The Witch

About “The Witch”

It was approaching nightfall, and the sexton, Savely Gykin, was lying in his bed in a hut next to the church. He was not asleep, despite his usual habit of sleeping when the hens did. His red hair peeked from under a patchwork quilt made of rags, and his feet stuck out from the other end. He was listening to a loud, chaotic noise outside. The window of the church looked out over the open country, where a battle seemed to be taking place. The wind howled and raged, and a mournful sound echoed from the window, roof, or stove. It was not a call for help but a cry of despair. Snow was melting, but the sky kept throwing fresh snow onto the ground. The wind blew erratically, preventing the snow from settling.