# ■ 2 ROGER NOWELL

John Law was ill because Alizon cursed him， and his son wanted Roger Nowell to question Alizon．Roger Nowell was a rich and important man in Lancashire， and he was the judge for all the villages near Pendle Hill．He lived at Read Hall， seven miles from Newchurch．

On the thirtieth day of March，Mr Nowell's men came to Malkin Tower．Mr Nowell wanted to see Alizon at once．

We walked from Malkin Tower to Read Hall： my sister Ali-zon，my brother James，and our mother，Elizabeth Device． I fol-lowed them because I didn' t want to stay at home with my grandmother． My grandmother was a difficult old woman， and I didn' t like her．

Read Hall was an old house with a big garden and many old trees．Mr Nowell's servant opened the door for us．

Come in，'Mr Nowell said．He was a tall man with a lot of white hair．His black coat looked warm and expensive．

Alizon followed Mr Nowell into a room with a big fire．When I saw the fire， I wanted to go in，too！

Are you cold，little one？'Mr Nowell asked me．'Come in，and sit near the fire．'

I went across the room and sat down on the floor， next to the wonderful， hot fire．

Mr Nowell sat behind a big fable． Two or three men， in black coats， stood near the window． Alizon stood in front of Mr Nowell． Her long hair was dirty， and her old dress looked dirti-er．

Two weeks ago，on the eighteenth day of March， you met John Law near Colne，'Roger Nowell said．His voice was slow and careful．'Tell me about it．'

I asked for money，'Alizon said．'The pedlar was very an－gry and I didn' t like him． I was angry， too， and I wanted him to die！'

Tell me about your dog．'

“The dog is my friend．'Alizon said slowly．'I wanted a friend， and I found that dog two months ago． I told my grand－mother， and she liked the dog， too．'

Did the dog run after the pedlar？'

Yes， of course． I cursed the pedlar， and the dog ran after him！'Alizon said．' I'm sorry now， because Mr Law is ill．'

She's a witch！'one of the men said quietly．

Roger Nowell stood up and walked across the room to the door．'James Device， come in． We want to question you．'

James came in and stood next to Alizon．James was thirteen years old， nearly a man， but he was afraid of many things． He began to cry．

Don't be afraid，'Mr Nowell said．'we want you to talk abut your grandmother，Old Demdike．'

But Alizon wanted to talk．'Don' t ask him！' she said quick-ly．'I can tell you about my grandmother because I'm with her every minute of the day． I go with her from village to village． I go with her across Pendle Hill．She asks people for money and food， and I help her．'Alizon stopped．She looked at James， and then she looked at Mr Nowell．'She cursed a child once， and the child died later that year．'

And you！'James said．'You cursed a child， too！Somebody told me！'James suddenly sat down on the floor and began to laugh loudly．

Be quiet！'Roger Nowell said coldly．'Alizon Device，tell me the truth：did you curse a child？'

Yes， I did，'Alizon cried．'The child called me a witch， and I was angry． I cursed the child，but I was sorry when the child died．'

James looked up at Alizon， his mouth open．'The child died，the child died，'he said again and again．

Alizon Device，you cannot go home again，'Roger Nowell said slowly．'You must go to the prison at Read．'

But I need Alizon！'my mother shouted angrily from the door．'She takes care of Old Demdike，my mother．'

I looked at my mother， at her red， angry face． I looked at Al-izon in her dirty dress， and at James on the floor with his mouth open．And then I looked at Mr Nowell：his brown eyes were warm， and his face was kind．

On the second day of April， Roger Nowell and his men came to Ashlar House， near the village of Fence． Mr Nowell wanted to talk to my grandmother， and we all went with her to Ashlar House． Fence was not far from Malkin Tower， and my grand-mother walked there easily．

Old Demdike was a little old woman with a fat face and no teeth．She was nearly eighty years old and she was a difficult old woman．Without Alizon，she was more difficult because my mother didn' t take care of her．

When I saw Mr Nowell again at Ashlar House， I felt happy．I looked at his kind face and his warm brown eyes， and I want-ed to be near him． But there were a lot of people in the room，and I was afraid to go to him．

Old Demdike, I'm going to ask you some questions， 'Mr Nowell began．

Old Demdike was not afraid． She looked at all the men， in their expensive coats and hats． 'What can a poor old woman tell you rich men？'She laughed， and when she laughed I felt afraid．My grandmother was going to tell them everything！

And she did！

Twenty years ago，I met the Devil，'Old Demdike said．'He was a boy called Tibb and he was my friend．Then a cat came to visit me—a beautiful cat—and then a dog．They were all my friends．'

Mr Nowell listened quietly to my grandmother， but some of the men began to talk angrily．

Be careful，you rich men！'my grandmother cried．'I can curse you！ I can kill people！ I make clay pictures of people—man，woman or child．And when I break the clay，that man，woman or child dies！'

People began to shout．

She' s a witch！ She must die！'

Say no more； she must die， with all her family！'

Roger Nowell stood up．'Be quiet！'He looked at the guards near the door．'Take her away，'he said．'Old Demdike and her granddaughter Alizon must go to the prison at Lancaster Castle．'

The guards took my grandmother by the arms and carried her out of the door and put her on a horse．Everyone ran out of Ashlar House．They ran after the horses and shouted：'Kill the witch！'

I looked for Mr Nowell， but he was on his horse， too， and he followed the guards quickly through the village．

Slowly， I followed my mother and James．Malkin Tower was my home， but I didn' t want to go back there． I was a little child， and I wanted someone kind to take care of me．

We stayed at home days， because we were afraid to go out．James sat in front of the fire， with his dog， and talked．'Lan-caster Castle， Lancaster Castle，' he said， again and again． My mother hit me and shouted at me because she was angry with the rich men．

But after three days，my mother suddenly said，'James！We' re hungry and we must eat！'

James didn' t answer．

My mother went across the room to James and pulled his hair．'Get up！'she shouted．'Go out and find food for us！Your father isn' t here now； you must find food for us．' She hit him over the head．

James stood up slowly．'Go out and find food，'he said．'I must go out and find food．'

It was dark， and James was out for hours． But in the morn-ing， he came back with a sheep．

I went to Barley，'James said happily．'I got this sheep，and now we can eat．'

Get up， Jennet！'my mother shouted 'Come and help me！'

It was Friday， the tenth day of April． My family had some friends， poor people， and on that day they came to Malkin Tower．They came and asked about Old Demdike and Alizon，and they stayed to eat and drink．

I helped my mother． We cooked the sheep over a big fire，and our visitors ate with us． At the same time， they drank．They sat by the fire and drank，and talked about Lancaster Castle．

Let 's go there！'an old woman cried．'Let 's go to Lancast-er Castle and find Old Demdike and Alizon！'

We can curse the guards， and break down the door！' my mother said．

Let' s bring them home！' said an old man．

Jennet，bring the bottle！ We need more drink！'shouted my mother．

I got up and took more drink to my mother．But I fell over one of the dogs， and the bottle broke on the floor． The drink was gone！

You bad child！' my mother shouted．'You' re a witch， too，you know！'She got up and began to hit me．She hit me over the head and pulled my hair．An old man laughed，and then ev-eryone laughed．

I ran back across the room．I wasn 't a witch；I was a child，nine years old，and I hated my mother and all her friends！ My face felt very hot because I was angry． I left the room and went out of the house． It was afternoon， but the sky was dark with rain．Pendle Hill was dark，too．It sat quietly and watched me．

I'm going to Mr Nowell，' I said quietly， to Pendle Hill．'I'm going to tell him about my mother and her friends．'

■ 2 羅傑·諾埃爾

由於艾麗森的詛咒，約翰·勞病倒了。他的兒子希望羅傑·諾埃爾審問艾麗森。羅傑·諾埃爾是蘭開夏郡一個有錢有勢的人，他是潘德爾山一帶所有村落的法官。他住在裡德宅院，離紐丘奇村7英里遠。

3月30日那天，諾埃爾先生手下的人來到了馬爾金塔，因為諾埃爾先生想馬上見一見艾麗森。

我們一行離開了馬爾金塔步行前往裡德宅院：我的姐姐艾麗森，我的哥哥詹姆斯，還有我的母親伊麗莎白·迪瓦斯。我之所以與他們同行是因為我不想和外祖母一起留在家裡。我的外祖母是一個很難相處的老太婆，我不喜歡她。

裡德宅院是一所老房子，裡面有一個大花園和許多古樹。諾埃爾先生的用人為我們打開了房門。

“進來，”諾埃爾先生說。他個子很高，白髮蒼蒼。他的黑色大衣看起來既暖和又昂貴。

艾麗森跟著諾埃爾先生走進了一個房間，那裡面生著旺旺的爐火。當我看到爐火時，真希望自己也能跟著進去！

“你冷吧，小傢伙？”諾埃爾先生問我。“進來，坐到爐火旁邊去。”

我穿過房間，坐到地板上，緊靠著那美妙的、暖烘烘的爐火。

諾埃爾先生在一張大桌子後面坐下。有兩三個穿著黑大衣的男人靠近窗口站著。艾麗森站在諾埃爾先生面前，她的長髮髒兮兮的，身上的舊裙子比頭髮還要髒。

“兩個星期前，也就是3月18日那天，你在科恩村附近遇到了約翰·勞，”羅傑·諾埃爾說。他的聲音低沉而謹慎。“給我講講這件事。”

“我向他要錢，”艾麗森說。“小販很生氣，我不喜歡他。我也很生氣，我希望他死！”

“給我講講你的狗是怎麼回事。”

“它是我的朋友，”艾麗森慢慢地說道。“我想要一個朋友，兩個月前我找到了那條狗。我把這件事告訴了我的外祖母，她也喜歡那條狗。”

“那條狗是不是追趕小販了？”

“當然追了。我詛咒了小販，那條狗便去追趕他！”艾麗森說。“現在勞先生病了，我很抱歉。”

“她是個女巫！”一個男人輕聲說。

羅傑·諾埃爾站了起來，穿過房間走到門口。“詹姆斯·迪瓦斯，進來。我們有話問你。”

詹姆斯走了進來，站在艾麗森身邊。詹姆斯13歲，幾乎是個男子漢了，但是，他對很多東西都感到恐懼。他哭了起來。

“別害怕，”諾埃爾先生說。“我們想讓你講講你的外祖母老德姆代克的一些事。”

可是，這時候艾麗森卻想說話。“別問他！”她急促地說。“我可以告訴你們關於我外祖母的事，因為我一天到晚和她在一起。我們倆一起翻越潘德爾山，走了一村又一村。她向人們討飯要錢，我給她幫忙。”艾麗森停住了。她看了看詹姆斯，又看了看諾埃爾先生，接著說：“她曾經詛咒過一個小孩兒，後來，就在那一年，小孩兒死了。”

“還有你！”詹姆斯說。“你也詛咒過一個小孩兒！有人告訴我了！”詹姆斯突然坐到了地板上，大笑起來。

“安靜！”羅傑·諾埃爾冷冷地說。“艾麗森·迪瓦斯，對我說真話：你曾詛咒過一個小孩兒嗎？”

“是的，詛咒過，”艾麗森喊道。“那個孩子管我叫女巫，我生氣了。我就詛咒了他，但是對於他的死我很抱歉。”

詹姆斯抬起頭，張著嘴看著艾麗森。“那個孩子死了，那個孩子死了，”他一遍遍地說著。

“艾麗森·迪瓦斯，你不能再回家了。”羅傑·諾埃爾緩慢地說道。“我們必須把你送進裡德監獄。”

“可是我需要艾麗森！”我的媽媽在門邊氣憤地喊著。“是她照顧我的母親老德姆代克。”

我看了看我的媽媽，她的臉漲得通紅，臉上帶著憤怒的表情。我又看了看穿著髒裙子的艾麗森，還有張著嘴坐在地上的詹姆斯。然後我看了一眼諾埃爾先生：他的棕色眼睛流露出熱情，他的面容是和善的。

4月2日，羅傑·諾埃爾和他的隨從人員來到了芬斯村附近的艾什拉屋。諾埃爾先生想和我的外祖母談談，於是我們全家和她一起去了艾什拉屋。芬斯村離馬爾金塔不遠，我的外祖母並沒有費多少勁就走到了那裡。

老德姆代克是個身材矮小的老太婆，她長著一張胖胖的臉，牙齒全掉光了。她快八十歲了，很難相處。艾麗森不在她更使性子，因為我的媽媽根本不照顧她。

當我在艾什拉屋再次看到諾埃爾先生時，我感到很高興。看著他和善的面孔和充滿熱情的棕色眼睛，我很想靠他近一些。可是房間里人很多，我不敢過去。

“老德姆代克，我要問你一些問題。”諾埃爾先生說。

老德姆代克並不害怕。她看了看所有衣帽華貴的男人。“一個窮老太婆能告訴你們有錢人什麼呢？”她哈哈大笑著說。她的笑聲令我恐懼。我的外祖母就要把一切都告訴他們了！

她真地說了！

“20年前，我遇到了魔鬼，”老德姆代克說。“他是一個名叫蒂勃的男孩，他是我的朋友。後來有一隻貓來拜訪我——一隻美麗的貓——隨後又來了一條狗。他們都是我的朋友。”

諾埃爾先生安靜地聽著，但是有些男人生氣地交談起來。

“小心點，你們這些有錢人！”我的外祖母喊道。“我能詛咒你們！我能讓人喪命！我用泥製成人像——男人的，女人的或是小孩的，當我打碎人像時，那個男人、女人或小孩就會死去。”

人們開始大喊起來。

“她是個女巫！一定得要她的命！”

“不要再說什麼了，她必須死，和她的全家一起死！”

羅傑·諾埃爾站了起來。“安靜！”他看了看守在門口的警衛。“把她帶走。”他說。“必須把老德姆代克和她的外孫女艾麗森關進蘭開斯特城堡監獄。”

衛兵們抓住我外祖母的胳膊，把她帶出門，放到一匹馬上。大家全都跑出了艾什拉屋。他們追趕著馬隊，高喊：“殺死女巫！”

我尋找著諾埃爾先生，可是他也上了馬，跟在衛兵們後面迅速地穿過村子走了。

我跟在媽媽和詹姆斯後面慢慢地走著。馬爾金塔是我的家，但是我並不想回去。我還是個孩子，我希望有個慈愛的人來關心我。

因為不敢出門，我們在家裡呆了好些天。詹姆斯和他的狗坐在火堆前，嘴裡唸叨著：“蘭開斯特城堡，蘭開斯特城堡。”他一遍又一遍地說著。我媽媽打我，衝我大嚷大叫，因為那些有錢人很讓她惱火。

3天后，媽媽突然說：“詹姆斯！我們餓了，咱們得吃東西呀！”

詹姆斯沒有答話。

媽媽穿過房間走到詹姆斯跟前，揪著他的頭髮。“起來！”她大喊著。“出去給我們找點吃的！你爸爸現在不在了，你必須給我們找吃找喝。”她打了一下他的頭。

詹姆斯慢慢騰騰地站起來。“出去找吃的，”他說。“我必須出去找吃的。”

天黑了，詹姆斯已經出去好幾個小時了。第二天早上，他帶著一隻羊回來了。

“我到巴利村去了。”詹姆斯高興地說。“我找到了這隻羊，現在我們可以吃飯了。”

“起來，詹妮特！”我媽媽喊道。“來給我幫忙！”

我們家有一些朋友，都是窮人。4月10日星期五那天，他們來到了馬爾金塔。他們來詢問老德姆代克和艾麗森的情況，然後留下來又吃又喝。

我幫助媽媽幹活。我們在一大堆火上烤羊，客人們和我們一起吃飯。他們還喝起酒來。他們圍坐在火堆旁一邊喝酒，一邊談論著蘭開斯特城堡。

“咱們到那兒去吧！”一個老太太大聲說。“咱們去蘭開斯特城堡救出老德姆代克和艾麗森！”

“我們可以咒死看守，然後把門打破！”我媽媽說。

“咱們把她倆帶回家來！”一個老頭兒說。

“詹妮特，把酒瓶拿來！我們得再喝點！”媽媽喊道。

我站起來去給媽媽再拿些酒。可是我絆倒在一隻狗身上，酒瓶掉在地上摔碎了，酒灑了！

“你這個壞孩子！”我媽媽嚷道。“你也是個女巫，你清楚！”她站起來打我。她打我的頭，揪我的頭髮。一個老頭哈哈大笑，大家也都跟著鬨笑起來。

我穿過房間跑了回去。我不是女巫；我是個9歲的孩子。我恨媽媽和她所有的朋友！由於憤怒我的臉很燙。我離開房間，走出了這所房子。當時是下午，但是由於下著雨，天很黑。潘德爾山也是一片漆黑。它靜靜地坐落在那裡，注視著我。

“我要去找諾埃爾先生，”我平靜地對潘德爾山說。“我要告訴他有關我媽媽和她的朋友們的事情。”