Saul

Biodata

Background

Saul fought in World War II and killed people during his military service. He later revealed that, when food ran out during the war, he and others ate enemy corpses. Although his police work helped numb those memories, the guilt never disappeared 38 46.

After a shipwreck, Saul tried to protect a mother and daughter from the other survivors. Brussels, Stock and others subdued him and forced him to eat human flesh again. The experience revived his wartime guilt and left him tormented at night 46.

Appearance

Saul was a tall Black man with a strong physique 29 47.

• Build: He was the strongest of the group that searched the kitchen and had more stamina than many of the other guests 25 29.
• Clothing: He wore black while moving through the villa before confronting Xie Qi 46.

Personality

Saul was generally quiet and had little influence among the guests, but they listened when his experience as a police officer became relevant to Stock’s disappearance 23. He showed concern for others: during the survival game, he divided a fish among the women rather than letting Brussels keep it 25.

His sense of responsibility extended to the group’s escape. He wanted to bring the villa’s inhabitants to justice but recognized that the guests lacked the strength to do so. His guilt over cannibalism also shaped his decision to remain behind, although he reached for help when he was dying 43 46 48.

Abilities & Skills

Police investigation

Saul took charge of the initial examination of Stock’s bloodied room and questioned the guests about what they had heard 22.

• Recognized that the amount of blood indicated a death if it had all come from one person 22.
• Questioned Xie Qi about Stock’s whereabouts and asked for a witness to his account 23.

Combat

Saul mainly used firearms during his military service but was also skilled in close-quarters combat 47.

• In the sea-survival game, he chose a handgun, explaining that he did not feel safe without one 24.
• He dodged Xie Qi’s thrown knife during their confrontation, but underestimated its reach in the ensuing fight and was wounded 47.

Equipment

• Handgun — Saul chose the game’s sole handgun, which was limited to one bullet. He later drew a pistol on Phil during the game 24 27.
• Key ring — Xie Qi handed Saul the keys after declaring the six guests winners of the question game 43.
• Dagger — Song Nan gave Saul the dagger she had used to kill Stock before leaving the villa 46.

Relationships

• Song Nan — She regarded Saul with particular fondness and tried to persuade him not to stay behind. When he refused, she gave him her dagger 46.
• Xie Qi — Saul investigated the chef over Stock’s disappearance and later tried to kill him to protect the escaping guests. Xie Qi fatally wounded him 23 46 47.
• Phil — Saul pulled a pistol on him after Phil raised the subject of cannibalism during the survival game 27.
• Brussels — Brussels joined Saul and Phil in taking turns fishing during the game, but had previously helped subdue Saul on the ship 25 46.
• Lina — Saul asked the maid to summon the chef for him. After the fight, she cleaned his blood from the floor rather than help him 46 48.

Story Role

Games and disappearances

• Saul’s poker stack fell below 100 yuan and later to 40, but Xie Qi’s victory over the wealthy businessman left Saul no longer in last place 17 18.
• After Bailey discovered blood in Stock’s room, Saul investigated and questioned Xie Qi. The chef then offered information about Stock as a prize for a sea-survival game 22 23.
• Saul took part in the fifteen-day game, sharing food and helping fish. After Phil provoked the group by discussing cannibalism, Saul pointed a pistol at him 25 27.
• When Brussels disappeared, Saul searched the kitchen with Phil and Annie. He pulled a hanging intestine from the ceiling, which Annie identified as a sheep’s large intestine 29 30.

The question game and escape

• During another game, Saul correctly answered that Xie Qi cooked at the villa and asked whether the chef had killed Stock and Brussels. Saul also admitted that he had killed people during military service 37 38.
• After Song Nan confessed to killing Stock, Xie Qi declared the six guests winners and gave Saul his keys. Saul proposed escaping by lifeboat, but the group decided to seek supplies and investigate the villa first 42 43.
• Saul kept watch while the others searched the third floor. When Xie Qi approached, Saul blocked the staircase and warned the group 43 45.

Final confrontation

• Finding that the back door could no longer be locked from outside, Saul stayed behind to lock it from within while the other five escaped. He also intended to kill Xie Qi before the chef could pursue them 46.
• Saul hid behind a sofa to ambush Xie Qi, but the chef circled behind him. Saul dodged a thrown knife, then failed to land a dagger strike and suffered an abdominal wound 47 48.
• As Saul lay dying, he reached toward Lina for help. She pushed his hand away and continued wiping up his blood until he died 48.