Doctor Who_ The Hollow Men - Keith Topping [3]
Jeffreys turned the moment he heard Jowett‟s footfall.
„The wench said thou hadst orders,‟ explained Jowett hurriedly.
„Indeed,‟ said Jeffreys. He seemed to Jowett unusually sanguine - perhaps he had rested well. „There is much to do, Master Jowett. We find ourselves in the very heart of the villainy. Monmouth‟s rebels are all around us.‟
„This village harboured rebels?‟
„Aye, and produced them, I am inclined to think. Thou art a good man, Jowett. The traitors must be known to thee.‟
„I knew not of rebellion, sir,‟ stammered Jowett.
Jeffreys shrugged. „„Tis clear to me.‟ He turned to look at Jowett for the first time, and the unnatural calmness in his eyes was more terrifying than his usual anger. „The villagers are to dig a pit. The green afore this inn.‟
„For what reason?‟
„Thou shalt see.‟
It was a bright, crisp day as the men gathered, the storm having long died out. The villagers were nervous - the mere mention of Judge Jeffreys‟s name was enough to send an icy shiver down the spine - but, while they waited for instruction, they joked together, feeling a certain strength in numbers.
Whatever Jeffreys had planned, it would soon pass, and their lives would continue as normal.
Jowett emerged from the inn, and a hush fell. He walked slowly towards them. „Dig a hole in this green,‟ he ordered.
„Ten cubits broad.‟ Uncomprehending, the men hefted shovels, and began to work.
When, after a day, the men had excavated down twenty feet and found nothing, and twilight was fast approaching, the full horror of Jeffreys‟s plan became evident. The men were still in the pit when the first of the militia appeared at the outer edge of the diggings.
Jeffreys emerged from the tavern. His eyes glittered like the stars. „God spoke to me in a vision,‟ he announced. „In his name I condemn you all for treason against the King, and damn you to hell.‟ He turned away as the first musket shots sounded.
The gunfire brought Tom Spence running from the inn.
Some of the women of the village dared to emerge from their cottages, their eyes wide with terrified disbelief.
„What you do here is wrong!‟ exclaimed Spence, grabbing the judge by the shoulder.
„How dare thee, sir?‟ replied Jeffreys, shaking himself free.
„I speak with the authority of the King. I do no wrong.‟ He turned to Richard, standing behind him. „Cast this wretch into the pit with all of the other traitors.‟ As Spence was dragged away, screaming, Jeffreys sighed. „I had hoped to let one man live,‟ he observed.
The women, clutching their children to them as their husbands were murdered, began weeping.
„And disperse this gaggle of screeching harridans,‟ snapped Jeffreys.
„Aye, sir,‟ said Richard, signalling to two soldiers to remove the women.
Jeffreys watched as one of the villagers tried to pull himself from the pit, but he was spotted by a rifleman, and kicked in the face. He flew backward, on to the writhing, moaning mass. The soil was already soaked red.
Jeffreys turned, Richard still at his side. „Order the soldiers to begin filling in the pit.‟
„But, sir, we cannot be certain that all the traitors have perished.‟
„It matters not. Bury them alive. I wish to leave this godforsaken place within the hour.‟ He shook the dirt from his boots as he strode back into the deserted tavern. In time the vile village would surely disappear without trace.
When the killing was done, Jowett and Richard stood alone in the gathering gloom, cleaning the mud and blood from their boots by the village duck pond. The thunderous clouds were gathering overhead once more. It would be another hellish night.
„Savage occurrences, and no mistake, Richard,‟ said Jowett, his voice heavy.
His companion gave a short, harsh laugh and swept his fingers back through his blond hair, winking broadly at Jowett. „Thou old rascal Joseph, thy stomach for such deeds is not usually so weak.‟
„There is something down there, Richard,‟ said Jowett suddenly. „I felt it this