The Spook's Tale by Joseph Delaney

Author:Joseph Delaney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

With the witch safely bound, we searched the cottage, and the spook made a fire outside and burned the things he found: powders, herbs, and a book of dark magic that he called a grimoire. Eventually he found my lock of hair in a leather pouch that the witch wore on a chain around her neck. He burned that, too. At last I was safe, and I began to feel a lot better.

We sat by the fire for a while, both of us locked into our own thoughts, until a question came into my mind and I broke the silence.

“What was it on the steps that made you fall?” I asked. “I felt the ground tremble beneath my feet. Later, in the cellar, it gave another lurch and I fell, too.”

“One of the snares she’d set to defend herself, boy,” the spook said, throwing another handful of the witch’s possessions into the flickering flames of the bonfire. “It’s called slither, a spell that causes the victim to feel unsteady on his feet, lose his balance, slide, and fall. It nearly did for me, all right. Even if you anticipate it, little can be done. As I said, I owe you a big thanks, and I’d like to make you an offer. How would you like to train as a spook? As it happens, I’m looking for an apprentice to replace the one I’ve just lost. Would you be interested? I need a brave lad for my line of work.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to be a priest,” I told him. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

“It’s your choice, boy. I won’t say anything against the priesthood, because some of them are good men who mean well—”

“Father Ainsworth works hard to help the poor,” I interrupted. “He’s spent his whole life helping people. I want to be like him.”

“Well, good luck to you then, young John. But if you ever change your mind, you can find my house near Chipenden village, west of the Long Ridge. Just ask any of the locals. My name’s Henry Horrocks. They’ll point you in the right direction.”

With that we parted. Carrying the witch over his shoulder, the spook set off toward Chipenden, where he’d bind her in a pit. I watched him walk away and supposed that would be the last I’d ever see of him.

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