The Flight of Sarah Battle by Alix Nathan

Author:Alix Nathan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook, QuarkXPress
ISBN: 111-1-11-111111-1
Publisher: Parthian Books
Published: 2015-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

5

At the Seven Stars, on Bethnal Green before it splits into Dog Row and Red Cow Lane, the men nod a good evening to the publican, step down into the tap-room. An upholsterer, two shoemakers, a bookbinder, dwarf tailor, soap-boiler, boot-closer, gardener, silversmith, baker. Ten in all. They pass round the jug, fill pipes with screws of tobacco. They are not poor; their clothes not ragged, not stiffened by brick dust, lime wash. Fustian, flannel, serge, the colours are dour. Their only badge is the shortness of their hair, though that’s a spreading fashion anyway. They’re middle-aged or more, have wives, walked well over an hour to reach the remote fields north-east of the city.

‘Citizens,’ says Thomas Jones, silversmith of quick intelligence, ‘our meeting opens with the swearing in of our new member Matthew Dale. Citizen, step forward. You need not place your hand on a bible if you do not believe.’

The others watch him sceptically, this boy yearning to be a man.

He begins reading the sheet too fast: ‘I, Matthew Dale, do sincerely promise and swear that I will persevere in endeavouring to form a Brotherhood of affection among Englishmen of every religious Persuasion and that I will also persevere in my endeavours to obtain a full equal and adequate representation of all the People of England in Parliament.’ Gasps for breath. Sets off again, more slowly.

‘I do further declare that neither Hopes Fears Rewards or Punishments shall ever induce me directly or indirectly to inform or give Evidence against any Member or Members of this or similar societies for any Act or Expression of theirs collectively or individually in or out of this Society, in Pursuance of the Spirit of this Obligation. So help me God.’

The last four words come out as a confused mutter, he having refused a bible. There is a general murmur of approval and Jones leads him to each man to shake hands. Left hand to left hand, thumb to forefinger’s first joint.

‘Unity,’ says the first man.

‘Answer “Truth”, Matthew,’ Jones instructs him.

‘Truth.’

‘Liberty,’ the next man says, his grip hard, a painful press on Matthew’s finger joint.

‘Answer ”Death”.’

‘Death.’

‘Citizens, our meeting continues as usual with a debate. Citizen Dale has volunteered to take notes. (Matthew – remember, names in the secret script I showed you.) Our subject, sent to us by the committee, is national schools.’

An aggressive yawn from one corner of the room.

‘No, Citizen Clark, this is a vital matter. The question is: how shall the republic educate its children?’

‘Gardeners, soap-boilers, we need no hedgecashun.’

‘Citizen Jones, I agree with Citizen Clark,’ pipes up Matthew. ‘I say we have no need of schools at all. Destroy them! Our purpose is to work,’ (he blushes, for he has none), ‘to clean away corruption and lies and live a pure life.’ Silence. Reluctant applause from soap-boiler Clark.

‘Citizen Dale. We well understand that you might wish to destroy a school such as that from which you recently escaped. But how are we to spread our word if the people cannot read?’ The bookbinder’s face contorts kindly.

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