Chapter 9, September Summary

Summer-like temperatures linger into September and the people of Tarker's Mills are afraid as the next full moon nears. Milt Sturmfuller has beaten his wife again, this time so badly that she has to be hospitalized, but she backs up his story that her injuries came from a fall.

On the night of the full moon, the moon is hidden by thick clouds, but the beast still feels its pull. Around 2 a.m., farmer Elmer Zinneman hears his pigs squealing. S the squeals turn to screams, Elmer grabs his rifle and starts to go outside despite the protests of his wife, Alice. As he is about the leave the house to investigate, Elmer hears another sound - a wolf-cry that also sounds somehow human, and he stays inside instead. One by one, the pigs stop crying and when Elmer looks out...