The Two Confessions by John Whitbourn (good books to read for adults .TXT) 📕

the notion, so he stuck with it.Certainly, Samuel carried nothing with him from any before-time.

So,when he first looked out upon the world (and remembered) the five year oldTrevan saw rolling hills of close-cropped green, moulded by nature intovoluptuous, feminine, form. Later, when innocence was past, he thought thatmight be the secret of their appeal to him, as surrogates for the mother henever knew. The theory was plausible, but no practical assistance, not tomention 'soft', and so he abandoned it.

Therewas no real 'first memory’, but rather a collage of days. He was always atop arise, briefly alone, the first, the most eager and energetic of the group, withthe view to himself. All Sussex (the entire world then) was spread before andbelow him. The Downs air invigorated, the sunshine blessed him, and springyturf, close-cropped by the numberless sheep and colonised by rampion and rockroses, actively assisted his feet. Tempus didn't always fugitback then, at the beginning of Trevan-time, and it had no pretensions totyranny. Mere minutes could seem like... as long as he liked.

ThenFather Omar would loom over the brow of the hill, along with the rest of the children,and he would know he was safe and cared for, free to disobey mock-severeinstructions, and rush on to fresh adventures.

Laterimages were more hard-edged and factual. Sights gained fixed names, like Lewestown, Firle Beacon and Mount Caburn. The mysterious 'Long Man' dug intothe hill at Wilmington, and Firle Place, home of the magnificent and holy Gagefamily, were pointed out to him. The 'New-Haven' and the glittering sea werejust visible on the horizon, and it was even said there were lands beyond that!Samuel also heard whispers of less desirable things upon the Downs, of disva,of downs-tigers, and the inhuman Elf tribes, whose existence it wasforbidden to acknowledge. Sometimes at night the orphans heard strange criesfrom the dark hills and trembled in their beds, but - in the south at least -mankind had the land well under control. Obedient children didn't need toworry.

Indue course, Samuel learnt that the sheep were not toys, but useful things,called Southdowns, and it was they who kept the rolling hills open andtreeless and as he wanted them to be for ever. It was also they who suppliedorphan children with clothes for their back, and meat on Feast Days. Samuel wasduly grateful and never more tormented them or chased them with sticks. Oneday, when he came across another, older, orphan-boy doing so, he broke hisnose.

Itwas then he learnt another lesson: that Father Omar had an implacable side tohim, and was willing to use his greater strength, just as Samuel had, toenforce justice. He'd struck both wrongdoers just once and each boxed earimmediately puffed and swelled. Samuel did not cry, although he dearly wantedto, because his... disappointment lent him resolve. Father Omar gravelyobserved that but, as was his way, never referred to the incident again.

Asfor the rest, it was all happiness, or at least all the happiness a cast adriftchild should reasonably expect. The high-walled orphanage at Cliffe, industrialsuburb of Lewes, had its fair share of bullies, cold-hearted staff and sordidsecrets. Father Omar dealt with those he knew of as firmly as they might merit,and Samuel, already a sturdy boy in every sense, was equal to the unsuspectedbalance.

Evenbetter, the children were daily instructed that the Universe was fundamentally just.Then it was proved for them one morning when they saw their giant presidingpriest hurl a discovered-to-be-cruel tutor (with 'contacts' in the Town!) cleanoff Cliffe Bridge into the river Ouse. Father Omar Abdalhaqq ibn J'nna thentracked him along the bank, silently daring the half-drowned man to come ashorefor further instruction. He didn't care for the challenge and struck outdownstream to distant New-Haven. Receding frantic splashes were the orphanage'slast sighting of him. He too was never mentioned again.

Therewas a coin for each child at Christmas, and sugar-sweets on their saint's-day.People quite often donated toys. Then, once a year on St Pancras' day, thenearby priory would entertain the entire orphanage, laying on a stupefyingmeal, with the solemn, silent monks waiting on the little children (for theirown mortification and instruction). Afterwards, the gaunt old prior, a sorcererof great repute, would entertain them with his art, causing stone gargoyles tocaper in a jig, or great flames to spring from his fingertips and singe thelawn. They were terrified of him even as they admired him, and wondered why itwas such an infinitely powerful man should dress so poorly, shave his head, anddo as he was told, spending his life in prayer and service. Thus there was alesson for them there too, even in that innocent occasion (though to be fair, amore or less unintended one). In adult life they'd discover that every(Christian) wizard was the creation and property of Mother Church - and they'ddraw the proper conclusions from that.

So,all in all, it wasn't too bad a life; not the lap of luxury - far from it - butnot grim endurance either. Father Omar, greater in height and bulk than any manin Lewes, expended himself and lined his face in warding off the worst theworld could do to his charges. Whole decades passed and he was more or lesssuccessful.

Despitethat benign regime, the young Trevan came to realise that the table set beforehim wasn't the standard menu. To start with, normal children had parents and,however rough and ready (a mere generation or two back for the peasantry), afamily tree and context. Whereas he had none of those things. If Father Omar orthe Orphanage trustees knew how and when he was entrusted to the 'St PhilipHoward's Foundlings Refuge', they failed to enlighten him. Laying awake atnight in the restless dormitory, Samuel's mind often circled round that fact,probing the void from which he apparently sprang. Strangely though, thoseponderings failed to awaken much curiosity or sense of loss. He didn't pesterOmar with questions on the subject, as other children often did. Separately,both he and the priest found that instructive.

Anotherdifference sprang from the first, and was deepened by the self-containment justrelated. Samuel was driven by strong tides, but still retained completecontrol. From the very first, right