The Sins of Rachel Ellis by Philip Caveney

Author:Philip Caveney
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466872301
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Part

The Second

Myrrdin’s Keeper

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF ALEX ELLIS:

November 11th, 1909

My hands are shaking so much, I can scarcely write. Today, fortune has delivered into my possession, something of inestimable value.

It all began this morning, with a tap on the door and an old farmer asking to see “the Master of the house.” I was loath to see anyone at the time and asked the maid to get rid of him; however, after a few moments, she returned, saying that the old fellow had something that he was positive would be of interest to me. At length, he was ushered into my study, where he handed me a large, worm-eaten, leather-bound book. It had, he informed me, been wrenched from the earth by his plough, as he went about his duties. It was wrapped in several layers of cloth when he found it, much of this decayed and crumbling.

I glanced briefly through its ancient, yellow pages and, I declare, could hardly conceal my excitement. It was obviously very old, not printed, but scrawled in beautiful, faded calligraphy, doubtless worth a small fortune. I must confess that I had no qualms whatsoever about telling the old fool that it was of little value and, once I had given him a couple of coins for his trouble, he went away none the wiser.

November 12th, 1909

Closer examination of the book has led me to some amazing conclusions. The style and quaint spelling of the text, which is in the ancient celtic language, places its date of creation in or about the sixth century. The title of the book, too, would tend to bear this out.… Indeed, if I am to believe my eyes, it literally translates as, “The Book of Myrrdin”! Can it really be what it says? Certainly, I have no evidence to suggest anything to the contrary, and a swift perusal of the contents would seem to indicate that the book is chiefly concerned with prophecies and magic rituals.

My first concern now is to prepare a full translation.

November 27th, 1909

At last it is complete! It has taken me just over two weeks of constant work, during which I have slept and eaten little, so absorbed have I been. The book is certainly fascinating, a veritable feast of ancient occult arts. I know that many of our more “civilised” citizens would doubtless condemn much of the contents as blasphemy. Another interesting thing happened this morning; I finally discovered the charm to which Myrrdin refers again and again in the text. It was hidden in a small, covered recess in the cover of the book. It appears to be made of silver and is in the shape of a tiny Goblin. The discovery of it has set me thinking about the poem on page one, which I have translated thus:

He who wears the Goblin charm

Merlin’s keeper then shall be.

He who Merlin’s sleep doth break

Shall find immortality.

Seven times around the oak,

With the elf-charm in his hand,

Each time he must cry “Awake!”

Thus the wizard to command.

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