I simply had to do something. I stretched my legs out in the parlour but they shrank back stiff. I shook my head as it was beginning to numb. I had never seen anything like it in my life, except … except that one time in Barbados at a funeral. I shuddered — that pagan excess of lament. That was Barbados. This was my parsonage in Salem in New England. I stood up and stamped my boot on the stone hearth, which made a sharp sound breaking the silence. In both Barbados and Salem, the terrain was flat and there the comparison ended. The leaves of maple trees looked like filigree against the sky instead of thick impenetrable jungle. Here there were gurgling brooks instead of a sea with fierce surf. Here the scenery seemed tamed whereas in Barbados anything might happen. Here I expected to be safe but we have had strange weather and there is always the threat of Indian raids. Is security an illusion? The only security we can be sure of is to maintain our faith with God. Yet, something had happened.

It was spring, but instead of joining in this celebration of life, a cloud of misery hung over the village. It smelt of mistrust and fear. The fields were not dug up. Nobody cared. Young lambs and calves died from neglect. It was as if life had stopped.

I continued to flick through the Bible and saw a passage so appropriate for the terrible situation we were now in. Yes, we must beware of the spiritual whore, the antichrist, and the dragon that is in our midst. How I dread to face the congregation because it is in my household that the Devil’s work has taken root. My poor Betty and Abigail have been bewitched but could it be an attack against me? If so, this is pure evil and the attackers must be found and be punished. This must all be put before the congregation on Sunday. This village must be kept pure. All must know where they stand.

Sunday came. I took my place in the meeting house and studied my notes for my sermon. I had a good look at the brethren, seeing fear etched on the faces of mothers with their husbands sitting stoically beside them. I noticed Betty and Abigail, both looking so prim and proper with their white skullcaps hiding most of their hair. I nodded at Dr Griggs, who smiled at me. My gaze drifted to Captain Walcott who bowed his head to me. These I counted as my friends but I also had enemies. This troubled me as I knew not who they were. I could only guess and that was dangerous.

After prayer and hymn, I started, ‘Dear congregation, difficult times have come to our village. We are all children of God who demands our obedience to Him. He requires that we keep our purity. However, it has come to my attention that the Devil is afoot in our village, nay maybe even in this congregation. I must admit that the evidence of this has started in my own household.’ I gulped. ‘Hence we believe that there are those in our midst who are tools of Satan, the Devil. These must be found and brought to account for the affliction in girls is spreading. We will be strong together and we will defeat that wicked adversary. Let us now turn to Revelation 17.14.

‘These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and chosen and faithful.

‘We must be steadfast in our faith. We must stay with the Lord of lords.’

When the service ended, I walked to the door and shook everyone’s hands, putting my hand over theirs. The three of us walked back to the parsonage with John Indian trailing. As I opened the door, I instinctively looked back at Abigail and thought I caught a smirk on her face. Was she laughing at me? I didn’t trust her.

Monday was free of mishap but this was not to last for by Thursday, I again heard screams from the bedroom. I went there to see both Betty and Abigail writhing on the floor, their limbs in the most awkward of positions. When the contortions finished, Betty ran to me crying, ‘It’s happened again and I’m frightened, Papa.’

I took her in my arms and hugged her. I looked at Abigail whose face spoke of confusion. This time I knelt to pray fervently for the Devil to leave us, for God to show mercy on my household. I bade them to go to bed for rest. And they did. I went back to their room later and could hear them chatting. I listened at the door, hearing Abigail’s loud voice.

‘We can’t get too vexed over this. It has only happened thrice. And we are all right now. I wonder if Tituba has put something in our food.’

I then heard Betty whimper, ‘Don’t blame Tituba. It’s not her fault; I’m so frightened.’

I thought of opening the door and consoling my daughter but then, perhaps Abigail was correct in thinking it was Tituba. Abigail’s matter-of-fact approach was probably better for Betty. I left.

Nearly three weeks passed without incident. Was it something physical after all? Had Dr Griggs been in error? I heard three sharp knocks. I saw the cat run away. I opened the door to see the man I was thinking of standing there with an expression of great concern.

‘May I come in?’

‘Indeed Doctor, you may.’

After we had enjoyed our refreshments, brought in by Betty, Dr Griggs hesitated before he began to speak. ‘Dear Pastor, has the captain told you that we have many girls still having fits?’ He caught his breath.

‘Yes, the captain has indeed told me.’

‘Has he told you about the worried looks of the mothers?’

I nodded.

‘Forgive me, Pastor, if I seem indelicate, but after that sermon you gave last Sunday, the villagers are in great distress. Pray, be gentle with them this Sunday, for they need succour for their troubled souls. It has been a hard week for me attending all these girls with strange afflictions as I can do nothing for them and I am a doctor. Can you sense how I must feel?’

‘Doctor, I do. But I am a pastor so what can I do?’

I looked down at my knees. So it was not a personal attack on me, it was much broader, more serious. I looked up at Dr Griggs. ‘This village is plagued with trouble. I think we both need a drink, fortified hot chocolate. I do have medicinal brandy.’

Dr Griggs nodded his assent. I had never seen his eyes so anxious.

‘I will make the drink myself,’ I said.

We gulped down our drinks eyeing each other.

‘I must be on way now to tend to Ann Putman, who is poorly.’

‘I bid you farewell and thank you.’

What could I do? I must ask the congregation to fast and I must offer prayers to the Lord.

Sunday came around again. My eyes ran around this humble church with its second-hand pulpit, table and hard-seated pews. A few flowers drooped in a vase. My heart ached seeing broken windows, some stopped up, others wide open. It was dark in some places of the meeting house and in other parts it was cold as the wind blew fearlessly at times. In short, it was miserable. Why was it like this? Because my dues had dwindled and the dues for the repair of the meeting house had not been collected by the constables. I took a good look at my brethren whose faces were etched with fear. The mothers looked whiter than usual while their husbands sitting beside them gave occasional twitches round their noses and mouths and even with their hands; my congregation was suffering. How wise Dr Griggs had been in telling me to be gentle with them. I looked at the young girls who looked fretful, all except one, Abigail, whose cheeks were rosy. The boys were mostly sullen, although a couple of them slyly gave admiring looks at Abigail. I looked out the window, and saw a pink blossom.

It was so quiet. I began, ‘Dear brethren, Christ sees our suffering as He himself did suffer. We will be triumphant as He was and is now. We must be honest in admitting that we have a problem with bewitched girls. Yes, it started in my own household where the innocent have been afflicted.

Now several families are afflicted. The Devil has entered this village and we must be steadfast in rebuking that evil adversary. It will not last; we will be strong. Let us now turn to Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1-3. Let us read this aloud together.

‘Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling saviour.

‘We will all partake of a fast this week. I exhort you to pray daily for strength.

‘Now let us pray fervently.’