SLEEPY HOLLOW VOTING THEN AND NOW

SLEEPY HOLLOW: VOTING: THEN AND NOW In a tragic and, many would say, a stupid, turn of events, Lieutenant Mills, and Ichabod Crane, would be called away, from a report, which alleged that a pale-faced woman, reported as having long, flowing, hair, and wearing a sweeping, white dress, had been reported, at a local playground. According to several eye-witnesses, who had been suspicious of the un-known womans actions, the "woman-in-white", would snuggle up to sad, and/or hurt children. Most of the time, this would happen while other parents went to inform the childs parents about the stranger, who seemed to be "making friends", with the lonely child. Although eye-witnesses said that the children left, willingly, with the un-known woman, child-abduction was suspected, especially after neither volunteer searchers, nor blood-hounds, could find any trace, of either the mysterious woman, or of the missing children. When the number, of missing children, increased to seven, over just a few hours, the sherriff's office went on full, tacticle, alert. Thanks to the Department of Homeland Security, even the Sleepy Hollow sherriff's department had the very latest, in crowd/riot control equipment. Station personnel were stunned, though, when a deputy called in, saying "I see her, and she has number 8 with her. Pursuing towards Brenkmans Meadow." When the sherriff ordered "Keep your line open, while maintaining pursuit", the deputy would say "Roger that", then a click, and the deputy could be heard running through brush, caling out "Miss, sherriff's department, stop where you are". More foot pursuit, followed and the deputy would, off-handedly, say "Damn, she must be an olympian", then paused for a breath, and added "Still headed for Brenkmans..." followed by "What the hell?" When the sherriff called "Whats happening?", the winded deputy would pant "I dont understand it". When the sherriff barked "Report!", the panting deputy would report in "I swear, she was no more than fifty feet in front of me. I was, almost, close enough to touch her". When the sherriff growled "Report!!", the deputy said "I swear, sir. One moment, I was, almost, on top of her, and now, nothing. Like she vanished. Nothing, anywhere". The sherriff looked at his staff and said "I want that park searched, NOW! Burn it down, if you have to. I want that kid FOUND". By the time Mills, and Crane, arrived, at the abduction site, Crane had a look on his face, as though remembering something. When Mills asked "What?", even as deputies rushed families OUT of the park, an out-of-breath deputy came, rushing, up, saying "Abby, another one, just before we arrived. Same description, same direction. The pursuing deputies swore they saw the woman, and gave chase, but she vanished, again". As Crane studied the area, Abby would ask him "What is it?" Crane would look about, asking "What did you say the name of this place was?" When Mils gave him the name, Crane asked "And, just what IS this Brenkmens Meadow? An ale house, or an inn?" Mills would say "Neither. For as long as I can remember, the meadow was rumored to be named after a church, which, once, stood on the location" This is when Crane would pull another of his "Lieutenant" "speeches", saying "For a modern, educated, officer, of the law, you seem willfully ignorant of the history, of your own town". This is when Mills would say "So, what have you got?", and Crane would say "I have been here, before". When Mills would add "According to you, you have been almost everywhere, in Sleepy Hollow. So, what else is new?" Crane would say "Sarcasm does not become you". When Mills would make an obvious gesture, of annoyance, then say "Just tell me what the Hell you know". Crane would mimic this by saying "What, the Hell, I know is that this place was neither religious, nor public, in my day. It was a place where accused witches were herded together, then doused with kerosene". When Mills would say "My God, why?", Crane would say "For refusing to admit to witchcraft". When Mills would ask "What happened?", Crane would say "Five squads, of imperial soldiers, incuding myself, were ordered to stand guard, and to shoot any witch, who might try to escape punishment". When Mills would say "So, the prosecutors had proof that the women were witches?" Crane would say "In my day, your modern forensics, D-N-A, and de-tec-tive units, did not exist. The church, and the crown, decided who was "guilty". When Mills asked "How many accused witches were burned, that day?" Crane would say "I have no idea. All that I am aware of is the fact that 18 women were burned, alive, after the "noble" church convicted them of witchcraft". "Okay", Mills would say "Whats that got to do, with this place?" Crane would say "Lieutenant, on their dying breath, several of the women said that, when the time was right, they would return to avenge themselves upon the families, of their murderers". Mills would ask "And you think this is them?" Crane would say "The most likely suspects, would you not concur?" The search was underway, for the missing chidren, when another call came in. This time, the crisis was the mayor of the town. When Crane and Mills reached the hospital, they received the news: A deputy told the pair that "Of those, involved, in the crash, most are dead. Including the mayors family, and some of his staff". When Mills asked "What happened? Gun-man? bomb? What?" The deputy inhaled a deep breath, then said "The driver, of the vehicle, which rammed the mayor, had a cell-phone in their hand. They were sending a text message, and not watching the road". When Mills asked "Where are they? I wil give then a lesson they wil never forget" The deputy would say "Down in the morgue". When Mills would tell Crane "Come on, I have some words, for them, and I want a witness". This is when the other deputy would say "Mills, they arent "visiting" the morgue". When Mills and Crane arrived, at the morgue, the ME showed the pair the body and, when Mills saw staff had pried open the victims hand, and she asked "What were they hlding? Do you know?", the ME said "Thats how I know what happened. They were focused on writing a text message, about dinner, but never finished the text". After this, when she had a moment, Mills would ask the current police chief what was going to happen, now that most of the city council was dead, and the mayor was in a coma? The chief could only say "Special Eection". When Mills inquired, the chief would say "Look, most of the city council is dead. All because someone could not spare the time to pull over, to send a text message. Do you understand me, lieutenant? Only a couple of members, of the city council, are left, alive. One is in bed, sedated, with a broken leg, and the other is seriously ill, and not expected to recover, for quite some time. The mayor has head trauma, from the collission, and will be in a coma, for who knows how long. Do you understand me?" When Mills asked The special election. "When will it be?" The chief would say "AFTER we bury the dead, and the grief has lulled." When Crane and Mills left the police chief, Crane would say "Atleast some things have not changed. The dead are, still, respected, in most cases". When Mills would stop him, asking "Just what does that mean?" Crane would say "In my day, we would, never, have built childrens play area's, over burial sites" When Mills would ask "Are you saying that the playground is built over dead bodies?" Crane would say "Nothing of the sort. I am, merely, pointing out that, in colonial days, we never let children play anywhere near the dead" When Mills would ask "Okay, if there are no grave sites, then what is wrong with a playground?" Crane would use his commanding voice, to tell her "Lieutenant! That was the location where women, accused of witchcraft, were burned". Then, in a more moderate tone, Crane would add "Some of the post holes, where childrens toys are anchored, now, were, once, the same post holes which held the posts, where suspected witches were burned." When Mills asked "Where are the remains buried?" Crane would, calmy, say "Just inside the present tree-line" Mills would say "Swell, Sleepy Hollows chidren are playing in a ancient gravesite. Wonderful". This is when Crane would add "There is more" When Mills would ask "What, was God in attendance, at the trials?" Crane would say "Hardly. The church presumed itself to speak as God's holy messenger, judge, and jury" Mills would quip "Convenient, but whats that got to do with missing children?" Crane would say "A meeting hall was constructed, for the trials." When Mills would ask "Why bother building a place? Why not just use a local church?" Crane would say "In MY day, as you so eloquently enjoy referring to it, there was a belief, which said that witches could not enter the Lord's house, lest they be struck down, by the Lord's wrath" Mills would conjecture "So, they built a place where people could be the "judges", right?" Crane would correct her, saying "The men, who held the power, in the community, along with the church, would appoint themselves to be the judges, of the actions, of others, yes" When Mills looked in the direction, which Crane had indicated, Mills already knew what was there. She would tell Crane "The only thing, which is 100 yards, that way, is Brenkmans Meadow. I have been there..." Crane would finish her sentence "Many times, I am certain. I have no desire to know the details". When Crane would take off, on the trail, he would fight his way through some tree's, and bushes, before Mills would suggest "Why not try the walking trail?" When Crane would say "This is the trail.", Mills would remind him "Maybe, 200 years ago, but lets try todays trail" When Mills lead the way up the trail, and noticed Crane side-stepping, most of the way, she would ask "Whats wrong with you? Its just a trail", Crane would say "Maybe, in todays world, it is "just a trail", but, have faith when I say that, in my day, you dont want to know what it was". Reaching the meadow, Crane would stop, in his tracks, as history clouded his vision, of the present. A history, of great darkess, and gallows, with corpses swinging in the wind. Their faces contorted in agony, while signs hung from their chests declaring, mostly: "witch", "thief", "cattle-rustler", but with the overwhelming majority labelled "witch". Beyond this gruesome sight lay the meeting hall. A simple affair, being a single-story buillding, painted in Earth tones. What Crane had found most unusual about the building was the fact that it was not guarded by soldiers. Instead of soldiers, with muskets, Crane would see monks, with large crosses, across their middles. In a flashback, to the modern day, Crane would tell Mills "This is where the condemned were sentenced" His eyes full of shock, and dis-belief. Then, Crane flashed back, to colonial days, as Crane would admit to standing guard, while the accused had their flesh burned off, with hot irons, when they would not confess to witchcraft. As Crane recalled, to Mills "The womens screams, of agony, and pain, filled the hall, and the night, beyond the building, like wailing banshees, even as the clergy cautioned the attendance, which was turning away from the attrocities "Only the un-righteous turn away from God's justice". "Night after night" Crane would say "The screams, of those, being tortured, pierced the night, as the condemneds skin was branded until the accused was left as little more than a whimpering, and huddled, mass, on the floor, begging for mercy, even as the clergy demanded she confess to witchcraft. The women were told, by the clergy, that only by their confessions would the pain be put to an end" "Well, Hell" Mills woulld say. "No wonder they got so many confessions. If someone was barbequeing my skin off, I would confess, to anything, just to stop the damned pain. Sounds just like Guantannimo Bay, Cuba, today, to me" When Crane would ask "Is this Guantanimo Bay place just another of your annecdotal comments, lieutenant?" Mills would say "I wish it was. A very bad joke. Truth is, our government has been torturing people, everyday, since 2001. Washington D.C. claims it is necessary, to protect the nation, from attack" Forgetting that he was in the 21st century, for a moment, Crane would say "General Washington would, NEVER, have done such a thing", Mills would remind him "Washington D.C. Strange city, founded sometime around 1800 I guess. The nations capital city" Crane would remind her "After my time" When Mills would ask "What happened to the victims, after the torture?" Crane would say "The accused were taken to cells, to consider their fate" When Mills would ask "For how long?", Crane would look upon the empty meadow, glassy-eyed, seeing the phantoms of past attrocities, from his own day, as he would say "Long enough for the construction of the pires. Strong tree's, which were required, to restrian the condemned, while the fire burned" When Mills reminded Crane "It wasn't your fault. You were under orders, just like modern soldiers" Crane would snap "I could have done some-thing! I just stood by, and watched people die, just because the clergy said the victims did not have "faith"". This is when Mills would re-direct Cranes anger, by asking "Why would the lady bring children HERE, and why NOW? Why wait 200 years?" This is when Katrina Crane would appear, as if out of thin air, saying "They needed to build their strength, anger, rage, and they needed a human, to do the casting. Someone, from your time. It has taken the victims this long, to build their strength, and to find the proper person, to summon them. Now that they have both, the victims will take our childrens lives, in return for our taking their lives, so long ago". When Mills would ask "Are the children alive?", Katrina would say "Not for long. When the moon has reached its Zenith, the children will be sacrificed. At that moment, the victims will have their revenge". When Crane would say "Makes sense. After all, for evil to prosper, all that is needed is for "good" men to do nothing". MIlls would no-sooner turn on Crane, and say "Focus, missing children", then turn back, only to find the spot, where Katrina Crane had been, just seconds before, as just thin air. Mills would, then, say "Okay, so we know WHAT they are after" "Yes" Crane would add "Those who aided, and assisted, in judging the accused, as well as those who stood by, and did nothing, but watch." "Problem is" Mills would say "Half of this town was not even HERE, in those days. The rest are just too large a number to protect" While working on the abductions case, funerals would come, and go, and a special election would get underway, while the mayor remained in a coma, and an un-finished argument, between Crane, and Mills, would be re-kindled. Abigail Mills had been raised on such distorted "histories" as "Roots", and had been raised to believe that, until the 1960's, or so, black people had NO rights, as human beings. As she had been taught, by other blacks, prior to the 1960's, ONLY white people were allowed to read, write, vote, and so on. Such beliefs had made Abigail Mills feel even empowered, until Sherriff August Corbin, a white man, had taken a young, black woman and, instead of taking her to jail, for robbbery, Sherriff August Corbin had given the young black girl a CHOICE, about where she wanted her future to be. Rot, in prison, or live a real life. A life where the truant girl could become a deputy sherriff. Until Ichabod Crane had come into her life, Abby Mills had satisfied herself that Corbin was a "unique" person, not like most whites, and that she had "stuck it to the man", by becoming more than a "street kid". Still, Mills had been comfortable in her belief, that when she arrested white people, that she was "striking a blow", for blacks, by reminding whites that blacks were just as good, and just as able, as whites were. Then came Ichabod Crane. A true piece, of LIVING, American, history. Ever since meeting Crane, though, Mills had wanted to prove Crane wrong, especially on things such as who had the right to learn how to read, write, and vote, in colonial America. With a special election coming up, Abigail Mills would turn to the only experts she trusted. The local, historical, society. Here, she would find the information, with which SHE would set Crane straight, on voting history (or, would she?) Under the premise of making sure that the coming election would not be questioned, Mills would turn to local authority, and part-time professor, of History, Malachi Olsen. To Mills, the man never seemed to change. For as long as she had known Olsen, his hair, what he had left of it, was white, and he was partially bald, wearing his granny gasses, and clothes, which never seemed to fail to be 50 years out of date. His salvation was his smile, and his personality, which, some said, could chase away a tornado, or a blizzard. Olsen was one of the few teachers, whom students liked, since he had a habit of bringing history to "life". When Mills brought her question, to Olsen, She phrased it as "Just a precaution, I need to know how elections MIGHT have been rigged, in the past. Hopefully, this information will be helpful, in preventing modern tampering." It was not long, though, before the intellectual, in Olsen, realized what Mills was, really, looking for. When Mills pointed out "I dont see any womens names, on this. Not even white womens names. Why is that?" When Olsen said "Dear girl, in the 18th century, women just did not vote" When Mills asked "Not even white women?" Olsen would smile as he said "Dear girl, women did not vote until the twentieth century" When Mills asked "Why not?", Olsen would say "Simple. Prior to the industrial revolution, all household work was done, completely by hand. Brooms, mops, dust pans, and so on. In fact, the saying "Womens work is never done" refers to the fact that women, incuding white women, spent their days making bread, from scratch, gathering vegetables, washing clothes, tending infants, and so on. In those days, there just was no time, for study". When Mills said "I thought that black slaves did most of the house work, FOR the white people" Professor Olsen would chuckle as he said "Dear, dear, girl, I promise you that "Roots" was just one mans version, of American history". When Mills asked "How many, other, versions, of history, are there?", Olsen would say "As many versions as there are people, to tell the stories". When Mills decided to ask "Isn't it true that white men voted", Olsen would say "My dear girl, how MANY history classes did you sleep through?" When Mills said "I guess, too many. Why?" Olsen would say "In the days, of colonial America, only the children, of the wealthy, and those, of government officials, learned to read, and write". When Mills asked "What about all the others?", Olsen would ask "What would farmers, backsmiths, and peddlers, need, with reading, and writing?" When Mills would ask "So, who DID vote, in the 18th century?" Olsen would say "Child, only people, who owned property, business, or slaves, voted". When Mills would say "But, according to "Roots", white people had all the power, and say" Olsen would, nearly double-over, with laughter, as he said "Child, you really fell for that t.v. show, didn't you. Hook, line, and sinker, you fell for it". When Mills asked "Whats so funny?", Olsen would gather himself, as much as possible, then say "Dear Girl, even in the twentieth century, white people were sold into slavery, just as blacks were. In fact, prior to the creation of collection agencies, creditors could sell white debtors just as easily as blacks. Children, of both races, were, regulary, sold to factories, and coal mines, just as men and women were sold. Usually, women, of both races, were sold, as maids, cleaners, child-care workers, and so on, while men were sold, to shipping companies, and mining, or logging, operations." Suddeny, overloaded with what she knew, but could not believe, was true, Mills would thank the professor, and leave the historical society, not knowing what to believe, anymore. If "Roots" was just one mans "embellished" story, of history, and NOT history, itself, then WHAT was Abigail Mills? If, in fact, whites were treated no better, than blacks, then what was the point, of the civil rights movement? If Crane was right, and Olsen said he WAS right, then the races had been "equal", for centuries. Both had endured servitude, and torture. Abigail Mills had to look at herself, long and hard, wondering "What IS the truth?", while staring into her trucks side view mirror, which gave no answers. August Corbin had been the best man, black or white, Abby had ever known. He had cared enough to show Mills that life could be MORE than what she knew. A life, beyond the dumps, that foster care had dumped the sisters into. Thinking back, Abby had understood why the white, social services, workers had not cared, about the black girls. Atleast she had THOUGHT she understood. At the time, Abbby had thought that the girls had just been dumped, anywhere, just to satisfy regulations. Ofcourse, in hindsight, when Abby thought back, at the black, social services, workers, and how their own race had treated them, Abby found no difference between the workers race. To social services workers, the Mills sisters were nothing more than case-file numbers, just ike white kids. Processed, placed, forgotten. Once again, Abby missed her friend, mentor, and former boss, Sherriff August Corbin. She even thought she coud hear his gravely voice, saying, promising, her "I will, always, be there, for you". Even this long, after his murder, Abby found herself wiping tears from her eyes, as she remembered the man who had shown her that she had OPTIONS in life. The message was clear: How Abigail Mills turned out was up to her. When Abby went to her sister, Jenny, for advice, concerning voting rights, and whether or not "Roots" was even "true", Jenny was able to verify that, in many places, people were, still, placed up, for sale, everyday. When Abby asked "What about "Roots"? Doesn't it mean anything, to you?" Jenny asked "Why should it mean anything? It was just a tv show" When Abby said "It was a doccumentary, of a mans search, for his past" Jenny would say "Yeah, right, and "The Ten Commandments", and "Jesus of Nazareth" were totally honest. No embellishments, or specal effects. Grow up, sister. Movies and tv are entertainment" When Abby asked "So you dont think that whites were treated better than blacks, throughout history?" Jenny would say "Look, sis, I have travelled the world, looking for some really weird stuff. I have seen things that you dont WANT to see. What I know is this: Money, and Power, talk. Then and now" When Abbby asked "Then, why show such a program if it were not true?" Jenny would grow annoyed as she asked "Why show George Reeves, as Superman, or Linda Carter as Wonder Woman? Why show Patrick Duffy as the Man from Atlantis? Sister, t.v. is about ratings. Grabbing audience attention. That is what "Roots" was. A ratings grabber. Not pure fact, but a ratings grabber". Jenny would, then add "Why are YOU, suddenly, so curious, about history? You didn't care about it, in school. Why now?" Abby would respond "In school, I didn't actualy KNOW anyone, who LIVED during that time. It was just back ink on the white pages, of textbooks. Now, though, I am working with a man who was PRESENT, at the Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence, and so on. I guess that it didn't matter, then, but it does, now that I feel that I am LIVING it." "So", Jenny would say "Because you can actually TALK about it, with someone who was, actually, there" "Kind of spooky" Abby would say "To be around so much living history". "Makes you wish you had paid attention, in class, doesn't it" Jenny would ask. Abby would respond "Yeah, I get reminded, everyday". "So", Jenny asked "What will you tell Crane?" Abby would say "I dont know. I was so upset, when he told me that whites weren't allowed to vote, that he decided to walk back to the cabin. I guess I didn't WANT his words to be true. That is why I visited Professor Olsen, at the historical society". Jenny said "And, you found out that Crane was right, all along" "Yeah", Aby said "Now, I dont know how to apologize. How do I admit that I was wrong? Not just to a man, but a man who was THERE, at the nations founding?" At that moment, Cranes voice would say "Forgive the intrusion, ladies, but it would seem that I, too, was most dis-respectful, as well" As he joined the ladies. When Abby would say "Im sorry, Crane but I realy believed the story. I wanted to believe in "Roots". I was such a sucker". Crane would suggest "As I was at a similar dis-advanntage, with your "reality" television shows?" "Point taken" Abby would say. "Exacty" Crane would say. "As Barnum would have said "Anyone can be mis-lead, with the appropriate stimuli" Jenny would say "Man, you love your fancy talk, dont you", Crane would say "If you mean that I prefer proper diction, then, yes, I am most in favor of propriety, of language usage". This is when Abby would break into the conversation, asking "Can we get back to the case, at hand? We, now, have nine missing children" When Crane would ask "Are you certain? At last count, I was, only aware of eight disappearances" Abby would say "We just got word. A ninth child was seen riding past the play area, and never made it home". When Jennifer would ask "Whats the connection?", Abby would say "Ask Crane" This is when Crane woud say "By your leave, lieutenant. Miss Jennifer, it would seem that a group, of women, who were accused of witchcraft, in MY time, and while burning, at the stake, vowed to return to Sleepy Hollow, to take vengeance on those who killed them" When Jenny would ask "Aren't they a bit late? Like 200 years?" Crane would suppress his annoyance, at the remark, saying "It is my belief that the intention, of the victims, is to exact their revenge on the descendants of those, who murdered them". When Jenny looked at Abby, Abby said "Short version. Women burned, vowed revenge, 200 years to gain strength enough, to carry out plans" "Got it" Jennny would say. "Now, how do we stop them?" When Abby mentioned "Holy Water?", and Crane would say "Please" Abby would ask "Too much television?" Crane would say "Holy water only works on evil. In MY day, I retained my suspicions, regarding the true motivations, of the presiding jurors. How much in favor they were of the application of intensely heated utensils, with which to scorch living tissue". When Abby translated, for Jenny, Jenny asked "Why not have a priest bless the area, like they were known to do?" Crane would say "Blessings, like Holy Water, work primarily on evil. If my suspicions hold true, then these spirits would not be evil, just angry. As a result, potions, blessings, etc would be to no avail". "Okay" Abby would say "So, what DO we do? Let them take Sleepy Hollows children?" Jenny would add "How many women were burned?" Crane would say "That I am aware of, perhaps twenty-four. Possibly as many as fourty-eight" Abby would add "So, with nine children vanished, so far, we are looking at atleast thirty-nine more vanishings. Maybe even more" This is when Jennny would ask Crane "Okay, hot shot. Time for a history lesson. In YOUR time, How would villagers have stopped these kidnappings?" Crane, sensing the sarcasm, would add, in almost a murmur "WE would have consulted a voodoo practicioner" When Jenny would ask "Seriously?", Abby would interrupt, telling Jenny "That was sarcasm. We are, still, looking for a way to deal with non-evil, yet vengeful, spirits". What all would find strange was what would happen after they watched some school buses drive into the school parking lot, and load with the children, most likey to be targetted, for kidnapping. While the Mills sisters would think that this measure would protect local children, by sending them away, Crane was un-sure, at best. His suspicions were confirmed when, once the buses were loaded, the motors, which had functioned, satisfactorily, not half an hour ago, failed to engage, once the children were on-board. When mechanics could find no prolem, under the hoods, the Mills sisters, and Crane, would find themseves "summoned", by another vision of Katrina Crane. Katrina would say "I cannot remain, long, however, I wanted to explain to you. I have spoken to the local coven, and they have agreed to aid your quest, in laying these spirits back at rest" When Crane would ask "What had disturbed their rest, in the primary instance?" Katrina would say "I do not know, but, perhaps the coven will know, when you contact them" After Katrina provided directions, then dissolved, and Jenny said "Weird", Abby added "Road trip?" and Crane would say "No, I believe that an overland excursion lies before us." Jenny looked at Abby, who said "Road trip". To Cranes surprise, the "nearest" coven was a three hour trip away. It would not be until their arrival that a young witch would greet them, by name, saying "Yes, Katrina has visited, with the elders, and we are aware of the situation". When Crane would ask "For what purpose is your coven now so distant from Sleepy Hollow?" The witch would say "We have been here since I can remember" Inside the walls, of magic, an elder witch would thank the youth for guiding the visitors this far. When Crane would mention "In my day, your coven was PART of Sleepy Hollow. For what reason has your coven settled so distantly, from the Hollow?" The witch would say "You can thank Washington Irving, for that. After he pubished "Legend of Sleepy Hollow", our coven has come to be implicated in all manner of ill-events. Mr. Irving even suggested, in an early version, of his work, that WE summoned the Horseman, to deal with our adversaries. By the time such passages were removed, from the story, our coven was forced to flee Sleepy Hollow. Our members re-settlled in this place, hoping we would be safe, from the un-enlightened". This would be when Abby would say "Nice trip,down memory lane, however we, still, need your help, in the present". The witch said "We are aware and, during your journey, here, we have discovered the cause of the problem". When Jenny whispered, to Abby "They talk just like Crane", the witch said "Quite correct, young Jenny. We have managed to retain the best of what was, before, including the old customs, to teach to a new generation." When Abby said "Please excuse my sister. She is new to all of this. Now, what caused this mess?" The witch poured a brew into her cauldron, and, in a cloud, of vapor, they a saw a "vision" of a young man, reading from a book of spells. The witch would say "It appears that the young fool wanted to use magic to re-kindle a romance, but, in his haste, he mis-caste the icantation. As a result, instead of resurrecting a dying romance, the incantation has resurrected the lost lives, of those who died, centuries ago" When Abby asked "How do we put them back to bed?" The witch looked un-certain, until Crane would ask "Which procedure avails itself, most amicably, to the proposition of returning the deceased to their eternal slumber?" The witch would say "Take this spell, and have the caster speak it, aloud, at the same location." As she handed the spell to Crane. The witch would, then say "Remember, the speaker must embue this incantation with the same passion with which the original incantation was spoken." With that, the witch dissolved into thin air. On the way back, to Sleepy Hollow, Abby would "watch" as Crane translated the words into modern English, (which would turn out to be the easy part of the task). Although Abby felt sure she knew the boy, who had spoken the original incantation, the problem would be getting him to own up to it, THEN getting him back to the site, and reciting the incantation. When the boys mother was told what he had done, the woman warned her son that there would be consequences, when the police were done with him. Getting the boy to the site was no problem, but the boy kept having to ask Crane what words meant. By the time the four were on-site, Crane was convinced that "modern" education left everything to be desired. When the boy began ad-libbing words, Crane had to warn him "Use the words as they are written, or all is for naught" When the boy looked at Abby, confused, she said "He means Get it right, the way it is written" Crane would mumble "I just said that" When the boy began reciting the words, there was little doubt that the words had real impact. Especially as the weather grew hostile, and shook the meadow, for all it was worth. After several minutes, of severe weather, a group, of women, appearred, before the boy, and Abby, and Jenny noticed that all of the women were dressed in the same type of clothing which Crane wore. When the boy said "Please forgive me for disturbing your rest", a woman came forward, carressed the boys face, then the women smiled and, in a flash, of lightning, the boy was a alone, in the meadow. Moments later, a group, of childrens voices, could be heard, calling out, and the group knew what their next task would be. While the Mills sisters were busy, returning the children, to their homes, Crane would return to the site, of the former, judgement, hall. Here, he would find himself looking upon the past, once more. He would wonder just how many innocent women were tortured into "confessing" crimes. For a few moments, he thought he even heard the womens cries, as their skin was burned from their bones. All the while, the judges would be saying "Confess, witch!" Like Abigial Mills, Crane would wonder how many innocent people confessed, just to end the torture. Later, after the children were deivered to their homes, Jenny and Abbby would agree it was a relief, to be rid of all of them. Jenny would be the one to ask "How do people put up with all of that? For up to twenty years?" Abby would say "I have no clue. Twenty minutes, with them, and I was ready to..." This is when Jenny would say "I dont know about you but I could use a pizza, and a drink." Abby would say "I'm with you". Crane would leave the Meadow, wondering how many such places might exist. In how hany more such meadows, had people been tortured into admitting to crimes? How many of them HAD been innocent? For that matter, how manny innocent people were still, being tortured, in the 21st century? Would we ever outgrow the need to torture our brethern? Whether at places, like Gitmo, or on school yards? When his phone chirped, Crane found Abby's message, asking "Up, for some pizza?" When he typed in "Yes", her mesaage said "We will be waiting". With that, Crane would shut out the "ghosts" of the past, and head off, to meet the Mills sisters.