Suffer Little Children by Peter Tremayne Read Free Book Online

hostel.
    Fidelma saw no alternative but to hurry behind him.
    There was a movement in the shrubbery and Cass reached forward and caught something which writhed and yelled in his clutch.
    â€˜God preserve us!’ whispered Fidelma.
    It was a child of no more than eight years of age, dirty and dishevelled, yelling with fright.
    There was another movement further on among the trees. A young woman emerged from behind some shrubs; her face was fleshy and white where it was not smeared with soot and dirt. Anxiety was engraved on her features. In her arms she cradled the wailing infant while around her skirts, clutching at their folds, were two little copper-haired girls who were obviously sisters. Behind her stood two dark-haired boys. They all appeared to be in a state of distress.

    Fidelma saw that the woman was scarcely out of her teens though dressed in the robes of a religieuse. In spite of the baby’s near concealment of it, Fidelma noticed she wore a large and unusual crucifix. It was more in the Roman style than the Irish but it was also elaborate and encrusted with semi-precious stones. In spite of her apparent youthfulness, hers was a plump, round-faced figure which, normally, would have had an air of protective motherliness. Now she seemed to be trembling uncontrollably.
    â€˜Sister Eisten!’ cried Cass in surprise. ‘Have no fear. It is I, Cass of Cashel. I stayed at your hostel six months ago when I was passing through this village. Do you not remember me?’
    The young religieuse peered closely at him and shook her head. However, relief began to show in her features as she turned her dark eyes questioningly to Fidelma.
    â€˜You are not with Intat? You are not of his band?’ she demanded, half fearfully.
    â€˜Whoever Intat is, we are not of his band,’ Fidelma replied gravely. ‘I am Sister Fidelma of Kildare. My companion and I are journeying to the abbey of Ros Ailithir.’
    The muscles in the young sister’s face, so tightly clenched before, began to relax. She tried to fight back tears of shock and relief.
    â€˜Have … have they … gone?’ she finally jerked out. Her voice was vibrating in fear.
    â€˜They appear to have gone, sister,’ Fidelma assured her as best she could, stepping forward and holding her hands out to take the baby. ‘Come, you look all in. Give me the child, that you may rest and tell us what happened. Who were they?’
    Sister Eisten lurched backward as though she was afraid to be touched. If anything, she clutched the baby tighter to her chest.
    â€˜No! Do not touch any of us.’
    Fidelma paused in puzzlement.

    â€˜What do you mean? We cannot help you until we know what is happening here.’
    Sister Eisten stared at her with wide, expressive eyes.
    â€˜It is the plague, sister,’ she whispered. ‘We had the plague in this village.’
    The grip in which Cass absently held the young boy, who was still wriggling, seemed suddenly powerless. His body stiffened. The boy wrenched himself away.
    â€˜Plague?’ whispered Cass, taking an involuntary step backwards. In spite of his previous attitude, faced by confirmation of the presence of the plague, Cass was clearly troubled.
    â€˜So there is plague in the village after all?’ demanded Fidelma.
    â€˜Several in the village have died of it during the last few weeks. It has passed me by, thanks be to God, but others have died.’
    â€˜Is there any among you here who are sick?’ pressed Cass, peering anxiously at the children.
    Sister Eisten shook her head.
    â€˜Not that Intat and his men cared. We would have all died had we not hid …’
    Fidelma was staring at her in growing horror.
    â€˜You would have been struck down whether you suffered the plague or not? Explain! Who is this Intat?’
    Sister Eisten stifled another sob. She had nearly reached breaking point. With some gentle prompting, she explained.
    â€˜Three weeks