SCENE NINE

(MAGGIE is summoned before the maister. He’s trying to piece together what really happened. She is answering his questions. The others are present, also summoned to the maister’s ‘Inquiry’. There are whisperings before/just as MAGGIE speaks — Bella Menteith’s name being whispered)

MAGGIE: Bella Menteith! Well, she’s wrong, Maister Elliott. It wasn’t like she said. Tottie wasn’t — Tottie wouldn’t —

(Listens to the maister’s questions)

Yes, sir. Well: Liza came screaming, and I ran to the stables, and Kello was lying at the foot of the ladder, and Bella Menteith —

(Listens to the maister’s questions)

Yes, sir. It was dusk. It was getting on for dark. But there was a light in the stables and another in the chamber. But they were all down at the inn, the men, so why would Kello —?

(Listens to the maister’s questions)

No, sir. I never saw Tottie. I saw Bella Menteith. Kneeling over

Kello. There was straw in her hair.

(Listens to the maister’s questions)

Yes, sir, I know that, sir. I know what she says. She said it all to me too, right there in the stables; she said she happened to be passing and she heard an argy-bargy and saw Tottie on the ladder, and that Tottie must have pushed him and that all Tottie said was ‘it serves yourself right!’ She said Tottie laughed and laughed up there on the ladder and yelled ‘it serves yourself right’. I don’t believe her, Maister Elliott. It wasn’t like she said.

(Listens to the maister)

Yes, sir — I know Tottie deaves all the men — Yes, sir, I know she’s always after Kello, but she never wished him harm, sir, she’s only a bairn. That night of the kirn — there was blood on her claes. He got off scot-free. She thought she was married —

(But the maister cuts her short)

Yes, sir ( … ) Thank you, sir.

(She is dismissed, turns away, and her next words are not for the maister, but to herself, or maybe for SARA, and the others)

Bella Menteith! It wasn’t like she said. There was straw in her hair.

(AS MAGGIE goes, SARA is putting on a black shawl, picking up a bible)

CHILDREN: (or children’s voices) Doctor, doctor, quick, quick, quick! The black-eyed ploughman’s sick, sick, sick! Look at the blood coming out of his head! Doctor, doctor, surely he’s —?

SARA: So he died, and was waked. With pennies on his eyes and salt on his breast … Poor Kello. He was daft himself, if the truth be known. But he had that knack — horses, women — they softened at the very sound of his voice. And yet … no heart … no thought … no soul. That’s what was wrong. If the truth be known. He wasn’t all there. Poor young Kello. He was the one who wasn’t all there.

CHILDREN: (or their voices. They are running around, playing at ghosties, laughing, enjoying scaring each other)

Ooooooooh! Here’s Kello!

Here’s a ghostie/Here’s a bogle!

Ooooooooh! Here’s Kello!

Kello’s coming to get you!

Tottie’s seen a ghostie, Kello’s ghostie!

Tottie’s a daftie!

No all there!

Here’s Tottie — Oooooh!

(Shrieks of delighted fear. If they are present, and not just voices, they are flapping cloths — aprons, headhankies? — as they dart for TOTTIE, then dart away again in fear. TOTTIE trying to catch them, or hit at them)

Hideaway, hideaway!

Hogmanay, Hogmanick!

Hang the baker!

Hang Tottie!

Tottie’s going to jaaaail!

Stone walls, iron bars.

They’re going to put you awaaay!

Hang the baker ower the stick.

Hang the rope round Tottie’s neck.

(TOTTIE lunges at them. They shriek — and run away. They are hiding somewhere, giggling, whispering, shushing)

MAGGIE’s VOICE: (insouciant, without serious censure) Now then, my burdies, what are you up to? Eh?

CHILD’S VOICE: Tottie’s in a swither!