Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

Author:Mary Hooper [Hooper, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9789780312602
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 2010-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter ~ 14

As one, the room turned and stared at the black-hatted figure at the back of the room. “On whose authority do you speak, sir?” Dr. Petty asked him.

“On the highest authority, sir, for I am God’s deputy in this world,” replied the Puritan.

“He has many deputies,” Dr. Petty said mildly, his eyes still fixed on Anne Green, alert for any further movement.

“And you might say that I and my colleagues are also God’s deputies,” put in Dr. Willis, “for we heal, cure, and restore to health as the Lord did when he was upon Earth.”

“But only God Almighty can say whether someone should live or die.”

“Exactly!” Sir Thomas shouted with immense satisfaction, applauding the Puritan. “We must not go against God, or against the law of the land, for it has been cited that Anne Green should be hanged by the neck until dead.”

“Indeed,” said Dr. Willis. “A duty which has already been performed.”

“And once dead, she should stay dead.” As Sir Thomas addressed the doctors, his voice took on a patronizing tone. “It has not been cited that she should be resurrected, or that such a thing may ever be attempted.”

“I believe that my colleagues and I are working through the Almighty,” said Dr. Willis after a moment. “If he grants us the power to cause this woman to live, then it will be his will.”

“But I say that a doctor has already certified her dead!” cried Sir Thomas, and his voice was a bluster and a harrumph and a roar. “And I say again, sir, that you must get on with what you’re here for!”

The doctors took scant notice of him, but Mr. Clarke, aware that Sir Thomas had far-reaching powers and might take it upon himself to close his shop if he was so minded, glanced at him nervously.

Dr. Petty again took up the corpse’s hand. “Anne,” he said. “If you can hear me, squeeze my fingers.”

Everyone in the room looked keenly at Dr. Petty’s face, watching for any shade of change upon it. He repeated the question once more, before shaking his head and concluding quietly, “She does not respond.”

Robert felt his heart fall. He wanted her to be alive. He wanted a miracle.

“She does not respond because she is not there,” said the Puritan. He looked up piously toward the ceiling and beyond it. “She is already approaching the gates of heaven. You must let her go though. You must not try and restrain her.”

“You see!” said Sir Thomas. “This commendable fellow knows. This true and godly man knows one should not attempt such a thing. The woman does not respond because she is dead! This is clear to anyone but a fool.”

The doctors remained unmoved. “Get Ralph Bathurst!” Dr. Willis said abruptly. “Someone go for Doctor Bathurst. He should be here.”

The scholars shuffled their feet. Not one of them wanted to go to Brasenose College to find Dr. Bathurst, for they knew that if they did so, they might lose their position at the table and perhaps miss seeing something momentous, something marvelous and significant.

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