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Margaret Knighton felt that her whole world had fallen apart. Three days ago she had been the happiest person in the world. Her parents had finally agreed that she could marry her boyfriend of three years. At first they hadn't wanted the marriage to go ahead because John, her boyfriend, came from a town some way away and her mother, in particular, was worried about her only daughter being so far away.

But last week, when John had come to stay and asked her father for her hand in marriage, her father had agreed. They both knew John was a good person and would look after Margaret. John was supposed to stay for a few days before returning to the coastal town where he worked with his father who was a merchant. Margaret was looking forward to the busy life in a port and the chance to meet all the foreign merchants who sailed from places in Europe.

Then, five days ago John had started to feel ill. He had a sneezing fit and a few hours later started a harsh cough. That night big black boils appeared on his skin and the next day, he was dead.

“This is trouble”, said Margaret's father when he saw the state of John's skin and he called the local priest.

“I'm afraid it is as you thought, Thomas”, said the priest to Margaret's father. “It is the black death that we have heard about from other towns and villages. I must notify the local sheriff.”

Within another day, their village was isolated with no one allowed out and no one coming in. The local lord arranged for some supplies to be left at an agreed point and an arrow would then be fired into the village. A villager could then go to that point and pick up the supplies.

Soon the black death affected others in the village. Some died almost immediately like John, while others survived in great pain for three or four days. Margaret's father had died yesterday and she now sat with her mother who had also started to sneeze and cough.

“I'm sorry mother”, Margaret said, “if I hadn't met John we would all still be alive”. “You cannot blame yourself”, her mother replied through bouts of coughing, “you were only hoping for happiness. The fault is with the church. This is a punishment from God for how selfish the church is and how much money it takes from us. Two priests died yesterday so all their praying did them no good. I will pray to God that you survive.”

Her mother started to splutter again and Margaret wondered whether she actually wanted to survive. Half the village was dead, she couldn't leave, she had no family and no idea how long she might be imprisoned in her house.

That night Margaret's mother also died and she was left to carry her body to a trench which had been dug next to the village. There was no priest to bless her so Margaret just said a few prayers and went home. Alone.

By the next week, there were just ten people alive in her village.

Somehow Margaret survived but when she was allowed out, she left the village and never returned. No one did.

Here is Richard reading the story to you.

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