[Sherlock Holmes] The Legend of the Nightingale

(God's perspective)

Witches are more than just a legend in North Riding.

Although they are said to be witches in name, in fact, the creatures that people fear and discuss in private with fear are not only women, but also a considerable number of so-called witches.It's just that in this organization that people are familiar with, most of the people who attract people's attention are witches.In this day and age, the search for evidence of someone's witchcraft is considered worse than witchcraft itself.Everyone—or most people, or at least those who have received a considerable level of education—knows that witchcraft does not really exist, and even if some people try it, it is nothing more than a little fantasy and psychological comfort.Witch hunts, like the vampire scares that still pop up to haunt poor souls from time to time, are a page in history that's turned over and generally unwilling to revisit.No matter how many people still worry about the reality of witchcraft, or not, they at least worry that these people are planning something evil.

Residents of North Riding could only guess who was doing the odd job by a few clues.Everyone's intuition is surprisingly accurate in such bad things.

Now we are more sure of the members are the following.Anne Walter, a local seamstress, is also the oldest of several suspected wizards. She is nearly fifty years old. After her husband died of illness more than ten years ago, she has been obsessed with various treatments outside the medical system. means, or rather, spells and rituals, and the belief that if these means had been resorted to earlier, it might have been possible to retain her irredeemable husband.She was first discovered to be using witchcraft when an honest peasant woman stumbled across a gloomy pattern embroidered on her handkerchief, which most believed was used to gather the power of some evil spirit to protect the caster.The second is Marge Bryant, a farmer's wife, her husband Graham Bryant is also one of the legendary Wu Han.The two of them are proficient in herbal medicine, and have also cured miscellaneous diseases such as typhoid fever, insomnia, or skin and flesh injuries. Therefore, people's definitions of this couple are quite controversial. Just know some folk recipes.These two elderly women are believed to be the culprits of corrupting the young girls of North Riding, and they are the only ones who remember or carefully keep the ancient spells and secrets, which most young people have nothing. As we all know, only a few are still full of curiosity about them.Like Priscilla and Molly Gilman, teenage twins who never appear alone.Since their mother was almost killed at birth, the locals have looked at this pair of creatures so beautiful that humans are afraid of them with strange eyes.As long as they appear, the children will quietly scatter and hide, and there is no need for adults to teach them.Ever since they entered Walter's tailor's shop, it became their second habitat, and they could rest assured that they would not be disturbed by strange eyes from outsiders.When these three women gathered together, everyone else in the tailor's shop would quickly find a reason to evacuate.And Cindy Green, this young girl is an alien species that just joined less than half a month ago.They would never have shared their secrets so easily with strangers if Bryant hadn't accidentally discovered that she was carrying a thin handwritten booklet of medieval spells with her.Green's unexpected systematic use of runes (Note 1) and pagan spells, so it is not surprising that he was quickly promoted to senior members by Walter and Bryant.Next up is Alicia Oddo, who has recently become famous and is rumored to have involved Sherringford Holmes.However, to be precise, although this woman is beautiful, she is born with intellectual defects and is not good at speaking. She has to communicate like a child. Many people think that it is ridiculous for Sherringford Holmes to be confused by her.Our old Mrs. Holmes firmly believed so.

"And that's all the information we have so far?" asked Holmes, frowning, flipping through his notebook.

"I think so, Sherlock."

Old lady Violet said a little sadly.Sherlock's sudden appearance in Mycroft Manor caused a little disturbance. Although she herself was not surprised, she was also ecstatic.What bothered her was that after Holmes greeted her politely, he immediately went back to his room and spread out the contents of the box to start the investigation, as if he had lived here for more than 20 years and never left. Same.Sig Holmes refused to meet his youngest son at first, but at dinner he sat at the same table with Sherlock quietly.Only Holmes knew very well that his father was more lenient now, both because the first consulting detective was already famous all over the world, and secondly because this consulting detective was currently the only hope of saving Sherringford.If he wanted to keep the peace in the family, or soften the relationship further, he had to start and finish the job as quickly as possible.He didn't expect his mother to understand that.The poor woman has been sorry for him for too long.

"I hope to meet these people as soon as possible." Holmes gently closed the notebook, ignoring Violet's astonished expression casually.

"I hope you don't, Sherlock, they, they..."

"Don't tell me that you believe such nonsense," said Holmes in a melancholy tone, though he was thinking that I should not be surprised if you did believe it. "

"I know it shouldn't be, but it's strange that people don't always say twins... Otherwise, why did the No.19 piece of paper draw a pair of twins (Note 2)..."

"If you also play such boring things, then I really have no position to say that they are using some devil's tricks."

Violet shook her head in embarrassment.

"No, Sherlock, it's not the same. We're all just curious. These horrible women really believe it, and use it on other people."

"However, according to you, the girl who was a silly child since she was a child, I don't see any threat from her."

"Oh, don't people often say that children born with abnormalities... Sherlock, don't look at me like that. Doesn't it say in a book that vampires will find madmen as their servants..."

"Bram Stoker's Dracula," said Holmes casually.

"My God, when did you start watching this, Sherlock?"

"It's not what I want to watch. Nightingale likes these things, and she will talk about them all day long outside of working hours, so you must remember them too. Besides, I was the one who made a sensation in London...it's nothing. What's wrong?"

"I haven't had time to negotiate with that little woman you left at home," said old Mrs. Holmes darkly. "Sherlock, you are no longer a boy, and I can't object to your celibacy, but there is nothing wrong with it." think……"

"It would be inappropriate to speculate on me in a life-threatening situation. Can we talk about these trivial matters later? Thank you very much. Any other news for me, Mom?"

"Maybe, boy, I forgot about being so angry with you." Violet said angrily, "But it's not difficult for you to want to meet them. These girls have been bold recently, and they have begun to sell their Those diabolical herbs and spells. It's strange that priests don't interfere with these things."

"It's none of the pastor's business, Mother. Unless they've done something that's the police's business."

"Aren't they criminals? They even went after honest Sherringford, and framed him for murder!"

"We have no evidence. Besides, based on what I know about Sherringford, if you think they succeeded in seducing him, it is already a false accusation."

"Sherlock, you're talking like a stranger!" said the old lady, wringing her fingers.

"That's exactly what I want to say." Holmes turned the pen in his hand thoughtfully. "On the contrary, I know him too well. Now let's see that Miss Otto has been released after her investigation without any results. It's not hard to see her around the estate. The lady at the tailor's and Bryant are both property-yes, mother, I'm kidding-easy to find."

"Are you really going, Sherlock?" said poor Mrs. Holmes sadly, now deeply doubting her own way of education (perhaps Mr. , but their character problems are all their own responsibility) Something went wrong with the gun at a certain point, the only reassuring Sherringford was involved with a mentally troubled witch, and he was not clear about women (including sometimes his mother) In) Sherlock, who is extremely dull, has a suspicious relationship with some little thing she has never heard of in her life. Only Mycroft is still fine, but it seems that he has really decided to be single for life...

"No way, Mom. Work requires it."

For the first time that morning Holmes smiled at his mother.At this time, both of them heard a sudden noise from outside.Holmes listened, then leaned over and drew back the curtain to glance out of the window.I saw that old Mr. Seeger was angrily stamping on the stone steps at the door with his cane, and loudly scolded the two red-haired girls standing under the steps.The two children were indifferent to the anger of old Holmes, and turned around laughing and ready to go away. At this time, one of them looked up and saw the people looking out from the upstairs window. He waved to Holmes, brushed his messy hair, and clearly Showing an amazingly refined face and a malicious grin.Holmes was expressionless.

"Oh my God, Sherlock, that's the twins!" exclaimed old Violet, "They're at it again!"

"It seems to be a common occurrence," said Holmes, and as he let go of his fingers, the curtain fell again. "Next time they come, tell me right away, don't let other people deal with it. Let's go and see."

When the two arrived at the gate, the Gilman twins had already run away, but old Mr. Seeger hadn't put out the fire yet, and lost his temper alone at the gate.

"How many times have I told you not to come again? Huh, go lie to those illiterate peasants, I don't welcome these tricks!"

"Ok, Sig, they're gone." Poor Violet patted him on the back and said, "Sherlock, you'd better..."

Violet, who wanted to get Holmes away from her father, was interrupted by her husband.

"You, boy, they just said they had a message," said the old gentleman gruffly. "They're not going to hide from you, and they don't want to be against you, Mr. Holmes from London. Thank you if you understand what that means." God."

"I should understand what this means." Holmes unconsciously looked at the old Mr. Holmes who was determined not to meet his gaze with pity. "They may come to visit us tomorrow. Give them some time to prepare today."

Note 1: Rune script is Old English's own writing system before adopting the Latin alphabet. Some people think that this ancient script can be used for divination or spells.Runes and so on belong to this category.Those who have read "The Unquiet Tomb" should remember that there is an article in it called "Rune Rune".Of course, it’s just a set of words to me... We also have a teacher here who can use it, which is also full of magic...

Note 2: The Tarot card XIX Sun of a certain system shows a pair of twins under the sun.For example, the sun of DeviantMoon has absorbed this tradition.In fact, when I wrote it, I was confused whether it should be counted as No.19 or No.20, because although the number is nineteen, there is a 〇 at the beginning...

The author has something to say: The author who was overwhelmed by the papers actually wrote this chapter for a week...