MERIK. Like steam, like air. ... Just blow into the air. [Blows]
They're like that, you can't see them.

A VOICE FROM THE CORNER. You can see them if you sit under a
harrow.

MERIK. I've tried, but I didn't see any. ... Old women's tales, and
silly old men's, too. ... You won't see a devil or a ghost or a
corpse. ... Our eyes weren't made so that we could see everything. ...
When I was a boy, I used to walk in the woods at night on purpose
to see the demon of the woods. ... I'd shout and shout, and there
might be some spirit, I'd call for the demon of the woods and not
blink my eyes: I'd see all sorts of little things moving about, but
no demon. I used to go and walk about the churchyards at night, I
wanted to see the ghosts--but the women lie. I saw all sorts of
animals, but anything awful--not a sign. Our eyes weren't ...

THE VOICE FROM THE CORNER. Never mind, it does happen that you do
see. ... In our village a man was gutting a wild boar ... he was
separating the tripe when ... something jumped out at him!

SAVVA. [Raising himself] Little children, don't talk about these
unclean things! It's a sin, dears!

MERIK. Aaa ... greybeard! You skeleton! [Laughs] You needn't go to
the churchyard to see ghosts, when they get up from under the floor
to give advice to their relations. ... A sin! ... Don't you teach
people your silly notions! You're an ignorant lot of people living
in darkness. ... [Lights his pipe] My father was peasant and used
to be fond of teaching people. One night he stole a sack of apples