Blood and Clay by Dulcinea Norton-Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

invited her there to heal the cow. Whatever the reason his cow
died, and another five this morning. He blames Demdike ’ s trickeries for it all. ”

 
    “ As you know I keep mainly to my church and my prayers but
even I have heard gossips within this parish talk of the families and of a
murder in Pendle Forest. Is that true? ”

 
    “ That I do not know. It is true that a body was found. The
body of a young man called Thomas Lister. He was murdered in a clearing near
here. It was never established who committed the foul deed only that witchcraft
was suspected. The site of the body was close to Malkin Tower where Demdike ’ s family live. Many think it was her
or one of hers. Maybe it wasn ’ t. Maybe it was. ”

 
    “ If it wasn ’ t? Do you still seek to prosecute the families? ”

 
    “ I hope to God not but I cannot ignore it any longer. The
King ’ s Daemonologie is quite clear. Deaths are not the crime
being punished, witchcraft is. For a sentence in gaol or worse, death of a
victim is not necessary, merely evidence of witchcraft. I think that perhaps
King James fears that they will plot against him. ”

 
    “ Then they go to trial? ”

 
    “ No. At least not yet, but if there are any further complaints
I will not be able to avoid it. It will not be long before news reaches London
that Lancashire is failing to take action against those in league with the
Devil. The King already fears this county. We don ’ t want him to fear it anymore or it
may mean the death of us all. ”

 
    “ Then let us hope that there are no more complaints and if
there are then let us hope that God gives us the moral and emotional strength
that we need in order to do his bidding. ”

Chapter Eight

 
    I
crouched in the corner. From where I sat I could see all of the kitchen and
living area. The compressed earth beneath me was warm from the constant use of
the room. The painful cold of January had passed to the less harsh damp of
February. The corner I crouched in was untouched by the drips which puddled in
many areas of the room. As I drew my legs closer to my body I used my arms to
hug Nettie who was pressed close at my side. Nettie was crying quietly and
shivering. I didn ’ t know if it was caused by the cold or by fear ‘ cause she was scared by the hammering
on the door. As I hugged Nettie closer I stroked her hair and sang softly,
trying to calm her and block out the noise. Every so often I would lose my
place in the song and Nettie would squeak as another thunderstorm fist blows
assaulted the barn door, sending splinters of rotten wood flying to the ground.

 
    “ Come out you evil wicked crones. You ’ re witches. I ’ ll have you in the courts for this
and if you don ’ t see the gallows I ’ ll kill thee myself. ” The voice was loud, deep and full of
hysterical fury.

 
    “ Be gone Richard Baldwin. ” hissed Gran. Not a shred of fear or
panic in her voice. “ Go back to your grieving wife. Why would you be hammering
on an old woman ’ s door? You should be with your family. ”

 
    “ You killed my babe you witch. You killed my little girl.
She never did you no harm. It was me that banned you from my land. Why punish
her? Why punish my baby girl? My poor baby Emma ” . At that the hammering finally
stopped and gave way to huge, heaving sobs from the other side of the barn
door.

 
    “ Go home Baldwin ” hissed Gran “ Go home to thy wife and those that
need you. Go before our James comes home. He ’ ll be in a terrible rage to find a
strong grown man like yourself hammering at the door of women and children. ”

 
    I
knew that this was an empty threat. James hadn ’ t got home till the early hours and
had passed out shortly after, reeking of ale. He still lay unconscious where he ’ d fallen, in the chair next to the
fire. Had he been awake he probably wouldn ’ t have bothered to help. Not as
though Gran needed any help. She were more dangerous than James when she