Book: Speaks the Nightbird 6 страница

Bidwell decided it was time to stop these floodwaters, ere the dam break when Garrick—who was a proficient farmer but whose intellect in less earthy things was lacking—repeated these musings around the community. " Let us look to the future and not to the past, gentlemen! Elias, our deliverance is at hand in the magistrate. We should put our trust in the Lord and the law, and forbid ourselves of these destructive ramblings. "

Garrick looked to Johnstone for translation. " He means not to worry, " the schoolmaster said. " And I'm of the same opinion. The magistrate will resolve our difficulties. "

" You put great faith in me, sirs. " Woodward felt both puffed and burdened by these attentions. " I hope I meet your expectations. "

" You'd better. " Shields had put aside the empty glass. " The fate of this settlement is in your hands. "

" Gentlemen? " Mrs. Nettles loomed in the doorway. " Dinner's a'table. "

The banquet room, toward the rear of the house next to the kitchen, was a marvel of dark-timbered walls, hanging tapestries, and a fieldstone fireplace as wide as a wagon. Above the hearth was the mounted head of a magnificent stag, and displayed on both sides of it was a collection of muskets and pistols. Neither Woodward nor Matthew had expected to find a mansion out here on the coastal swampland, but a room like this—which might have served as the centerpiece in a British castle—rendered them both speechless. Above a huge rectangular table was an equally huge candlelit chandelier supported from the ceiling by thick nautical chains, and upon the floor was a carpet as red as beef-blood. The groaning board was covered with platters of food, principal among them the roasted toss 'em boys still asizzle in their juices.

" Magistrate, you sit here beside me, " Bidwell directed; it was clear to Matthew that Bidwell relished his position of power, and that he was obviously a man of uncommon wealth. Bidwell had the places already chosen for his guests, and Matthew found himself seated on a pewlike bench between Garrick and Dr. Shields. Another young negress servant girl came through a doorway from the kitchen bringing wooden tankards of what proved to be—when Woodward tried a tentative sip, remembering the bite of the Indian ale—cold water recently drawn from the spring.

" Shall we have a prayer of thanks? " Bidwell asked before the first blade pierced the roasted and peppercorn-spiced chicken. " Master Johnstone, would you do the honors? "

" Surely. " Johnstone and the others bowed their heads, and the schoolmaster gave a prayer that appreciated the bounties of the table, praised God for His wisdom in bringing the magistrate safely to Fount Royal, and asked for an abatement to the rains if that was indeed in God's divine plan. While Johnstone was praying, however, the muffled sound of thunder heralded the approach of another storm, and Johnstone's " Amen" sounded to Matthew as if the schoolmaster had spoken it through clenched teeth.

" Let us sup, " Bidwell announced.

Knives flashed in the candlelight, spearing roasted toss 'em boys—a title rarely used in these modern days except by sportsmen who recalled the gambler's game of setting dogs upon chickens to bet upon which dog would " toss" the greatest number. A moment of spirited jabbing by Bidwell's guests was followed by tearing the meat from its bones with teeth and fingers. Hunks of the heavy, coarse-grained jonakin bread that tasted of burnt corn and could sit in a belly like a church brick found use in sopping up the greasy juices. Platters of steaming beans and boiled potatoes were there for the taking, and a servant girl brought a communal, beautifully worked silver tankard full of spiced rum with which to wash everything down the gullet.

Rain began to drum steadily on the roof. Soon it was apparent to Matthew that the banquet had drawn a number of unwelcome guests: large, buzzing horseflies and—more bothersome—mosquitoes that hummed past the ears and inflicted itching welts. In a lull of the idle conversation—which was interrupted quite frequently by the slapping at an offensive fly or mosquito—Bidwell took a drink from the rum tankard and passed it to the magistrate. Then Bidwell cleared his throat, and Woodward knew it was time to get to the heart of the matter.

" I should ask you what you know of the situation here, sir, " Bidwell said, with chicken grease gleaming on his chin.

" I know only what the council told me. In essence, that you have in your gaol a woman accused of witchcraft. "

Bidwell nodded; he picked up a bone from his plate and sucked on it. " Her name is Rachel Howarth. She's a mixed breed, English and Portuguese. In January, her husband Daniel was found dead in a field with his throat cut. "

" His head almost severed from the neck, " the doctor added.

" And there were other wounds on the body, " Bidwell went on. Made by the teeth or claws of a beast. On his face, his arms, his hands. " He returned the naked bone to his plate and picked up another that still held a bit of meat. " Whatever killed him. . . was ferocious, to say the least. But his was not the first death in such a fashion. "

" The Anglican minister, Burlton Grove, " Johnstone spoke up, reaching for the silver tankard. " He was murdered in a similar way in November. His corpse was found in the church by his wife. Widow, I should say. She very soon afterward left town. "

" Understandable, " Woodward said. " You have a minister at present? "

" No, " Bidwell said. " I've been presenting sermons from time to time. Also Dr. Shields, Master Johnstone, and several others. We had a Lutheran here for a while, to serve the Germans, but he spoke very little English and he left last summer. "

" The Germans? "

" That's right. At one point, we had a number of German and Dutch families. There are still. . . oh. . . " He looked to Winston for help. " How many, would you say? "

" Seven German families, " Winston supplied. He swung a hand at a mosquito that drifted past his face. " Two Dutch. "

" Edward is my town manager, " Bidwell explained to the magistrate. " He takes care of the accounting, a position in which he served for my shipping company in London. "

" Would I know the name of your company? " Woodward asked.

" The Aurora. You might've come over on one of my ships. "

" Possibly. You're a long way from the center of commerce here, aren't you? "

" Not so far. My two sons are now at the helm, and my wife and daughter remain in London also. But I trust the young men to do what has to be done. In the meantime, I am busy in furthering the future of my company. "

" In Fount Royal? How? "

Bidwell smiled slightly, like a cat that has swallowed the canary. " It must be apparent to you, sir, that I hold the southernmost settlement in these colonies. You must be aware that the Spaniards are not too far from here, down in the Florida land. " He beckoned for Dr. Shields to pass him the rum tankard. " It is my intent, " he said, " to create a city out of Fount Royal that will rival... no, surpass Charles Town as a point of trade between the colonies and the Indies. In time, I shall base my company here to take advantage of such trade. I expect to have a military presence here in the future, as the King is interested that the Spanish don't pursue their territorial greed in a northerly direction. " He grasped the tankard's handle and downed a swig. " Another reason to create a naval base at Fount Royal is to intercept the pirates and privateers who regularly attack ships carrying freight from the Indies. And who should build those naval vessels, do you think? " He cocked his head to one side, awaiting Woodward's reply.

" Yourself, of course. "

" Of course. Which also means the construction of docks, warehouses, lumberyards, homes for the officers. . . well, you can see the profit in the picture, can't you? "

" I can, " Woodward said. " I presume you would build a better road between here and Charles Town, as well? "

" In time, Magistrate, " Bidwell answered, " the councilmen of Charles Town will build the road. Oh, I expect I'll meet them halfway and we'll make some kind of compromise. " He shrugged. " But it will be obvious to them that Fount Royal is better situated as a port city and naval base, and they'll need the trade I send them. "

Woodward grunted softly. " Lofty ambitions, sir. I suspect the councilmen must already know your plans. That may be part of why it took so long to get a magistrate here. "

" Likely so. But I'm not planning on running Charles Town out of the shipping business. I simply saw an opportunity. Why the founders of Charles Town didn't elect to build as far south as possible, I don't know. I expect it had to do with the rivers there, and their need for fresh water. But the spring, you see, gives us all the fresh water we need. Plenty enough to fill barrels for thirsty sailors from the Indies, that's a certainty! "

" Uh. . . sir? " Matthew said, scratching at a mosquito bite on his right cheek. " If these plans of yours are so clear. . . then why is it you haven't yet begun building your docks and warehouses? "

Bidwell glanced quickly at Winston. Matthew thought it was a glance of nervous communication. " Because, " Bidwell said, directing a hard stare at Matthew, " first things are first. " He pushed his plate of bones aside and folded his hands on the table. " It is just like the building of a ship, young man. You do not mount the mast first, you lay the keel. As it will take several years to drain the swampland and prepare the necessary details before construction of the docks can begin, I must make sure that Fount Royal is self-supporting. Which means that the farmers" —here he gave a nod of acknowledgment to Garrick—" are able to raise sufficient crops; that the cobbler, tailor, blacksmith, and other craftsmen are able to work and thrive; that we have a sturdy schoolhouse and church and an atmosphere of purpose and security; and that we have a yearly increase in population. "

He paused after this recitation, and regarded the plate of bones as darkly as if they were the ribs of the burned houses that littered Fount Royal. " I regret to speak the truth, " he said after a few seconds of grim silence, " but very few of those conditions have come to pass. Oh, our farmers are doing the best they can, as the weather is doing its worst, but the fight is all uphill. We have the staples—corn, beans, and potatoes—and the game is abundant. But as far as producing a commerce crop such as cotton or tobacco. . . the attempts have not met with success. We are losing our population at a rapid rate, both to illness and... " Again, he hesitated. He took a pained breath. " And to fear of the witch, " he went on. Then he looked into Woodward's eyes.

" It is my passionate dream, " Bidwell said, " to create a town here. To build from it a port city that shall be the pride of my possessions. In truth, sir, I have strained my accounts to see that dream become a reality. I have never failed at anything. Never. " He lifted his chin a fraction, as if daring a blow from the fist of fate. Woodward noticed that on it was a large, reddening insect bite. " I am not going to fail here, " he said, with iron in his voice, and this time he swept his gaze around the table to take in the rest of his audience. " I refuse to fail, " he told them. " No damned witch, warlock, nor cloven-hooved ass shall destroy Fount Royal so long as I have a drop of blood in my body, and that's my vow to all of you! "

" Your vow finds a brother in mine, sir, " Paine said. " I won't run from a woman, even if she is licking the devil's buttocks. "

" More like sucking his cock, " the doctor said. His voice was a little slurred, indicating that the wine and rum had together overrun his fortifications. " Isn't that right, Elias? "

The attention of the magistrate and his clerk turned toward Garrick, whose weathered face had blushed a shade red. " Yes sir, it is, " the farmer agreed. " I seen the witch on her knees, tendin' to her master in such a way. "

" One moment. " Woodward had felt his heart give a kick. " You mean to say. . . you actually witnessed such a thing? "

" I did, " came the answer without hesitation. " I seen Rachel Howarth on her knees, in the dirt. He was standin' in front of her, with his hands on his hips. She had hold of. . . " He stopped, and squirmed uneasily on the bench.

" Go on, " Bidwell urged. " Tell the magistrate exactly what you saw. "

" It... it was. .. awful big, " Garrick struggled onward, " and... it was black and shiny. Wet-lookin', like a snail. And. . . the worst thing was that... it... " He glanced for help first to Johnstone and then to Shields, but both those gentlemen had chosen to stare at their plates. Garrick forced himself to look at the magistrate and finish what he'd begun. " It was covered with thorns, " he said, and instantly he dropped his gaze to his own plate.

" Thorns, " Woodward repeated; he felt a little lightheaded himself, whether from the rum or the impact of this testimony he didn't know.

" Mr. Garrick? " Matthew leaned forward. " What did the man's face look like? "

" His face? "

" Yes, sir. I presume you saw his face? "

" Well. . . " Garrick frowned, his eyes downcast. " I was might scared. I don't reckon I got a good look at that part of him. "

" Hell's bells, boy! " Shields said, with a harsh laugh. " If you'd taken a gander at a woman sucking a foot-long black pecker covered with thorns, would you have looked at the face hanging over it? "

" I don't know, " Matthew replied calmly. " I've never been in that position before. "

" He was wearing a cloak and a cowl over his head. Isn't that what you told me, Elias? " Bidwell prompted.

" Yes sir, that he was. A black cloak, with gold buttons on the front. I seen 'em shine in the moonlight. " Garrick paused once more; he swallowed thickly, his eyes glassy from the memory of what he'd witnessed. " Where his face was. . . was just dark, that's all. Like a hole you could look into and not see the bottom of. I was might scared, 'bout to wet my britches. I stood there, starin' at 'em. Both of 'em, right there behind the barn. Then all of a sudden he musta spied me. . . 'cause he said my name. Spoke it like he knew me. He said, 'Elias Garrick, do you like what you see? '" Garrick lifted trembling fingers and ran them across his lips. " I. . . wanted to run. I tried, but he had me rooted. He made me open my mouth. Made me say 'Yes. ' Then he. . . laughed, and he let me go. I ran home, but I was too scared to wake up my 'Becca. I didn't tell her... I couldn't bear to tell her. But I did go to Mr. Paine, and then he took me to see Mr. Bidwell. "

" And you're positive the woman you saw... uh... in service to this creature was Rachel Howarth? " Woodward asked.

" Yes sir, I am. My farm's right next to the Howarth land. That night I had me some stomach trouble, and I woke up and went outside to spew. Then I seen somebody walkin' 'cross the Howarth cornfield, near where Jess Maynard found Daniel's body. I thought it was might strange, somebody walkin' in the dark with no lantern, so I crossed the fence and followed. Went behind the barn, and that's where I seen what I did. "

" You saw the woman's face, then? " Matthew asked.

" Back to the face he goes again! " Dr. Shields scoffed.

" I seen her hair, " the farmer went on. " I seen. . . well... by the time I'd got there, she was out of her clothes. "

" The woman was naked? " Woodward, on an impulse, reached for the tankard. There was a single drink left in it, which he made disappear.

" Naked, yes sir. " Garrick nodded. " It was her, all right. Rachel Howarth, the witch. " He looked from Woodward to his host and then back again to the magistrate. " Who else would it've been? "

" No one else, " Bidwell said flatly. " Magistrate, you do know your daemoniacals, do you not? "

" I do. "

" The witch has all but admitted a hand in murdering Reverend Grove and her husband. She has the marks, and she cannot recite the Lord's Prayer. She has the evil eye, and—most telling of all—a number of straw poppets that she fashioned to trance her victims were found hidden beneath a floorboard in her house. Rachel Howarth is most certainly a witch, and she along with her black-cocked master have almost succeeded in destroying my town. "

" Mastuh Bidwell? " The voice had come from the kitchen doorway. A man with flesh as black as polished ebony stood there, peering into the dining room. The sight of such a crow coming on the heels of the discussion was startling enough to drive spikes of alarm through both Woodward and his clerk.

" Yes, Goode! Come in, we need your talents! "

The black man entered the room. He was a carrying a wooden box and something bound in a burlap wrapping. Matthew watched as the man—white-haired and ancient but moving with strong purpose and youthful posture—set the wooden box down in a corner. His coarse-clothed suit of thin gray stripes against darker gray was damp, indicating a walk of some distance through the rain. He unwrapped the burlap, exposing a wheaten-colored violin and its bow; then he stood upon the box and began to pluck and tune the violin's strings, his lean black face tilted to one side to cup the notes in an ear. As the instrument was being tuned, two negress servants came in to clear away the plates, while a third carried a burning candle.

Bidwell had produced a golden snuffbox from his jacket. He opened it and placed a pinch into both nostrils. " Now, " he said after he'd snorted, " I think she should be hanged here, instead of transported to Charles Town. I believe it will do the citizens well to see her swing, and know she's good and gone. Magistrate, I'll give you the day tomorrow, to go about your business of reclaiming your property from that villain tavern-keeper. But might you see fit to pass sentence on the following day? "

" Well. . . " Woodward looked around the table. Dr. Shields was involved in his own ritual of snuff-pinching, both Johnstone and Garrick were lighting up pipes—the former a smooth briar and the latter a corncob—from the servant girl's candleflame, and Paine had drawn a leather holder from within his waistcoat. Only Winston watched the magistrate with full attention. " Well, " Woodward repeated, " I. . . don't know if—"

" Mr. Bidwell, sir? " Garrick interrupted, as one of the girls reached for his plate. " Could I ask you to let me take this here piece a' chicken home to 'Becca? She sure would like a taste of it. "

" Yes, of course. Naomi, take that chicken and have it wrapped for Mr. Garrick. Put some beans and potatoes in with it as well, also a slice of the vanilla cake. Our excellent dessert shall be out shortly, gentlemen. " Bidwell's eyes, still watering from the snuff's sting, swung back toward the magistrate. " Will you pass sentence on the witch day after tomorrow, sir? "

" I. . . I'm afraid I can't. " He felt the beginnings of a terrible itch at the back of his neck, and placing his fingers there he found he'd been pierced at least twice by a true leviathan.

" What, then? You need another day to compose yourself? "

" No, sir, " Woodward said; he saw a quick flash of flame in the other man's stare. " I am a servant of the law, " he continued. " I am compelled to speak to the witch—the woman, I mean— and also to witnesses both against her and in her favor. "

" There's no one here in her favor! " Winston said, rather loudly; he too was feeling the rum sway his decks. " Excepting one, and I doubt you'd be pleased to be visited by such a witness! "

" Not only that, " spoke Paine, who had withdrawn from his leather holder a slim brown cylinder, " but many of the people who saw her in the act of communion with her master have already fled. " He put the cylinder into his mouth and leaned toward the offered candle, touching its tip to the flame. Blue smoke puffed from his lips. " Possibly there are two or three witnesses left, but that's all. "

" She's a damn witch, and I seen her with my own good eyes! " Garrick said forcefully to Woodward. " Nicholas was the one found the poppets! I was right there with James Reed and Kelvin Bonnard, we seen him bring them poppets out of the floor! She can't speak the Lord's Prayer, and she's got the Devil's marks on her! What more do you need to hang her? "

" What more, indeed? " Shields's nostrils were flecked with snuff. The brown powder had dusted his lapels. " My God, man! The sooner she dances on the rope, the better we'll all—"

Scrrrowllllll, went a noise like a cat whose tail had been stomped. So loud and disagreeable was the sound that all present jumped in their seats and one of the servant girls dropped her plates. A silence remained, punctuated only by the rain on the roof.

" Beg pardon, " Goode said, staring at the floor. His bow was poised over the quivering strings. " A bad note. " Without waiting for a response, he lowered the bow and began to play in earnest— quietly this time, and much more tunefully as well. Tones as sweet as butterscotch wafted through the smoky room, and as Goode played he closed his eyes to commune with the music.

Johnstone cleared his throat and removed the pipe from between his teeth. " The magistrate is correct, Robert. If the woman is to be hanged, it must be done by the letter of the law. I say bring the witnesses forward and let them speak. Let the magistrate interview Madam Howarth as well, and divine for himself whether she's a witch or not. "

" Foolishness! " Garrick scowled. " It's just givin' her time to do more harm! "

" Elias, we are not uncivilized men. " The schoolmaster's voice had softened. " We are in the process of building a vital city here, so the more reason not to sully its future with our present actions. " He inserted the pipestem into his mouth again and drew on it, as Goode continued to display a wondrous pleasing knowledge of harmony and timing. " I suggest the magistrate handle this situation as he sees fit, " Johnstone said. " How long can it take? A week? Am I correct? " He looked at Woodward for a response.

" You are, " Woodward said, with a brief nod of thanks for Johnstone's smoothing of these rough waters.

Bidwell started to say something, his face blighted with frustration as well as with insect bites, but then he thought twice about it and his mouth closed. He dug out his snuffbox again and once more indulged. " Damn, " he said quietly. " You're right. " He snapped the box shut. " We don't want to become a mob here, do we? Then that black-cocked bastard would have the last laugh on us. "

The violin's melody never faltered. Goode's eyes were still closed.

" Very well, then. " Bidwell smacked the table's edge with his palm as a way of enforcing his judgment, much as Woodward would've used his gavel. " I grant you one week to interview the witch and the witnesses. "

" Kindly appreciated, " Woodward answered, not without a hint of sarcasm at being rushed into what he considered an odious task.

While this small contest of wills had been going on, Matthew had been interested in watching Nicholas Paine. In particular, Paine's method of partaking tobacco by lighting up a tightly rolled leaf. Matthew had seen this only twice before, as it was very rare in the English kingdom of snuff-pinchers and pipesmen; it was called, as he understood it, smoking in the " Spanish style. "

Paine took a puff, released the blue smoke into the thickened air, and suddenly turned his head to look directly into Matthew's face. " Your eyes have gotten large, young man. Might I ask what you're staring at? "

" Uh. . . " Matthew resisted the urge to avert his gaze. He decided in another second that he didn't care to make an issue of this, though he didn't quite understand why his mind told him to make a note of it. " Nothing, sir, " he said. " My pardon. "

Paine lowered the smoking stick—Matthew thought it was called a " cigar" —and directed his attention to his host. " If I'm going to lead this expedition at sunrise, I'd best find two or three other men to go along. " He stood up. " Thank you for the dinner and the company. Magistrate, I'll meet you at the public stable. It's behind the blacksmith's shop on Industry Street. Good night to you all. " He nodded, as the other men—excepting Bidwell and Dr. Shields—stood as a matter of courtesy, and then he left the dining room with a brisk stride, the " cigar" gripped between his teeth.

" Nicholas seemed ill at sorts, " Johnstone said after Paine was gone; he grasped his deformed knee for extra support as he eased himself onto the bench again. " This situation has gotten the best of all of us. "

" Yes, but the dawn of our dark night has arrived. " Bidwell looked over his shoulder. " Goode! " The black man immediately stopped playing and lowered the violin. " Are there any more turtles in the spring? " Bidwell asked.

" Yes, suh. They be some big ones. " His voice was as mellow as the violin's.

" Catch us one tomorrow. Magistrate, we'll have turtle soup in our bowls for dinner. Would that suit you? "

" Very much, " Woodward said, scratching another massive welt on his forehead. " I pray that all goes well with our hunting party on the morrow. If you want a hanging in your town, I'd be glad to pass sentence on Shawcombe as soon as we return. "

" That might be splendid! " Bidwell's eyes lit up. " Yes! To show the citizens that the wheels of justice are indeed in motion! That would be a fine sippet before the main course! Goode, play us something merry! "

The black servant lifted his violin again and began another tune; it was faster and more lively than the one previous, but Matthew thought it was still more tinged with melancholy than merriment. Goode's eyes closed again, sealing himself off from his circumstances.

The vanilla cake arrived, along with another tankard of rum. Talk of Rachel Howarth dwindled, while Bidwell's talk of his plans for Fount Royal increased. Matthew found himself drifting, itching in a dozen places and longing for the embrace of the bed in his room. The candles burned low in the overhead chandelier. Garrick excused himself and went home, followed soon afterward by the schoolmaster. Dr. Shields, after imbibing much of the fresh tankard, laid his head upon the table and so departed the company. Bidwell dismissed Goode, who carefully wrapped the violin in the burlap before he braved the weather. Winston also began to drowse in his chair, his head thrown back and his mouth open. Woodward's eyes were heavy, his chin dropping. At last their host stood up, yawned, and stretched.

" I'll take my leave of you, " Bidwell announced. " I hope you both sleep well. "

" I'm sure we shall, thank you. "

" If there's anything you need, Mrs. Nettles will be at your service. I trust your endeavors tomorrow will be successful. " He started out of the room, then halted on the threshold. " Magistrate, don't put yourself at risk. Paine can handle a pistol. Let him and his men do the dirty work, as I require you for a higher purpose. Understand? "

" Yes. "

" Good night then, gentlemen. " Bidwell turned and left the dining room, and in a moment could be heard tromping up the staircase to his own quarters.

Woodward regarded the two sleepers, to make sure they were both unconscious, and then said to Matthew, " Nothing like a command performance to sharpen the wits, eh? One week to decide the fate of a woman I've never met. Even the cold-hearted murderers in Newgate prison are afforded more time than that. Well. . . " He stood up, his vision bleary. " I'm to bed. Good night. "

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