Page 19 of Damnation
Corwin attempts to control the room, but it is hardly successful. Glancing to Parris, he nods his agreement. I hearParris curse beneath his breath, a thing I have never heard escape my friend’s mouth as he storms out of the meetinghouse to fetch his kin.
When I turn back to face the room, I find Tituba’s eyes on me once more, that evil grin with a curious glint in her eyes. It unnerves me immensely, though I do not allow it to show.
Within the hour, Parris is back, accompanied by young Betty and Abigail, who look sickly and disturbed, visibly shaking when they enter the same room as their assumed tormentor.
“Girls, what treatment have ye experienced?” Corwin asks them.
They look fearful as their eyes bounce around the room.
“We have been bitten and pinched!” Abigail cries.
“And tortured as well!” Betty agrees.
“By whom?” Hathorne asks.
“Tituba, of course!” Betty exclaims.
“Anyone else?” Parris asks. “We have reason to believe of others in Salem, think long on it. Who else torments thee?”
The girls exchange looks and softened whispers before Parris presses on.
“For all to hear! Who torments you?”
“Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good!”
Outrage flies around the room as I feel my heart cease beating. My whole body goes numb and cold before I jump to my feet.
“Outrageous! Where are the facts of your claims? How do we know they have not pulled these names from thin air? Brothers, we must tread carefully with accusations of such.”
“What say you all the same?” Corwin challenges. “We may be dealing with an issue greater than one or three witches, Putnam. Do you have any proof or fact to soil the claims of these victims?”
I want to say yes, to tell them my Sarah would never hurt another. She is quiet and impoverished with a sad excuse of ahusband. She is not well liked because of him and the things he forces her to do, yet none of this means she is evil. She loves God as I do. She loves her daughter, her town. She is no more a witch than I, but I ought know better than to speak such things nor raise suspicions.
“We need to examine them too!” my brother exclaims, casting me a suspicious look as others cheer in agreement.
My eyes widen in panic at the idea of such, but I remain calm and steady as I agree.
“Let us gather them at once and examine for truth. Just as you speak, Corwin, if the claims are true, who is to say it ends with three? All of Salem may be in danger of purgatory if we do not move with haste.”
Corwin nods, as does Hathorne.
“Go forth, gather the two women and bring them at once. We shall hold a town meeting this Sunday.”
“I will collect Osborne, her shop lay beside my tavern,” Ingersoll says.
“I will accompany thee.” Parris nods.
“I shall collect Good,” I volunteer.
“Then I too shall accompany you, brother,” Edward speaks.
I lower my voice for us two only.
“That need not be necessary. I can manage such matters.”
“I have no doubt in that, brother, but I shall accompany you regardless.”
My eyes shoot daggers towards him, but I make haste out the door before others should try to follow. When I suggested to bring them in, my first thought was to grab Sarah and run. Hide her in the woods if I must until nightfall. Edward has made this matter all the more complicated now, and I’m not so sure of what my actions will be next.
