois de um doce ou travessura na noite de Halloween,

the batteries in his wheelchair are almost dead.
as baterias de sua cadeira de rodas estão quase esgotadas.

He goes directly to bed.
Ele vai direto para a cama.

He stays awake until the half-moon rises in a cold, dark sky.
Ele fica acordado até a meia-lua surgir em um céu frio e escuro.

The sky is full of stars, like points of diamonds.
O céu está cheio de estrelas, como pontas de diamantes.

Outside, on the veranda, where a pack of Fourth of July firecrackers saved his life, there is a cold wind blowing.
Lá fora, na varanda, onde um pacote de bombinhas do dia 4 de julho salvou sua vida, sopra um vento frio.

The wind blows the leaves across the yard, and they make a noise like old bones.
O vento sopra as folhas pelo quintal, e elas fazem barulho como ossos velhos.

The October full moon has come and gone with no new murder.
A lua cheia de outubro veio e se foi sem nenhum novo assassinato.

It is the second month in a row that this has happened.
É o segundo mês consecutivo que isso acontece.

Some of the people in the town believe that the terror is over.
Algumas pessoas da cidade acreditam que o terror acabou.

Stan Pelky, the barber, is one person who believes this;
Stan Pelky, o barbeiro, é uma pessoa que acredita nisso;

and Cal Blodwin, the man who owns the car dealership in town, is another.
e Cal Blodwin, o dono da concessionária de carros na cidade, é outra.

They believe that the killer was a stranger, a drifter, someone living out in the forest.
Eles acreditam que o assassino era um estranho, um vagabundo, alguém que vivia na floresta.

And now he has moved on to another place.
E agora ele se mudou para outro lugar.

Other people in the town are not so sure.
Outras pessoas na cidade não têm tanta certeza.

Some of these people think a lot about the four deer that were found by the highway.
Algumas dessas pessoas pensam muito nos quatro cervos que foram encontrados na estrada.

They were found the day after the October full moon.
Eles foram encontrados no dia seguinte à lua cheia de outubro.

They were killed and eaten.
Eles foram mortos e comidos.

These people also consider Elmer Zinneman’s pigs that were killed during the full moon in September.
Essas pessoas também consideram os porcos de Elmer Zinneman que foram mortos durante a lua cheia em setembro.

The people of the town argue about these things in The Pub while they drink beer and stay warm in the long autumn nights.
As pessoas da cidade discutem sobre essas coisas no The Pub enquanto bebem cerveja e se aquecem nas longas noites de outono.

But Marty Coslaw knows.
Mas Marty Coslaw sabe.

Earlier this Halloween night, Marty’s father took him trick-or-treating around town.
No início desta noite de Halloween, o pai de Marty levou-o para brincar de “doces ou travessuras” pela cidade.

Marty’s costume was a Yoda costume, with a rubber mask, an old robe and an old stick.
A fantasia de Marty era uma fantasia de Yoda, com uma máscara de borracha, um manto velho e um bastão velho.

Marty’s dad takes Marty in their van because the van has a ramp that Marty can use to get in and out of the van easily.
O pai de Marty leva Marty em sua van porque a van tem uma rampa que Marty pode usar para entrar e sair da van facilmente.

Marty buzzes in his chair up and down the streets.
Marty zumbe em sua cadeira para cima e para baixo nas ruas.

He carries his candy bag on his lap and they go to all the houses on their street, and then they visit some houses downtown.
Ele carrega o saquinho de bombom no colo e eles vão em todas as casas da rua deles, e depois visitam algumas casas no centro.

He visits The Pub, which has a large bowl full of candy for trick-or-treaters.
Ele visita o The Pub, que tem uma grande tigela cheia de doces para doces ou travessuras.

By the end of the night, Marty visits dozens of houses downtown.
Até final da noite, Marty visita dezenas de casas no centro da cidade.

He comes home with his candy bag full to the very top.
Ele chega em casa com o saco de doces cheio até o topo.

He also comes home with a piece of terrifying, almost unbelievable knowledge.
Ele também chega em casa com um conhecimento aterrorizante, quase inacreditável.

He knows.
Ele sabe.

He knows who the werewolf is.
Ele sabe quem é o lobisomem.

At one point during Marty’s trick-or-treating tour,
Em um ponto durante a turnê de doces ou travessuras de Marty,

the Beast himself, now safe between moons of insanity, has put candy into Marty’s candy bag.
a própria Besta, agora segura entre luas de insanidade, colocou doces na sacola de doces de Marty.

Because of the Yoda mask, the monster cannot see that Marty’s face has lost all of its color.
Por causa da máscara de Yoda, o monstro não consegue ver que o rosto de Marty perdeu toda a cor.

The Beast also cannot see that under Marty’s costume gloves,
A Besta também não consegue ver que sob as luvas de fantasia de Marty,

he is holding the stick so hard that his fingers are white.
ele está segurando o bastão com tanta força que seus dedos estão brancos.

The werewolf smiles at Marty as he puts candy into the bag, and pats Marty’s rubber head.
O lobisomem sorri para Marty enquanto coloca doces na sacola e dá um tapinha na cabeça de borracha de Marty.

But it is the werewolf.
Mas é o lobisomem.

Marty knows.
Marty sabe.

But Marty knows not just because the man is wearing an eyepatch…
Mas Marty sabe não só porque o homem está usando um tapa-olho…

There is something else.
Há algo mais.

There is some vital similarity between this man’s human face,
Há alguma semelhança vital entre o rosto humano desse homem,

and the face of the beast that he saw in the full moon so many months ago.
e o rosto da besta que ele viu na lua cheia tantos meses atrás.

Ever since Marty returned to Tarker’s Mills after his attack, he has been looking for the monster.
Desde que Marty voltou para Tarker's Mills após seu ataque, ele está procurando pelo monstro.

He is sure that he will see the werewolf sooner or later.
Ele tem certeza de que verá o lobisomem mais cedo ou mais tarde.

And he is sure he will recognize him when he sees him, because the werewolf will be a one-eyed man.
E tem certeza de que o reconhecerá quando o vir, porque o lobisomem será um caolho.

After the attack, Marty told the police about how he hurt the werewolf’s eye.
Após o ataque, Marty contou à polícia como machucou o olho do lobisomem.

But Marty doesn’t think the police really believe him.
Mas Marty não acha que a polícia realmente acredita nele.

Maybe it’s because he is just a ten-year-old boy.
Talvez seja porque ele é apenas um menino de dez anos.

Or maybe it’s because they were not there on that July night when the confrontation happened.
Ou talvez seja porque eles não estavam lá naquela noite de julho quando aconteceu o confronto.

But it doesn’t really matter. Marty knows.
Mas isso realmente não importa. Marty sabe.

Tarker’s Mills is a small town.
Tarker's Mills é uma cidade pequena.

But the small number of people live far from the town center.
Mas o pequeno número de pessoas mora longe do centro da cidade.

So Marty has not seen anyone with one eye.
Então Marty não viu ninguém com um olho.

And he knows that if he asks people in the town about it, his mother will discover that he is trying to be a detective.
E ele sabe que, se perguntar às pessoas da cidade sobre isso, sua mãe descobrirá que ele está tentando ser detetive.

And she will not like that.
E ela não vai gostar disso.

She thinks the attack has traumatized Marty for the rest of his life.
Ela acha que o ataque traumatizou Marty para o resto de sua vida.

On the way home from trick-or-treating, Marty’s father thinks he is quiet because he is tired from all the excitement.
No caminho para casa depois do doce ou travessura, o pai de Marty acha que ele está quieto porque está cansado de toda a agitação.

But in fact, that is not the case.
Mas, na verdade, esse não é o caso.

Except for that night with the wonderful bag of fireworks that saved his life,
Exceto por aquela noite com o maravilhoso saco de fogos de artifício que salvou sua vida,

Marty has never felt so alive!!
Marty nunca se sentiu tão vivo!!

As Marty lies in his bed, he thinks about meeting the werewolf.
Enquanto Marty está deitado em sua cama, ele pensa no momento dele conhecer o lobisomem.

Marty’s family is Catholic.
A família de Marty é católica.

They attend St. Mary’s church on the west side of town.
Eles frequentam a igreja de St. Mary, no lado oeste da cidade.

The man with the eyepatch, the man who put candy into Marty’s Halloween candy bag,
O homem com o tapa-olho, o homem que colocou doces na sacola de doces de Halloween de Marty,

the man who smiled at him and patted his rubber Yoda mask, is not a Catholic.
o homem que sorriu para ele e deu um tapinha em sua máscara de Yoda de borracha, não é católico.

The Beast is the Reverend Lester Lowe, of the Grace Baptist Church.
A Besta é o reverendo Lester Lowe, da Igreja Batista Grace.

“Sorry about your eye, Reverend Lowe,” Mr. Coleslaw had said as the Reverend put candy into Marty’s bag.
“Sinto muito pelo seu olho, reverendo Lowe”, disse o Sr. Coleslaw enquanto o reverendo colocava balas na sacola de Marty.

“I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“Espero que não seja nada sério.”

The Reverend Lowe had smiled, then said that he had to have his eye removed because of a tumor.
O reverendo Lowe tinha sorrido, e então disse que precisava tirar o olho por causa de um tumor.

But it was the Lord’s will, and he was not having difficulty living with just one eye.
Mas era a vontade do Senhor, e ele não estava tendo dificuldade em viver com apenas um olho.

And he said with compassion that some people have worse problems than he does.
E ele disse com compaixão que algumas pessoas têm problemas piores do que ele.

So now Marty is lying in his bed on this cold October night.
Então agora Marty está deitado em sua cama nesta noite fria de outubro.

The moon is only half full.
A lua está apenas meio cheia.

The question he asks himself is this:
A pergunta que ele se faz é esta:

What does he do now that he knows who the Beast is?
O que ele faz agora que sabe quem é a Besta?

He doesn’t know, but he understands that soon he will have an answer to his question.
Ele não sabe, mas entende que em breve terá uma resposta para sua pergunta.

Marty finally falls asleep.
Marty finalmente adormece.

He sleeps deeply and he dreams the dreams that young boys have.
Ele dorme profundamente e sonha os sonhos que os meninos têm.

Outside, in the cold night air, the wind blows hard.
Lá fora, no ar frio da noite, o vento sopra forte.

It blows through the trees in the October night.
Ele sopra entre as árvores na noite de outubro.

It blows and sounds almost like a howl.
Ele sopra e soa quase como um uivo.