The Witch of Blackbird Pond / Ведьма с пруда Черных Дроздов. 10-11 классы
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Kit stood numb. Rachel started crying when she handed Kit her coat. Then they walked together all the way to the constable’s house, and saw how Kit was locked safely in the shed. The shed was empty with just a pile of straw in one corner. There was no window either. Inside Kit leaned against the door. Tears were running down her cheeks. In the late afternoon the constable kindly brought her supper and a thick blanket. “We never had a girl in here before,” he said.
“And what about the others who had been kept here? What happened to them?” asked Kit.
“Well, one was banished from the colony. The other one was hanged. But I don’t think they’ll be so hard on you. You’re so young. Probably they’ll just brand you, or cut off an ear.”
After his words Kit couldn’t eat. She began to shake, and the blanket didn’t warm her. Was there anyone who could help her? John Holbrook, maybe. But he was far away in Massachusetts. Nat Eaton? He was halfway down the river. William? Of course! William could help her! Why hadn’t she thought of him before? William had a position in this town. The thought calmed her. She imagined him coming to save her. Dear reliable William! Perhaps he would come tonight. Kit sat down on the floor and waited for William. But it was Rachel who finally came instead. Long after dark Kit heard her whisper outside the shed wall. “Kit? Can you hear me? Are you all right?”
“Yes! Oh, Aunt Rachel, I’m so sorry! They’ll never forgive me. What do they do to witches?”
“Nothing, child,” whispered Rachel. “They won’t do anything to you. We’ll think of something. The questioning will be in the morning. If there’s something you haven’t told, you must tell them everything.”
Encouraged by her aunt’s visit, Kit now felt less panicky. She sat down and thought about her chances. Nobody in the town would have much sympathy for her. Goodwife Cruff had hated Kit since that first day on the Dolphin. What if they discovered that Prudence too had visited Hannah? What had poor Hannah ever done to harm these people? But Kit had promised the poor child that it’d all be all right. How could she have been so stupid?
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning the constable took Kit to the Town House. The building was full of people. At a table at the end of the room sat Captain Talcott and a group of town selectmen. Her uncle sat in his place among them, frowning. At the opposite end of the table sat the two ministers, Reverend John Woodbridge and Dr. Gershom Bulkeley, both known for their sermons against witchcraft. Kit’s heart sank. There was no one, no one in the whole room, except her uncle, who would defend her. William had not come.
Soon Captain Talcott began his speech: “We have come here to question Mistress Katherine Tyler, of Barbados, who is accused by witnesses of the practice of witchcraft. Mistress Tyler, come forward.” Kit got up and stood facing the magistrate across the table.
“Listen to the charge against you.” A clerk read ridiculous statements which, to Kit’s horror, ended with the words “for which by the law of God and the law of the Colony you deserve to die”. Then the clerk continued: “Mistress Tyler, you are accused by Goodman Cruff with the following. Firstly, you were a friend and companion of the Widow Hannah Tupper of Blackbird Pond, an alleged witch who has disappeared in a suspicious manner. Secondly, you are guilty of devilish actions, which have caused illness and death in this town.”
The clerk sat down. Captain Talcott looked at the girl before him. “Mistress Tyler,” he said, “you have heard the complaints against you. Is it true that you were a friend and companion of the Widow Tupper and that you have entered her house and visited her?”
“Yes, sir,” Kit managed to say.
“Is it true that you and the Widow Tupper practiced enchantments to cause mischief to other people?”
“No, sir! I don’t know what you mean by enchantments.”
At this moment Matthew Wood jumped suddenly to his feet. “I protest!” he shouted.
“Matthew Wood, were these visits to the Widow Tupper taken with your approval?” asked Captain Talcott.
“No, I had no knowledge of them,” Matthew admitted. “And I forbade her to go. But the girl has been disobedient and thoughtless at times. That’s because of her upbringing. But I swear before all that the girl is no witch.”
Now Goodwife Cruff rose to her feet. “Sir, I’ve something to say,” she announced. “I’ve got here what was found in the widow’s house that night.” With these words she took an object from her pocket. It was not the book, as Kit had expected. It was the little copybook.
“Look at that!” Goodwife Cruff demanded. “What do you say about that? My Prudence’s name is written over and over. It’s a spell!”
The magistrate took the copybook. “Does this book belong to you, Mistress Tyler? Did you write this name?”
“Yes, sir,” Kit managed to say again. She could hardly stand. “I wrote the name.”
Matthew Wood covered his eyes with his hand. He looked old and ill.
“Why did you write a child’s name like that? This is a serious matter. You must explain to us why you chose this child’s name.”
Kit was silent. All men and women in the hall jumped to their feet, screaming, “She won’t answer! She’s guilty! She’s a witch! Hang her! Put her to the water test!”
Meanwhile, Gershom Bulkeley quietly took the copybook and studied it carefully. Then he whispered something to the magistrate. Captain Talcott announced, “Silence now! This case will be taken to court in Hartford!”
“Wait a minute, Captain!” called a voice. “There’s a man here who says he has an important witness for the case.”
Kit turned slowly to face a newcomer. At the door of the room stood Nat Eaton. Beside him, holding his hand stood Prudence Cruff. Nat! Kit immediately felt joy and relief.
“Where is the witness?” the magistrate asked. Nat put his hands on the child’s shoulders and gently pushed her forward. “Come here, child,” the magistrate said. Prudence walked straight to the magistrate’s table. There was something strange about her. She was not afraid!
“We will ask you some questions, Prudence,” said the magistrate quietly. “Do you know this young woman?”