The Widow Bisset stared down at the blood-covered lamb, and cried, “a’ bhana-bhuidseach a-rithist.” For several mornings, her prized lambs were unconscious and covered in blood.
“It was the witch again. You can bet on that,” said Fergus, who had stopped by to check on the widow.
“I don’t understand why there are no marks on them,” said the woman. “After they wake, they’re as spry as ever,” she added.
“Malevolent intentions, no doubt,” muttered Fergus.
That night, the widow planned to stay awake, catch the witch in the act, and douse her with holy water. “She won’t be coming back here again after I’m through with the neach olc,” spat the widow.
The Widow Besset locked the lamps in their pen. She then crawled under a quilt and hid in the barn’s corner. She awaited the witch’s coming.
The night air was cool and crisp, causing the old woman to doze off. A bleating lamb then startled her awake. The woman stood ready to confront the witch but froze in her tracks.
An enormous badger was attacking the lamb with its claws. The widow picked up her hay fork and ran straight at the badger. “Get out, you!” she screamed.
The noise shocked the badger, causing it to turn and rush through a corner hole. “Poor wee thing. I’ll get something to clean you up with, but I’m afraid you’re done for,” said the woman.
The widow returned to the barn after gathering some old rags and a pan of water. Turning into the barn, she again froze in place. “What’s this?” whispered the woman.
A goblin fairy held her arm over the lamb. She let drops of blood splash on the lamb’s wound. The drops came from a cut on her wrist. “Sleep, my pet. All will be well in the morning,” said the fairy.
The fairy then touched her wrist, healing the wound. “I must go now,” said the fairy. “Your master is here to care for you,” she added as she climbed onto her steed, a gigantic bat. With a pump of his wings, the two were gone.
The widow rushed to the lamb and stood in awe. The damage caused by the badger’s attack had vanished completely. “What wonders have I seen? ” she mumbled.
The next day, the lamb bounced about the same as the others. Fergus found the hole, tracked the badger back to its den, and destroyed it.
The creature had the “foaming sickness” and was mad. “No badger would have ever attacked a lamb like that. No wonder you thought it a witch,” remarked Fergus.
The widow kept the story of the goblin fairy to herself. She feared folks would think she was mad. She also worried people would suspect her of being in league with dark forces.
Widow Besset kept the rag she used to clean the lamb safe in a jar. When she cut herself she wiped a little of the fairy’s blood on the wound, causing it to heal.
*I apologize if I did a terrible job of using Scottish Gaelic, but I did my best. : )
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