![]() The Collector’s MarkbyRachel GreenRachel is the grand prize winner of BiblioBuffet’s bookmark contest which asked for entries of 300-500 words in a fictional or non-fictional piece built around bookmarks. Rachel came up with a wonderful and weirdly compelling short story utilizing a unique “bookmark.” Our congratulations to Rachel, and our thanks to all the entrants who took time to explore the meaning of bookmarks in various ways. Jasfoup the demon paused in his reading and fished the bookmark from where he’d placed it an hour before—between the cover and first age-stained leaf. Page 137 of the heavy vellum, where he now placed it, smoothing the ancient strip of leather with his thumb until it softened once more from the oils and slight alkaline twist of his sweat, was a particular favourite. His hardened thumbnail traced the words as he read them aloud: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Jasfoup smiled. Exodus 22:18 had provoked so much suffering for humanity it was hard not to think of the editor as a saint. He already was, from the point of view of the church and state, having changed the word ‘poisoner’ to ‘witch’ under the orders of both; thus enabling the church to prosper from the persecution of harmless old women and gather such riches and tracts of land as the Witchfinders deemed favorable. The accusation of witch was one that could not be ignored and invariably left the recipient dead whether they were guilty or not. |