White Crow Read Free

had been sent to upset me so much that my father never took me again. Anyway, he lost interest after a couple of months, not just in her but in me too, so that was that and when he went away I was left on my own.
    So instead I made Winterfold my own, my own place, and I continued my education, in two ways. First, I used the internet, because I couldn’t afford the bus into town to go to the library, and anyway the library is really old and the books on the shelves there are dying.
    Secondly, I continued my education in a more important way, through the observation of everyone around me, because nothing is more important to learn in life than the interaction of a human being with another human being.
    And that’s what I did for a few years, and it suited me fine. Winterfold was the perfect place for my strange life. Claustrophobic. I lived a life of confinement while I bided my time. Maybe it’s not how everyone lives, but I don’t mind about that.
    I think I was waiting, though I didn’t know what I was waiting for. I think, though, that I knew I was waiting not for something, but for someone.
    So when I heard there was a new girl in the village, I went to find her and I found her in the Lover’s Seat.
    I watched her for a few moments, and decided she was as beautiful as they’d said in the pub. She had her back to me, so I hadn’t seen her face yet, just her winding red hair. I tried to think of what colour it was; burnt caramel, sunset corn, honey beer, and then I thought I sounded like the dumb names they give paint in the big DIY place in town. So I stopped that.
    She was singing! From my favourite film. I only needed two notes to recognise it, and so I joined in, but I think I scared her, which was stupid of me.
    She turned as she fell, and I rushed to her.
    I leaned over her and I think she must have thought that she’d fallen right over the cliff, because her eyes rolled back in her head and closed.
    I couldn’t pick her up, but I managed to pull her back away from the edge, and then I sat with her, as she lay on the grass.
    I didn’t look at her straightaway, I’m not sure why. Maybe she was too beautiful, too dazzling? No, that’s dumb. Maybe I just wanted to draw it out, discovering her face, I mean. So I looked and saw the softness of her skin, which as far as I could see was utterly perfect.
    That was enough for now, and so I sat with her till she woke up, my hand resting on her hair as she breathed lightly, watching the sunlight on the sea.
    1798, 8m, 19d.

    For the space of nigh a whole fourteen-night the Lord saw fit to visit upon me a sore and tiresome succession of bodily evils, which kept me abed until yesterday around Vesper.
    Today being the Lord’s day, I performed my duties, now, God-to-praise, mercifully freed of my sicknesses. I confess that even as I performed these duties with my ever-firm intent, I was mindful that we might find a new parishioner among us. I was thwarted however, for though I cast an eye across the whole of my dwindling congregation, I could see no one that befitted the description of the new French doctor.
    Indeed, I recognised every solitary sore-ridden face of my cursed flock, God save them. Each and every one a sinner, I am sure, but that is not for me to judge, but for Him.
    And so, I blessed them all, and sent them scurrying back into the August sun with visions of Hell snapping at their behinds.
    My labours for the Glory of God being at an end, I decided that it was indeed something of a slight on the part of the doctor not to come to the Lord’s house on a Sunday, and so I ventured to make a visit myself to the Hall, and introduce myself and the village to our newcomer.

Tuesday 20th July
    A s Rebecca comes to, she’s dimly aware of a presence close by her, but when she opens her eyes, there’s no one. At least, not at first.
    She sits up and sees the girl there, standing by the cliff edge, looking down at the beach. The girl turns and smiles.
    On second