Malone smiled at Vikki who was standing in the doorway, wearing a long nightdress, looking pale and distraught. `That I would never do. I've only got a few minutes, Ellen, Vikki. Are they looking after you?'
They went into a small sitting room. A few sticks of 1980s furniture, cluttered with old magazines. Ellen sat beside Malone on the narrow sofa and held onto his arm, pressing her cheek on his shoulder, marvelling at the strength that flowed from this man.
Vikki looked at them uncertainly. `Do you want me to go to my room?'
`This especially concerns you, Vikki,' said Malone, motioning her to an armchair. She sat and regarded him, her ordeal had not robbed her lovely green eyes of their bewitching quality. Malone noticed that she kept her left hand resting on her lap, fingers half-clenched, seemingly lifeless. Her man's watch with its broad leather strap completed the illusion that the hand was artificial.
`They've got little enough on me,' said Ellen. `But nothing on poor Vikki. Why is she here? What has she done?' It was as Malone had guessed. Ellen knew nothing about Vikki's left hand, even though they had been thrown together for several days. It was hardly surprising; after over a decade the girl was adept at not using it properly or drawing attention to it.
`I think Vikki has something to tell you, Ellen. Isn't that so, Vikki?'
The girl flinched away from Malone's penetrating gaze and looked down, her long hair hiding her face.
`Vikki. I haven't got much time. Diana Sheldon will be along soon. It's essential that she and Ellen know everything so that Roscoe can't spring any surprises.'
Silence.
`Please, Vikki.'
Her answer was a tear splashing onto her treacherous hand.
Malone rose and knelt beside her. He took hold of her left forearm and lifted it gently. She offered no resistance. `It's all going to come out, Vikki. Let it be now with people who love you, who want to help you -- don't let it be something that feeds Roscoe's hate.'
For a confused moment Ellen had to reorient herself to be certain that it was Vikki's left arm that Malone was holding and that it was the fingers on her left hand that were opening one by one. She sat stunned and speechless with shock as Vikki looked up and stretched out both hands to her.
`I'm sorry, Miss Duncan. I'm terribly sorry. I should've told you but I didn't know how to.'
A dozen questions tripped over each other when Ellen eventually managed to speak.
`The visitors did it,' Malone interrupted. `They sent their spyder device into her bedroom when she was asleep. They did the same for Cathy Price -- restoring her sense of balance.'
`When?'
`The night before the Wall appeared. Is that right, Vikki?'
The girl nodded.
`The visitors!' Ellen exclaimed. `It doesn't seem possible. I mean... Well -- how could they? Grow a new hand?'
`The Wall doesn't seem possible,' said Malone. `But it's there sure enough.'
The girl surprised them by standing, an air of uncharacteristic defiance in her stance as she looked at them in turn. `It was the visitors who gave me my hand. They told me they did it.'
It was Malone's turn to express astonishment. `They did what? How?'
`They called me to the lake to talk to me.' Vikki raised her voice, something she rarely did, to speak with resolution and passion. `They told me where they've come from, and that they're preparing a man to come amongst us. And that I was to prepare the way for him!'
Chapter 43.
WHEN HE LEFT THE police station Malone was surprised by the number of horse-drawn wagons converging on Pentworth. There was always a goodly amount of vehicles making deliveries but these wagons had no cargo other than grim-faced men, women and children.
By 9:00am Market Square was filling fast with country workers disembarking from tractor-drawn trailers -- carefully-hoarded stocks of diesel fuel being used illegally. Two morris police were issuing summonses which were promptly torn up.
There was no shouting, no disorder. It was all well-organized. Malone found Dan Baldock in the front line of the silent phalanx that had formed across the square facing Government House. Confronting them were two uneasy blackshirts armed with shotguns.
`We have to do something to show Ellen and Vikki that they're not alone, Mr Malone,' declared the pig farmer. `This is as good a way as any of showing Prescott that he can't do this.'
`The enemy isn't Prescott,' said Malone.
`Any sign of your plan?'
`Not yet. But I give you my word I'll have something within 24-hours. In the meantime, it's imperative that you retain control here.'
Baldock grunted. `They've all been briefed -- a silent, non-violent protest.'
Not that silent because the Commer van bearing the prisoners arrived. As it turned into Government House the two faces at the rear windows were greeted with cheers and waves.
A group of counter-demonstrators arrived waving their placards calling on the destruction of the witches who had brought so much misery to the community. The new arrivals gestured and shouted cat-calls at the stony-faced Country Brigade, but without eliciting a response.
`See what I mean?' said Baldock. `You do your bit. We'll do our bit. And if you don't come up with something by this time tomorrow, then we will start doing our bit with a vengeance. 24 hours, Mr Malone.'
Chapter 44.
VIKKI WATCHED IN amazement as Brenda Simmons, the head of her year at St Catherine's, had to be virtually frog-marched, protesting loudly, into the witness box by two blackshirts. The school teacher ignored the usher by refusing to take the oath.
`Mrs Simmons,' said Judge Hooper severely, glaring frostily at the reluctant prosecution witness. `If you do not take the oath and answer counsels' questions, I will hold you in contempt of court.'
Brenda Simmons was a small, spry greying woman in her mid-50s. `I have nothing but contempt for any court that puts people in the dock on charges of witchcraft. Particularly schoolgirls. I've never heard such nonsense and I refuse to recognise this ridiculous charade as a court of law.'
`This ridiculous charade has the power to impose an unlimited fine,' said the judge drily, polishing his spectacles. `And if you can't pay it, all your assets may be seized, including your house and land.'
Support for the judge came from an unexpected quarter. Vikki brushed aside Ellen's restraining hand and jumped to her feet, clutching the bar with her right hand. `Please do as he says, Mrs Simmons! Please -- I beg of you!'
The judge passed no comment on Vikki's outburst. He replaced his glasses and stared coldly at the witness. She seemed to be wavering. She suddenly seized the bible and card from the usher and recited the oath. Her answers to Roscoe's opening questions establishing her identity were spat out.
`Your honour,' said Roscoe. `I wish to introduce two more exhibits that were taken from Ellen Duncan's shop and flat following her arrest.'
Diana was on her feet to protest that the defence had not been given a chance to see the exhibits. Roscoe assured the judge that he could, if required, produce witnesses to testify that they had been removed from the accused's premises.
`Very well. Please continue, Mr Roscoe.'
A card made from a cereal packet was passed to the witness. `Will you read what it says on that card please,' Roscoe requested.
`"Kelloggs Cornflakes. Packed full of goodness to start your day the Kelloggs way."'
`The other side, Mrs Simmons.'
`"Lost. Much loved large black cat. Sometimes answers to Thomas. Always used to answer to sound of a tin opener. Reward. Apply Vikki Taylor -- Assistant Manager." And it's been signed.'
`Do you recognise the signature?'
`Yes.'
`Whose is it?'
`Vikki Taylor's.'
`Thank you.'
On a nod from Roscoe, a covered easel was set up in the well of the court. Roscoe removed a Polaroid picture from an envelope. `If it pleases your honour, this photograph is rather small therefore it has been enlarged to poster size so that
it can be seen properly by everyone.'
Judge Hooper was about to observe that everyone was capable of examining even a small photograph if it were passed around but was interrupted a chorus of shocked gasps when the cover was whipped away from the easel. The juror with the charm bracelet screamed in anguish. The colour poster was made from nine sheets of A4 paper that had been Scotch-taped together. It was a picture of Thomas's crucifixion but it was upside-down so that the wretched cat was the right way up -- large wire nails driven through his throat, outstretched paws, pelvis and tail. His yellow eyes open, looking straight at the camera so that they appeared to be staring directly and accusingly at every individual in the courtroom. Blood trails going upwards. Ellen gave a sob of torment and buried her face in her hands. She was comforted by Vikki -- a poignant mingling of blonde and dark hair.
`Cover it up!' Judge Hooper snapped. He turned angrily on Roscoe. `I will not have my court turned into a theatre. If you have exhibits, they will be admitted and around in the correct manner.'
Roscoe bowed and apologised. `I merely wished to bring home to the jury the fiendish practices that have been perpetrated in this community, your honour. It seems that not even a witch's familiar is safe from their diabolical rites.'
Diana bounced up but Roscoe's resonate voice rose to its full volume as he held up the original Polaroid and pointed at Ellen. `This picture was found in that accursed woman's flat! Not only does she think nothing of butchering her pet cat to appease Satan, but's she proud enough of her terrible deed to take a photograph!'
The courtroom was already in an uproar when Ellen threw herself at the bar and screamed out:
`That's a fucking lie, you callous bastard! You planted that picture! That's how David and I found Thomas! Nailed to my back door!'
David was on his feet. `She's telling the truth! We found Thomas like that after we returned to the shop! Ellen could never do such a thing! She loved that cat!'
Judge Hooper banged his gavel repeatedly but Ellen kept up a stream of invective directed at Roscoe who seemed content to remain seated while bedlam erupted around him. He noticed that most of the jurors were still unable to tear their eyes away from easel even though the picture was now covered. Vikki and the WPC were unable to restrain Ellen so two blackshirts bundled her out of the court on Judge Hooper's orders. Her sobbing protests could still be heard in the distance when order was restored. The judge refused Diana's request for an adjournment and rebuked David for his outburst. He regarded Roscoe with evident distaste.
`If you have a witness to testify as to where that picture came from, you'd better call him or her now, Mr Roscoe.'
`Indeed, your honour. I have a witness. But one can only wonder why the accused had a card put in her window about her lost pet if she already knew of its fate. Unless she wished to cover up that she--'
`You will call your witness and save your conjectures for your closing address to the jury!' the judge snapped and told the jury to disregard Roscoe's comments.
Brenda Simmons, looking bewildered by the storm that had raged around her, was asked to step down for a few minutes. Nelson Faraday was called. He took the oath and testified that he had found the Polaroid photograph in Ellen Duncan's bedroom. Diana did her best to shake him in her cross-examination but he stuck doggedly to his account.
`You'll have to call me to refute that,' David whispered to Diana when she sat. `Look at the jury,' she whispered back. `Do you think they're going to believe you? You're her lover, for God's sake.'
Brenda Simmons was recalled to the witness stand and reminded that she was still under oath. She gave Vikki an encouraging smile.
`How long have you known the accused?' asked Roscoe.
`About four years. Moreso this last year since she's been in my year.'
`A model pupil?'
`There's no such thing. But Vikki is a good-natured, even-tempered girl. Somewhat impudent at times.' The witness stared coldly at Roscoe. `Anyone who thinks she's a witch is a religious looney, clean out of their skull.'
Judge Hooper let that pass.
`Is she different from other girls in any significant way?'
`I've never ever known her to arrive at school on a broomstick. She prefers a bicycle.'
`Physical differences,' said Roscoe woodenly, ignoring the ripple of nervous sniggers.
`If you mean her artificial hand -- no -- she's no different. She never lets it interfere with school activities.'
Oh, God -- here we go, thought Diana.
`You seem convinced that the accused has an artificial hand.'
The witness looked confused and glanced at Vikki who was staring down. `Well -- yes. She lost her left hand in an accident years ago. It's common knowledge except that we don't talk about it.'
`So you've seen her stump?'
Vikki shuddered and kept her eyes downcast.
`Yes.'
`When?'
`Several times, if you must know!' the witness retorted.
`When was the last time?'
`Earlier in the year when she was having trouble with a new hand. I helped her--'
`Mr Roscoe,' Judge Hooper interrupted. `As the witness said, it's common knowledge that Victoria Taylor lost her left hand in a terrible accident as a child, so I see no purpose in these questions.'
There were nods from the jurors.
`As your honour pleases,' said Roscoe graciously. `If it is common knowledge, then I have no further witnesses.'
Judge Hooper glanced at wall clock in some satisfaction. 11:15am. Allow 30 minutes for lunch, and a 30 minute limit on counsels' summing ups and it might be possible to clear up the case by evening. It was all down to the jury, of course.
`But I do have a final exhibit, your honour. The accused's left hand.'
Vikki looked on the point of fainting.
`What the devil are you blathering about, Mr Roscoe? How on earth can an artificial hand be evidence in this case?'
David closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer.
`It is vital evidence, your honour -- I assure you.'
Judge Hooper glowered at Roscoe. `Very well.' He turned to the dock and, in a kindly voice, asked Vikki to remove her left hand.
She stared back at the judge, her eyes glazing with shock. `I can't remove it, sir -- your honour.'
`Very well. Allow her to come forward.' Vikki refused to accede to the WPC's whispered instructions. There was a heated altercation.
`What's the problem now?' Judge Hooper demanded.
`She won't leave the dock, your honour,' said the police officer.
Vikki and Judge Hooper stared at each other. `I can understand your embarrassment, Miss Taylor. I do sympathise, but if you can't or won't removed your hand then you will stand right there.' He pointed to the area in front of the clerk's bench but the glaring match continued. The silence in the courtroom was total.
Diana rose. `Please do his honour says, Vikki.'
`No!'
The WPC had no wish to use extremes of violence. She took Vikki by the arm but the girl responded by grabbing hold of the brass bar with her right hand.
`I don't have show anybody anything!' Vikki shouted.
The woman police officer prised open Vikki's fingers to pull her away but the girl's next action provoked a stir of astonishment that had even Judge Hooper forgetting himself to goggle in amazement. Vikki had suddenly lashed out and was clinging with grim strength to the bar with her left hand.
`It's a real hand!' cried the WPC, jumping back as if stung when she tried to open Vikki's fingers.
`Yes!' Vikki screamed, fighting to hold back her tears. `It's real! Look!' She tore off her gloves, held up both hands and opened and closed her fingers. `The visitors gave it to me! They chose me! I am their chosen one! They came to me and gave my new hand because they are sending a man to be among us! He will rise from the swamp and I am to prepare the way for him!' With that her control dissolved and she fell into the WPC's arms, her whole body trembling and conv
ulsed with weeping.
Roscoe's quick thinking turned this extraordinary and wholly unexpected turn of events to his advantage. He strode into the centre of the court, his gown swirling, and levelled an accusing finger at the sobbing girl.
`The witch has condemned herself with her own confession!' he boomed. `She is summonsing an abomination -- a nameless obscenity -- that will rise up from the black swamps of Hades to claim his reward from this evil sorceress, this daughter of Satan! And in so doing, they will plunge us further into the dark age of hell and damnation. As a consequence, God's punishment of the Wall will endure for as long we ignore the word He gave us in Exodus -- Chapter 22, Verse 18! "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"! They must be destroyed!'
Chapter 45.
JUDGE HOOPER WAS PLEASED. It was 1:45pm and he was halfway through his summing up to the jury. Following the remarkable business with Vikki Taylor before lunch, Roscoe had declared that he had no more witnesses or exhibits, and Diana Sheldon had called only two witnesses: Detective-Sergeant Malone and Ellen Duncan. At least Miss Sheldon got on with it and didn't indulge in theatricals, although one had to admit that Roscoe's theatricals were effective.
Malone had testified that he had seen Ellen Duncan's shop being subjected to criminal damage on the day before the Wall had materialized. Also he had expressed an interesting theory that the visitors were responsible for Vikki's astonishing growth of a new hand -- a theory that also covered Catherine Price's cure.
When cross-examining, Roscoe had managed to implant in the jury's mind that it was odd that the only people to have seen this miracle-performing crab-like device had been the two defendants, plus Malone, and Cathy Price -- now deceased. Moreover, there had been no reported sightings since March.
Ellen Duncan, now back in court, had apologised for her language and behaviour and recounted how straitened circumstances when she had taken over the shop meant that she had to rundown her mother's old stock rather than dump it. Her mother had never been a witch although she had had a passionate interest in the subject. Ellen maintained vehemently her own interests had never included the occult, and that palaeontology was her great passion.
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