Free The Butchers Funeral: A Medieval Murder by C. M. Harald Page A

could muster enough energy, 'What was that for?'
    'Well, don't you remember what you did?'  After a pause, he shook his head, 'Perhaps I should help your memory then.'  This time she kicked his left ankle.
    'Argh!' the sharp pain shot through him, overwhelming the dull throb from elsewhere.
    'Does that help your memory?  Do you need more help?'
    'Stop!' He shouted as his assailant moved around him to kick the other ankle, 'I've done something wrong to you?'  He looked at the face of his assailant for any clues, 'I've cheated you.  You're not like the others who have assailed me tonight, they did not touch me.'
    'You're right, you've cheated me all right.'  Anna did not pick up on the comment about 'others', 'You sold me dodgy meat when I was distracted.  I get knocked down by a thief and while you hide from the hue and cry, then you go and swap a good piece of meat for something rotten and still charge me the same price.'
    'I can't remember.  Honestly, I can't.  I would only have done it to make some more money.  I didn't mean to be visited by your spirits all night.'
    'What do you mean, spirits?'
    'You sent spirits to torment me, to show me my wrongs.  You're a witch like they said you are.  I've been seeing them all night.  Please take them away.' He pleaded.
    Anna could tell that the butcher was desperate.  If he were not in so much pain, she would not have been surprised to see him prostrated before her.  What was the man on about with these spirits?  She had sent no such thing, nor did she think she really could.  While she might threaten all sorts of things to keep people in line, she was still fearful of the divine judgement she would experience for herself.  Mind, there was no harm in going along with this, perhaps he would mend his ways?
    'Did you listen to the spirits?'
    'How could I not?  They kept accusing me of all the wrong things I've done.  There's one there now.'  He started to look over her shoulder, and began to address the vision, 'No I didn't.  It wasn't like that.' He pleaded, 'I never meant no harm.  Go away!'  With the shout, the butcher drew himself to his feet, all semblance of pain going, 'I'm warning you, keep back!'
    Anna had not moved towards him, nor could she see the apparition that was clearly bothering him.  Before she could get scared the butcher rushed towards her, hatred on his face.  She raised her hand and hit with all her might, striking a solid blow on his temple.  The impact threw her off-balance and she fell to the ground, the man crumpling beside her.  Spirits?  Why had he rushed her?  He had seemed distracted.  Was it the spirits he was seeing?  Anna could not work out quite what had happened, but was a little scared by the whole idea of actual spirits taking an interest in her life.  She would not rule out spirits as he had certainly acted as if he had seen something.  Mind, it was probably the alcohol, he had certainly seemed drunk enough, stupid sod.
    She checked on him when he did not start to get up.  He was breathing fine but was out cold.  She collected herself and got up.  The knuckles on her hand were sore, she must have really belted him.  As she brushed herself off, she considered whether he had learnt his lesson.  He certainly knew he had cheated her and he would think twice before cheating her again.  Whether he had actually been tormented by spirits or not, she would have complete power over him should she ever have need to exercise it.  She considered rolling him completely into the filthy ditch, he was half in as it was, but she decided against it as he was out cold and might drown.  He had learnt enough from her.
     
     

Chapter 5 - The Carniter
     
    The flesh stank, the surface glittered in the half light that penetrated the cover, and Perry knew that when he took it out into daylight, the meat would be discoloured and covered in slim.  Liquids were dripping from a corner and he knew this would be the fat decomposing,