Page 15 (1/2)

THE POWER OF GOD was the subject of Robert Bidwell&039;s lecture at the anglican church on Sabbathits second hour - as Bidwell paused to drink a cup of water and renew his vigor - theas if dran by leaden weights It was a sensitive situation, as he was seated in the front pew of the church, and thus being in the seat of honor Woodas subject to the stares and whispers of the congregation Such would not be worrisome to him if he were in firmer health, but as he&039;d slept very poorly and his throat was once ht have chosen a rack-and-wheel over the torture of this predicament

Bidwell, to be so eloquent and forceful face-to-face, was a wandering wastrel at the pulpit Between half-cooked pronounceation steamed in the close, hot room To add even more injury, Bidwell didn&039;t know his Good Book very well and continually es every child had ation to join hi and future of Fount Royal, a task which became truly laborious by the fifth or sixth arumbled, but those who dared to sleep were slapped awake by the glove that Mr Green - as acting just aswooden pole capable of reaching the cheek of any sinner

at last Bidwell came to his dutiful conclusion and went to his seat Next arose the schoolmaster, who limped up to the pulpit with his Bible beneath his arm, and asked that there be another prayer to secure the presence of God a them It went on for perhaps ten minutes, but at least Johnstone&039;s voice had inflection and character and so Woodas able - with an effort of will - to avoid the glove

Woodward had risen fro ray-fleshed He opened his lass of the volcanic wasteland his throat had becoes were thickened and blocked, which proved that Dr Shields&039;s remedy was less a cure than a curio Woodward had asked Bidwell if heof Sabbath service, and a trip to Mr Green&039;s house had secured the key, which had been returned to hi the worst, Woodward discovered that his clerk had actually enjoyed a better rest in the harsh straw than he himself had endured at the mansion house Matthew had had his tribulations, to be sure, but except for finding a drowned rodent in his waterbucket this e, Rachel Howarth remained cloaked and impassive, perhaps a pointed response to Bidwell&039;s presence But Matthew had co transforone no other entranceht happen Woodward had vowed he would return again in the afternoon, and so had reluctantly left his clerk in the coistrate had expected to smell the dust of a hundred dry sermons when the schoolmaster took the pulpit to speak, but Johnstone was at ease before the congregation and therefore earned more ears than had Bidwell before hie was faith in the mysterious ways of God, and over the course of an hour he skillfully wove that topic into a parallel with the situation faced by the citizens of Fount Royal It was clear to Woodward that Johnstone relished public speaking, and used his hands in grand gestures to illustrate the verses of scripture that were his emphasis Nary a head nodded nor a snore sounded while the schoolmaster held forth, and at the end of Johnstone&039;s lesson the prayer that folloas short, concise, and the final "amen" delivered like an exclamation point Bidwell rose to say a few ed by the schoolmaster Then Bidwell called upon Peter Van Gundy, proprietor of the tavern, to dislove-on-a-pole in a corner as the congregation took their leave of the sweatbox

Outside, beneath the milky sky, the air was still and da low over the forest and draped the taller treetops hite shrouds No birds sang as Woodward followed Bidwell to the carriage where Goode waited to drive theress was interrupted by a tug on his sleeve He turned to find Lucretia Vaughan standing there, wearing her soown as did the other woh bodice that seemed to Woodward a bit ostentatious Behind her stood her blonde daughter Cherise, also in black, and a slim man of short stature ore a vacant sistratei" the wooes," he answered, his voice little more than a raspy croak

"Dear le"

"The weather," he said "It disagrees with me"

"I&039;m very sorry to hear that Noould like - that is, my husband and I would like - to offer an invitation to our table on Thursday night"

"Thursdayi I&039;ll have to wait and see how I&039; by then"

"Oh, you ht smile "I mean an invitation to your clerk His sentence will be done by Tuesday , as I hear He&039;ll receive his lashes at that time, am I correcti"

"Yes,us on Thursday evening Say at six o&039;clocki"

"I can&039;t speak for Matthew, but I will pass your invitation along"

"I would be oh so grateful," she said, with a semblance of a curtsey "Good day, then"

"Good day"

The wo - a shocking sight, especially on the Sabbath - and the daughter followed a few paces behind Woodward pulled hiainst the cushioned seat across from Bidwell, and Goode flicked the reins

"You found the service of interest, Magistratei" Bidwell asked

"Yes, very much"

"I&039;m pleased to hear it I feared my sermon was rather on the intellectual side, and ly rustic It wasn&039;t too deep for them, was iti"

"No, I think not"

"ah" Bidwell nodded His hands folded in his lap "The schoolile mind, but he does tend to speak in circles rather than to a point Wouldn&039;t you agreei"

"Yes," Woodward said, realizing what Bidwell desired to hear "He does have an agile ested to hirounded in reality than abstract concepts, but he has his oay of presentation I h I do try to follow his threads"

"U a teacher, he ht be also a better communicator But I suspect his talents lie in other areas Not thievery, however" He gave a brief laugh and then attended to the straightening of his ruffled cuffs

Woodas listening to the creak of the wheels when another sound intruded The signal bell at the front gate&039;s watch-tower began to ring "Hold, Goode!" Bidwell commanded, and he looked toward the tower as Goode reined in the horses "So, it seems" He frowned "I can&039;t think of anyone we&039;re expecting, though Goode, take us to the gate!"

"Yes sir," the servant answered, and he e direction

On this afternoon, Malcolroup of citizens had already asses saell&039;s carriage stop on the street below, he leaned over the railing and shouted, "a covered wagon, Mr Bidwell! Young man at the reins!"

Bidwell scratched his chin "Well, who could it bei Not the maskers; it&039;s way too early yet for them" He motioned toward a rawboned pipesate! You there, Hollis: help him with the ti log froate open When the gate was draide, the covered wagon Jennings had announced rumbled across the threshold, hauled by two horses - a piebald and a roan - that appeared but several ragged breaths away froon&039;s driver reined in the team as soon as the vehicle had cleared the entrance, and he surveyed the onlookers froaze settled on the nearest citizen, which was John Swaine "Fount Royali" he inquired

"That it is," Swaine answered Bidas about to direct a question of his own about who the young on&039;s canvas hipped open with the speed of revelation and another ed from the interior This man, ore a black suit and a black tricorn hat, stood on the seat plank next to the driver, his hands on his hips, and scanned the vista froant emperor

"at last!" The thunder of his voice made the horses jump "The Devil&039;s on!"

This stateh Bidwell Instantly he stood up in the carriage, his face flushed "Sir! Who ht you bei"

The dark eyes of this new arrival, which were hooded with flesh in a long-jawed, gaunt face that seemed a virtual patchwork quilt of deep lines and wrinkles, fixed upon Bidwell "Who ht thee bei"

"My name is Robert Bidwell I am the founder of Fount Royal, as well as its mayor"

"Mine condolences, then, in thy ti a shockpate of white hair that was"I aiven ue to this place, sir"

"For what reasoni"

"Need thou aski I a" He returned the tricorn to his head, his show of manners finished "God hast compelled me to this town, to smite thy witch dead and do battle with demons infernal!" Bid-well felt weak in the knees He had realized, as had Woodward, that the gates had been opened to allow the entrance of a travelling preacher, and this one sounded steeped in the blood of vengeance

"We have the situation in hand, MruhJerusaleistrate Woodward, froer at his companion "The witch&039;s trial is already under way"

"Triali" Jerusalem had snarled it He looked across the faces of the assembled citizens "Dost thou not know the woman is a witchi"

"We know it!" shouted arthur Dawson "We know she&039;s cursed our town, too!" This brought up a chorus of angry and frustrated voices, which Woodward notedthe sweet refrains of chamber music

"Then of what need is a triali" Jerusale instruaol, is she noti But whilst she lives, who may say what evil she perfor with both arms for the onlookers to settle themselves "The witch will be dealt with, by the power of the law!"

"Foolish man!" Jerusales "There is no power greater than the law of God! Dost thou deny that God&039;s law is greater than the law of fallen adami"

"No, I do not deny it! But - "

"Then shall thou depend upon the law of fallen ada it to be tainted by the Devil hi the correct way!"

"and allowing evil to live in thy town for one rinned tightly and shook his head "Thyself hath been blighted, sir, along with thy town!" again his attention went to the asseer and ivers, and what doth God say in regards to witchcrafti Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!"

"That&039;s right!" George Bartow shouted "God says to kill a witch!"

"God doth not say tarry, nor wait upon the tainted law of humankind!" Jerusalem plowed on "and any man who serveth such folly is doo theistrate, and then he called out, "Wait, citizens! Listen to - " but he was hollered silent

"The timent," Jerusalem announced, "is not tomorrow, nor is it the day after! The tied clarip of an axe "I shall rid thee of thy witch, and aftere shall pray for God&039;s blessing upon thy host thee will lead ht of the axe, Woodward&039;s heart had started pounding and he was now on his feet He gave a shout of "No! I won&039;t have such a - " blasphe to say, but his tormented voice collapsed and he was left speechless a half dozen aolhouse, and suddenly the crohich had grown to twenty-five orfit of bloodlust Jerusaleon, axe in hand, and surrounded by a veritable phalanx of human hounds he stalked down Hars carrying hiet in, the fools!" Bidwell snorted "I have the keys!"

Woodward ed to croak, "an axe may serve as a key!" He saw it, then, in Bidwell&039;s face: a s complacency, perhaps, or the realization that Jerusaleht end the witch&039;s life much quicker than the flames of the law Whatever it was, Bid-well had made his decision on the side of theon his cheeks

"I tried, sir," came the reply "You witnessed that I tried"

Woodward thrust his face toward Bidwell&039;s "If the woe every e to prosecute, I would think" Bidwell sat down He glanced toward the preacher&039;s wagon, where a dark-haired woed fro driver "I fear it&039;s out of my hands now"

"But not out of e, his blood aboil Before he could take out after the preacher and the pack, he was stopped by a voice that said, "Magistrate, suhi" He looked up at Goode

The Negro was offering a thin lash that usually sat in a leather pouch next to the driver&039;s seat "Protection &039;gain the wild beasts, suh," he said

Woodward accepted the lash, fired a glance of disgust at Bid-well, and then - aware that time was of the essence - turned and ran after Preacher Jerusale bones would allow

The voracious stride of Jerusales had already taken hi the way he had attracted more moths to his bonfire By the ti his, and a s tra, as the rels passed in their vengeful parade, and at the forefront Exodus Jerusalem - his sharp-boned chin thrust forward like the prow of a warship - brandished his axe as if it were a glorious torch

Within the gaol, Matthew and Rachel heard the onco mob He stood up from his bench and rushed to the bars, but Rachel rehtly back and her face damp with perspiration

"It&039;s some kind of uproar!" Matthew said; his voice cracked, for he knew full hat it must aol

"I ht have known" - Rachel&039;s voice was calm, but it did tremble - "they would kill me on a Sabbath"

Outside, Exodus Jerusalem spied the chain that secured the entry, and lifted his axe high When it came down upon the chain, the iron links held but sparks flew like hornets again he lifted the axe, and again it fell with treh two of the links had received severe da, and oncethe axe for a fourth and whatfroure ca-stick up across Jerusalem&039;s arms

"What is thisi" Schoolmaster Johnstone demanded He wore the wine-colored suit and black tricorn that had served him at church "I don&039;t knoho you are, sir, but I ask you to put aside that axe!"

"and I do not knoho thee may be, sir," Jerusalem said, "but if thou stand between hty!"

"Stop hih the crowd, his breathing ragged "He intends to kill her! "

"That&039;s right!" arthur Dawson, who stood at the front of the mob, cried out "It&039;s time to put her to death!"

"Kill her!" shouted another onna dawdle no longer!"

The crowd responded with more shouts and cries for the witch&039;s death Jerusaleht the axe down again, even more furiously than thrice before This tirabbed at the preacher&039;s aret the axe away fro to gain possession of the axe Suddenly soht Woodward around the throat from behind and pulled him away from the preacher, and another citizen struck at Johnstone&039;s shoulder with a closed fist The istrate twisted around and flailed out with the lash, but now theforward and several ain a fist caught him in the ribs, and a hand seized the front of his shirt and near tore it from his back a sea of bodies lifted hiround arunts and knew Johnstone was striking in all directions with his cane

"Go on! Into the gaol!" so Woodward&039;s wrist as he tried to gain his footing again

"Stand back!" he heard a man shout "Stand back, I said!" There was the sound of a horse&039;s whinny, followed by the sudden jarring crack of a pistol shot at that noise of authority, the crowd fell back and at last Woodward found space to pull hiround, the schoolaol Johnstone&039;s tricorn hat lay crushed at his side and the preacher stood over him, Jerusalerip-

"Daht you are!" Gunsmoke swirled over the head of Nicholas Paine, who had ridden his chestnut stallion into the ress He held aloft the pistol he&039;d just fired "What is this insanityi"

"It&039;s no insanity, Nicholas!" spoke an older nized as Duncan Tyler "It&039;s time for us to come to our senses and put the witch to death!"

"The preacher&039;s gonna do it!" Dawson said "One blow from that axe and we&039;re free of her!"

"No!" Johnstone had regained his hat, and noas trying to stand but was reat difficulty Woodward reached down and helped his Oxford brother to his feet "We agreed to honor the law, like civilized men!" Johnstone said when he was balanced on his cane

Paine stared disdainfully at Jerusalem "So you&039;re a preacheri"

"Exodus Jerusalehteous path," came the reply "Dost thou not wish it to be soi"

"I wish for you to put down that axe," Paine said, "or I&039;ll knock your damn brains out"

"ah, here is a bewitched soul!" Jerusale the crowd "He threatens a man of God and protects the whore of Satan!"

"I look at you, sir, and see only a coaol without the proper authority, a situation to which I am held accountable," Paine replied, hat seenity "I&039;ll ask you once rabbed hold of Paine&039;s breeches leg "Let the man do what has to be done!"

"I have the power of God in ainst its justice!"

"Don&039;t let him do it, Nicholas!" Johnstone implored "It wouldn&039;t be justice, it would be rip He guided his h the crowd that stood between him and Jerusaleerblade of a nose Paine leaned toward hi "Preacher," he said quietly, "raveside" He let the soleed in a staring duel "Magistrate, will you please accept the gift of the preacher&039;s axei"

"I will," Woodward rasped, and carefully held out his hand He was prepared to ju at him

Jerusalem didn&039;t ray-grizzled jaw Then a smile that was part sneer and most mockery stole across his face, and in truth that smile was more fearful to look upon than the preacher&039;s expression of righteous anger "Mine compliments to thee," Jerusalem said, as he turned the axe around and placed its wooden handle into the ht settle to the earth

"Go home, all of you!" Paine co more to be seen here!"

"One question for you, Nicholas Paine!" shouted James Reed, who stood next to Tyler "You and I both saw them poppets in the floor of her house! You knohat she&039;s been doin&039; to this town! are you bewitched, like the preacher saysi You must be, to turn aside an axe from killin&039; her!"

"James, if you were not my friend I&039;d have to strike you down!" Paine shouted back at him "Now listen to me, every one of you!" He wheeled his horse around so he was facing the crohich by now numbered near sixty "Yes, I knohat the witch has done to us! But this I know, as well, and mark it: when Rachel Howarth dies - and she will - her wicked life shall be ended by the torch of legal decree, not by a preacher&039;s axe!" He paused, alainst him There were a few halfhearted shouts from the crowd, but they dwindled and perished like little fires "I too believe she should die for the good of Fount Royal!" he continued "as long as she lives, there is great danger of further corruption Some of you ht and privilege to do so, butlisten, listen!" he commanded another heckler, who fell silent

"We&039;re building more than a town here, don&039;t you understand thati" Paine asked "We&039;re building new lives for ourselves, in ill someday be a city! a city, with a courthouse of its own and a peristrate to occupy it!" He scanned the crowd from one side to the other "Do ish to say in the future that the very first trial held in Fount Royal was interrupted by a preacher&039;s axei Let ht to sicken a dog! Is that the first timber ish to lay for our courthousei"

"There&039;ll be no courthouse!" Reed hollered "There&039;ll be no town, no city, nothin&039; here but ruins unless she&039;s put to death!"

"There&039;ll be ruins aplenty if she&039;s hauled out and murdered!" Paine answered, just as vehe to fall to ruin will be our honor! That I&039;ve seen men lose as well, and once lost they are as weak as scarecrows against the wind! We have agreed to allow Magistrate Woodward to carry out the trial and sentencing, and we cannot now give over that task to artemis Jerusalem!"

"Exodus Jerusaleift, Woodward rhought; he could mimic thunder with hardly an effort "I would remind thee, citizens," Jerusaleue is formed of silver!"

"You!" Paine snapped at him "Shutyourhole"

"Best heed my hole, or thou shalt perish in one that has no bottom!"

"I think yours has no bottom!" the schoolmaster said "Or perhaps it&039;s your bottom that&039;s become confused with your top!"