Page 16 of Black and White, Twice the Might

CHAPTER 7

The next morning sees me driving us into town so we can check out the museum. I manage to find a space and we get out, walking towards said museum.

The delivery people didn’t phone to say they were outside. Thankfully, Larry answered the door and brought the food up to us. We had a good go at eating everything. There was a pizza left, which we can eat cold later.

The boys seem happier today, with the magic power of pizza. Well, that’s what I’m saying, anyway. I wonder if the protection necklace they were given has helped relieve their minds. Plus, the fact that we gave each other the protection rune and that our father can never hurt them again.

We walk into the museum and look for the ticket office. I can’t see one.

“It’s free to get in,” Xander says, reading a sign on the wall. “It just asks for donations at the end of the visit.”

“I’m sure we can do that,” Sly says, and the four of us look around and read everything.

The museum is all about this town, going way back to when it was a village. I’m surprised how much history they have.

“It says here, the Witchfinder General came to town, but left later that same day, never to return,” I say, reading a card.

Sly snorts. “The town witches obviously found a way to make him leave.”

“You have to wonder why other places didn’t do the same,” Xander says. “It was the one thing I noticed when reading about him a few years ago. That the witches of the times didn’t see him off.”

“I’d be surprised if those he accused were actually witches and not just healers or people the towns or villages just wanted gone,” Sly says.

“Thank goodness we don’t have witchfinders nowadays,” Enoch says, sounding relieved. “Can you imagine being tied to a stake and set on fire, hanged or drowned?

“I’d rather not, thanks,” I say, thankful that we live in modern times and that witchfinders no longer exist.

The rest of the museum is interesting, but doesn’t answer any of the questions that we have. We leave a donation in the box and walk outside, blinking in the bright light.

“So, as interesting as that was, it didn’t help us learn anything,” I say. I’m disappointed. I knew it would be a long shot, but I had hoped for something.

Sly grabs my hand and squeezes it.

“We’re idiots,” Xander exclaims, out of nowhere.

“Why?” Sly asks, looking at him.

“Because we could have asked Molly yesterday if she knew anything. Pretty sure she knowseverything,” he replies.

“We could go and see if she is in the bookshop tearoom,” I suggest.

“Oh no,” Enoch says suddenly, looking down the road.

Sly stands up straighter. “What’s wrong?”

“The man from the funfair and the Mayor are headed this way,” he replies, moving to stand behind us.

I look up and see they are indeed approaching. They must be a couple as they are holding hands.

Xander moves behind us, next to Enoch.

The two men stop a respectful distance away from us.

“Hello, I’m Adhan Stone. This is my partner, Ernest Turnball.”

None of us says anything, we just look at them.

Ernest lets go of the Mayor’s hand and takes a step forward. “I want to apologise for yesterday. It was never our intention to scare your brother. Sal and Nix told us about you visiting Shattered Glass, and when Sal pointed out your brother, we thought we would chat to him.”