Wakenhyrst

by Michelle Paver

This is what your faith means, she told Miss Broadstairs silently. You can dress it up with cherubs if you wish, but the man who painted this picture was rather more honest. He knew that it all boils down to a threat to keep people in line. That sketchy promise of Heaven if you do what you’re told – and the certainty of endless torture if you don’t. Take that, peasants. Now back to the fields and don’t even think about improving your lot. ‘Dr Stearne,

dun’t believe in bad luck, Miss.’ ‘That doesn’t matter. It believes in you.’

have forfeited my love. From now on there can be only hate. It was the first time she’d admitted this to herself and she felt no guilt; merely satisfaction and a sense of strength.

‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.’ As I made

DEATH freezes everything. Whatever you did or didn’t do, whatever you said or left unsaid: none of that is ever going to change.