THE OUTLAND

43

There was no need for the Church to forbid anyone to approach the remains of the sorcerer or to set up guards - the people in the village lived dark, ignorant, superstitious. Hmm, in fact, so ignorant that they were ready to sacrifice an innocent girl to the church. Also a good exchange for yourself - the headman's hand for the life of Agnis.

But for them it was in the order of things, damn it! They themselves, no worse than anyone else, will forbid themselves and others to approach the remains - well, how can damage with an evil eye be transferred from a sorcerer to them? No, no one wants to.

So, except for the corpses of the soldiers already cooling down, it was only me on the square - and I sat there for these few minutes, ready to jump out of the thick shadow, cut my throat with the edge of the sword! The only pillory I had for company was a lonely, empty and abandoned by everyone, sticking out an accusing finger from a thin layer of greasy ash. I don’t know what kind of wood and