The Halloween Tree

As soon as the boys have landed in ancient Britain, Samhain, the Druid god of the dead, starts slicing the air with his scythe, harvesting the souls of sinners. These appear in the form of small, worm-sized creatures that swarm over the boys.

The boys flee, not wanting to die at Samhain’s hand. When a frightened dog scampers by, Tom is certain it is Pipkin, particularly when it appears to yap with Pipkin’s voice. In the distance, they hear him trying to tell them where to meet him.

Samhain prepares to wield his scythe again but freezes as he hears people singing near a bonfire at the top of a hill. They are Druid priests, praying that Samhain will accept an animal sacrifice in exchange for the souls of their loved ones. Their prayer causes the tiny souls to float away to heaven, freed from Samhain’s grasp.

Roman soldiers rush across the hill, felling trees and declaring their mission to destroy the Druid religion. As they chop the trees, Samhain falls dead with a thunderous impact like a mighty oak.

The Romans erect new golden idols and altars to their gods.