Historical Setting: The Great Skellig in an unknown time
The Sister understands my need to leave the care of her brother now.
“Tomorrow follow me across the Christ’s saddle to the monastery so you can make yourself known there.”
“I’d like to do that.”
I can see the path through the green valley (known as the “Christ’s saddle” here) and a pathway nearly like steps rising to the stone works of monks.
“So, I should look for the abbot.”
“No. You should go first to Brother Lugh. He was the monk who came up the climb, breathless, panicked and pale, saying that a dead man had washed up on the rocks.”
“I must have been a grotesque find.”
“They had just experienced the first death among them. And these monks, who only recently arrived to fill the shell of a monastery were vowing to God they would be here forever. They haven’t even been here through all the seasons around, and already one of them passed. Then, just as they were preparing for that burial, Brother Lugh reported that a dead man had washed up. Fresh on the edge of mortal fear, every tide turned with the trepidation that it might expose something more of death stalking every nightmare. They are young and mortal fears still haunt them.”
“Then I just landed here like a piece of driftwood on an island that never had a tree. I can imagine that the sight of dead stranger would be horrifying.”
“So, they set about preparing a second grave, but this one was beyond the monk’s cemetery where they had just prepared to bury one of their own. But making a grave in the unturned rock was daunting. Any untilled earth here is solid rock. So, they didn’t chisel a dent.”
“So sorry to put them through that.”
“Well, it was good there was no body to be found so they didn’t have to finish it. The abbot assumed the dead man was invented by Brother Lugh because finding death was new to them. The abbot accused Lugh of dancing with the devil in lies.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The abbot doesn’t easily let go of the devils he evokes so you will be a blessing of truth for Brother Lugh. You can understand why Lugh would welcome you. “
So tomorrow, when Sister Brigid delivers the goat’s milk, I will follow her across the valley and up to the monastery to the cell of Brother Lugh.
Returning now to Brother Timothy, my prayer is for strength for the long trek in this healing.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 