# ■ 4 TRUTH AND LIES

On the twenty-seventh day of April， the guards took my mother and James to Lancaster Castle， and my life at Read Hall began．Suddenly，it was spring．The sky was blue and there were beautiful flowers on the hills． From Read Hall，Pendle Hill looked different ： it looked smaller， and it was not so important in my life．Sometimes I walked along Sabden Brook to Sabden， and then to Newchurch， and I felt happy to be near Pendle Hill again．But I never visited Malkin Tower again．

Spring changed into summer，and in August I went to Lan－caster with Mr Nowell． Lancaster was thirty miles from Read Hall， and I got very tired because I sat on a horse for hours． It was a big， noisy town． I never saw so many people before in my life and I felt afraid．

The trial of the witches of Pendle began at Lancaster Castle on the eighteenth day of August， and the judge was an impor-tant man from London．Judge Bromley listened to many people on that day， because there were a lot of witches from Lan-cashire in the prison．Old Demdike was not there because she died in May， before the judge arrived．

I waited with Mr Nowell' s servant， and when a guard called my name， I went through a big door and saw the judge behind a table． Judge Bromley was rich and important， but his eyes were cold．Suddenly， I saw my mother！ She was dirty and very thin．When she saw me，her face went red．My hair was clean now， and I wore shoes and an expensive dress． I saw my mother' s eyes： she hated me！

Are you a witch？'Judge Bromley asked my mother．

No， I 'm not，'my mother answered angrily．

Did you kill Jack Robinson，of Barley village？'

No， I did not．'

Jennet Device is here，' a voice said quietly． It was Mr Nowell．'She can tell us the truth about her mother．'

For a minute， my mother did not move． Then she ran across the room and shouted at me． 'You know nothing， you bad child！ And I'm your mother！Don' t forget that！'

The guards ran after my mother and pulled her to the floor．

I'm no witch！'my mother shouted．' It' s all lies！ Jennet，you' re a witch—a child of the Devil！ You' re my daughter，and I know！'

I was afraid and I put my hands over my eyes． I didn't want to see my mother' s ugly face． The guards pulled my motherout of the room and the noise stopped．

Jennet Device，'the judge said．'Tell us the truth about your mother．'

Roger Nowell lifted me up and put me on a table in front of the judge．

My mother is a witch，'I began．'She has a friend， a dog called Ball． When she wants to kill somebody， she tells Ball…'I talked and talked；I told the judge everything．

Judge Bromley listened carefully．'My child，is this the truth？'

Yes，'I answered．'I'm telling you the truth．'

The guards brought my mother back into the room again．Her face looked tired and her eyes were red．

Elizabeth Device，your daughter told us about your dog，Ball． Your son， too， told us about the clay pictures． We know everything．'

My mother said nothing．She didn't look at the judge and she didn' t look at me．

Next， the guards brought my brother James into the room．When I saw James，I wanted to cry．James was thin and dirty and his hair was very long．He looked at the judge and at all the rich and important men in the room and he began to cry．Then he sat down on the floor．

Stand up，James Device，'Judge Bromley said．

The guards pulled James up，but he fell to the floor again．

You killed Mr Duckworth，'Judge Bromley said．

I wanted a shirt，'James cried．

Is your brother a witch？'Judge Bromley asked me．

Yes，' I said． My brother sat on the floor， his mouth open．He looked at me，but he didn't know me． I was clean，and fat because of all the good food at Read Hall．

James told me about his friend，Dandy，'I began．'Dandy was the Devil and—'

James heard the name Dandy，and he began to cry again．'I want Dandy！I want to go home！'

The guards pulled him up from the floor and took him out of the room． I never saw my brother again．

When the guards brought my sister Alizon in front of the judge， I said nothing．John Law，the pedlar，came into the room．He was a thin man now．He walked slowly and he talked slowly and his face looked ill.He told the judge about that day near Colne when Alizon cursed him and her dog ran after him．

I'm sorry！' Alizon said．' I was angry with you that day，but I'm sorry now．' Alizon 's eyes were dark and afraid， but she had no friends in that room and nobody wanted to listen to her．

Then Mr Nowell took me out and I waited with his servant in a different room． An hour later， there was the noise of many people shouting and crying．

The servant smiled．'The trial is finished，' he said 'You' re a good child Jennet．You told the judge the truth about the Witches．'

Mr Nowell took me home to Read Hall．And on the twen－tieth day of August 1612，the guards took my mother，my sis－ter and my brother out of prison,and hanged them in front of Lancaster Castle．

And so I lost my family．

When I was a child， I wanted to be happy．I wanted to be warm， to wear shoes， to eat good food． I wanted someone to take care of me．That's all． My mother gave me nothing． She gave me no love．She never took care of me．Because my moth－er was a witch，my father ran away and I never knew him．My father was a rich man without a name， and I lived hungry and cold with a witch．And so I told Judge Bromley the truth about my family．Was I wrong？I don't know．

I was happy for years at Read Hall． For twenty-one years， I forgot my family．I learned to cook for the Nowell family；I worked many hours every day but I was warm and I ate good food．Every Sunday，in my best dress，I went to church；every summer I walked over Pendle Hill．I never thought about my family， because I was happy at Read Hall．

In August 1612，the guards hanged my family in front of Lancaster Castle． But their dead faces waited for me there； and a year ago， in 1633，when the guards put me in the prison in Lancaster Castle， I met them again． Day after day， I see their ugly， dead faces and hear their cold， angry voices． I think of them all the time． God is with me here，in prison． I believe that． But my dead family is with me too．

Mr Webster，from the church at Kildwick，visits me again．His blue eyes are tired，but he smiles at me．

Edmund Robinson and his father told the truth in London， 'he says quietly．' The child told lies about you be-cause he was afraid of his father． He wanted his father to love him．'

I say nothing． Mr Webster wants to be kind， but he cannot help me．Mr Nowell cannot help me because he is dead．Ed-mund Robinson is only a child； he tells lies one day， and the truth the next day．But the truth cannot help me．What can I do against hate,and lies？When Mr Nowell was alive，the Vil-lagers didn't talk about me．But when Mr Nowell died，the lies began．The villagers are all afraid of me——because my name is Device．They hate me——because my name is Device．They say I am a witch—— because my name is Device．

I come from a family of witches， but I am not a witch． No－body died because I cursed them．I never made clay pictures， I never had a cat or dog．I only wanted to live quietly at Read Hall and watch the changing skies over Pendle Hill．

When I was a child， I was always cold and hungry， and I hated my family because they were witches． In 1612， I told the truth， and the truth killed my family． Now， twenty－two years later，lies are going to kill me， here in Lancaster Castle， and I am cold and hungry again．

Mr Webster gives me bread，and I go back into the prison．I can never go back to Read Hall；I know that now．I must stay here in Lancaster Castle， with my dead family．

They are watching me， and waiting for me． I can never be free of them．

This is my true story； and I want to finish it now．

■ 4 真相與謊言

4月27日，看守們把我媽媽和詹姆斯帶到了蘭開斯特城堡，我在裡德宅院開始了新的生活。轉眼間，春天來了。天空一片湛藍，山上開著美麗的花朵。從裡德宅院看去，潘德爾山顯得和過去有些不同：它看起來小了點，而且它在我的生活中不再那麼重要了。有時我沿著薩卜登小溪走到薩卜登村，然後再到紐丘奇村；我真高興能再次靠近潘德爾山。但是我再也沒有去過馬爾金塔。

春去夏來，8月份我和諾埃爾先生一起去了蘭開斯特。蘭開斯特離裡德宅院有30英里遠，因為一連幾小時坐在馬背上，我很疲憊。蘭開斯特是一個大而喧鬧的市鎮。我以前從來沒有見過那麼多的人，所以有點害怕。

8月18日，在蘭開斯特城堡開始了對潘德爾地區的巫師的審判。法官是一位從倫敦來的重要人物。由於監獄裡關著許多蘭開夏郡的巫師，布羅姆利法官在那一天聽取了很多人的證詞。老德姆代克沒有出庭，因為在法官到達之前，她已經在5月份死去了。

我和諾埃爾先生的用人在一起等候出庭。當看守叫到我的名字時，我穿過一扇大門往前走去，看見了桌子後面的法官大人。布羅姆利法官十分富有並且地位顯赫，但是他的眼睛冰冷無情。突然，我看到了媽媽！她又髒又瘦。當她看見我時，她的臉變紅了。當時我的頭髮很乾淨，我還穿著鞋子和一條挺貴的裙子。我從她的眼神中看出：她恨我！

“你是女巫嗎？”布羅姆利法官問媽媽。

“不，我不是。”我媽媽生氣地回答。

“你是不是害死了巴利村的傑克·魯濱遜？”

“不，我沒有。”

“詹妮特·迪瓦斯就在這裡。”一個聲音平靜地說。那是諾埃爾先生。“她可以告訴我們有關她母親的真實情況。”

有一小會兒，我的媽媽一動不動。隨後她跑著穿過房間，向我大喊：“你什麼也不知道，你這個壞孩子！我是你媽媽，別忘了這點！”

看守們追著我媽媽，把她拉倒在地上。

“我不是女巫！”媽媽喊道。“那全是謊言！詹妮特，你是個女巫——魔鬼的孩子！你是我女兒，我知道！”

我很害怕，用手擋住眼睛。我不想看到媽媽那張醜陋的臉。看守們把媽媽拉出了房間，吵嚷聲止住了。

“詹妮特·迪瓦斯，”法官說，“把你母親的真實情況告訴我們。”

羅傑·諾埃爾把我舉起來，放在法官前面的一張桌子上。

“我的媽媽是個女巫，”我說道。“她有一個朋友，是一條名叫鮑爾的狗。當她想殺死誰的時候，她就告訴鮑爾……”我講啊，講啊，把一切都告訴了法官。

布羅姆利法官仔細地聽著。“我的孩子，這是真的嗎？”

“是的，”我回答說。“我說的都是真話。”

看守們又把我媽媽帶回了房間。她面帶倦容，眼睛紅紅的。

“伊麗莎白·迪瓦斯，你的女兒對我們講了你的狗鮑爾的事。另外你的兒子對我們說了泥像的事。我們什麼都知道了。”

我媽媽一聲不吭。她既沒有看法官，也沒有看我。

接下來，看守們把我的哥哥詹姆斯帶進了房間。當我看到哥哥時，我真想哭。詹姆斯又髒又瘦，頭髮長長的。他看了看法官和房間裡有錢有勢的人，哭了起來。然後，他坐在地上。

“站起來，詹姆斯·迪瓦斯，”布羅姆利法官說。

看守們把詹姆斯拖了起來，但是他又倒在了地上。

“你害死了達克沃思先生，”布羅姆利法官說。

“我想要件襯衣，”詹姆斯大聲說。

“你哥哥是巫師嗎？”布羅姆利法官問我。

“是，”我說。我哥哥張著嘴坐在地上。他看了我一眼，可是沒認出我來。因為我很乾淨、胖乎乎的，那是由於在裡德宅院吃得很好的緣故。

“詹姆斯給我講過他的朋友丹迪的事，”我說。“丹迪是魔鬼，並且——”

詹姆斯聽到丹迪這個名字，又叫了起來：“我要丹迪！我想回家！”

看守們把他從地上拉起來，帶了出去。從此，我再也沒有見過哥哥。

當看守們把我姐姐艾麗森帶到法官前面時，我什麼話都沒說。小販約翰·勞走進了房間。他變得非常瘦，走路、說話都很緩慢，一臉病容。他對法官講述了那一天在科恩村附近，艾麗森詛咒他以及她的狗追趕他的事情。

“我很抱歉！”艾麗森說。“那天我很生你的氣，不過現在我感到抱歉。”艾麗森的眼睛黑黑的，流露出恐懼。但是在那個房間裡她沒有一個朋友，沒有人肯聽她的話。

後來，諾埃爾先生把我領了出去，我和他的用人在另外一個房間裡等著。一小時後，傳來了許多人的哭嚷聲。

用人笑了。“審判結束了，”他說。“你是個好孩子，詹妮特，你把有關巫師們的真相告訴了法官。”

諾埃爾先生把我帶回裡德宅院。1612年8月20日，看守們把我的媽媽、姐姐和哥哥押出監獄，在蘭開斯特城堡前絞死了他們。

就這樣我失去了我的一家。

當我還是個孩子時，我希望過得快樂。我想穿得暖和，想有鞋穿，有好東西吃。我盼望有人來關心我。僅此而已。我的媽媽什麼也沒有給過我。她從未給過我一點愛。她從不關心我。因為媽媽是女巫，我的父親跑掉了，我根本不知道他是誰。他是一個沒有名字的有錢人，而我卻和女巫一起生活，過著飢寒交迫的日子。因此，我把我一家的真相告訴了布羅姆利法官。我錯了嗎？我不知道。

在裡德宅院我幸福地生活了很多年。21年來，我忘記了我的家人。我學著為諾埃爾一家做飯；雖然每天工作很長時間，但是我穿得暖吃得好。每個星期天，我穿上最好的衣服去教堂祈禱；每年夏天我在潘德爾山上漫步。我從未想到過我的家人，因為我在裡德宅院生活得很愉快。

1612年8月，看守們在蘭開斯特城堡前絞死了我的一家。然而他們死去的面孔在那裡等待著我。一年前，也就是1633年，看守們把我關進了蘭開斯特城堡監獄。在獄中，我又遇到了他們。日復一日，我能看見他們醜陋的死去的面孔，聽得到他們冰冷、氣憤的聲音。我總是想到他們。上帝在這裡，在監獄中與我同在，對此我深信不疑。可是我死去的一家也與我同在。

基爾德威克教堂的韋伯斯特先生又來看我了。他看上去很疲勞，但是他向我微笑著。

“埃德蒙·魯濱遜和他父親在倫敦說了實話，”他輕聲說。“那個孩子過去所說的有關你的事都是扯謊，因為他害怕他父親。他希望父親愛他。”

我什麼也沒說。韋伯斯特先生儘量和善地待我，可是他幫不了我。諾埃爾先生也無法幫我，因為他已經去世了。埃德蒙·魯濱遜只是個孩子；他今天說謊，明天說真話，但是真話也幫不了我。我能做什麼來對抗仇恨和謊言呢？諾埃爾先生在世時，村民們沒有議論過我。然而諾埃爾先生去世後，謊言便開始流傳起來。村民們都害怕我——因為我姓迪瓦斯。他們恨我——因為我姓迪瓦斯。他們說我是女巫——因為我姓迪瓦斯。

我來自巫師之家，可我不是巫師。我從未咒死過任何人。我從未製作過泥像。我從未養過貓或狗。我只想在裡德宅院平靜地生活，我只想凝望潘德爾山頂上那片不斷變化的天空。

孩提時代，我總是挨餓受凍，我恨我的家人，因為他們都是巫師。1612年，我說了真話，而真話害死了我的一家。22年後的今天，謊言將使我在蘭開斯特城堡中喪生，我再次陷入了飢寒交迫的苦難中。

韋伯斯特先生給了我麵包，我又回到了牢房裡。我再也無法重歸裡德宅院了；現在我知道這點了。我必須呆在蘭開斯特城堡監獄裡，和我死去的一家在一起。

他們正在注視著我，等待著我，我永遠也無法擺脫他們。

這是我的真實故事；就講到這兒吧。