The Night of the Sorcerers (La noche de los brujos)

Give them to me.

- What's wrong? - Look at that.

It's a village. Not very interesting.

I agree.

We'll go away from the river and into the jungle.

- We'll camp here today. - Okay.

We'll set up the tents before nightfall.

Let's go.

Help us.

Where's Liz?

She went to the river.

Don't you want to work like the rest of us?

No, honestly, I don't.

We can't have guests.

Guests? You're mistaken. Professor.

You are all here at my invitation.

What?

My father financed this expedition.

Isn't that right? He pays you well.

I don't care too much if animals go extinct or not.

I won't move a finger to support your article. That's your job. not mine.

I'll discuss this with your father in the next letter.

You'll be making a mistake.

He could stop financing you if you bother me too much.

The lady ruins her hands if she works.

- She's different from us. - Different?

She's used to having everything she wants.

Me too!

You think I like these people?

But they pay for our work. and that's what matters.

I'm sorry. Rod.

Hey. come here. guys!

Look.

My name is Munga. I'm a fur trader.

I just found out you were here. I came to welcome you.

I'm Jonathan Grant. Liz Meredith and Rod Carter.

I'm glad you came. Life here is too monotonous.

- Would you like a drink? - Sure.

Mr. Carter, I've heard a lot about you.

Safaris. elephant hunting... nearby in Tunganika.

- You're well informed. - I told you. furs are my business.

Carol Harris. Tanika.

My name is Munga. I'm at your service.

- Whiskey? - Yes. thank you.

May I ask the purpose of your visit?

To write about animals on the verge of extinction.

I'm afraid It's a little warm.

I'm sorry I can't serve it with ice.

I've gotten used to it.

Excuse me.

Hey! What are you doing there?

You can go to the village.

There's nothing of interest to you here.

Curiosity. it's been a while since any whites came here.

Thank you.

May I?

So It's a zoological expedition. huh?

You arrived late.

This pool was the water source for many animals.

Among them. elephants.

They used to come here in big herds.

The village was born because of the ivory traffic.

There are no more elephants and the village is almost dead.

The legend of the sorcerers also drove people to leave this place.

What legend?

Haven't you heard of it?

When we came to this region,

we were told about some ... mysterious dangers.

Do you want to know what that is about? Come with me.

Don't be afraid. Nothing happens at this hour.

Everything happens under the moonlight.

Well. according to the beliefs of these people.

- Are you coming? - I'm very interested.

Hey. wait! I'll bring my camera!

Come quick.

Aren't you coming?

- I don't feel like going. - Suit yourself.

I don't understand how they can believe that.

You're afraid and you're embarrassed to say it.

Afraid? I'm sick of this country and its superstitions.

The truth is. you have a thing for Rod.

He's too vulgar for me.

Yes. you like him. You want him.

But don't even try to take him from me. or I'll kill you!

How strange. You don't hear birds or monkeys.

There aren't any around here.

Why? Where they also exterminated?

No. the natives call it by a different name.

What?

They say this is the kingdom of the devil leopard.

There's always an explanation for everything.

And our duty is to find it.

When Simbonia was a European colony.

The whites tried to wipe out all practice of voodoo.

Because they carried on in secret.

The sorcerers of eleven tribes and their followers

were killed in this spot. and they were buried here.

This is the sacrificial altar.

Here, they used to decapitate the young women.

In the center. there was an image of the Loa.

The spirit invoked in the ceremony.

Yes. I know something about voodoo. zombies. and magic.

But I always thought that they sacrificed a white rooster.

Have you heard about the Yaru voodoo ceremony?

No. never.

The ritual sacrifices turn their victims into leopard women.

What?

During the day. they are leopards.

At night. they become devils with human form.

And that's what scares the natives?

They say that the dead sorcerers leave their graves

to make ritual sacrifices...

and a leopard devil awaits in the jungle.

Did you hear something?

This is ridiculous. You're making me afraid.

And do you believe all that?

Sometimes things happen in the jungle the white man's science cannot explain.

Bah! Superstitions.

Just in case, don't come here at night.

We'll just take a look at the pool

so we can judge how the elephants disappeared from this area.

Don't publish that!

Is that dangerous. too?

It's not sensible.

- How's that going? - Good.

We have a picture of the cauldron to illustrate the legend of the sorcerers.

- The place is sinister. - Too sinister to be true.

What do you think?

That Munga has a very good business

and we can ruin it by looking at it too closely.

Do you think the legend is something to drive us away?

What else could it be?

Maybe you're right.

Just in case, we'll keep watch until we leave.

Good idea. Half night each?

I'll start.

I'll come to wake you up when your tum comes.

Okay.

You should be asleep.

I want to go with you.

Go to sleep. I have to keep watch until 3.

Let me come with you.

It's better for you to rest for tomorrow's journey.

I won't be able to sleep.

As you wish.

You're still dressed? What are you waiting for?

I'm still thinking about the sorcerers.

Those horror stories won't keep you from sleeping, will they?

Of course not.

But when people talk about something. It's because some of it is true.

Come on. Those are the fantasies of ignorant people.

What if not all of it is a story?

Are you saying you believe in superstitions?

Voodoo has not been totally eradicated around here.

The natives will gather around the cauldron at night

to celebrate their rituals for the devil of the jungle.

So what?

One way of driving us away is to say that something

could happen to us if we come close to the cauldron at night.

What are you thinking?

I'm going to see what happens in the jungle. and take pictures if I can.

They'll see you because of the flash. They could come after you.

- I won't use the flash. - At night?

I have infrared material.

Still. It's very risky.

It could be a fabulous article.

So? Are you coming with me?

No. I'm tired.

Fine, I'll go by myself.

- Carol. - Yes?

Be careful.

Nothing will happen to me.

Stop! Let me go. I promise I won't say anything.

You'll be with us forever.

God. no!

Come!

- What's that? - Voodoo.

- Someone wants to scare us. - Let's go now.

Yes. It's time for the boss to keep watch.

It's your tum.

- Anything new? - Everything's okay.

Well. except for some drums in the jungle.

I wonder what that means.

I don't know. Maybe they're announcing our arrival.

Or maybe they believe that by dancing a little.

They'll have better luck the next time they go hunting.

I hope you didn't get distracted during your watch.

Nothing happened in the camp. if that's what concerns you.

The rest is my business.

He's mad because you're with me.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you had sex with one of those two dolls.

That will never happen.

I know...

but I can't help feeling jealous.

- Have you seen Carol? - She's not with you in the tent?

No. She left with her camera and she hasn't come back.

What time did she leave?

Around 9 p.m.

It wasn't my turn.

Let's see if Rod knows something.