Esther Fisher lived in a village north of Plymouth in old-world America, before it was the America we know now.  She kept to herself, and was a good woman.  Esther spent her evenings at the edge of the woods collecting herbs and plants to help the local children and women when they would take ill.  She had learned these skills from her mother, and her mother's mother.

Esther was a quiet and Godly woman.  She had a secret that she fought to keep, though.  She had inherited the skills and abilities of the psychic women in her bloodline.  She knew when a child would be getting ill, just by touching their head with the palm of her hand.  Many times she would provide them with a drink or a small pastry filled with the herbs that would keep them from getting sick.  To be sick in pre-colonial America was a certain death sentence and our new and budding country needed all the healthy strong backs she could take in.  Esther could also tell when the weather was about to change.  She would let her close friends know if there was a storm on the way or if it was going to snow abundantly in the winter.  This kind of knowledge has its repercussions.

Father Jeremiah, the town cleric and leader, was a staunch follower of the Bible and the word of God as written by the Catholic priests who translated from the original texts.  His strong beliefs and his thirst for control and power corrupted his once good mind.  He began to see things that were not there, he also began to take advantage of the wine stores.  Father Jeremiah began taxing his parish members and lacing his own pockets instead of putting the money to its intended use:  that of caring for the community with whom he was charged.  The king of England was not going to be happy about this. 

Esther Fisher was minding her business cutting dirt clods in her garden.  Suddenly some administrators for the priest came by her home.  The were interviewing other citizens and found that they had remarked that Goody Fisher had been helping them with their medicinal needs.  Well, to Father Jeremiah this was heresy.  Only faith in God and the Bible would help to heal those who were infirm and on their death beds.  He began to be concerned about the new attention and confidence being placed on Esther.  This attention was being withdrawn from him.  The people had lost som faith in their drunken priest but were too afraid of his authority to say anything.

When the father would walk down the street the other members of the village would give him a quick acknowledgement and look away quickly.  He was beginning to sense the fear in their hearts.  Father Jeremiah did not like this.  He called a few of his most trusted cabinet members and discussed what they could do to resolve this issue.  He had to bring his flock back to the Bible.  The man was obsessed with attention and demanded respect instead of deserving and earning it.  He and his minions constructed a plan that would enable them to regain their power and authority over the people.  Father Jeremiah did not care about having their love so much as the fear of repercussions if they were ever to disagree with his methods or his words.

Three nights after the meeting Esther Fisher heard a loud noise outside her small shack.  She left her home to investigate, arming herself with a broom.  She inquired as to who was there, and she heard a rustling behind her.  Before she could swing around someone put a burlap sack over her head.  She screamed and struggled but the men were too strong for her.  She finally conceeded when she lost enough oxygen from being inside the bag.

She was brought before the Priest and his cabinet.  The room was dark, lit by a single white candle.  Esther was released from her bindings and stood in the middle of the room.  Her bare feet were cold against the hard rock floor.  She trembled in fear at the sight of the men in the low and ominous flickering light.

Father Jeremiah did not speak first.  His right hand officer spoke to Esther and informed her of the charges being brought against her.  She was being charged with the act of witchcraft.  Esther did not believe her ears.  She had not conducted herself in any manner to make someone believe her to be a witch.  Who had been the one who told the priest that she could see things that were not there?  Which one of her friends had betrayed her?  Little did she know that her friends were trustworthy and that the entire process had been derived in the mind of a power hungry madman.

Esther was thrown in a cell with the instructions to come up with a defense while incarcerated.  She could not talk to anyone, no one was allowed to visit.  How was Esther to find a defence if she was not allowed to create a case for her innocence?  Distressed and knowing she was about to be put to death by torturous means she cried sorrowfully until she cried herself to sleep.  She dreamed wonderous things in her fear.  She dreamed of flying and of her mother.  She heard her mother talking.  Was this a dream?  It seemed so real as though she were standing in the small room with her.  Esther's mother was telling her that she need not fear.  That her mother and her grandmother would protect her from the evil of this man who professed to be of God.  Father Jeremiah had lost God many years ago and he would not be forgiven by his acts.  Esther would not die in three days time.  She just needed to believe, to trust in her mother's words.

Esther sat calmly imprisoned when the guard brought her food the next morning.  A dry chunk of crusty bread and some warm milk to satisfy her cravings for sustinence.  She smiled and thanked the guard.  He left, confused by her resolute calm.  When the evening meal came, some more crusty bread, a chalice of wine, and some dried meat, Father Jeremiah was with her.  He told her that her days were short and she should be working on her defense, not that it would do any good.  He had his mind made up that Esther would pay for her sins of witchcraft and nothing she would say was going to change his mind.  She smiled up at him from the pallet on the floor but said nothing in response.  Jeremiah left angry that he was unable to rile the woman.

After the three days were up Esther calmly followed the guards, shackled at her hands and feet.  She stood before the magistrate and spoke her case.  She said that she could not control that which she was but she was not a witch.  She believed in God and the Holy Bible.  She believed that her ability to see was a gift from the Lord, Almighty and that Father Jeremiah and his cabinet were mistaken in their assumption of evil deeds.  She made the children well, and helped new mothers give birth.  She planted herbs and vegetables in her garden to help feed the community.  There was noting in her nature or in her behavior that would indicate that her actions were evil.  When she was through Father Jeremiah smiled an evil smile and put his finger tips together in front of his lips.  Silently, she waited for the inevitable decision.  She was to be put to death by fire.  This was a popular method of ridding the soul of the Devil's presence and enabling the purified soul to ascend into Heaven unscathed by the evil of the unholy one.

Still at peace, Esther was taken back to her cell to await the configuration of the stake and kindling that would be her final experience on Earth.  At midday she was given a lovely meal of new potatoes, roast chicken, beans and a lovely tart.  She ate with enthusiasm but as a lady should.  When she was done the priest came to collect her.  He prayed over her soul from the cell to the center of town.  The people of the town were not happy that Esther Fisher was to be put to death for witchcraft but were too afraid to shout out in her defense.  Esther forgave them all for she knew they had all be trustworthy and loyal friends.  Her mother had told her that in her dream.  She smiled at her friends and nodded her head to let them know she understood.  Tears streamed down the faces of the older children and the mothers.  Even the men in the crowd silently removed their hats in respect for this strong and helpful woman.

As Father Jeremiah leaned down to light the kindling the flame on the torch went out.  The priest was confused but not put off by this strange occurance.  He had the torch re-lit and leaned down again.  This time the kindling caught fire.  The wood glowed a strange green color.  Everyone who saw the flame gasped in surprise as the shadow of a woman came from the flames.  A woman older yet much like Esther.  The woman was followed by another and then another.  Soon there were five women, spectres, standing in front of the cool green flame.  They slowly began to surround the priest and his cabinet.  No one said a word.  Everyone's eyes were fixated on the luminous figures of the women.  It was amazing that no one ran in fear.  The priest was much to arrogant to believe that these women would be able to harm him.  His obsession had led him to believe that he was indestructible.  Father Jeremiah shouted out to the crowd that these women were angels sent from Heaven to carry the cleansed soul of Esther up to God to be judged.  The women smiled, Esther laughed.  She was still tied to the log, untouched by the mystical flames licking at her feet.  Father Jeremiah began to sweat.  His cabinet slowly retreated from his side leaving him alone, still surrounded by the five women.  The one who looked most like Esther moved into the middle with Jeremiah, the rest took their posts at north, south, east and west.  They held hands while the mother started chanting.  Jeremiah grasped at his chest and fell to his knees.  The spirit in the center took him by the hand and helped him gently back up to his feet.  He complied and stood less afraid but more curious. 

At the end of the chanting the priest laid down on the ground aparently in a deep sleep.  His mouth was open and a strange mist came from within.  It spiralled around in front of his face, then shot stratight up into the air.  In a moment the priest revived to see the spectral women had not stayed, and Esther stood in front of him untied and perfect in every way.  She reached down to help him to his feet, a new man.

The women had removed the part of his soul that was rotten with time and corruption.  He was the Godly man of his youth once again.  Ready to take on the responsibilities of leading his village.  Esther Fisher was taken back to her home and no more witch trials were conducted in their small town.