Запретный лес
XVI. The Witch Hunt
"Hearrivedyestreenandisbidin’wi’Chasehope.Yonwashiminthekirktheday,yonbodywi’thefernietickles[freckles]andtheblearyeen.Theyca’himKincaid--JohnKincaid,andhe’sfraeNewbottleway--anitherthanaguidane,ifa’talesbetrue.Eh,sir,thisisashamefu’business,routin’outpuirauldbodiesandgarrin’themgiedaftanswers,andsynedelatin’themonwhattheyca’theirconfessions.There’snaebodysafethathasnaapowero’keepin’acalmsoughandgiein’backwordforword.Iwadnabefearedmysel’o’onyKincaid,butifyouwastocross-speirme,Mr.David,wi’yoursearchin’een,Idaresayyecouldgetmetoownuptoonydaftnessyelikedtopittome.Idinnaaudwi’thisprickin’o’witches,andIcanfindnaewarrantforitintheWord.Belikeit’ssomedevicethatthaewearyEmbrolawyershaehowkitouto’theirrottenherts."
AsherodetoKirkAllernextdayDavidreflectedmuchonIsobel’stale.WhocouldhavebroughtaprickertoWoodilee--andlodgedhimwithChasehope?WasittheworkofthePresbytery?Wasitaplantocoverupthemajorsinbyhuntingoutminorsinners?Heknewoftheprickerclassasoftheworstrepute,knavesandquackswhostirreduppopularsuperstitionandwereresponsibleoftenforhideousbrutalities.EventheLawlookedaskanceatthem.Hedidnotliketobeabsentfromhisparishwhensuchacreaturewasletlooseinit.
TheexaminationofthePresbyterylastedfortwodays.Hehadgonelightlytofaceit,buthefounditaformidableaffair.
