"What kind of a life is it going to be, living under assumed names, looking into dark corners, suspecting every person we see?" said Pearl, almost in tears. "I don't think I can take it."
"But what else can we do?"
"I don't know. But there must be something."
"He's not all-powerful," said Joe. "Otherwise he'd have the whole roost to himself. The churches wouldn't exist...."
He looked suddenly at Pearl. "The churches!" he exclaimed. "They've been his competition for two thousand years—they must know something about how to handle him! We'll go to a priest, get his advice. I've heard of certain rites and chants to exorcise devils. They must have one for Satan himself!"
"When we get to the next town, I'll call Mother," said Pearl, "and you go to the parish house and talk to the priest. Maybe there's something he can do to help us be prepared. We might need that help even tonight. I keep feeling that there is a way the Devil knows things, and that he'd know where to find us when he wants to."
"Maybe in his own body, yes. But in a human body, he might be subject to some limitations. Let's hope clairvoyance is one of the things he won't be able to exercise to full effect."
"You're whistling in the dark," said Pearl.
Joe didn't answer her. He was looking at some headlights coming up behind them. For several miles he watched them, then breathed in relief as they turned off. At least the Devil hadn't found them yet.