简 介

　　17世纪的时候，英格兰有许多人相信巫术。巫师可能是一个老太婆，或是一个年轻女子——有时甚至会是一个成年男子或小男孩。不过，巫师通常都是女人。人们都害怕巫师，因为巫师仅凭一句诅咒就能使人丧命。

　　1612年，在兰开夏郡的潘德尔山附近住着一个名叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯的小女孩。那时她刚9岁，因家里穷时常饿肚子，长得很瘦弱。她缺衣少鞋，有时一连几天吃不上饭。生活对于她来说十分艰难。

　　詹妮特的外祖母老德姆代克是一个巫师。她的母亲伊丽莎白和她的姐姐艾丽森也都是巫师。就连她可怜兮兮、傻头傻脑的哥哥詹姆斯也是巫师……不管怎样，村民们是这样认为的。

　　本书以女主人公詹妮特的口吻来讲述她一家人的故事。故事从1634年讲起，当时詹妮特被关押在兰开斯特城堡监狱里……

作者罗伊娜·艾金耶米是英国人，曾在非洲生活多年，现在在剑桥市工作、生活。她的这一有关潘德尔巫师的故事取材于发生在兰开夏郡的真实事件。

　　1 THE PEDLAR

　　The spring of 1634 arrives， butin the prison of Lancaster Castle it stays cold．Thetwenty women in the prison are dirty， hungryand cold． There are no beds or chairsand so they sleep on the cold floor．Thereare no windows，so it is al-ways dark．Thewomen want to get out of the prison；theywant to go home．Sometimes the guardsopen the big，old door and put some breadand water on the floor． Then they closethe door again．

　　My name is Jennet Device， andI am one of the twenty women in prison．Dayafter day， I sit on the cold floor andwait．I want to feel warm again；I want to see the sky again， andPen-dle Hill， the beautiful hill near myhome． But I am in the dark prison ofLancaster Castle， and I sit on the coldfloor and wait．

　　One day， somethinghappens． The guards open the big，old door．'JennetDevice！'a guard calls．'Comehere at once，witch！Somebodywants to see you．'

　　I get up slowly because I'm very cold and I walk across thedark room to the door． Perhaps it' ssomeone from Read Hall！Perhaps I'm goinghome！ 'Jennet Device，bequick！'the guard calls again．

　　Someone is standing at the door with the guard．'Jennet，'hesays quietly．

　　I see him then： atall man with brown hair and tired blue eyes．Heis not from Read Hall．It is Mr Webster，fromthe church at Kild wick．My legs stopmoving and suddenly I want to sit down．

　　'Come on， come on，'the guard says angrily． He begins toclose the door．

　　'Come out here for a minute， Jennet，'Mr Webster says quietly．'Sit down andeat something．'

　　I sit down at a little table near the door．MrWebster gives me some bread and some meat and I begin to eat hungrily．

　　'Ten minutes，'theguard says．'After ten minutes，shegoes in again．

　　'Thank you，'MrWebster says．

　　'How is everyone at Read Hall？'Iask at last．

　　Mr Webster smiles．'Everyoneis well． I was there yesterday．'

　　I close my eyes for a minute．'Mr Webster， it' s not true．I'mnot a witch， you know．'

　　'I know，Jennet，'MrWebster says．'Last week， Ibrought Edmund Robinson and his father into my church， andasked them about the boy's story． Manypeople believed Edmund' s story，but somepeople didn' t．Edmund Robinson is goingto London tomorrow with his father， anda judge is going to ques-tion them．'

　　The guard comes back and begins to open the door．

　　' Time！' he says．

　　Mr Webster stands up．'Godis here with you，Jennet．Neverforget that．You can be happy，whenGod is with you．'

　　I stand up too， andtake the bread from the table．' Yes，Mr Webster． Godis with me； I believe that．'But happy？How can I be happy？

　　I go back into the dark prison， andthe guard closes the door behind me．Thewomen run to me．'Bread！Giveus bread！'they cry．

　　Quickly， I put thebread in my shirt．I don't want to loseit．I walk across the room and sit downon the floor． I am crying，butI feel a little better． Edmund Robinson，of Newchurch， isonly ten years old． Edmund told liesabout me and about many women： he saw usat a witches' meeting at a house called Hoarstones．It'snot true，but many people believed him．Whatis he going to say in London？ The truth？Or more lies．

　　But now， in theprison of Lancaster Castle， I want totell my story． It is a story about richmen and angry villagers；about old womenand hungry children． It is a true story，and it happened to me．

　　I was born in 1603． Myfamily was always very poor， and aftermy father died， we were poorer．In winter， Iwas often ill and I was always cold and hungry． Insummer， I was sometimes ill and I wasoften cold and hungry．We lived somemiles from the village of New church， inan old house called Malkin Tower． It wasdirty and cold．The rain came in throughthe windows and there were no doors． Tothe west， was the big hill called Pendle．PendleHill was beautiful．I loved Pendle Hillbecause it sat quietly all year and watched me．

　　My story begins on the eighteenth day of March in the year1612． I was nine years old， andmy life began to change on that day．Mymother and my grandmother were ill and they sat on the floor，withtheir dogs，near the little fire．

　　My sister Alizon wanted to go out．'I'mgoing to look for bread，'she said．

　　My brother James sat near the fire，hismouth open．'Go and look for bread，'hesaid．'Go and look for bread．'Jamesoften said things again and again．

　　Alizon ran out of the house and I followed her．

　　'Go and look for bread！'Jamescalled．

　　Alizon began to go east， upthe hill and past the big trees be-hind Malkin Tower．Alizonwalked fast． She was eighteen years oldand she was tall with long，dirty brownhair and a white，hungry face． Itwas cold， but there was no rain ．Alizonwore a coat and some shoes， but I had nocoat and no shoes．

　　' Please wait a minute！'I called to my sister．' I want to comewith you．'

　　'No！'Alizon cried．'Goback， I don't want you．'

　　Suddenly， a dog ranin front of Alizon．

　　' Good dog， good dog！'Alizon called． The dog ran to her andshe put her band on its head． It was mysister' s dog and it liked her． It was abig dog with big teeth and I didn' t like it because it was always hungry．

　　I followed Alizon and her dog along the river to Colne．Butbefore we arrived at Colne， we met JohnLaw．John Law was a big fat man，about fifty years old．

　　'Can I have some money， please？'Alizoncalled．'I'm hun-gry·

　　John Law didn' t answer． Hewalked slowly because he was fat and because he carried a big bag on his back．Inhis bag were a lot of beautiful things．Hewas a pedlar and he walked across the hills and visited all the villages．

　　'Can I have some money？'Alizoncalled again．'I'm very hungry！'

　　John Law stopped．'Stop following me，' he said．'I'm not going to give you money．'

　　'Give me money！'Alizonsaid．

　　'I don' t want to give you money，'the pedlar said． He took his hat off．Therewas not much hair on his head．'I don'tlike you and I don' t like your family． Alot of bad women， you are，andyour father was a bad man， too．'

　　Alizon was angry．'Don'ttalk about my father—he' s dead now！Give me some money， oldman！'

　　John Law' s face was red．'No！' he cried． Hebegan to walk up the hill to the village．'Goback to your dirty family！'

　　Alizon began to laugh angrily．'Adead man！A dead man！'shecalled．'Dead before dark，JohnLaw！'She looked down at her dog and puther hand on its head．'Go after him，dog，'shesaid．'Go after him and get him！'

　　The big dog began to run after the pedlar．JohnLaw stopped．He looked afraid and hisface was very red．'Call your dog back，youbad girl！'he shouted．

　　Suddenly，his mouthopened and his face went white．Slowly，hebegan to fall，and his big body hit theroad．The dog came up to him，butthe pedlar did not move．

　　Alizon watched John Law for a minute．Thenshe said to me，'Go and call someone fromthe village．'

　　I felt afraid，but Iran alog the road very quickly．'Help！Help！'Icalled to the villagers．'The pedlar isill'

　　The villagers came out of their houses and followed me downthe hill．A young man looked at John Lawcarefully．

　　'He's not dead，'hesaid，'but he' s very ill．Let's move him to the nearest house．Someonemust go and call his son．'

　　Just then， John Lawbegan to talk very slowly．'I can' t move！'he said．' I 'm alive， butI can' t move！'

　　I went back to stand near Alizon．Thedog sat at her feet．

　　'That Device girl…'JohnLaw said slowly，'she—shecursed me！ She wanted me to die！And her dog came to get me．

　　All the villagers looked at Alizon．

　　'I 'm sorry，'Alizonsaid quickly．'I'm very hungry and Iwanted some money，that's all．'

　　'Go away！' thevillagers cried．'You' re a witch，and we don' t want you in our village．'

　　Alizon began to run away down the hill and her dog followed．I watched the villagers．Theycarried John Law slow-ly up the hill to the nearest house．Andthen I followed my sis-ter down the hill．Iwas hungry and tired and Malkin Tower was many miles away． Iwas nine years old and I was angry． Iwas angry because the pedlar was ill．Iwas angry because the villagers didn' t like me ．AndI was angry because my sister was a witch．

　　1 小 贩

　　1634年的春天来了，但是在兰开斯特城堡监狱里却是寒冷依旧。关在狱中的20个女犯人又脏、又饿、又冷。牢房里既没有床也没有椅子，她们就睡在冰冷的地上。由于没有窗户，房间里总是一片黑暗。女囚们想离开监狱；她们想回家。有时候看守打开破旧的大门，把面包和水放在地上，然后又将大门牢牢地关上。

　　我叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯，是20个女囚犯中的一员。日复一日，我坐在冰冷的地上等待着。我希望再次感受到温暖，我希望重新看到蔚蓝的天空和我家附近的美丽的潘德尔山。然而，我却是在黑暗的兰开斯特城堡监狱里，坐在冰冷的地上等待着。

　　有一天，发生了一件事。看守打开了破旧的大门。“詹妮特·迪瓦斯！”看守喊道。“快过来，女巫！有人要见你。”

　　因为太冷了，我缓慢地爬起来，穿过黑暗的房间向门口走去。也许是从里德宅院来的什么人！也许我要回家了！

　　“詹妮特·迪瓦斯，快点！”那个看守又喊道。

　　有一个人站在门边，和看守在一起。“詹妮特，”他轻轻地说了一声。

　　这时，我看清楚他了：他是一个长着棕色头发的高个子男人，一双蓝眼睛里带着倦意。他不是里德宅院的人，他是从基尔德威克的教堂来的韦伯斯特先生。我的两条腿停止了挪动，突然，我想坐下来。

　　“快点，快点。”看守生气地说。他开始关上大门。

　　“出来呆会儿，詹妮特，”韦伯斯特先生平静地说。“坐下来吃点东西。”

　　我在靠门的一张小桌旁坐了下来。韦伯斯特先生给了我一些面包和肉，我大吃起来。

　　“10分钟，”看守说，“10分钟后她就得回去。”

　　“谢谢你，”韦伯斯特先生说。

　　“里德宅院的人们都好吗？”我终于开口问道。

　　韦伯斯特先生微笑着说：“大家都好。我昨天到那里去了。”

　　我闭上眼睛，过了一小会儿，我说：“韦伯斯特先生，这不是真的。你知道，我不是女巫。”

　　“我知道，詹妮特，”韦伯斯特先生说。“上个星期，我把埃德蒙·鲁滨逊和他的父亲带到我的教堂，向他们询问起了埃德蒙讲的故事。许多人相信埃德蒙的话，但是也有些人不相信。明天埃德蒙将和他的父亲一起去伦敦，在那里，法官会盘问他们的。”

　　那个看守回来了并打开了牢门。

　　“到时间了！”他说。

　　韦伯斯特先生站了起来。“上帝与你同在，詹妮特。别忘了这一点。当上帝陪伴着你时，你会快乐的。”

　　我也站起身来，把面包从桌上拿走。“是的，韦伯斯特先生。上帝与我同在；我相信。”可是，快乐？我怎么可能快乐呢？

　　我重又回到了黑暗的牢房，看守在我身后关上了牢门。女囚犯们向我跑来：“面包！给我们面包！”她们大喊着。

　　我迅速地把面包放进衬衣里。我可不愿失去它。我穿过房间坐到了地上。我在哭泣，但是我感觉稍好一点了。纽丘奇村的埃德蒙·鲁滨逊只有10岁。他说了有关我和很多妇女的谎话：他说他看到我们在一所名叫霍尔斯通斯的房子里参加女巫会议。那不是真的，可是许多人相信他的话。在伦敦他会讲些什么呢？真话？也许是更多的谎言。

　　不过现在，在兰开斯特城堡监狱里，我想讲述我的故事。它是一个关于有钱人和愤怒的村民们；关于老年妇女和饥饿的儿童的故事。这是一个真实的故事，它就发生在我的身上。

　　我出生于1603年。我的家庭一直非常贫穷。自从我的父亲去世后，我们的日子更艰难了。一年到头，我吃不饱、穿不暖，还常常生病。我们住在一所名叫马尔金塔的老房子里，离纽丘奇村有几英里远。这所房子又脏又冷，连一扇门也没有。下雨时雨水便从窗户浇进来。我家西面有一座潘德尔大山。它很美丽。我爱这座山，因为它终年宁静地坐落在那里，注视着我。

　　我的故事从这里讲起，那是1612年3月18日。当时我9岁。就在那一天，我的生活开始发生了变化。那天，我的妈妈和外祖母都生着病，她们围着一小堆火，和她们的几条狗一起坐在地上。

　　我的姐姐艾丽森想到外面去。“我去找点面包，”她说。

　　我哥哥詹姆斯张着嘴靠火坐着。“去找面包，”他说，“去找面包。”詹姆斯经常不断地重复他的话。

　　艾丽森跑出房子，我在后面跟着她。

　　“去找面包！”詹姆斯喊道。

　　艾丽森向东走去。她爬上山，走过马尔金塔后面的棵棵大树。艾丽森走得很快。她那年18岁，个子高高的，棕色的长发脏乎乎的。她脸色苍白，饥肠辘辘。天气很冷，但是没有下雨。艾丽森穿着外衣和鞋子，而我却既没有外衣也没有鞋子。

　　“请等一下！”我冲姐姐喊道。“我想和你一起去。”

　　“不！”艾丽森大声说。“回去，我不需要你。”

　　忽然间，一只狗在艾丽森面前跑着。

　　“乖狗儿，乖狗儿！”艾丽森招呼道。那条狗跑到她面前，艾丽森把手放在它的头上。它是我姐姐的狗，它喜欢她。它是条大狗，牙齿很大，可我不喜欢它，因为它总是显得饥饿不堪。

　　我跟着艾丽森和她的狗沿着河向科恩村走去。在路上，我们遇到了约翰·劳。他是个大胖子，五十岁上下。

　　“您能给点钱吗？”艾丽森大声说。“我饿着呢。”

　　约翰·劳没有回答。他走得很慢，一来由于他胖，二来因为他背着一个大口袋，口袋里有许多好玩意儿。他是个小商贩，翻山越岭，跑遍了所有村庄。

　　“能给我点钱吗？”艾丽森又喊了一次。“我很饿！”

　　约翰·劳停住了。“别跟着我，”他说。“我不会给你钱的。”

　　“给我钱！”艾丽森说。

　　“我不想给你钱，”小贩说。他摘下帽子，他的头发已经很稀少了。“我不喜欢你，我不喜欢你们全家。你们都是些坏女人，你的爸爸也是个坏人。”

　　艾丽森生气了。“不许你提起我父亲——他已经死了！给我钱，老头！”

　　约翰·劳的脸涨红了。“不！”他喊道。他开始上山往村里走去。“回到你那肮脏的家里去吧！”

　　艾丽森愤怒地大笑起来。“一个死人！一个死人！”她大喊着。“天黑前就死，约翰·劳！”她低下头看看她的狗，把手放在它的头上。“去追他，”她说，“去追他，抓住他。”

　　那条大狗奔跑着去追赶小贩。约翰·劳停下了脚步。他看上去很害怕，满脸通红。“把你的狗叫回去，你这个坏女孩！”他大声喊着。

　　突然，他的嘴张开了，脸色煞白。慢慢地，他倒了下去，他那硕大的身躯摔倒在路上。大狗冲到他身旁，而小贩却一动不动。

　　艾丽森盯着约翰·劳看了片刻，然后她对我说：“去村里叫人来。”

　　我很害怕，但还是沿着路快跑起来。”救人呐！救人呐！”我向村民们大喊。“小贩生病了！”

　　村民们从各自家里出来，跟着我下了山。一个年轻人仔细地看了看约翰·劳。

　　“他没有死，”他说。“可是他病得很重。咱们把他抬到最近的房子里去吧。必须把他的儿子叫来。”

　　就在那时，约翰·劳十分缓慢地说道：“我动不了。”他说。“我还活着，可我动不了。”

　　我回到艾丽森身旁站着。大狗蹲在她的脚边。

　　“那个迪瓦斯家的女孩子…”约翰·劳慢吞吞地说。“她——她诅咒我！她想让我死！她的狗向我扑过来。”

　　村民们都看着艾丽森。

　　“我很抱歉。”艾丽森急忙说。“我很饿，我想要点钱，就是这么回事。”

　　“快走开！”村民们喊道。“你是个女巫，我们不想让你呆在我们村里。”

　　艾丽森向山下跑去，她的狗紧跟着她。我看着村民们。他们抬着约翰·劳缓慢地上山，向最近的一所房子走去。随后我跟着我的姐姐下了山。我又饿又乏，而马尔金塔远在数英里之外。那时我9岁，我很生气。我生气，因为小贩病了。我生气，因为村民们不喜欢我。我生气，因为我的姐姐是个女巫。