Page 26 of Damnation
“Is thy business concluded?”
“For now.” I nod as I begin walking with the jailor towards the door. “We are taking a special interest in Mrs. Good. We believe she could be a key witness in aiding our efforts. I need you to take special care of her. Treat the others how you may, but not a scratch upon her. Do you understand?” I ask, fishing out a small bag that holds ten shillings.
I drop the bag into the jailor’s hand, and his eyes widen.
“O-of course, sir.”
“And see to it she receives extra food and water rations. She is with child.”
“Yes, Mr. Putnam.”
I nod, shaking his hand before stepping outside the jailhouse, my chest aching with each step away from her I take.
March 11th, 1692
The desire to be near her is near agonizing. It has been just five days, yet it feels as if weeks. Nine more nights until everything changes. I will no doubt be a wanted man for my actions. Others willnever understand, nor attempt to, and the hysteria of Salem grows by the day. I know not what to tell Ann and the children, if anything at all. I must admit, under the warm summer nights in Sarah’s embrace, the plan to run had such an allure, but feels tainted with guilt and shame in the light of day.
For what kind of man am I to consider such things? Abandon an entire family for a woman akin to a witch? A good one says she, but a witch all the same. ‘Tis an outrage. I can feel God’s judgment already, yet this time, I am unable to delude myself into believing I shall earn his forgiveness so easily.
“Thomas! Thomas! Come quick!” Ann shouts, running into the room.
I look up from my pages, snapping my journal closed as I jump to my feet.
“What is it?” I ask.
“‘Tis Ann! Something is wrong,” she says, leading me to the sitting room where our daughter is convulsing onto the floor in what appears to be a fit.
Panic rises inside me as I drop to the ground and attempt to hold her still. Her mouth emits a pained screech as her body continues to shake before she stops.
“Fetch Griggs! Hurry!” I snap at my wife.
She nods quickly and runs out the door in the next moment.
“Ann, Ann, Ann,” I say, shaking her softly before her eyes blink up to me.
“Father?” she questions, as if she has been trapped in another place.
“What happened to you, child?”
“I…I do not know. I ate some berries Mother and I purchased from Martha Corey, and…has she cursed me, Father?” she asks, fear heavy in her eyes.
Berries? From the Corey farm? They provide half the town with their provisions of berries. Surely it ought not be such a sinister cause. Then again, the entirety of Salem is not as it was. Anything may be possible, and if the Coreys are poisoning, any and all…
Could it be? Another witch among us? It ought not be…though if my Sarah could be one, who is to say anyone else is innocent?
Griggs and Ann rush in the next minute, quickly examining her. Ann recounts their morning to Griggs as he listens intently.
“What say you?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “She appears fine now, nothing of physical nature appears wrong. Which means…” He trails off as his eyes hold my own, a silent conversation held between us as I nod my head and stand to my feet. I grab my hat, slipping it upon my head as my wife calls out to me.
“Wherever are you heading?”
“To the Corey’s farm,” I say stiffly.
As I step out of my house and down the road, I see my brother tending to his yard.
“What is the fuss over there?”
