The Devil Aspect

by Craig Russell

The heart of man is the place the devil dwells in; I feel sometimes a hell within myself. Thomas Browne, 1605–1682

It was that—that extinguishing of their very last hope—that I savored more than anything, more even than the extinguishing of their lives… It was then they realized that the Devil is just God in his night attire. “Mr. Hobbs” (recorded at Hrad Orlů Asylum for the Criminally Insane)

“Really? The castle only dates back to the early Middle Ages, as far as I know.” “Ah, but you’re wrong. The current castle perhaps, but what lies beneath…” The German archaeologist wagged his finger in the air. “What lies beneath is truly ancient. The castle of Hrad Orlů was built on the site of a Neolithic hill fort. Danubian or Linear Pottery Culture, we think. In fact, the outer wall of the castle follows the circle of the original Neolithic rondel. Do you know that when the current castle was built, there were no kitchens or proper accommodations? That it was originally never intended to be inhabited?” “Then why did they build it?” “It’s one of the most solidly built fortresses in Bohemia, despite having no strategic importance. It was built as a great fastness not to keep anything out, but to keep something in. Something locked up for all time. Which is quite appropriate when you think of its current use.” “Really?” Viktor was intrigued despite himself. “Who was confined there?” “Not who, what,” said the German. “There’s a network of caves beneath the castle that were believed to be the mouth of Hell. The castle was built to seal it up. All nonsense, of course, but it’s true the Neolithic site was founded on the entrance to a network of caves. Have you noticed how the castle seems fused into the rock? It’s like Predjama Castle in Slovenia, where its fortitude as a stronghold comes as much from nature’s as man’s design. Do you know we really have no idea how long there...

“The Bear Man?” asked Viktor. “Carved out of bone, apparently—human bone some said, but I doubt that, more likely bear bone. It depicted a figure with the body of a heavyset man and the shoulders and head of a bear. It was discovered about a hundred and fifty years ago but became lost. When it was first discovered, the local Hussite cleric denounced it as a representation of Satan, claiming it was connected to Jan of the Black Heart and all his goings-on—I take it you know all about Jan of the Black Heart?” “I’m afraid I don’t.” “Oh.” Pedersen looked disappointed. Viktor was always amazed at how experts invariably expected others to be versed in their specialty—something he’d come across a lot in the medical field. “Never mind,” said the German. “Jan of the Black Heart was the erstwhile lord of the castle and really has nothing to do with the Bear Man other than the figure being represented on the familial coat of arms. Anyway, some of the locals claimed that the Bear Man carving was a representation of Veles—you know, the part-man-part-bear lord of the underworld of Slavic tradition. But of course that’s nonsense: the carving belonged to a time millennia before the Slavs arrived. However, it seemed everyone agreed something dark and powerful adhered to the artifact.”

“You doubt me,” said Hobbs. “I can see that. So let me explain myself a little more clearly. You wonder when I first came into being. When did Skála invent me in the turbid depths of his unconscious? What dark event in his past formed me? Am I the child of Skála’s unholy union with a holy man? I am none of these things. My existence stretches far beyond the span of any one man or woman.” He paused. Viktor again became aware of the all-enclosing walls of the tower room, of the sound of the Magnetophon’s reels turning; of his own breathing. “I am he who is constant and eternal,” said Hobbs. “When the first men lit fires to keep the darkness at bay, I was there, because I am that darkness. From me comes all fear, all hatred, all violence—but also all creativity, all passion, all ambition. I have been known by countless names in countless languages throughout the ages. You say that I dwell in the unconscious: well, here am I and I here stay, for this is where evil resides. Here am I and I here stay, for this is where the Devil hides. You see, dear Viktor, you really do know who I am. You already know my names.”