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    The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Book 1)
    The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Book 1)
    The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Book 1)
    Ebook232 pages3 hours

    The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Book 1)

    By Joseph Delaney and Patrick Arrasmith

    4/5

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    Capturing witches
    Binding boggarts
    Driving away ghosts

    For years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried–some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive.

    Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope; the last apprentice.

    Can Thomas succeed? Will he learn the difference between a benign witch and a malevolent one? Does the Spook's warning against girls with pointy shoes include Alice? And what will happen if Thomas accidentally frees Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the county ... ?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateDec 6, 2011
    ISBN9780062120953
    Author

    Joseph Delaney

    Joseph DELANEY is the author of the internationally best-selling The Last Apprentice series, which is now a major motion picture, Seventh Son. He is a former English teacher who lives in the heart of boggart territory in Lancashire, England. His village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church.

    Read more from Joseph Delaney

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    Reviews for The Last Apprentice

    4/5

    117 ratings66 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Ghasts, Ghosts, Witches, Boggarts! Young Tom Ward, the 7th son of a 7th son is his mother's gift to the County. She envisions him as becoming the next Spook (the person who keeps away all the creepy crawlies. He's who you call when there's something evil afoot!)Although a children's book (ages 10 & up according to Harper Collins) I truly enjoyed this book. Most of the writing was easy to digest (while some sentences didn't seem to run smoothly the first time, you must remember that the author is British.)Some things that are said in the book (particularly about women) are cringeworthy. "Girls can't be trusted. Especially those with pointy shoes." But it's also laughable. (I can think of many women who say the same of men.) Then again, when malevolent witches are a very real thing, it seems to be good advice to follow.Prior to finishing the first book, I'd already purchased the second. (I also look forward to the movie set for production in 2009.)If you like your books with something supernatural and a twist or two this is the story for you. There are definitely suspenseful parts and at times it is very hard to put down. (Luckily the chapters are of a digestible length.)
    • 4/5
      This is one of those books that I always knew from the description and everything I'd enjoy, but at the same time never quite made it to the top of my reading pile. I always seemed to be occupied with other titles instead. Nonetheless, it is right up my alley. A nice short read, it tells the story of Thomas Ward's start as apprentice to the Spook, and his adventure in those early days. I suppose this is actually more of a middle grade read than a YA one, or at least so it struck me to be the case, but it's a nice slightly creepy read that was, for me, long overdue.
    • 3/5
      Nicely spooky - I picked up the first four at the library and am looking forward to reading the rest. (Definitely not at night, though.) I enjoy that there is much more ambiguity than there usually is in YA witchy fantasy. The story felt a little rushed in some ways, but I have a feeling that will remedy itself.
    • 4/5
      My 9 year old daughter started reading Spooks, and she raved about it so now I have been reading them too.The strength of these books lies in the fantastic storytelling of teh author who spins a tail that really will achieve that suspenful state of tension that will delight younger readers. For adults too, the story is well written and never becomes tedious. Good interesting stuff.The stories are quite original, and well constructed, but not of great depth, and some of the themes feel like they are aimed at an older age group than 9, although the stories are perhaps not sufficiently complex to be branded young adult. Nevertheless I have a hard time recommending them to 9 year olds because while this first one is just fine, there are theems in some of the later books that are downright disturbing. Without wishing to write spoilers it is hard to go into details, but there is one particular theme, several books into the series, that led me to speak to teh school about placing these in an older section of the school library. The only time I have ever behaved like such an interfering parent! So please don't hold that against me.My recommendation is that children and young adults 11 and up would love this series.
    • 3/5
      Brilliant first book by up and coming local lancashire author
    • 4/5
      A touch of scary. A touch of gore. Nice quick entertaining read. A good start to a series. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain my interest. A lot of long YA series lose me eventually.
    • 3/5
      Thomas is taken from his home to begin his apprentiship with the County's Spook from whom he learns about ghosts, boggarts and witches. This feels very much like a set-up novel for things to come but introduces a couple of characters with some potential and offers a few scenes bordering on the grim and grizzly.
    • 4/5
      It's an interesting read, the apprenticeship of a young man to a ghost hunter, he's the seventh son of a seventh son, his mother isn't from the village he was born in, in fact she has hidden knowledge. Thomas has little to keep him on the farm, there really isn't space for him and his brother wants to establish himself as the owner. Thomas has always been a bit unusual and occasionally sees things that shouldn't be there.It's interesting but nothing spectacular. I've been threatening to read it under it's other title "Spook's Apprentice" for a while, as it caught my eye in the library. It's not a bad read but it didn't make me want to rush out and get the next in the series.
    • 4/5
      An interesting amount of potential. World-building was a bit lackadaisical with information offered only as needed, preventing any reader enjoyment of any real hypothesis or foreshadowing. I would have liked the Spook to talk more about the different types of creatures and give the audience a bit of time to think "hmmm...I wonder what the main enemy is going to be (instead of spelling it out in the title) and how the conflict will evolve" rather than right from the beginning introducing Alice, letting us know she's a witch and her family sucks, etc.
    • 4/5
      Picked this up a while ago but decided it would be a fun Halloween read. I wanted to preview it for my 10 year old son. He's been a fan of R. L. Stine's Goosebumps for years and from the general premise, I thought The Last Apprentice might be a fun series for him.For being a middle-reader book, I found this rather engaging. I really enjoyed the character development. I liked the language and imagery used. And I found the story entertaining. The concept of the book (the first in a series) is somewhat intriguing. We're in some "County" that feels loosely based on 18th/19th century America. A collection of small towns and villages spread over the countryside with generally religious/righteous people who are very superstitiously afraid of all things supernatural. Which is where the story comes in. Gregory is a "Spook" which basically means he wanders around the County taking care of these supernatural problems….witches, ghosts, boggarts, etc. He's sort of like a colonial era version of the Ghostbusters. And he's taken our central character Tom as his apprentice. Tom is a bit frightened and wary of what this means, but he puts his heart into the effort and learns a lot, but also makes a number of very BAD mistakes which lead to a lot of bad problems for himself, the community, the Spook and others.I felt like the story arc was pretty cohesive and the trajectory was generally believable. It was a bit of a stretch for me when Tom kept quiet about his encounter on the way back from town (I don't want to spell out what he kept secret, as it's a semi-spoiler). The Spook is Tom's authority figure and he'd given him very specific and particular advice. It didn't seem odd to me that Tom would have an opportunity to go against the Spook's advice…but it did seem odd that he didn't let the Spook know what happened. I guess perhaps he was ashamed/embarrassed, but since nothing had really happened, there shouldn't have been any need for hesitation. Still, I guess that's probably just me trying to put an adult mindset on a child's behavior.Anyway, the story progressed well and I found myself caught up in the suspense and horror of the events as they unfolded. Things went from bad to worse to disastrous. And it felt like a natural rather than contrived flow. I was somewhat surprised at how everything finally came to a resolution.So, overall, I enjoyed the book and found it an entertainingly creepy read. But, would I recommend it for my ten year old? NO. I would not. Part of me wants to because it was an entertaining read…but the larger part of me doesn't want to because this is a dark and gritty book. It's definitely written with children in mind. The horror stays on the tamer side of things…but it's still very creepy and very dark. The elements of violence and segments of gruesome interactions would certainly be frightening to anyone with tender sensitivities. Perhaps I'm being over protective as a parent…but I don't feel like this is the sort of book for a young reader. I could see the content working for a teenage audience…but by that point, it may come off as a little thin for teens who would rather graduate up to adult horror/thrillers.Generally, I give the writing and the story 3.5 out of 5 stars, but even though it's a "kids" book, I can't recommend it for youngsters.****3.5 out of 5
    • 3/5
      A fun read, although not the most well-written kids' book I've ever read. Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son, and as such, becomes apprentice to the local Spook. His job is to protect the local communities from all manner of supernatural creatures. Thomas is taught how to deal with malevolent witches, unruly boggarts, ghasts and ghosts. This is the first in the Wardstone Chronicles series.
    • 4/5
      A good romp tinged with darkness. Built up the fear/suspense nicely.
    • 3/5
      Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son, and is taken on as apprentice to the County Spook whose job it is to keep the residents safe from bad magic. Tom makes a couple of dangerous errors on his first encounter with a witch which puts his own family in danger.
    • 2/5
      Not sure what all the hype is about. But I can now check it off of my school to-read list.
    • 5/5
      Slightly gruesome tale of the 7th son of a 7th son who is apprenticed to the Spook--a man charged with handling the witches, boggarts and ghosts that plague the county. He leaves his home for the first time and moves into the Spook's house complete with boggart servant and witches held captive in pits in the garden. Tom, the apprentice, meets a young witch girl. Is she good or is she bad? When her witch grandmother seeks revenge, will she help?Revenge of the Witch,is a classic good versus evil tale. But it also talks about adult decision making. Adults do not always know the answer, nor do their choices always work out. But growing up requires taking responsibility for your actions and learning from your mistakes.This is a good read-alike for the Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
    • 5/5
      Wow.. just.. WOW... I picked this book up at Borders last weekend and started reading it almost immediately. Now at first it took me awhile to get into it, but when it did... It was brilliant. I have to say quite refreshing to see all the things that go bumping through the night in their original forms. Our current literary culture has sort of white washed all things paranormal so that they're aren't scary anymore. That is not the case with this series. This book was written for mid-teens and here i am almost 25 and i got scared.The setting it what i would say 17th century Europe. Young Tom is the seventh son of the seventh son and it is his mother's wish that he become a "Spook". Spooks are people who deal with all things evil, paranormal, or just not right. People need them, but they don't want to be around them. Needless to say Tom isn't looking forward to the job. It doesn't help matters that barely two weeks into his apprenticeship he meets Alice. A girl with pointy shoes. Someone the spook said he should avoid at all cost. That mistake basically sets forth the whole series and book.It's after this point that Mr. Delaney starts to weave a suspenseful tail. Just like Tom you're not sure whom to trust and or what to do. All you know is that you have to keep on reading. Needless to say i've already ordered the next two books from amazon. ^^Rating: 5 stars. Brilliant and original.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy this series. I believe I got the first one free, and immediately after finishing it, had to buy the next one!
    • 5/5
      Learning to trust one’s instincts can be a scary prospect for a 12-year old boy and this is just the scary tale to do so by treating this subject as an ingenious, nail-biting thriller that explicates the personal growth of Tom, seventh son of a seventh son. Custom dictates that Tom’s older brother Jack inherits the farm, so Tom must find a trade. As all of his other brothers used up his father’s favors in town e.g. blacksmith, he is left with the job of learning to be a spook; someone who guards and protects the innocent townspeople. Or is “left” as in out of options really the right way to look at it? Why did his Mam write a letter to the Spook on the day that Thomas was born? Welch is multi-faceted, infusing texture and life into his characters; they become real. So, how can a 12 year-old boy defeat a malevolent witch who can’t be killed, well, there are two ways but they are too unspeakable to mention. And how many types of Boggarts are there? Read/listen and find out, only keep the lights on when you do, if you know what’s good for you.
    • 3/5
      Young Tom Ward, seventh son of a seventh son, is apprenticed to the County Spook, a man named Old Gregory who is responsible for fighting the boggards, ghasts, ghosts, and witches in the area. No one much likes the Spook because his work scares people. Tom doesn't really want to be the Spook's apprentice, but he also doesn't want to let his old Mam down, so he goes willingly to begin his apprenticeship. He makes several mistakes in his first months, the biggest of which might be ignoring the Spook's advice and making a promise to help Alice, a girl with dark clothes and pointy shoes. The Spook told him to beware of girls wearing pointy shoes, but Tom has to figure out some people for himself.Original enough to avoid being a Harry Potter ripoff, Delaney's first novel is charmingly told from Tom's point of view. Excellent book design by Chad W. Beckerman with illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith help bring Tom's story alive. The book is a fun fantasy tale that is an easy read and will be popular with the Potter and maybe even the Buffy crowd.
    • 4/5
      Scary, fun young adult novels.
    • 5/5
      I recently saw a movie trailer for Seventh Son, an action / fantasy film. It caught my interest. Knowing that many, many movies are based on books, I did a little digging.Turns out, the movie is actually based on the first two books in The Last Apprentice (The Wardstone Chronicles, as it was originally published in the U.K.) series, written by Joseph Delaney. This book, and perhaps the series, falls into my search for the #NextYaCraze. And I can easily see it becoming a sensation.I read Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice, Book 1) in one day. The basic dust jacket flap synopsis of the young adult novel states: For years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried—some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Only Thomas Ward is left. He’s the last hope, the last apprentice.My take. Thomas comes from a large family. He is the seventh son on a farm. His older siblings are moved out, and working, except for Jack. Jack and his pregnant wife live in the farmhouse. He is going to take over the land and continue in their father’s place. It is the father’s role to ensure employment for his kids. By the time he reached the seventh son, all of his favors have been used up. Old Gregory, the Spook, needs an apprentice, and only takes on seventh sons. Mam (Thomas’ mom), had sent the Spook a letter, and with that Thomas will spend a month with Old Gregory to see if being a spook is something Thomas wants to do with his life.A Spook is a lot like a dentist. No body cares for dentists. Being a spook is a lonely job, where ridding towns of evil encourages nasty looks from locals. Spooks are feared. Ignored. Picked on. That is until they are needed. Thomas isn’t certain he is going to appreciate such an ostracized way of life. The training consists of learning the layout of the land, dealing with a variety of evils, and keeping a journal to ensure history is recorded, and can be then called upon by future spooks.Like any apprentice, Thomas makes mistakes. Unfortunately, his mistakes do more than just put his life in danger. When he crosses paths with a witch, the errors made put the lives of Old Gregory and his family in jeopardy. Thomas is faced with two choices, man up and meet the danger head on, or run away.With help from his teacher and an unexpected ally, Thomas must figure out how to combat against powerful witches and other creatures in order to fix the mess he’d made.There are currently, and I believe only to be, thriteen novels in the series. My goal, after reading the first, and about to start the second, is to read and review them all. I say this, because I enjoyed the first book. The characters are very well drawn, and the set up to build the series is obvious.Revenge of the Witch was an easy read, and highly entertaining. There was plenty of action, and unexpected twists and turns. While it is a YA novel, the theme and implications, the lessons and situations, should be engaging enough to satisfy any fantasy / horror / YA / NA fanbase.I look forward to finishing the second novel in the series, Curse of the Bane. Then I will have an idea about the movie,Seventh Son, before I go see it in theaters next month.Phillip TomassoAuthor of Damn the Dead and Blood River
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful start to a highly promising series! The book is eerie and dark, leaving readers just a little nervous next time the lights go out, but impatient for book two.Thomas Ward is apprenticed to the Spook and begins to learn how to deal with beings of the dark in order to protect the innocent. But the dark is growing more powerful and Thomas could be the last hope in an ever-deepening twilight. This is a great introduction to an interesting world in which the dead aren't always gone and girls with pointy shoes can't be trusted. I was immediately pulled in and love to get lost in the spookiness of the story. The characters are well-developed, making them fun to get to know as they embark on dangerous adventures. It's a book I will reread over and over.
    • 4/5
      Thomas J Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son, as such he is a natural enemy of the dark and all that dwell with it. It is because of this that Tom as been accepted as apprentice to the Spook, but there have been other apprentices before him, all of then seventh sons of seventh sons and not all of them had made it through their apprenticeships alive.Not yet thirteen, Tom has been sent far from home and thrown into a world danger. He has been given a month to prove that he might have what it takes to be a Spook's apprentice, but first Tom will have to last through his first night. Something that's definitely not as easy as it sounds.There is much to learn as a Spook's apprentice and if Tom isn't paying attention he may soon be following the path of many an apprentice before to an early grave. But Tom has advantages over the other apprentices before him. The first is being his mam's son, a mysterious woman with her own talents. The second is Alice, a young girl in pointy shoes, but will she become Tom's greatest friend or worst enemy?The Spook's Apprentice is not a position to be taken lightly and in a world as old and rich in history as this only a Spook has the power to fight the evils that lurk within these pages. However, despite the staff he carries and the cloak and beard he wears the Spook is not your normal wizard, he fights without magic but with commonsense, knowledge and courage to prevail. It's a Spooky fun beginning to great new series.
    • 3/5
      The last apprentice is about a witch that lives in the woods and he lives in a creepy house that makes a lot of noise.
    • 4/5
      Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son. Thomas can also see and hear things, like ghasts and ghosts. This makes him perfect to be a Spook. Gregory the Spook is looking for an apprentice. A spook rids people of trouble such as ghosts, boggarts and witches. Thomas becomes Gregory's apprentice and they head back to Gregory's summer home. All of Thomas' training revolves around boggarts but he keeps getting into trouble with witches. There is a witch called Mother Malkin burried alive in the backyard. Thomas is tricked by Alice, Mother Malkin's niece into freeing her. Thomas does manage to kill Mother Malkin but then Bony Lizie, Alice's aunt takes revenge. Alice helps Thomas free himself.

      This work is action packed and Thomas and Alice are extremely likable characters.
    • 3/5
      A good book, but not great. It's right on the 'okay' line. Pretty well-written, though the characters aren't spectacular, and the plot is decent. There's not really anything -wrong- with it, there's just no real spark.
    • 3/5
      I am still reading books in the series and have yet to work out their order. The series posses some real problems for me because of their use of anti-women mythology for creating a mythic new world.
    • 4/5
      Young Thomas Ward was born the seventh son of a seventh son, and being such, he's saddled with trying to find a profession for himself. After all, his oldest brother Jack would inherit the family farm, and his other siblings had been married off or found suitable employment. But with the help of his Mam -- who knew he was born for a specific purpose -- Thomas is about to become the apprentice of Old Gregory, The Spook.Old Gregory spends his days traveling the county, warding away ghosts and ghasts, protecting homes from boggarts, and doing away with the occasional witch. His days are numbered, though, and he needs someone to whom he can pass his duties -- and it can only be the seventh son of a seventh son. Reluctantly, he takes young Thomas on, teaching him the basics of the lonely life of a Spook. And Thomas has a lot to learn, especially when he unwittingly releases the evil witch Mother Malkin from her confinement. With Old Gregory lured away, can he defeat Mother Malkin on his own, or will he end up like the Spook's last twenty-nine apprentices?Jospeh Delaney's novel is a fun adventure tale, geared more toward the young adult crowd, but I think everyone will enjoy it. He presents some great characters: Thomas Ward, who possesses some special gifts, seeing as he's the seventh son of a seventh son, and is trying to cope with being away from his family for the first time; Old Gregory, The Spook who dreads trying to train yet another apprentice only to possibly lose this one, too; and Mother Malkin, with glowing eyes and skin ravaged by worms, determined to seek revenge on the one who confined her. Sometimes Thomas comes across a bit too thoughtful and cautious, moreso than I think a young boy his age would be. Rather than dragging the story down, it actually makes his character more likable, taking time to consider all his options before acting on them.I enjoyed the story, as well, getting caught up in the action scenes of Thomas forcing himself to enter a dark, quiet forest at midnight on his own (creepy enough when you're an adult) or battling ghosts in an abandoned house. Each scene is paced well and not overly long, so that by the end of one chapter, I had to find out what happened next, and didn't put the book down until I finished it. Best of all, the story doesn't talk down to kids. Thomas may be frightened, he may be facing a new world on his own, but he's smart, he takes the time to consider everything rather than act rashly without preaching to the reader that this is how you should act."The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch" is a fun read, perfect for anyone wanting to take a stab at reading horror for the first time -- not too scary and filled with lots of action. (And witches, boggarts and ghosts.)
    • 3/5
      A readable text. It is worth reading and entering the mind of Joseph Delaney. The language however is poor and I am sure the editor thought it dialect to pass it. The second book 'The Spook's Curse' is a much better proposition.
    • 5/5
      I loved this series too. I think that I am just a big kid at heart. Some of the students put me onto this series.Very good

    Book preview

    The Last Apprentice - Joseph Delaney

    REVENGE OF THE WITCH

    CHAPTER I

    A Seventh Son

    WHEN the Spook arrived, the light was already beginning to fail. It had been a long, hard day, and I was ready for my supper.

    You’re sure he’s a seventh son? he asked. He was looking down at me and shaking his head doubtfully.

    Dad nodded.

    And you were a seventh son, too?

    Dad nodded again and started stamping his feet impatiently, splattering my breeches with droplets of brown mud and manure. The rain was dripping from the peak of his cap. It had been raining for most of the month. There were new leaves on the trees, but the spring weather was a long time coming.

    My dad was a farmer and his father had been a farmer, too, and the first rule of farming is to keep the farm together. You can’t just divide it up among your children; it would get smaller and smaller with each generation until there was nothing left. So a father leaves his farm to his eldest son. Then he finds jobs for the rest. If possible, he tries to find each a trade.

    He needs lots of favors for that. The local blacksmith is one option, especially if the farm is big and he’s given the blacksmith plenty of work. Then it’s odds on that the blacksmith will offer an apprenticeship, but that’s still only one son sorted out.

    I was his seventh, and by the time it came to me all the favors had been used up. Dad was so desperate that he was trying to get the Spook to take me on as his apprentice. Or at least that’s what I thought at the time. I should have guessed that Mam was behind it.

    She was behind a lot of things. Long before I was born, it was her money that had bought our farm. How else could a seventh son have afforded it? And Mam wasn’t County. She came from a land far across the sea. Most people couldn’t tell, but sometimes, if you listened very carefully, there was a slight difference in the way she pronounced certain words.

    Still, don’t imagine that I was being sold into slavery or something. I was bored with farming anyway, and what they called the town was hardly more than a village in the back of beyond. It was certainly no place that I wanted to spend the rest of my life. So in one way I quite liked the idea of being a spook; it was much more interesting than milking cows and spreading manure.

    It made me nervous though, because it was a scary job. I was going to learn how to protect farms and villages from things that go bump in the night. Dealing with ghouls, boggarts, and all manner of wicked beasties would be all in a day’s work. That’s what the Spook did, and I was going to be his apprentice.

    How old is he? asked the Spook.

    He’ll be thirteen come August.

    Bit small for his age. Can he read and write?

    Aye, Dad answered. He can do both, and he also knows Greek. His mam taught him, and he could speak it almost before he could walk.

    The Spook nodded and looked back across the muddy path beyond the gate toward the farmhouse, as if he were listening for something. Then he shrugged. It’s a hard enough life for a man, never mind a boy, he said. Think he’s up to it?

    He’s strong and he’ll be as big as me when he’s full grown, my dad said, straightening his back and drawing himself up to his full height. That done, the top of his head was just about level with the Spook’s chin.

    Suddenly the Spook smiled. It was the very last thing I’d expected. His face was big and looked as if it had been chiseled from stone. Until then I’d thought him a bit fierce. His long black cloak and hood made him look like a priest, but when he looked at you directly, his grim expression made him appear more like a hangman weighing you up for the rope.

    The hair sticking out from under the front of his hood matched his beard, which was gray, but his eyebrows were black and very bushy. There was quite a bit of black hair sprouting out of his nostrils, too, and his eyes were green, the same color as my own.

    Then I noticed something else about him. He was carrying a long staff. Of course, I’d seen that as soon as he came within sight, but what I hadn’t realized until that moment was that he was carrying it in his left hand.

    Did that mean that he was left-handed like me?

    It was something that had caused me no end of trouble at the village school. They’d even called in the local priest to look at me, and he’d kept shaking his head and telling me I’d have to fight it before it was too late. I didn’t know what he meant. None of my brothers were left-handed and neither was my dad. My mam was cack-handed, though, and it never seemed to bother her much, so when the teacher threatened to beat it out of me and tied the pen to my right hand, she took me away from the school and from that day on taught me at home.

    How much to take him on? my dad asked, interrupting my thoughts. Now we were getting down to the real business.

    Two guineas for a month’s trial. If he’s up to it, I’ll be back again in the autumn and you’ll owe me another ten. If not, you can have him back and it’ll be just another guinea for my trouble.

    Dad nodded again and the deal was done. We went into the barn and the guineas were paid, but they didn’t shake hands. Nobody wanted to touch a spook. My dad was a brave man just to stand within six feet of one.

    I’ve some business close by, said the Spook, but I’ll be back for the lad at first light. Make sure he’s ready. I don’t like to be kept waiting.

    When he’d gone, Dad tapped me on the shoulder. It’s a new life for you now, son, he told me. Go and get yourself cleaned up. You’re finished with farming.

    When I walked into the kitchen, my brother Jack had his arm around his wife, Ellie, and she was smiling up at him.

    I like Ellie a lot. She’s warm and friendly in a way that makes you feel that she really cares about you. Mam says that marrying Ellie was good for Jack because she helped to make him less agitated.

    Jack is the eldest and biggest of us all and, as Dad sometimes jokes, the best looking of an ugly bunch. He is big and strong, all right, but despite his blue eyes and healthy red cheeks, his black bushy eyebrows almost meet in the middle, so I’ve never agreed with that. One thing I’ve never argued with is that he managed to attract a kind and pretty wife. Ellie has hair the color of best-quality straw three days after a good harvest and skin that really glows in candlelight.

    I’m leaving tomorrow morning, I blurted out. The Spook’s coming for me at first light.

    Ellie’s face lit up. You mean he’s agreed to take you on?

    I nodded. He’s given me a month’s trial.

    Oh, well done, Tom. I’m really pleased for you, she said.

    I don’t believe it! scoffed Jack. You, apprentice to a spook! How can you do a job like that when you still can’t sleep without a candle?

    I laughed at his joke, but he had a point. I sometimes saw things in the dark, and a candle was the best way to keep them away so that I could get some sleep.

    Jack came toward me, and with a roar got me in a headlock and began dragging me round the kitchen table. It was his idea of a joke. I put up just enough resistance to humor him, and after a few seconds he let go of me and patted me on the back.

    Well done, Tom, he said. You’ll make a fortune doing that job. There’s just one problem, though. . . .

    What’s that? I asked.

    You’ll need every penny you earn. Know why?

    I shrugged.

    Because the only friends you’ll have are the ones you buy!

    I tried to smile, but there was a lot of truth in Jack’s words. A spook worked and lived alone.

    Oh, Jack! Don’t be cruel! Ellie scolded.

    It was only a joke, Jack replied, as if he couldn’t understand why Ellie was making so much fuss.

    But Ellie was looking at me rather than Jack, and I saw her face suddenly drop. Oh, Tom! she said. This means that you won’t be here when the baby’s born. . . .

    She looked really disappointed, and it made me feel sad that I wouldn’t be at home to see my new niece. Mam had said that Ellie’s baby was going to be a girl, and she was never wrong about things like that.

    I’ll come back and visit just as soon as I can, I promised.

    Ellie tried to smile, and Jack came up and rested his arm across my shoulders. You’ll always have your family, he said. We’ll always be here if you need us.

    An hour later I sat down to supper, knowing that I’d be gone in the morning. Dad said grace as he did every evening and we all muttered amen except Mam. She just stared down at her food as usual, waiting politely until it was over. As the prayer ended, Mam gave me a little smile. It was a warm, special smile, and I don’t think anyone else noticed. It made me feel better.

    The fire was still burning in the grate, filling the kitchen with warmth. At the center of our large wooden table was a brass candlestick, which had been polished until you could see your face in it. The candle was made of beeswax and was expensive, but Mam wouldn’t allow tallow in the kitchen because of the smell. Dad made most of the decisions on the farm, but in some things she always got her own way.

    As we tucked into our big plates of steaming hot pot, it struck me how old Dad looked tonight—old and tired—and there was an expression that flickered across his face from time to time, a hint of sadness. But he brightened up a bit when he and Jack started discussing the price of pork and whether or not it was the right time to send for the pig butcher.

    Better to wait another month or so, Dad said. The price is sure to go higher.

    Jack shook his head and they began to argue. It was a friendly argument, the kind families often have, and I could tell that Dad was enjoying it. I didn’t join in, though. All that was over for me. As Dad had told me, I was finished with farming.

    Mam and Ellie were chuckling together softly. I tried to catch what they were saying, but by now Jack was in full flow, his voice getting louder and louder. When Mam glanced across at him, I could tell she’d had enough of his noise.

    Oblivious to Mam’s glances, and continuing to argue loudly, Jack reached across for the salt cellar and accidentally knocked it over, spilling a small cone of salt on the tabletop. Straightaway he took a pinch and threw it back over his left shoulder. It is an old County superstition. By doing that you were supposed to ward off the bad luck you’d earned by spilling it.

    Jack, you don’t need any salt on that anyway, Mam scolded. It spoils a good hot pot and is an insult to the cook!

    Sorry, Mam, Jack apologized. You’re right. It’s perfect just as it is.

    She gave him a smile, then nodded toward me. Anyway, nobody’s taking any notice of Tom. That’s no way to treat him on his last night at home.

    I’m all right, Mam, I told her. I’m happy just to sit here and listen.

    Mam nodded. Well, I’ve got a few things to say to you. After supper stay down in the kitchen, and we’ll have a little talk.

    So after Jack, Ellie, and Dad had gone up to bed, I sat in a chair by the fire and waited patiently to hear what Mam had to say.

    Mam wasn’t a woman who made a lot of fuss; at first she didn’t say much, apart from explaining what she was wrapping up for me: a spare pair of trousers, three shirts, and two pairs of good socks that had only been darned once each.

    I stared into the embers of the fire, tapping my feet on the flags, while Mam drew up her rocking chair and positioned it so that she was facing directly toward me. Her black hair was streaked with a few strands of gray, but apart from that she looked much the same as she had when I was just a toddler, hardly up to her knees. Her eyes were still bright, and but for her pale skin, she looked a picture of health.

    This is the last time we’ll get to talk together for a long while, she said. It’s a big step leaving home and starting out on your own. So if there’s anything you need to say, anything you need to ask, now’s the time to do it.

    I couldn’t think of a single question. In fact I couldn’t even think. Hearing her say all that had started tears pricking behind my eyes.

    The silence went on for quite a while. All that could be heard was my feet tap-tapping on the flags. Finally Mam gave a little sigh. What’s wrong? she asked. Has the cat got your tongue?

    I shrugged.

    Stop fidgeting, Tom, and concentrate on what I’m saying, Mam warned. First of all, are you looking forward to tomorrow and starting your new job?

    I’m not sure, Mam, I told her, remembering Jack’s joke about having to buy friends. Nobody wants to go anywhere near a spook. I’ll have no friends. I’ll be lonely all the time.

    It won’t be as bad as you think, Mam said. You’ll have your master to talk to. He’ll be your teacher, and no doubt he’ll eventually become your friend. And you’ll be busy all the time. Busy learning new things. You’ll have no time to feel lonely. Don’t you find the whole thing new and exciting?

    It’s exciting, but the job scares me. I want to do it, but I don’t know if I can. One part of me wants to travel and see places, but it’ll be hard not to live here anymore. I’ll miss you all. I’ll miss being at home.

    You can’t stay here, Mam said. Your dad’s getting too old to work, and come next winter he’s handing the farm over to Jack. Ellie will be having her baby soon, no doubt the first of many; eventually there won’t be room for you here. No, you’d better get used to it before that happens. You can’t come home.

    Her voice seemed cold and a little sharp, and to hear her speak to me like that drove a pain deep into my chest and throat so that I could hardly breathe.

    I just wanted to go to bed then, but she had a lot to say. I’d rarely heard her use so many words all in one go.

    You have a job to do and you’re going to do it, she said sternly. "And not only do it; you’re going to do it well. I married your dad because he was a seventh son. And I bore him six sons so that I could have you. Seven times seven, you are, and you have the gift. Your new master’s still strong, but he’s some way past his best, and his time is finally coming to an end.

    For nearly sixty years he’s walked the County lines doing his duty. Doing what has to be done. Soon it’ll be your turn. And if you won’t do it, then who will? Who’ll look after the ordinary folk? Who’ll keep them from harm? Who’ll make the farms, villages, and towns safe so that women and children can walk the streets and lanes free from fear?

    I didn’t know what to say, and I couldn’t look her in the eye. I just fought to hold back the tears.

    I love everyone in this house, she said, her voice softening, "but in the whole wide County, you’re the only person who’s really like me. As yet, you’re just a boy who’s still got a lot of growing to do, but you’re the seventh son of a seventh son. You’ve the gift and the strength to do what has to be done. I know you’re going to make me proud of you.

    Well, now, Mam said, coming to her feet, I’m glad that we’ve got that sorted out. Now off to bed with you. It’s a big day tomorrow, and you want to be at your best.

    She gave me a hug and a warm smile, and I tried really hard to be cheerful and smile back, but once up in my bedroom I sat on the edge of my bed just staring vacantly and thinking about what Mam had told me.

    My mam is well respected in the neighborhood. She knows more about plants and medicines than the local doctor, and when there is a problem with delivering a baby, the midwife always sends for her. Mam is an expert on

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