The hand of power

A fierce storm sweeps across Dartmoor as a battered car claws up a steep, desolate hill, its driver a silent, stern man and his passenger, a nervous young woman named Betty. The wind lashes them with sleet, the distant lights of Tavistock disappearing, and Betty’s thoughts drift to the safety of home while Dr. Laffin mutters about ancient spirits bound to the moor. Their uneasy conversation sets a foreboding tone that hangs over the bleak road ahead.

At the crest they meet a cloaked figure holding a red lantern, accompanied by a silent, monk‑like companion, both standing in the swirling gloom. The strangers speak in low, cryptic tones that Betty cannot hear, and Dr. Laffin calmly orders the car to stop, leaving her alone with them and promising she will be “looked after.” This sudden pause on the empty moor raises questions about the ancient power the enigmatic pair guard and why the doctor seems intent on confronting it.