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.His wife, a wan, sickly creature, was standing over the fire, ladling the thick gruel from a pot into a bowl held by her son, who crouched on the other stool.There was no table, but a shelf on one wall seemed to function as the woman's kitchen, as it carried a few earthenware cups and some homemade wooden platters.When they saw the coroner's shadow in the doorway, the thatcher and his son climbed to their feet and stared at him, while the Wife backed away to the wall, a hand to her mouth in consternation.'You're back, sir?' said Godwin, more as a question than a statement.'We thought the law had given up on Sir Hugo's death.'John raised his hand, palm forward in a placatory gesture.'Sit down and finish your dinner.I'll not keep you long.I've not been able to return lately, as I had to go out of the county these past couple of weeks.''What brings you now, sir?' asked the youth, a younger copy of his father in his Saxon colour and features, though he had been spared the disfiguring birthmark.He had bits of straw in his hair, which showed that he was following his father's trade.'We've not forgotten the crime that was committed here,' said de Wolfe.'These matters take time, but the law never gives up trying to administer justice.' He managed to say this with more conviction than he actually believed, given the calibre of many law officers, such as the corrupt de Revelle or the lazy de Furnellis.Godwin waved an arm at his wife, who was cowering against her cooking shelf.'Gunilda, bring that other stool for the coroner.Sir, will you have a cup of ale? That's all I can give you, unless you would like some of this poor fare.' He pulled his spoon out of the porridge, which made a sucking noise, so glutinous was the texture.John hastily declined both the offer of a seat or refreshment.'I have to ask this, Godwin Thatcher - of you and of your son here.It is common knowledge in the village that you had cause to hate your last lord, Hugo Peverel., Is that not so?'Gunilda gave a muffled sob and buried her face in her arms.Her husband looked stolidly at the coroner.'Why should we deny it? He was a cruel and vile man.He took my eldest son and killed him on his damned gallows-tree, before our very eyes.'The son suddenly kicked his stool across the room in a fit of anger.'And for what? Killing an already wounded hind, so that we could have something decent to eat for once.This is not part of the royal forest with their harsh laws, he could easily have overlooked it.'John nodded, for he knew that poaching was a way of life in the villages, especially for the poorest people.The only real offence was getting caught.'That's as may be, but did you kill him in revenge? You had motive enough and everyone in the manor had the opportunity.'The wife burst out crying and fled to the other end of the hut, where she vanished behind the screen to cower down with the cattle.'Would I admit it now, if I had, Crowner?' said Godwin calmly.'I tell you, if I had known that I could have got away with such a deed, I would have killed the bastard.But I am a coward and have a sick wife and a son to look after.I could not afford to let my neck be stretched like my poor Edwin.''And your other son here? Did he avenge his brother's death?'The younger man shook his head slowly.'It never came into my mind, sir.Perhaps it should have, but it seems beyond the comprehension of simple cottars like us to even think of killing one of our lords.We don't dare even to speak out of turn before them, let alone murder them.'As with Warin Fishacre, the coroner felt that these folk were telling the truth - and if they were not, there seemed no prospect of them admitting anything.He tried badgering them a little more, but was met with the expected stolid denials.As he turned to leave, he had one last question.'And the putrid rat?' he asked, with a lift of his black eyebrows.The shadow of a smile passed over Godwin's face [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]