Sorina thought for a moment. ‘When I went to leave, my grandfather told me not to make a scene, that no one would believe me. He said that if I said a word, one word, the bloodless would come for me. I confessed to the priest. I told him I was having a baby. I told no one else. I trusted him. Then my grandfather said he knew and he wouldn’t tell my mother – it would be our secret, and he would help me.

‘I was so happy to be rid of the baby. When I started to clean Grandpa’s house he insisted… he insisted I wore his mother’s shawl. He said again it was our secret and if I ever told then his mother would come for me and take me to the graveyard. When I was pregnant again, he beat me then took me to the doctor. I never, ever want another man to touch me.’ She looked at the priest. ‘You are… disgusting!’ She shouted the last word.

‘The truth shines,’ said Edith. ‘You can’t keep it in the shadows for the sun will always find its moment to bring it to the light. Priest, you are trusted by so many and you abused that trust.’

The mayor said to the priest, ‘You are a coward and the crime you have committed is beyond any words I have. You will leave this village as soon as you’ve buried the butcher. There are, so I believe, signs that the dead come back as the bloodless. You, Priest, had better take care. They feed on cowards. And you, Doctor, you will go when a replacement has been found for you.’

‘Now tell me, Mayor,’ said Edith. ‘How did the butcher die?’

‘Suicide,’ said the mayor.

‘Doctor?’

‘Ah – suicide,’ said the doctor.

‘Una?’

‘I shot him.’

‘Sorina?’

‘My mother had the courage to kill a monster.’

‘Misha?’

‘The bastard killed himself.’

‘Priest?’

He didn’t answer immediately. Then, ‘Suicide.’

‘The truth,’ said Edith, ‘is that the butcher is dead.’

Chapter Thirty

Church Bells Rang

‘Who’s going to tell the bees and the animals in the stable that the butcher’s dead?’ said Sorina. ‘Someone must otherwise another misfortune is bound to happen.’

The men looked uncomfortable.

‘I should fetch my mother,’ said Misha.

He left the house by the yard gate. A crowd had gathered outside.

‘We heard a gunshot,’ said a woman. ‘What’s happened?’

His head down, Misha pushed through and the villagers, getting no response, turned their attention back to the house.