牛津書蟲系列 潘德爾的巫師 1 The pedlar

1 THE PEDLAR

The spring of 1634 arrives， but in the prison of Lancaster Castle it stays cold.The twenty women in the prison are dirty， hungry and cold. There are no beds or chairs and so they sleep on the cold floor.There are no windows，so it is al-ways dark.The women want to get out of the prison;they want to go home.Sometimes the guards open the big，old door and put some bread and water on the floor. Then they close the door again.

My name is Jennet Device， and I am one of the twenty women in prison.Day after day， I sit on the cold floor and wait.I want to feel warm again; I want to see the sky again， and Pen-dle Hill， the beautiful hill near my home. But I am in the dark prison of Lancaster Castle， and I sit on the cold floor and wait.

One day， something happens. The guards open the big， old door.'Jennet Device!'a guard calls.'Come here at once，witch!Somebody wants to see you.'

I get up slowly because I'm very cold and I walk across the dark room to the door. Perhaps it' s someone from Read Hall!Perhaps I'm going home! '

Jennet Device，be quick!'the guard calls again.

Someone is standing at the door with the guard.'Jennet，'he says quietly.

I see him then： a tall man with brown hair and tired blue eyes.He is not from Read Hall.It is Mr Webster，from the church at Kild wick.My legs stop moving and suddenly I want to sit down.

'Come on， come on，' the guard says angrily. He begins to close the door.

'Come out here for a minute， Jennet，' Mr Webster says quietly.'Sit down and eat something.'

I sit down at a little table near the door.Mr Webster gives me some bread and some meat and I begin to eat hungrily.

'Ten minutes，'the guard says.'After ten minutes，she goes in again.

'Thank you，'Mr Webster says.

'How is everyone at Read Hall?'I ask at last.

Mr Webster smiles.'Everyone is well. I was there yesterday.'

I close my eyes for a minute.' Mr Webster， it' s not true.I'm not a witch， you know.'

'I know，Jennet，'Mr Webster says.'Last week， I brought Edmund Robinson and his father into my church， and asked them about the boy's story. Many people believed Edmund' s story，but some people didn' t.Edmund Robinson is going to London tomorrow with his father， and a judge is going to ques-tion them.'

The guard comes back and begins to open the door.

' Time!' he says.

Mr Webster stands up.'God is here with you，Jennet.Never forget that.You can be happy，when God is with you.'

I stand up too， and take the bread from the table.' Yes， Mr Webster. God is with me; I believe that.' But happy?How can I be happy?

I go back into the dark prison， and the guard closes the door behind me.The women run to me.'Bread!Give us bread!'they cry.

Quickly， I put the bread in my shirt.I don't want to lose it.I walk across the room and sit down on the floor. I am crying，but I feel a little better. Edmund Robinson， of Newchurch， is only ten years old. Edmund told lies about me and about many women： he saw us at a witches' meeting at a house called Hoarstones.It's not true，but many people believed him.What is he going to say in London? The truth? Or more lies.

But now， in the prison of Lancaster Castle， I want to tell my story. It is a story about rich men and angry villagers;about old women and hungry children. It is a true story， and it happened to me.

I was born in 1603. My family was always very poor， and after my father died， we were poorer. In winter， I was often ill and I was always cold and hungry. In summer， I was sometimes ill and I was often cold and hungry.We lived some miles from the village of New church， in an old house called Malkin Tower. It was dirty and cold.The rain came in through the windows and there were no doors. To the west， was the big hill called Pendle.Pendle Hill was beautiful.I loved Pendle Hill because it sat quietly all year and watched me.

My story begins on the eighteenth day of March in the year 1612. I was nine years old， and my life began to change on that day.My mother and my grandmother were ill and they sat on the floor，with their dogs，near the little fire.

My sister Alizon wanted to go out.'I'm going to look for bread，'she said.

My brother James sat near the fire，his mouth open.'Go and look for bread，'he said.'Go and look for bread.'James often said things again and again.

Alizon ran out of the house and I followed her.

'Go and look for bread!'James called.

Alizon began to go east， up the hill and past the big trees be-hind Malkin Tower.Alizon walked fast. She was eighteen years old and she was tall with long，dirty brown hair and a white，hungry face. It was cold， but there was no rain .Alizon wore a coat and some shoes， but I had no coat and no shoes.

' Please wait a minute!' I called to my sister.' I want to come with you.'

'No!'Alizon cried.'Go back， I don't want you.'

Suddenly， a dog ran in front of Alizon.

' Good dog， good dog!' Alizon called. The dog ran to her and she put her band on its head. It was my sister' s dog and it liked her. It was a big dog with big teeth and I didn' t like it because it was always hungry.

I followed Alizon and her dog along the river to Colne.But before we arrived at Colne， we met John Law.John Law was a big fat man， about fifty years old.

'Can I have some money， please?'Alizon called.'I'm hun-gry·

John Law didn' t answer. He walked slowly because he was fat and because he carried a big bag on his back.In his bag were a lot of beautiful things.He was a pedlar and he walked across the hills and visited all the villages.

'Can I have some money?'Alizon called again.'I'm very hungry!'

John Law stopped.' Stop following me，' he said.' I'm not going to give you money.'

'Give me money!'Alizon said.

'I don' t want to give you money，' the pedlar said. He took his hat off.There was not much hair on his head.'I don't like you and I don' t like your family. A lot of bad women， you are，and your father was a bad man， too.'

Alizon was angry.'Don't talk about my father—he' s dead now! Give me some money， old man!'

John Law' s face was red.' No!' he cried. He began to walk up the hill to the village.'Go back to your dirty family!'

Alizon began to laugh angrily.'A dead man!A dead man!'she called.'Dead before dark，John Law!'She looked down at her dog and put her hand on its head.'Go after him，dog，'she said.'Go after him and get him!'

The big dog began to run after the pedlar.John Law stopped.He looked afraid and his face was very red.'Call your dog back，you bad girl!'he shouted.

Suddenly，his mouth opened and his face went white.Slowly，he began to fall，and his big body hit the road.The dog came up to him，but the pedlar did not move.

Alizon watched John Law for a minute.Then she said to me，'Go and call someone from the village.'

I felt afraid，but I ran alog the road very quickly.'Help!Help!'I called to the villagers.'The pedlar is ill'

The villagers came out of their houses and followed me down the hill.A young man looked at John Law carefully.

'He's not dead，'he said，'but he' s very ill.Let' s move him to the nearest house.Someone must go and call his son.'

Just then， John Law began to talk very slowly.'I can' t move!' he said.' I 'm alive， but I can' t move!'

I went back to stand near Alizon.The dog sat at her feet.

'That Device girl…'John Law said slowly，'she—she cursed me! She wanted me to die! And her dog came to get me.

All the villagers looked at Alizon.

'I 'm sorry，'Alizon said quickly.'I'm very hungry and I wanted some money，that's all.'

'Go away!' the villagers cried.'You' re a witch， and we don' t want you in our village.'

Alizon began to run away down the hill and her dog followed. I watched the villagers.They carried John Law slow-ly up the hill to the nearest house.And then I followed my sis-ter down the hill.I was hungry and tired and Malkin Tower was many miles away. I was nine years old and I was angry. I was angry because the pedlar was ill.I was angry because the villagers didn' t like me .And I was angry because my sister was a witch.

1634年的春天來了，但是在蘭開斯特城堡監(jiān)獄里卻是寒冷依舊。關(guān)在獄中的20個女犯人又臟、又餓、又冷。牢房里既沒有床也沒有椅子，她們就睡在冰冷的地上。由于沒有窗戶，房間里總是一片黑暗。女囚們想離開監(jiān)獄;她們想回家。有時候看守打開破舊的大門，把面包和水放在地上，然后又將大門牢牢地關(guān)上。

我叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯，是20個女囚犯中的一員。日復一日，我坐在冰冷的地上等待著。我希望再次感受到溫暖，我希望重新看到蔚藍的天空和我家附近的美麗的潘德爾山。然而，我卻是在黑暗的蘭開斯特城堡監(jiān)獄里，坐在冰冷的地上等待著。

有一天，發(fā)生了一件事?？词卮蜷_了破舊的大門。“詹妮特·迪瓦斯!”看守喊道。“快過來，女巫!有人要見你。”

因為太冷了，我緩慢地爬起來，穿過黑暗的房間向門口走去。也許是從里德宅院來的什么人!也許我要回家了!

“詹妮特·迪瓦斯，快點!”那個看守又喊道。

有一個人站在門邊，和看守在一起。“詹妮特，”他輕輕地說了一聲。

這時，我看清楚他了：他是一個長著棕色頭發(fā)的高個子男人，一雙藍眼睛里帶著倦意。他不是里德宅院的人，他是從基爾德威克的教堂來的韋伯斯特先生。我的兩條腿停止了挪動，突然，我想坐下來。

“快點，快點。”看守生氣地說。他開始關(guān)上大門。

“出來呆會兒，詹妮特，”韋伯斯特先生平靜地說。“坐下來吃點東西。”

我在靠門的一張小桌旁坐了下來。韋伯斯特先生給了我一些面包和肉，我大吃起來。

“10分鐘，”看守說，“10分鐘后她就得回去。”

“謝謝你，”韋伯斯特先生說。

“里德宅院的人們都好嗎?”我終于開口問道。

韋伯斯特先生微笑著說：“大家都好。我昨天到那里去了。”

我閉上眼睛，過了一小會兒，我說：“韋伯斯特先生，這不是真的。你知道，我不是女巫。”

“我知道，詹妮特，”韋伯斯特先生說。“上個星期，我把埃德蒙·魯濱遜和他的父親帶到我的教堂，向他們詢問起了埃德蒙講的故事。許多人相信埃德蒙的話，但是也有些人不相信。明天埃德蒙將和他的父親一起去倫敦，在那里，法官會盤問他們的。”

那個看守回來了并打開了牢門。

“到時間了!”他說。

韋伯斯特先生站了起來。“上帝與你同在，詹妮特。別忘了這一點。當上帝陪伴著你時，你會快樂的。”

我也站起身來，把面包從桌上拿走。“是的，韋伯斯特先生。上帝與我同在;我相信。”可是，快樂?我怎么可能快樂呢?

我重又回到了黑暗的牢房，看守在我身后關(guān)上了牢門。女囚犯們向我跑來：“面包!給我們面包!”她們大喊著。

我迅速地把面包放進襯衣里。我可不愿失去它。我穿過房間坐到了地上。我在哭泣，但是我感覺稍好一點了。紐丘奇村的埃德蒙·魯濱遜只有10歲。他說了有關(guān)我和很多婦女的謊話：他說他看到我們在一所名叫霍爾斯通斯的房子里參加女巫會議。那不是真的，可是許多人相信他的話。在倫敦他會講些什么呢?真話?也許是更多的謊言。

不過現(xiàn)在，在蘭開斯特城堡監(jiān)獄里，我想講述我的故事。它是一個關(guān)于有錢人和憤怒的村民們;關(guān)于老年婦女和饑餓的兒童的故事。這是一個真實的故事，它就發(fā)生在我的身上。

我出生于1603年。我的家庭一直非常貧窮。自從我的父親去世后，我們的日子更艱難了。一年到頭，我吃不飽、穿不暖，還常常生玻我們住在一所名叫馬爾金塔的老房子里，離紐丘奇村有幾英里遠。這所房子又臟又冷，連一扇門也沒有。下雨時雨水便從窗戶澆進來。我家西面有一座潘德爾大山。它很美麗。我愛這座山，因為它終年寧靜地坐落在那里，注視著我。

我的故事從這里講起，那是1612年3月18日。當時我9歲。就在那一天，我的生活開始發(fā)生了變化。那天，我的媽媽和外祖母都生著病，她們圍著一小堆火，和她們的幾條狗一起坐在地上。

我的姐姐艾麗森想到外面去。“我去找點面包，”她說。

我哥哥詹姆斯張著嘴靠火坐著。“去找面包，”他說，“去找面包。”詹姆斯經(jīng)常不斷地重復他的話。

艾麗森跑出房子，我在后面跟著她。

“去找面包!”詹姆斯喊道。

艾麗森向東走去。她爬上山，走過馬爾金塔后面的棵棵大樹。艾麗森走得很快。她那年18歲，個子高高的，棕色的長發(fā)臟乎乎的。她臉色蒼白，饑腸轆轆。天氣很冷，但是沒有下雨。艾麗森穿著外衣和鞋子，而我卻既沒有外衣也沒有鞋子。

“請等一下!”我沖姐姐喊道。“我想和你一起去。”

“不!”艾麗森大聲說。“回去，我不需要你。”

忽然間，一只狗在艾麗森面前跑著。

“乖狗兒，乖狗兒!”艾麗森招呼道。那條狗跑到她面前，艾麗森把手放在它的頭上。它是我姐姐的狗，它喜歡她。它是條大狗，牙齒很大，可我不喜歡它，因為它總是顯得饑餓不堪。

我跟著艾麗森和她的狗沿著河向科恩村走去。在路上，我們遇到了約翰·勞。他是個大胖子，五十歲上下。

“您能給點錢嗎?”艾麗森大聲說。“我餓著呢。”

約翰·勞沒有回答。他走得很慢，一來由于他胖，二來因為他背著一個大口袋，口袋里有許多好玩意兒。他是個小商販，翻山越嶺，跑遍了所有村莊。

“能給我點錢嗎?”艾麗森又喊了一次。“我很餓!”

約翰·勞停住了。“別跟著我，”他說。“我不會給你錢的。”

“給我錢!”艾麗森說。

“我不想給你錢，”小販說。他摘下帽子，他的頭發(fā)已經(jīng)很稀少了。“我不喜歡你，我不喜歡你們?nèi)?。你們都是些壞女人，你的爸爸也是個壞人。”

艾麗森生氣了。“不許你提起我父親——他已經(jīng)死了!給我錢，老頭!”

約翰·勞的臉漲紅了。“不!”他喊道。他開始上山往村里走去。“回到你那骯臟的家里去吧!”

艾麗森憤怒地大笑起來。“一個死人!一個死人!”她大喊著。“天黑前就死，約翰·勞!”她低下頭看看她的狗，把手放在它的頭上。“去追他，”她說，“去追他，抓住他。”

那條大狗奔跑著去追趕小販。約翰·勞停下了腳步。他看上去很害怕，滿臉通紅。“把你的狗叫回去，你這個壞女孩!”他大聲喊著。

突然，他的嘴張開了，臉色煞白。慢慢地，他倒了下去，他那碩大的身軀摔倒在路上。大狗沖到他身旁，而小販卻一動不動。

艾麗森盯著約翰·勞看了片刻，然后她對我說：“去村里叫人來。”

我很害怕，但還是沿著路快跑起來。”救人吶!救人吶!”我向村民們大喊。“小販生病了!”

村民們從各自家里出來，跟著我下了山。一個年輕人仔細地看了看約翰·勞。

“他沒有死，”他說。“可是他病得很重。咱們把他抬到最近的房子里去吧。必須把他的兒子叫來。”

就在那時，約翰·勞十分緩慢地說道：“我動不了。”他說。“我還活著，可我動不了。”

我回到艾麗森身旁站著。大狗蹲在她的腳邊。

“那個迪瓦斯家的女孩子…”約翰·勞慢吞吞地說。“她——她詛咒我!她想讓我死!她的狗向我撲過來。”

村民們都看著艾麗森。

“我很抱歉。”艾麗森急忙說。“我很餓，我想要點錢，就是這么回事。”

“快走開!”村民們喊道。“你是個女巫，我們不想讓你呆在我們村里。”

艾麗森向山下跑去，她的狗緊跟著她。我看著村民們。他們抬著約翰·勞緩慢地上山，向最近的一所房子走去。隨后我跟著我的姐姐下了山。我又餓又乏，而馬爾金塔遠在數(shù)英里之外。那時我9歲，我很生氣。我生氣，因為小販病了。我生氣，因為村民們不喜歡我。我生氣，因為我的姐姐是個女巫。