Devotion(101)

‘The kind of book you are talking of is an encyclopedia of herbal cures,’ Elize interrupted. ‘It’s not witchcraft.’ She flushed as the women turned to stare at her. ‘I haven’t one myself but . . . my mother’s friend, in my youth . . .’ She turned to Christiana. ‘This is what you’re speaking of, isn’t it? The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses.’

‘It is. And God forgive you and your mother, Elize. The pastor told Mama he has burned copies of that same book. It includes a conversation with the Devil.’

There was an uneasy silence.

‘You think Thea Eichenwald has such a book?’ asked Emile Pfeiffer.

‘She or her mother.’ Christiana glanced across to where Hans was speaking to Thea outside the church. ‘She witched our garden. If she can enchant creatures, why not any of our number?’

Elize shook her head. ‘Christiana, stop. Pastor Flügel spoke with Anna Maria. She denied having such a book.’

‘I am no liar,’ Christiana replied. She took a deep breath. ‘There was a book. It is hidden here, somewhere. And when it is found, the pastor will ensure it is destroyed. There is no room for the Devil in Heiligendorf.’


The following morning, a gentle knocking woke Thea from her bed by the fire. Blanket wrapped around her nightshift, she stood at the door, peering out into the darkness. It was still very early. No one was yet awake.

‘Johanne?’

My mother came inside, headscarf tight around her face. She closed the door firmly behind her.

Thea glanced to the door leading to her parents’ bedroom. ‘Shall I wake Mama? Would you like to sit down?’

‘No,’ my mother said. ‘I’ve come to see you.’

‘Oh.’ Thea frowned. ‘What hour is it?’

‘Early,’ Mama said, not taking her scarf off. She leaned against the table’s edge and took in the small room. ‘A fine home your father has made here,’ she said. ‘Of course, I imagine you will be going to live with the Pasches before long.’

‘Hans has made an outbuilding for us. But his hope is to buy land of his own, once we are married.’

Mama nodded. ‘You must ensure you build a chimney.’

Thea was confused.

‘With a few loose bricks,’ Mama added. She lowered her voice. ‘You never know when you might need a hiding place.’

‘Frau Nussbaum . . .’ Thea pulled at the dry skin on her lip.

‘No, you do understand. I know you understand.’ Mama’s eyes were fixed on Thea. ‘When the pastor visits this morning, I am sure he will be pleased to see this fine home your father has built. To examine everything within it.’

‘The pastor has returned to Neu Klemzig.’

‘No. He hasn’t. Pastor Flügel will visit this morning.’ My mother tapped her fingers on the table. ‘And if you still do not understand, please relay my message to your mother. Although I believe you have received that inheritance.’

Thea blanched.

‘Your mother saved my life,’ Mama said quietly. ‘I believe she tried to save my daughter’s. Well . . .’ She paused by the door. ‘Have you finished the dress?’

‘Almost.’

Mama nodded, then let herself out into the cold air. The door closed behind her.


Pastor Flügel announced himself outside the Eichenwalds’ cottage at dawn, stepping inside before Anna Maria had time to welcome him in. Thea had not told her of my mother’s earlier visit, and so the Wend’s surprise at Flügel’s intrusion was genuine. And while she tried to hide it, I could see, too, real fear when the pastor told her he had come to search for a book that, by direction of the Lutheran Church, must be burned. Someone had been bewitching animals. Anna Maria sat at the table, trying to catch Thea’s eye as the pastor peered under beds, rapped his knuckles on the wall and opened her dough bin and earthenware vats of fermenting vegetables. Thea was a calm surface of innocence, standing patiently in the corner of the room with her hands folded in front of her apron. It wasn’t until the pastor had left, rumpled and annoyed, and Anna Maria had spun around to her daughter, face red, that Thea pointed to the dirt floor beneath her feet.

‘Fetch the spade,’ she said.

Anna Maria clapped her hands together and laughed. ‘How did you know to hide it? Clever girl.’

‘Johanne Nussbaum warned me.’

‘Johanne Nussbaum?’ Anna Maria raised her eyebrows. ‘When?’

‘She came this morning.’

‘She surprises me.’

Thea dropped her eyes to the earth floor. ‘I nearly threw it on the fire myself.’

‘Oh, Thea.’

‘I did. I nearly burned it.’

‘Why would you do such a thing?’

‘I’m sick of the suspicion, Mama. Why else do you think I’m marrying Hans? Why else am I attaching myself to the family of an elder?’

‘What?’

‘The Pasches are respectable. The Radtkes will be less inclined to level accusations at Hans Pasche’s mother-in-law.’

Anna Maria shook her head. ‘One day you’ll study that God-given book and you’ll find the wisdom you need in its pages. Those books are as holy as the five the pastor reads from in the Bible. I never told you to marry Hans.’