… “Then she started sprinting to the edge of the field before the ‘Lovers walk’. I could see on this path that there were two young people running to get out of the storm. The witch pointed her arms forward before yelling ‘Beelzebub, bring down the tree. Beelzebub, bring down the earth.’ As she shouted I saw the hilltop where the tree was tear apart. It was as if giant invisible hands had torn the earth apart. The tree came crashing down upon that young farmer he had no chance. Then the witch screamed out ‘Beelzebub close her mouth’. We know that since then the young farmer’s wife has not been able to speak. Then I knew that I had witnessed the work of the devil through that young witch. I was totally shaken but then I ran back into town to fetch the constable.”

(Part of Mrs Dougal’s testimony).

 

Here is a sample from the novella ‘Witch Trial’.

 

PART I

The bright sun promised warmth which was denied by the cool autumnal breeze. A black bird cawed in remonstration as it looked down from the church spire onto the mourners gathering below. Among them was Stephen a young farmer with his wife Sarah who had both came to pay their last respects to friends whom they had known since childhood. Even though they had spent most of their life in the countryside they depended on the town where they would sell their cereals, farm animals and milk and through that trade they had gotten to know many of the locals. There was indeed an interdependency throughout the town where one’s own fortune could affect the others. The mourners were in their hundreds and mostly dressed in black. Young and old were represented and all had been affected in some way by the recent occurrence in the town.

Three months previously a middle aged tradesman with a cart full of his wares for sale had wandered into part of the town. He had travelled over the years to many places and wanted to try his luck locally. He set up his stall and had many customers. Within two weeks of arrival he was dead and his decline in health had been rapid. The locals were alarmed at the symptoms he had demonstrated prior to his demise. He had bouts of fever and chills, his muscles cramped causing excruciating pain to himself and he demonstrated seizures and for most of that terrible time he had stomach problems and black dots all over his body. He then fell into a deep sleep from which he did not awaken.

Those closest to him began to suffer from the same terrifying symptoms. The area of town that he was in was not particularly hygienic and had poor sanitation with black rats roaming the street and allowing the disease to be disseminated. The disease was recognised locally as being similar to the Black Death which had been prevalent centuries ago. Although the locals did not know it, the disease was caused by a bacterium which was carried inside fleas which would attach themselves to black rats. The fleas had most probably been inside the tradesman’s goods before attaching themselves to the local rat population. Wherever the rats went the disease spread and the rat’s preferred to remain in the area with the poorest hygiene.

The death toll quickly mounted with disease ravaging the poorest of families living in unsanitary conditions. The rodents remained within one area of town, the poorest, which confined the disease. Locals demonstrating the signs and symptoms remained confined to their houses and would carve cross into their front door with the words ‘Lord preserve us’.

The numbers dying eventually evened off. To prevent spread of the disease the locals burnt houses where the entire families had died. Bodies were covered and regularly taken to the local church where a huge trench had been dug to receive the hundreds of dead bodies that this ghastly plague had caused.

Many of those gathered had lost friends and relatives and their only consolation was that the plague had not taken their own lives. Tears and sniffles could be heard throughout as the minister in his robes made his way to the large trench which overtime had been extended to accommodate the increasing number of bodies.

The sermon was short and appropriate as the minister commended their spirits to heaven and talked of how these people had lived. They were decent people who had been overtaken by circumstances which had now thankfully been brought under control. Their lives had not been in vain as they had served the community well through their trademanship and hard work and would be well remembered. The townsfolk would remain together in their honour to make the community stronger.

The minister spoke of their resurrection and of the deceased taking their rightful place in the Lords House which comforted those who had gathered. He spoke of ephemerality of life and of ‘ashes to ashes and dust to dust’ before he ended the service. He solemnly walked away from the grave greeting and shaking hands with some mourners as he made his way to the church. Those mourners who remained stepped forward, stooped down, picked up some earth from the side of the grave and dropped it on the covered bodies below.

Sarah and Stephen each took turns at placing earth over the deceased. Sarah wiped some tears from her cheek as she stepped away from the grave. Behind the mourners were some men who were standing next to shovels. Once all the mourners had left the gravesite and the cemetery it would be their job to finally cover the bodies with the excavated earth to the side of the grave.

At the same time a stone mason was working on a large gravestone which would be placed beside the grave in remembrance of those who had died so cruelly. A collection had been taken to pay for this work and the people had been generous. The stone could be larger than the average piece in the cemetery. The stonemason could take longer to inscribe the stone using more extra care. It would become a focal point for those coming to the cemetery to pay their respects in the later years.

 

The young couple made their way through the mourners shaking hands with those they knew and hugging some in consolation for their loss. At that time the fair weather was in contrast to their inner despondent feelings. The community had taken a large hit, but hopefully as the minister had pleaded, they would remain together and become stronger. Stephen had his arm around Sarah as they walked together on the path between the gravestones to the front gate of the cemetery. Slowly they walked down the hill and towards the path which would take them home.

The path went past the cemetery to the bridge. It then went from over the bridge past a lake and then it had a stream on one side and a steep hill with trees at the top. There were fields on the other side. It stretched from near the church to the countryside. It was a narrow path straight at times and meandering at other points and known as the ‘lovers walk’. Many lovers had spent time on this path, holding hands, walking and getting to know each other better and discussing their plans for the future. Stephen had gotten to know Sarah well as boyfriend and girlfriend, as lovers and later as husband and wife on this walk. They had discussed what life would be like for them, how they would work the farm and later have many children.

That day was different. The path was in the same condition no better or worse, it was the same length no longer or shorter, but the circumstances changed everything. Their thoughts were with those who had died and with their friends and family. Talks of their own future could wait until later.

Sarah’s hands were cold and so she rubbed them together to generate some warmth. She raised them before her face and blew on them to get the circulation going. The wind picked up, blowing strands of her long fair hair across her face. Stephen stretched his hand forward and gently and with his fingers drew the hair behind her ear, revealing her smooth skin and rosy cheeks on her pale lovely face.

“The wind is starting to pick up. I hope it doesn’t get any colder,” worried Sarah.

“Not to worry love, we shall soon be home. A short walk along this path will bring us to our farmstead,” said Stephen reassuringly.

Stephen was tall and strong. A decent heart belied his robust appearance. He was married to Sarah and they lived in a farm which he shared with his father. Working the land had given him strength and endurance. He liked to see the products of working on the farm and he loved playing a big part in the local community. He took no nonsense yet he was a kind man and generous to those that he loved.

Sarah had taken to him years ago when they had fallen in love. They had married at the church which was beside the cemetery where the recent funerals had taken place. Both families were ecstatic for the union and wished the young couple the best of success in their marriage. It had ups and downs and through it all their love for each other grew deeper.

The recent tragedy in the community had hit everyone. Those who had not succumbed to the disease were thankful to be alive and still deeply shocked by the enormous loss. Too many had been taken in such a short time from the small community. It was now time to demonstrate resilience and rebuild now that the tragedy had ended.

Sarah wrapped her long jacket round her tighter as she could feel the wind pick up. She also tightened her scarf around her neck to give herself more warmth. Stephen looked into her blue eyes and smiled letting her know that everything was okay. They had both lost close friends but they still had other friends and their close family. Stephen put his arm around her waist and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Although they had been married for a few years now he demonstrated to her every day that he loved her as much now as he had on their wedding day.

Within the cemetery they had both noticed the smell of the dead. Along the path this had been replaced by the smell of the countryside. The smell of grass and earth was what Stephen loved most. Being a farmer he was used to the outdoor life but he also loved its smell. He had spent many days as a young boy and also as a man toiling in the fields with his father and now by himself. Guiding the horses and holding the plough so that the furrows in the field would be straight. Years of perfecting this art had given him strength and a love for the outdoors.

The golden leaves which had fallen to the ground were now being picked up and blown in front of them. Flying towards their coats before being buffeted and falling on the ground yet again. The blackbirds cawed as the wind picked up yet again. The dry golden leaves crinkled and crackled as the pair walked along the path. Twigs that had fallen from the trees from their lofty positions were broken underfoot. The trunks and branches of the trees were like tortured souls laid bare by the falling golden leaves. The almost naked trees revealed the birds’ nests aloft in the branches. As the wind blew stronger the branches reached forward like grabbing arms to capture or impede the progress of the couple.

Sarah shook her head as she attempted to push away the thoughts of those who had died at so young an age and of the tragedy that had befallen the town.

“I can’t believe this happened to so many people and so close to ourselves. If we had been living in that part of the town it could have been us Stephen,” she said.

“Well, we can only be thankful that we weren’t and that God has saved us and many others. More people could have died but for some reason the tragedy was brought to an end quickly. We must remember them well but not let it fill us with too much sorrow,” remarked Stephen…………

 

“Witch Trial” is one of the three novellas in “Unsettling” which is available in paperback and eBook format.

“Witch Trial” is also available by itself in eBook format.

All books are available in the Amazon bookstore.

alanrove@hotmail.com

Kind Regards

Alan