TheWitchesofPendle潘德尔的巫师简介17世纪的时候,英格兰有许多人相信巫术。巫师可能是一个老太婆,或是一个年轻女子——有时甚至会是一个成年男子或小男孩。不过,巫师通常都是女人。人们都害怕巫师,因为巫师仅凭一句诅咒就能使人丧命。1612年,在兰开夏郡的潘德尔山附近住着一个名叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯的小女孩。那时她刚9岁,因家里穷时常饿肚子,长得很瘦弱。她缺衣少鞋,有时一连几天吃不上饭。生活对于她来说十分艰难。詹妮特的外祖母老德姆代克是一个巫师。她的母亲伊丽莎白和她的姐姐艾丽森也都是巫师。就连她可怜兮兮、傻头傻脑的哥哥詹姆斯也是巫师……不管怎样,村民们是这样认为的。本书以女主人公詹妮特的口吻来讲述她一家人的故事。故事从1634年讲起,当时詹妮特被关押在兰开斯特城堡监狱里……作者罗伊娜·艾金耶米是英国人,曾在非洲生活多年,现在在剑桥市工作、生活。她的这一有关潘德尔巫师的故事取材于发生在兰开夏郡的真实事件。1THEPEDLAR1THEPEDLARThespringof1634arrives,butintheprisonofLancasterCastleitstayscold.Thetwentywomenintheprisonaredirty,hungryandcold.Therearenobedsorchairsandsotheysleeponthecoldfloor.Therearenowindows,soitisal-waysdark.Thewomenwanttogetoutoftheprison;theywanttogohome.Sometimestheguardsopenthebig,olddoorandputsomebreadandwateronthefloor.Thentheyclosethedooragain.MynameisJennetDevice,andIamoneofthetwentywomeninprison.Dayafterday,Isitonthecoldfloorandwait.Iwanttofeelwarmagain;Iwanttoseetheskyagain,andPen-dleHill,thebeautifulhillnearmyhome.ButIaminthedarkprisonofLancasterCastle,andIsitonthecoldfloorandwait.Oneday,somethinghappens.Theguardsopenthebig,olddoor.'JennetDevice!'aguardcalls.'Comehereatonce,witch!Somebodywantstoseeyou.'IgetupslowlybecauseI'mverycoldandIwalkacrossthedarkroomtothedoor.Perhapsit'ssomeonefromReadHall!PerhapsI'mgoinghome!'JennetDevice,bequick!'theguardcallsagain.第1页共27页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网Someoneisstandingatthedoorwiththeguard.'Jennet,'hesaysquietly.Iseehimthen:atallmanwithbrownhairandtiredblueeyes.HeisnotfromReadHall.ItisMrWebster,fromthechurchatKildwick.MylegsstopmovingandsuddenlyIwanttositdown.'Comeo...