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Back The Darkest Shore Save as PDF
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Karen Brooks
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. EXPLANATORY NOTE
  7. PART ONE
  8. One
  9. Two
  10. Three
  11. Four
  12. Five
  13. Six
  14. Seven
  15. Eight
  16. Nine
  17. Ten
  18. Eleven
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Fifteen
  23. Sixteen
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Twenty-Three
  31. Twenty-Four
  32. Twenty-Five
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. PART TWO
  37. Twenty-Nine
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. PART THREE
  45. Thirty-Six
  46. Thirty-Seven
  47. Thirty-Eight
  48. Thirty-Nine
  49. Forty
  50. Forty-One
  51. Forty-Two
  52. Forty-Three
  53. Forty-Four
  54. Forty-Five
  55. Forty-Six
  56. Forty-Seven
  57. Forty-Eight
  58. Forty-Nine
  59. Fifty
  60. Fifty-One
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. PART FOUR
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Epilogue: Autumn 1706
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. GLOSSARY
  75. LIST OF CHARACTERS
  76. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There were shocked mutters. The reverend’s eyes narrowed. ‘Pretending? You think the lad is pretending to twist his body into impossible shapes? To starve himself? You saw the size of his belly before. It was as if the lad had swallowed a whale, and now it would scarce accommodate a minnow.’ The captain remained unmoved. ‘Why, I’ll have you know, sir, when the fits are upon him, not even the strongest of men,’ he nodded towards Constable Smith, who had just entered the room, ‘can lift him; nor can they straighten his neck or arms. It’s not natural. It is the work of witchcraft, I tell you.’

‘That may be,’ said the captain. He was calm in the storm of the reverend’s outburst; the nods of agreement from the witnesses. ‘But if the lad can see those you’ve arranged to be brought forward, it hardly counts as proof. Why, he can identify anyone he dislikes, anyone against whom he bears a grudge. Anyone you have a mind to tell him to.’

There were gasps of outrage. Peter saw the reverend’s face redden; felt his own change colour.

The captain continued. ‘Have you forgotten the events in Paisley, sir? Because I assure you my superiors in Edinburgh have not.’

Comparing the soldier and the reverend, Peter thought how tall and regal the captain looked in his uniform. It might be patched and worn, but the man stood straight, he spoke with assuredness and power. Compared to him, the reverend looked small, thin and hunched; his hazy eye spasmed, the lid fluttering as it did when he was nervous. Peter willed his champion to stand straighter, to use his special voice.

‘What do you suggest we do then?’ asked the reverend. Peter detected a sly note.

‘Cover the lad’s eyes,’ said the captain. ‘Don’t let those you’ve arranged to be here speak. Let them come forward and touch the lad anonymously.’

‘Touch him?’ The reverend looked appalled. ‘What? Allow the witches to unleash their power and inflict further injury? I’ll permit no such thing.’ Reverend Cowper paused. ‘That is, unless I may sit beside him and offer him the protection of the Lord.’

There was a noise in the corridor. Bailie Vernour excused himself from the room.

Captain Ross frowned. Clearly, he was unhappy with what the reverend suggested. The other witnesses nodded their approval with this arrangement.

‘Aye, let the reverend sit with him,’ said Bailie Cook.

Captain Ross raised a brow towards one of the Edinburgh doctors who nodded what appeared to be reluctant acquiescence.

‘Excuse me,’ said Bailie Vernour, squeezing back into the room. ‘Those we ordered taken into custody have arrived.’