The Spook's Battle by Joseph Delaney Read Free Book Online Page A

Spook.While we ate, my master told Father Stocks about the raid on Jack's farm and the abduction of my brother and his family. He also mentioned that Alice had traveled on ahead to Pendle. By the time he'd finished the tale, we'd cleared our plates.
     "I'm sorry to hear such news, Tom," Father Stocks said, laying his hand on my shoulder. "I'll remember them in my prayers."At those words, an icy chill ran down my spine. He was talking as if they were already dead. In any case, what good were prayers? We'd delayed too long already and needed to start searching. I felt the heat in my face as I started to grow angry. Only politeness made me bite my tongue. Although my dad was dead now, I could still use the manners he'd taught me.It was as if Father Stocks had read my mind. "Don't you worry, Tom," he said in a kindly voice. "We'll put things to rights. Heaven helps those who help themselves--I'm a great believer in that. I'll do what I can, and maybe young Alice will arrive with news before the day's out.""I'd hoped that Alice might have called here already," I said."So had I, lad. So had I," said the Spook in a tone of voice that started the anger rising within me again. "Let's hope she's not up to any mischief--""That's unfair after all she's done," I protested. "She's risking her life just by being here.""Aren't we all?" asked the Spook. "Look, lad, I don't mean to be hard on the girl, but this will be just about the biggest temptation she's ever faced. I'm not sure it was a good idea letting her come here on her own. Our families play a big part in shaping what we become, and Alice's family are witches. If she ends up back with them, anything could happen!""From what you've told me about her, John, I think we can be optimistic," said Father Stocks. "We may not all have faith in God, but that shouldn't stop us having faith in people. Anyway, she's probably on her way here right now. I might bump into her on my travels."
     Father Stocks suddenly grew in my estimation. He was right. The Spook should have more faith in Alice."I'll be off to see what I can find out," the priest continued. "There are still a few good folks in these parts who will want to help an innocent family. By nightfall I'll know where Jack and Ellie are being held, you mark my words. But first there's something else I can do to help." He left the table and returned with a pen, a sheet of paper, and a small bottle of ink. He pushed back the plates, uncorked the ink, dipped in the pen, and began to sketch. After a few moments I realized that he was drawing a map."Well, Tom, no doubt you had a good look at your master's maps of this district before you set off--remembering to fold them properly afterward, of course!" Father Stocks said, smiling toward the Spook, then continuing to draw. "But this little sketch might simplify things and help set a few locations into your mind."The drawing only took him a couple of minutes; he finished by adding in a few place names before pushing it across the table toward me."Can you follow it?" he asked.After a couple of seconds I nodded. He'd sketched out the rough shape of Pendle Hill and the positions of the main villages."Downham, to the north of the hill, is the safest place in Pendle --" said the priest."I told the lad that on the way here," the Spook interrupted, "and it's all due to you, Father Stocks. We're grateful to have a relatively safe place to work from.""Nay, John, I couldn't sleep at night if I took all the credit for that. I've certainly done my best to keep the dark at a distance, but historically, as you well know, the danger has always been to the southeast of the hill. So traveling south from here, it's always safest to take the western route and keep the hill to your left. Of course, Gore Rock, marked there to the southwest, can be dangerous, too. It's where witches sometimes carry out sacrifices. But can you see those three villages, Tom? Is my handwriting clear?"
     "I think so," I said, and read them