Thomas stood up from his seat and approached Goodie Westcott. He went outside or wherever she wanted to have a word, somewhat suspecting what this is about.


-

The reverend followed the invitation to "stand witness" as Goodie Westcott had put it, nodding at the rest of the group, deep in thought.


[[GM edit: I am always touched when people anachronise the 1960s title 'Ms' into historical works as though Anglophone women ever got to be described without their marital status first, but alas, this is 1771; the indeterminate (widow? spinster? estranged?) elderly title for an independent woman is 'Goodwife', commonly rendered 'Goodie' in England.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:03, Wed 22 Sept 2021.

Kit Meaker from the stables stayed by the bar as Goodie Wescott led the small party through the passage into the kitchen. Seeing Maggie standing looking put out, he leant beside Master Fox at a respectful space and called over: "You in need of ale over there, Maggie?"

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:41, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

Even muffled through the pannelling there comes the sound of an angry Nancy.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

Andrew nodded. ”I could come fetch them before supper if you like, Doctor,” Andrew said, ”I could set them out behind my shop. Look in on them often.”

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 60):

Still peeved, Maggie waves off the suggestion.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

Kit dropped his voice and inquired of Master Fox, perplexed: "Who gave her the onion?"

"William Ragge slapped her on the arse," Master Fox tipped his head back to stage whisper (there was an "Oh!" from Georgie, who hadn't realised, then some ill-concealed laughter behind his hands that anyone had said 'arse' at all).

"That's a bit steep behind twelve in the morning," Kit replied, frowning. "Why, if I see 'im, I'll catch him one the same: he won't see that coming an' all. Sir-" he addressed the landlord, "I heard y'was setting up for searchin' and wanted to volunteer myself to the effort."

John Collins leant back, hands on the bar, calculating. "Hm. It's half pay the time you're off, but we can manage that. Good man."

"Thank you, sir. If I w-"

A voice from the back cut into his thoughts: "Kit! Could you come back by here and bring Mistress Hester with you?"

Kit shrugged and beckoned Hessie, who looked worried. Master Fox turned his attention to Doctor Lovelace, distractions being somewhat less: "So, do those reports give you some inkling of where this poison or miasma arose?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:15, Fri 24 Sept 2021.

Maggie blows out a big breath. She approaches the bar.

"I'll go lookin' with you, John Collins," she announces, "If she's found alive, you'll want a woman along to calm her, I'll wager. And my eyes are good as anybody's in Scorch Norton."

"These are all generally speaking, woodland creatures so it stands to reason that the root cause might be in the forest nearby. Migratory birds might have brought with them some animal disease from parts foreign that brought low some beast, which proceeded to expire in some pond or pool of stagnant water passing on to other animals that drank from there."

He shrugged.

"Only a theory. I'm not sure what's to be done about that specifically but we do need to make sure the infection doesn't spread to other domesticated beasts and people in the village, though. If we are to keep a few for study, all well and good, but a fire for the rest of them. Start a fire, put them near, and I think they should do the job themselves."

"Hmm...well, given the Ragge brothers were set to burn the thing on the green, perhaps we should stay in here until the smoke's dispersed." He made to sip, found his tankard empty and pushed it across the bar. "-and keep an eye on William and Henry Ragge, at that."

John nodded to Maggie, though frowning distractedly as his daughter being called into the kitchen after Long Tom, his stablehand and the vicar. "More eyes are what we need." He looked at her with more focus as the words sank in. "You have some idea of what's happened to her, Mistress Yendale? Some road man?" There was a sudden steel under the gentle sliding Scouse of his voice.

"Nay, Mr Collins," Maggie shakes her head,"I've no more knowing of what's become of Polly than any of us in Scorch Norton. Indeed I have not."

In reply to Andrew Sexton (msg # 64):

"Yes, I think that would be a sound idea, Mister Sexton. We could keep some for observation. Feed them scraps. See what becomes of the situation. Of course, rather out of the way I think.

And I agree, Mister Fox. It seems prudent to wait until the fire has run its course."

He looked generally at John Collins and the others who had gathered round.

"That said, I think at present a search is probably a more timely intervention than anything else. We have a number of handy individuals who have volunteered, and I myself think I would like to join as well. Is there an objection to setting a time and proceeding accordingly?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Mon 04 Oct 2021.

"No time like the present for our few here, providing all are well enough fed for the work, and Master Bees and the Reverend have concluded their business in the kitchen," the landlord said, relaxing some way at Maggie's words. "If you did mean to go by the Durbin household with the vicar, you might walk along with us there and catch us up when finished - we mean to sweep over along the fields and up the wooded bank to the edge of the Wyzenwood. Should we find nothing, I've had Nancy put about that we'll start a sweep from old Tiddler's ground on the other side of the village at half past four, see how far we get."

Suddenly, Maggie sprang a clear two feet off the floor for no reason she could name, coming down amongst startled cries with an urge to dance as inescapable as a need to sneeze or let out held breath, an all-over, unbearable need. The will was both hers and outside herself; she did not give in, for there was no resistance to start with, as though her feet moved before her thoughts could catch up.

It lasted about thirty seconds, in which time Maggie capered in a small circle with furious, flawless skill, stomped at Sam Smith, charged at Master Fox, and leapt, twice, higher than she'd known she could, like a brief taste of flying. The patrons were silent as much in shocked awe as confusion. The dance was perfect, and came out of her like it had been deep and vital, like blood. For all the energy, she ended barely out of breath.

"What was that about?" John Collins asked, perplexed.

Maggie’s face shows mingled joy and surprise as she realizes no one heard the wild music but herself.

“Can’t a body limber up her joints before traipsin’ up hill and down dale, John Collins?” she asks with a wide grin, “If we’re goin’ t’get th’ ground covered, we’d best be about it, don’t ye think, gentlemen?”

Andrew nodded in response to the suggestion. ”Yes. Quite so.” He stood, pleased to find the soreness in his side easily tolerable. He imagined his mother might have words for him about venturing out after such an injury, but he couldn’t conscience being idle while others went searching for Polly Durbin. He needed to do his part.

”Perhaps I can fetch the animals once we’ve returned, Doctor?” he asked Lovelace.

Martin seemed for a moment removed from what was happening in the present, his eyes a bit glassy.

"What was that?" he asked Andrew. "Oh yes, later for the animals." He glanced in the direction that the Vicar and Tom Bees had gone for a moment curiously then returned himself more fully to the present.

"...the merrier. Be careful, though, and mindful of any instructions given.", the vicar says to Hessie, who follows a few steps behind him.

He spotted Martin and raised his eyebrows quizzically, but didn't inquire about his friend's state.

((Also: Rolling!
20:07, Today: Reverend Palmer rolled 21 using 1d100.  History.  vs. 65
20:08, Today: Reverend Palmer rolled 44 using 1d100.  Folklore. vs. 30))

"Oh, I will, sir, I'll stay by Dad and not get underfoot any, thank you," Hessie responded, then looked a little alarmed that Master Fox had to step aside for her, having jumped back when Maggie ran at him in her brief manic dance.

He gestured her past and looked curiously at Kit Meaker, seeing no-one behind the barn-built lad. "Did Nancy wring Master Bees' neck for something, then?" he asked.

"No, he stormed off on his own account: whatever Goodie Westcott said to 'im, he didn't like it much. What his quarrel was with Nancy I can't say - I think he called Mistress Hester a liar, and that's never been true."

Hester flushed slightly and smiled. Bart Phippin gestured her over as she drifted to that side of the room and quietly conversed a moment.

"Well if she did lie, and she was good at it, how would you know?" Beth put in, just to make trouble. Her father gave her a little frown to warn her off. Georgie was still staring rapt at Maggie, who was clearly now his hero in terms of mighty jumping power.

"Oh, I'm no kind of philosopher, Beth," Kit said, trying to work that one out.

"Enough with the idle chatter! What was said in the kitchen will stay in the kitchen and is of no concern to anyone here!
Doctor Lovelace", he abruptly turned about, "when will the search party depart?"

Maggie steps quickly to Hester, plucking at her sleeve.

Who exactly does Reverend Mister Palmer think he is?

Drawing Hessie into a corner, she whispers, "What went on in there, Hessie? What doesn't he want us to know?"

Before the vicar's forceful pronouncement, he hadn't really given much thought to what might have been going on in the kitchens, but now that it had been suggested that they shouldn't know what that might be, it suddenly seemed very worthy of knowing.

"Mr. Collins has suggested that we depart presently, I believe."

"Very good, I think some haste would be good."

He stepped closer to the doctor and leaned in, quietly whispering a few word to him.

"Very good," he said, finishing what he had. He stood up promptly, and made to accompany the Reverend.

"The Reverend and I will call on the family, and as soon as able, will join the rest of you."