gns.theplutopact-第2节
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on of an inquisitive child finding a dead reptile； then dragging him boldly out into the open。 A chorus of abuse drowned his feeble protests as he was raised aloft and carried down the uneven slope。 Burning torches illuminated the scene； reflecting on Balzur's features。 The Witchfinder； bringing up the rear； gasped in amazement。 Their power destroyed； his victims usually screamed and pleaded for mercy。 But not Balzur！ His face was an impassive mask； without so much as a glimmer of apprehension in the deep…sunken eyes…tight…lipped； angry； but unafraid！
Several stumbled on the long trek down to Craiglowrie village； and once the wizard was almost dropped。 But their anger had now escalated to a frenzy。 Burn the fiend。 Let Pluto； ruler of the underworld； take his own back into his fiery halls。 They recalled the Bible readings in the kirk as the timid clergyman had relied upon its teachings to bat the evil hanging over them for so long。 'Thou shall not suffer a witch to live。 He that sacrificeth unto any god save the Lord only； he shall be utterly destroyed。' It was time for those words to be put into action！
Balzur was lifted up and tied with stout ropes to the tree…trunk。 Blazing torches were held at the ready as all heads turned towards the Witchfinder。 The tall man emerged from the shadows； and approached the condemned man。
'This is the fate that awaits all who confer with demons； Balzur；' came his deep booming voice that seemed to echo through the village and along the valley。 'My power is greater than yours； my fire hotter than hell itself。'
'Wait！' It was no desperate plea from the bound man on top of the pyre； rather an insistence that his last words be heard。 'You know not what you do。'
'Blasphemy…words stolen from the Holy Book。'
'No。 My words in truth； my warning。 Burn me and all of you shall burn。 You too； Witchfinder。 The anger of Pluto will e upon those who destroy his disciple and he will send fire to consume you； you and your descendants after you。 A heat that will consume you within and without； a fire that will live in this place for all time。 This I promise。 The curse of Pluto will be upon you and your offspring。 Stop now； before it is too late！'
'Empty words； the hollow threats of a cowardly murderer。' The Witchfinder shouted； noticing that a few of those with torches had stepped back。 'This blasphemer cannot harm you。 Do not listen to him。 Fire him！'
A torch was thrust forward； with a loud crackling as the hungry flames found the dry tinder and began to spread。 Other torches were thrown on to the fire； instantly igniting and sending up orange tongues and flying sparks。 There was a loud roar as the flames amalgamated； the thickening smoke spiralled and mushroomed out into the blackness of night。
'Hear me。 Listen to the curse of Balzur。 Hear me； Pluto； mighty ruler of the world below！' Balzur's features seemed less wizened now； the wrinkles smoothing out into the tenderness of youth； no hint of the searing pain of the fire as it began to blacken the flesh beneath his blazing garments。
The crowd had fallen back in a frightened huddle； unable to take their eyes off Balzur。
'Don't look at him！ Don't listen！' the Witchfinder shrieked through the crackle of burning branches and there was no mistaking the fear in his voice。 'He can't hurt you now；'
No； but his evil demons can。 Pluto will take revenge for this。 Far better to have fled Craiglowrie and left our village for Balzur to rule over。
The King's Witchfinder had now fallen back； wanting to turn and run； to mount his horse and leave this devilish place far behind。 But he found his gaze irresistibly drawn back up to the face of his burning victim。
'You heard me； Witchfinder；' his blackened lips made themselves heard above the noise。 'You and these people； and all their families； shall die by the fire of Pluto。 A living death。 My agony is short…lived； before I go to join my master。 But yours will continue endlessly in everlasting hell fire。' A sudden collapse of burning debris； and the blazing body was momentarily screened by the eddying smoke。 When this cleared； he still managed one last soul…chilling cry。 'Hear me； Pluto； whom I have served so long； and take my soul in return for a curse upon Craiglowrie。 Burn these people and their children； and their children's children； with a fire that cannot be quenched！'
The Witchfinder found himself staggering away with the others； in a panic stricken flight through the blinding smoke； clasping his hands over his ears in a futile attempt to shut out the words。 And then through streaming eyes he spied his black mount pulling frantically at its tether； eyes rolling as it bucked and plunged 。 。 。 as if it； too； had heard and understood。
Grabbing the reins he somehow brought the animal to a standstill； gulping for breath as he hauled himself up into the saddle； trying to get the horse under control。
You； too； Witchfinder！
He spurred its flanks； knowing he could not stop the horse even if he wanted to； and crouching low over its neck； he thundered past the scattered hovels of Craiglowrie； the place now cursed by Balzur as he traded his soul for revenge upon his executioners。
Galloping through the night； the mare found its own path； slewing violently in places and almost throwing its rider。 On； on…far beyond the glow of the dying fire now reflecting on the mountain slopes above the village。
Then suddenly the night sky was lit up with dazzling brilliance…a shooting ball of fire that seared the eyeballs； a brightness impossible to shut out。 The Witchfinder felt his steed rear； knew that he was airborne； somersaulting； flying。 Falling。 A sickening crunch that seemed to break every bone in his body； then he was lying there blinded by fiery explosions that threatened to shatter his skull。 Screaming for mercy until his voice was no more than a hoarse whisper。
Then came the pain with all its excruciating force； a burning that he had him gasping for water。 Somewhere he could smell smoke…but that was impossible because he had covered many miles and Balzur's funeral pyre was far behind。
You； too； Witchfinder！
Oh God； the pain！ His lungs racked him with every wheezing breath。 He couldn't move； every limb was contorted with agony。 And he could not get that face out of his mind； the cursing lips； the searching eyes。 None would be spared。
And the Witchfinder knew that he was going to die。 His body burned and yet there was no fire。 Scorching heat and dancing flames。 And Balzur still cursing； pursuing him into the black void of unconsciousness。
It was three days before the villagers emerged from their homes and crept towards the burned patch where Balzur's dwelling had stood。 Past the ashes of the fire in which the ogre of Craiglowrie had perished； the blackened skeleton scarcely distinguishable from the charred branches of the old oak。
Shivering on a damp misty morning； but not because of the cold； they stood some fifty yards away from the blackened ruin； saw the heap of fallen stones that had once been walls； the timbers reduced to powdered ash。
And something else 。。。 an object roughly the size of a large tombstone embedded in the ground where once the door had stood。 Uneven yet smooth and shining； glinting with a coppery colour as the first rays of the morning sun penetrated the swirling mist。 Once they glanced at it they had to keep on looking； as though it was an eye that held them with a hypnotic stare。
As the sun rose； the mist vanished； but still they continued to stand there。 So warm； like the glow of embers when the fire has died down。 Getting warmer； the longer they stood there； until they began to sweat。
They assured each other that the strange heat came from the ashes…that beneath them the fire still burned and would continue to do so for weeks like the moorland fires in dry summers。 But it was evening before they finally returned to their bothies and told their families what they had seen。 And each of them vowed never to return to that awful place again； remembering Balzur's curse and his pact with Pluto。
Winter came with its howling blizzards； and deep snows that buried Craiglowrie； the villagers remaining in their cottages from November until the following March。 And； as always； the winter brought its own deaths； the sick and infirm unable to survive the cold in spite of their incessant peat fires。
By February there were fifteen corpses awaiting burial； strong men who had died in indescribable agony in the claustrophobic blackness of their tomb…like homes； pleading for water as their bodies burned with festering rashes； wasting away in frenzied delirium。
Finally the snows began to melt and in the first week of April a tragic； fearful column of Craiglowrie's survivors wound its way up towards the foot of the mountain。 The ascent up to where Balzur's cottage had once stood was treacherous yet they had to see； curiosity overing their terror in the bright sunlight。
They stood there aghast； h
