{"id":1037,"date":"2026-09-04T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T13:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/?page_id=1037"},"modified":"2026-09-11T11:15:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T11:15:39","slug":"bandarikin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/?page_id=1037","title":{"rendered":"bandar\u00edkin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sheila Armstrong<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201eJ\u00e6ja,\u201c segir Darragh \u00feegar hann rennir inn \u00e1 plani\u00f0, stefnulj\u00f3si\u00f0 blikkandi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201eJ\u00e6ja,\u201c segir Mike og \u00fer\u00f6ngvar \u00ed\u00fer\u00f3ttat\u00f6skunni sinni \u00ed gegnum bili\u00f0 milli frams\u00e6tanna, teygir sig eftir sylgjunni \u00e1 \u00f6ryggisbeltinu \u00ed gegnum skrj\u00e1fi\u00f0 \u00ed s\u00edgarettupapp\u00edrnum. Hann haf\u00f0i heimta\u00f0 a\u00f0 taka str\u00e6t\u00f3 fr\u00e1 Belfast-flugvelli, Darragh heimta\u00f0i a\u00f0 s\u00e6kja hann, svo \u00feeir hittust \u00e1 mi\u00f0ri lei\u00f0 \u00e1 bens\u00ednst\u00f6\u00f0, m\u00e1lami\u00f0lun sem hefur gert fer\u00f0alagi\u00f0 \u00f3\u00fe\u00e6gilegra fyrir \u00fe\u00e1 b\u00e1\u00f0a. \u00c1 sendib\u00edlnum er \u00fatl\u00ednumynd af gaupu sem l\u00edkist frekar pattaralegum heimilisketti og hann skiptir um g\u00edr eins og skr\u00f6ltandi verkf\u00e6rakassi. \u00datvarpi\u00f0 er bila\u00f0 og \u00fe\u00f6gult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00deegar \u00feeir sveigja \u00ed vestur\u00e1tt ver\u00f0ur s\u00f3lin gegnum framr\u00fa\u00f0una svo sk\u00e6r a\u00f0 \u200f\u00fe\u00e1 verkjar \u00ed augun, en hvorugur br\u00f3\u00f0irinn vill vi\u00f0urkenna vaxandi vanl\u00ed\u00f0an. B\u00e1\u00f0ir eiga \u00feeir \u00fea\u00f0 til a\u00f0 f\u00e1 m\u00edgreni sem eftir f\u00e1einar klukkustundir mun gera \u200f\u00feeim erfitt fyrir um andardr\u00e1tt af s\u00e1rsauka. Hj\u00e1 Mike er kveikjan kaffi \u00e1 fastandi maga \u00e1samt \u00feurru, \u00edsk\u00f6ldu loftinu \u00ed \u00fer\u00f6ngu innanlandsflugv\u00e9linni; \u00edsn\u00e1lin mun h\u00f6ggva \u00ed hann \u00ed a\u00f0 minnsta kosti einn dag, e\u00f0a lengur, \u00fear til hann finnur sam\u00fa\u00f0arfullan lyfjafr\u00e6\u00f0ing sem er tilb\u00fainn a\u00f0 skrifa upp \u00e1 \u00f3p\u00ed\u00f3\u00ed\u00f0a fyrir hann. Darragh mun kenna tveimur bj\u00f3rum um sitt m\u00edgreni, \u00feeir voru tilraun til a\u00f0 stytta v\u00f6kut\u00edmann sem haf\u00f0i teygt sig fr\u00e1 mi\u00f0n\u00e6tti til fj\u00f6gur um morguninn. K\u00e6rastan hans, Margo, hefur stungi\u00f0 upp \u00e1 a\u00f0 hann f\u00e1i b\u00f3tox vi\u00f0 h\u00f6fu\u00f0verkjunum, vinkona hennar hafi l\u00e1ti\u00f0 me\u00f0h\u00f6ndla smellandi kj\u00e1lka \u00feannig, en hann man n\u00f3gu miki\u00f0 \u00far alfr\u00e6\u00f0ib\u00f3kum bernskunnar til a\u00f0 tilhugsunin um b\u00f3t\u00falisma skelfi hann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\u00f0rir l\u00edffr\u00e6\u00f0ilegir laumufar\u00feegar hafa blossa\u00f0 upp og hja\u00f0na\u00f0 \u00ed gegnum \u00e1rin \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 nokkur nefni \u00fe\u00e1: \u00fer\u00e1l\u00e1tur s\u00f3r\u00edasisblettur ne\u00f0st \u00e1 hnakka hvors br\u00f3\u00f0ur; and\u00fa\u00f0 \u00e1 k\u00f3r\u00edander. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra f\u00e9kk sl\u00e6ma flensu tv\u00e6r me\u00f0g\u00f6ngur \u00ed r\u00f6\u00f0; \u00e1 fullor\u00f0ins\u00e1rum \u00feurftu \u00feeir b\u00e1\u00f0ir r\u00f3tfyllingu \u00ed n\u00e1nast \u00f6llum j\u00f6xlum. En a\u00f0 telja upp \u00feessa kvilla myndi lei\u00f0a til samanbur\u00f0ar, erf\u00f0afr\u00e6\u00f0ilegrar \u00fatilokunara\u00f0fer\u00f0ar sem hvorugur \u00feeirra er tilb\u00fainn a\u00f0 leggja \u00fat \u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh st\u00f6\u00f0var b\u00edlinn \u00e1 krossg\u00f6tum til a\u00f0 hleypa hj\u00f3lrei\u00f0alest framhj\u00e1, og handan yfir t\u00fanin berst marr eins og \u00far klukkuverki. Hann hefur aldrei s\u00e9\u00f0 engirellu me\u00f0 eigin augum, \u00fe\u00f3tt yfirma\u00f0ur hans fullvissi starfsf\u00f3lki\u00f0 um a\u00f0 stofninn s\u00e9 a\u00f0 n\u00e1 s\u00e9r \u00e1 strik fyrir tilstilli a\u00f0ger\u00f0a \u00feeirra. \u00cd h\u00e1u grasinu fjara k\u00f6ll \u00feeirra \u00fat \u00ed l\u00e1ggr\u00f3\u00f0urinn og sveima \u00fear eins og \u00e1hugalaus gervitungl. Darragh grunar a\u00f0 yfirma\u00f0urinn hafi teki\u00f0 upp \u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 spila uppt\u00f6ku af krxx-krxx<\/em> me\u00f0 hl\u00e9um, aldrei n\u00f3gu n\u00e6rri til a\u00f0 vekja grun, en n\u00f3gu h\u00e1tt til a\u00f0 lokka fuglasko\u00f0ara \u00fat \u00ed \u00fe\u00e9tt grasi\u00f0 og f\u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1 til a\u00f0 taka l\u00f3u \u00ed misgripum fyrir engirellu. \u00deeir borga helling fyrir a\u00f0 koma hinga\u00f0 upp, \u00ed \u00f3bygg\u00f0ir nor\u00f0urhluta Donegal, svo \u00fea\u00f0 er \u00feeim sj\u00e1lfum \u00ed hag a\u00f0 tr\u00faa \u00fev\u00ed, til a\u00f0 geta haka\u00f0 vi\u00f0 mynd fuglsins \u00e1 pl\u00f6stu\u00f0u spj\u00f6ldunum sem n\u00e1tt\u00farul\u00edfsst\u00f6\u00f0in l\u00e6tur \u00fe\u00e1 f\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike veit ekkert um fugla \u00ed \u00fatr\u00fdmingarh\u00e6ttu og er vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 a\u00f0 spyrja hvort h\u00e1st, malandi hlj\u00f3\u00f0i\u00f0 komi \u00far v\u00e9linni \u00ed sendib\u00edlnum, en h\u00e6ttir vi\u00f0, ef \u00fev\u00ed skyldi vera teki\u00f0 sem snei\u00f0, fyrstu \u00e1r\u00e1sinni \u00e1 yngri br\u00f3\u00f0ur hans. \u00cd sta\u00f0inn r\u00e6skir hann sig og l\u00edtur \u00fat um gluggann, \u00fer\u00fdstir laumulega tveimur fingrum \u00e1 auma blettinn \u00e1 milli nefs og h\u00e6gra auga og reynir a\u00f0 nudda yfirvofandi h\u00f6fu\u00f0verkinn burt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S\u00ed\u00f0asta hj\u00f3lrei\u00f0akonan gefur Darragh fingurinn \u00feegar h\u00fan fer hj\u00e1, og hann \u00e1ttar sig \u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 hann hefur veri\u00f0 a\u00f0 mjaka b\u00edlnum inn \u00e1 gatnam\u00f3tin. Hann lyftir afsakandi tveimur fingrum en rei\u00f0hj\u00f3laf\u00f3lki\u00f0 er \u00feegar fari\u00f0 a\u00f0 fjarl\u00e6gjast, hossast upp og ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 \u00f3sl\u00e9ttum veginum eins og hestar \u00ed hringekju sem er a\u00f0 rakna upp. Hann l\u00edtur aftur \u00e1 veginn me\u00f0 vi\u00f0komu \u00e1 andliti br\u00f3\u00f0urins, en Mike starir n\u00fa beint fram fyrir sig. Darragh losar handbremsuna harkalegar en hann \u00e6tla\u00f0i, og g\u00f6mul krukka af beiskju veltur \u00e1 m\u00e6labor\u00f0inu milli \u00feeirra, hellist ni\u00f0ur yfir bila\u00f0a \u00fatvarpi\u00f0, leysist upp \u00ed bl\u00e6strinum og f\u00fdkur aftur framan \u00ed \u00fe\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2042<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Str\u00e1karnir voru b\u00e1\u00f0ir fimm \u00e1ra \u00feegar fa\u00f0ir \u00feeirra d\u00f3; dau\u00f0sfalli\u00f0 var\u00f0 \u00ed eina m\u00e1nu\u00f0i \u00e1rsins \u00feegar \u00feeir voru jafngamlir. Mike \u00e1 f\u00e1ar minningar um hann, a\u00f0rar en leifar af \u00edrsku sem honum var \u00ed merg runnin; fa\u00f0ir \u00feeirra neita\u00f0i a\u00f0 tala erlenda tungu \u00e1 s\u00ednu eigin heimili. Minningar hans hafa runni\u00f0 saman vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 sem n\u00e1grannar og vinir og restin af s\u00f3kninni l\u00f6g\u00f0u til \u00e1 \u00e1runum eftir l\u00e1t f\u00f6\u00f0urins, \u00fear til hans eigin \u00fatg\u00e1fa var\u00f0 jafn \u00feunn og l\u00e9ttv\u00e6g og blettur \u00e1 glj\u00e1andi andlitsmyndinni \u00ed rammanum \u00e1 ganginum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mikill ma\u00f0ur, voru allir samm\u00e1la um. Sem s\u00fdslufulltr\u00fai b\u00e6ndasamtakanna haf\u00f0i fa\u00f0ir \u00feeirra risi\u00f0 hratt til metor\u00f0a eftir deilu um ofur\u00e1l\u00f6gur \u00e1 landb\u00fana\u00f0arafur\u00f0ir og veri\u00f0 borinn \u00e1 her\u00f0um manna inn \u00ed stj\u00f3rnm\u00e1lin. Ef hann by\u00f0i sig fram fimm sinnum yr\u00f0i hann kosinn sex sinnum, gorta\u00f0i m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra vi\u00f0 hvern sem nennti a\u00f0 hlusta. Og var hann ekki algj\u00f6r d\u00fdrlingur a\u00f0 ala upp barn annars manns, sag\u00f0i systir hennar vi\u00f0 \u00feriggja \u00e1ra \u00e1rt\u00ed\u00f0armessu hans, n\u00f3gu n\u00e6rri drengjunum tveimur til a\u00f0 \u00feeir heyr\u00f0u illkvittnina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Br\u00e6\u00f0urnir r\u00e6ddu \u00feetta draugabarn um t\u00edma, b\u00e1ru gjallsteina og planka og dekk og reipi ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 hrygg milli t\u00fananna tveggja, \u00fear sem skr\u00ed\u00f0andi jar\u00f0vegurinn haf\u00f0i t\u00fatna\u00f0 \u00fat og leki\u00f0 \u00ed kringum m\u00f3rberjatr\u00e9 og mynda\u00f0 sk\u00fata, skuggalegan og dimman eins og g\u00f6ng. Leynisystir, \u00edmyndu\u00f0u \u00feeir s\u00e9r, alin upp \u00ed n\u00e6sta \u00feorpi, e\u00f0a jafnvel \u00ed Amer\u00edku \u2013 Bandar\u00edkin, sem enn voru ekki til fyrir \u00feeim nema \u00ed sj\u00f3nvarps\u00fe\u00e1ttum og teiknimyndas\u00f6gum, geymdu \u00ed hugum drengjanna \u00f6ll undur og fur\u00f0ur heimsins. Yngri systir sem f\u00e9lli au\u00f0veldlega inn \u00ed leikina \u00feeirra sem d\u00f3mari: h\u00e6sta st\u00f6kki\u00f0, st\u00e6rsta sveiflan, \u00feyngsti steinninn, lengsta d\u00fdfan. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra var gagnslaus, f\u00e6ddur dipl\u00f3mati: Darragh er h\u00e6rri, en Mike hleypur hra\u00f0ar. Mike er betri \u00ed st\u00e6r\u00f0fr\u00e6\u00f0i, en elska ekki \u00f6ll d\u00fdrin Darragh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike haf\u00f0i fundi\u00f0 vissuna setjast \u00ed magann eins og kaldan klump vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 horfa \u00e1 Disney-sj\u00f3nvarpsmynd. \u00deegar l\u00f6ngu a\u00f0skildu tv\u00edburasysturnar b\u00e1ru saman f\u00e6\u00f0ingarbletti gat hann ekki afbori\u00f0 a\u00f0 l\u00edta \u00e1 manninn sem sat \u00e1 g\u00f3lfinu vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0 hans og var honum skyndilega \u00f3kunnugur. Seinna haf\u00f0i Darragh hafna\u00f0 m\u00f6guleikanum algerlega og tali\u00f0 upp l\u00edkindin eins og hann s\u00e6ti me\u00f0 dinglandi f\u00e6tur \u00ed vitnast\u00fakunni. \u00deeir voru ekki me\u00f0 sams konar f\u00e6\u00f0ingarbletti, \u00fea\u00f0 var satt \u2013 en \u00feeir deildu koju og skiptu um efri og ne\u00f0ri \u00e1 hverju \u00e1ri, eins og sanngjarnt var. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra \u00fatbj\u00f3 sama nesti handa b\u00e1\u00f0um \u2013 sultu- og ostasamlokur \u00e1 hv\u00edtu brau\u00f0i \u2013 \u00fe\u00f3tt Darragh vildi reyndar l\u00e1ta skera skorpuna af, sm\u00e1atri\u00f0i sem olli honum sem sn\u00f6ggvast hugarangri. \u00deeir hj\u00f3lu\u00f0u saman \u00ed sk\u00f3lann og voru meira a\u00f0 segja \u00ed sama bekk, \u00fe\u00f3tt Mike v\u00e6ri ellefu m\u00e1nu\u00f0um eldri. Svart h\u00e1r, bl\u00e1 augu, f\u00e6tur sem st\u00e6kku\u00f0u \u00ed r\u00e9ttu hlutfalli vi\u00f0 l\u00edkamann, l\u00e9legir \u00ed \u00ed\u00fer\u00f3ttum en flj\u00f3tir a\u00f0 hlaupa. Me\u00f0 hverri sta\u00f0reynd sem Darragh lag\u00f0i fram var\u00f0 andardr\u00e1tturinn hra\u00f0ari, \u00fear til hann m\u00e1sa\u00f0i or\u00f0unum \u00fat \u00far s\u00e9r og sl\u00f3 \u00e1 eigi\u00f0 l\u00e6ri til \u00e1herslu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike, saks\u00f3knarinn, dr\u00f3 kr\u00f6funa til baka og fullvissa\u00f0i br\u00f3\u00f0ur sinn um a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 gr\u00ednast, \u00feetta v\u00e6ri bara leikur; ruglu\u00f0u meira a\u00f0 segja kennararnir \u00feeim ekki saman? En \u00ed litla, tortryggna hjartanu h\u00e9lt hann \u00e1fram a\u00f0 safna s\u00f6nnunarg\u00f6gnum fyrir m\u00e1li s\u00ednu. Hann hlusta\u00f0i vi\u00f0 dyrnar \u00ed hvert sinn sem illkvittna fr\u00e6nkan kom \u00ed heims\u00f3kn, en fullyr\u00f0ingin var aldrei endurtekin. Og hann g\u00e6tti \u00feess a\u00f0 skilja m\u00f3\u00f0ur s\u00edna aldrei eina eftir me\u00f0 karlkyns gesti, fylgdist vandlega me\u00f0 v\u00edsbendingum um \u00f3leyfilegt \u00e1starsamband \u2013 \u00fe\u00f3tt \u00fea\u00f0 virtist \u00f3l\u00edklegt \u00ed lj\u00f3si trygg\u00f0ar hennar vi\u00f0 l\u00e1tinn eiginmann sinn. Allar lj\u00f3smyndir af f\u00f6\u00f0ur \u00feeirra sem hann fann voru tv\u00edr\u00e6\u00f0ar: sams konar fellingar \u00ed eyrunum, horni\u00f0 fr\u00e1 boganum \u00e1 efri v\u00f6rinni a\u00f0 n\u00f6sunum. H\u00e1ri\u00f0 eins og sk\u00fdstrokkur \u00e1 hvirflinum eins og hj\u00e1 Mike, kubbslegir fingur eins og hj\u00e1 Darragh \u2013 en \u00fea\u00f0 gat veri\u00f0 blekking lj\u00f3ssins, myndav\u00e9larlinsa sem teyg\u00f0i sj\u00f3narhorni\u00f0 alla lei\u00f0 a\u00f0 fa\u00f0erninu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh f\u00f3r a\u00f0 f\u00e1 magaverk \u00e1 hverju sunnudagskv\u00f6ldi, eins og l\u00e9ttirinn yfir a\u00f0 hafa komist \u00ed gegnum enn eina vikuna \u00e1n opinberunar r\u00e6kist beint \u00e1 \u00f3ttann vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1 n\u00e6stu. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra sannf\u00e6r\u00f0i sj\u00e1lfa sig um a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri gulur \u00ed kringum augun, gaf honum sey\u00f0i af mar\u00edu\u00feistli og sag\u00f0i honum a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta ekki svona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dea\u00f0 sumar, eftir a\u00f0 hafa horft \u00e1 teiknimyndak\u00fareka ra\u00f0a nautgripunum s\u00ednum upp til a\u00f0 brennimerkja \u00fe\u00e1 me\u00f0 upphafsst\u00f6fum s\u00ednum, haf\u00f0i Darragh b\u00fai\u00f0 til gr\u00f3fger\u00f0 D og M \u00far br\u00e9faklemmum, hita\u00f0 \u00feau \u00e1 eldav\u00e9linni, og saman h\u00f6f\u00f0u drengirnir lagt \u00feau \u00ed mj\u00faka l\u00f3fa s\u00edna. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra haf\u00f0i \u00f6skra\u00f0 jafn h\u00e1tt og \u00feeir og tro\u00f0i\u00f0 svi\u00f0num h\u00f6ndunum hli\u00f0 vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0 ofan \u00ed litlu frystikistuna sem \u00feau geymdu \u00ed b\u00farinu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seinna, \u00ed fylgsninu \u00feeirra, \u00fear sem \u00feyrnirunni seig fram yfir br\u00fanina og r\u00e6tur m\u00f3rberjatr\u00e9sins lyftu moldinni eins og tjaldstangir, sko\u00f0u\u00f0u \u00feeir brunas\u00e1rin. \u00deau voru str\u00e1\u00f0 jo\u00f0dufti, sem m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra tr\u00fa\u00f0i a\u00f0 l\u00e6kna\u00f0i allt; \u00f3lj\u00f3sar, upphleyptar l\u00ednur sem sl\u00f3gu \u00ed misgengum takti tveggja p\u00falsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2042<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00deegar br\u00e6\u00f0urnir koma aftur a\u00f0 b\u00f3ndab\u00e6num liggur birtan ekki lengur sk\u00e1hallt yfir landi\u00f0 \u00ed r\u00f3sagullsgeislum, \u00fea\u00f0 er or\u00f0i\u00f0 kolsvartamyrkur, gleypisvart, \u00feykkt eins og ol\u00eda \u00far lekum ofni. Yfir s\u00ed\u00f0b\u00fanum kv\u00f6ldver\u00f0i er Margo hlj\u00f3\u00f0l\u00e1t og varf\u00e6rin \u00ed kringum Mike, eins og hund me\u00f0 langa s\u00f6gu um bit. H\u00fan sty\u00f0ur n\u00fdju gr\u00e6nu lei\u00f0ina heilshugar: allt sem f\u00e6r fleiri augu til a\u00f0 l\u00edta til \u00feessa vanr\u00e6kta heimshluta er af hinu g\u00f3\u00f0a. \u00de\u00fa talar eins og sannur \u00fatlendingur, segir Darragh, og h\u00fan sl\u00e6r hann \u00e1 \u00f6xlina me\u00f0 fl\u00f6tum l\u00f3fa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike vi\u00f0rar efasemdir: slysatryggingar, \u00e1gangur \u00f3vi\u00f0komandi a\u00f0ila, byggingarh\u00e1va\u00f0i og almenn truflun. Darragh \u00fdfist allur upp vi\u00f0 \u00feennan gamla, kunnuglega hroka. Margo ranghvolfir augunum, en bros hennar er kj\u00f6tbiti \u00ed opnum l\u00f3fa. Yfir sk\u00e1lum af linsubaunapottr\u00e9tti d\u00e1ist Darragh a\u00f0 leikni hennar, \u00feegar yfirvofandi rifrildi\u00f0 flest \u00fat \u00ed sameiginlegar s\u00f6gur af algerum lukkuriddurum sem stungu fingrunum \u00ed brau\u00f0ristar og reyndu svo a\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0a m\u00e1l vegna aflei\u00f0inganna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00der\u00f6ngspora j\u00e1rnbrautarl\u00ednan sem liggur gegnum kjarnann \u00ed Donegal hefur veri\u00f0 loku\u00f0 s\u00ed\u00f0an \u00e1 sj\u00f6unda \u00e1ratugnum, lei\u00f0in t\u00fdnd, gr\u00f3in e\u00f0a tekin undir rekstrarg\u00f6tur fyrir nautgripi. Umr\u00e6\u00f0an blossar gjarnan upp \u00ed kringum kosningar, stj\u00f3rnm\u00e1lamenn heita \u00fdmist a\u00f0 opna j\u00e1rnbrautina aftur e\u00f0a breyta henni \u00ed gr\u00e6na g\u00f6ngu- og hj\u00f3lalei\u00f0. N\u00e1grannarnir eru me\u00f0 langt\u00edmapl\u00f6n: ef \u00feeir halda \u00fat h\u00e6kka mj\u00f3u landr\u00e6murnar sem liggja a\u00f0 l\u00ednunni \u00ed ver\u00f0i, en b\u00ed\u00f0i \u00feeir of lengi e\u00f0a m\u00f3tm\u00e6li of miki\u00f0 g\u00e6ti verkefni\u00f0 hruni\u00f0 me\u00f0 \u00f6llu. \u00deetta er da\u00f0ur stj\u00f3rnm\u00e1lamanna: vandlega vi\u00f0haldin bi\u00f0sta\u00f0a og s\u00ed\u00f0an h\u00e6gfara eftirgj\u00f6f, alltaf stoppa\u00f0 r\u00e9tt \u00e1\u00f0ur en kemur a\u00f0 undirskrift e\u00f0a handabandi. En \u00ed \u00feetta sinn vir\u00f0ist n\u00e6gur skri\u00f0\u00feungi \u00e1 bak vi\u00f0 \u200f\u00feetta til a\u00f0 eitthva\u00f0 g\u00e6ti a\u00f0 minnsta kosti virst gerast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dea\u00f0 eina sem getur alltaf sundra\u00f0 fj\u00f6lskyldu er land, sag\u00f0i b\u00e6jarfulltr\u00fainn \u00feeirra. Hann haf\u00f0i liti\u00f0 inn til Darraghs og Margo \u00ed te og r\u00falla\u00f0 \u00fat landm\u00e6lingakorti \u00e1 eldh\u00fasbor\u00f0inu. Hann benti \u00e1 a\u00f0komusta\u00f0i, hj\u00e1lei\u00f0ir, sv\u00e6\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00fear sem f\u00e6ranlegu salernunum yr\u00f0i komi\u00f0 fyrir. G\u00f6mlu j\u00e1rnbrautarteinarnir sj\u00e1st ekki fr\u00e1 b\u00e6num, \u00feeir eru langt uppi \u00e1 efsta t\u00faninu vi\u00f0 klettana, og liggja a\u00f0eins sams\u00ed\u00f0a gir\u00f0ingunum \u00feeirra \u00ed hundra\u00f0 metra \u00e1\u00f0ur en \u00feeir hverfa inn \u00ed g\u00f6mul j\u00e1rnbrautarg\u00f6ng. G\u00f6ngin liggja a\u00f0 hluta inn \u00e1 landi \u00feeirra og \u00feau \u00feyrftu l\u00edka a\u00f0 afsala s\u00e9r \u00feeim hluta. Margo spur\u00f0i gagnlegra spurninga; Darragh vona\u00f0i a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f6gn hans yr\u00f0i tekin sem einhvers konar h\u00e6\u00f0nisleg skarpskyggni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ma\u00f0urinn sj\u00e1lfur, sag\u00f0i b\u00e6jarfulltr\u00fainn og staldra\u00f0i vi\u00f0 \u00e1 ganginum \u00e1 lei\u00f0 \u00fat. Darragh var l\u00f6ngu h\u00e6ttur a\u00f0 taka eftir andlitsmyndinni, glj\u00e1andi bros f\u00f6\u00f0ur hans lak yfir alla sem f\u00f3ru inn e\u00f0a \u00fat um dyrnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dat \u00e1 hva\u00f0 gekk \u00feetta eiginlega? sag\u00f0i hann \u00e1 eftir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hann vildi f\u00e1 leyfi, sag\u00f0i Margo og t\u00f3k af bor\u00f0inu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J\u00e6ja, almenna samr\u00e1\u00f0skosningin er framundan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ekki \u00feitt, sag\u00f0i h\u00fan, eins og \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri auglj\u00f3sasta m\u00e1l \u00ed heimi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00deegar kj\u00f6rse\u00f0larnir fyrir almenna samr\u00e1\u00f0i\u00f0 komu loks var pl\u00e1ss fyrir nafn Mikes, e\u00f0a nafn umbo\u00f0smanns hans. Darragh sendi honum mynd af ey\u00f0ubla\u00f0inu og bau\u00f0st til a\u00f0 falsa undirskriftina hans, en eins og hann haf\u00f0i h\u00e1lfpartinn b\u00faist vi\u00f0 haf\u00f0i br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans \u00e1kve\u00f0i\u00f0 a\u00f0 koma heim og l\u00edta \u00e1 landspilduna sem um r\u00e6ddi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eftir kv\u00f6ldmat leggur Darragh landakort b\u00e6jarfulltr\u00faans \u00e1 autt bor\u00f0i\u00f0. Margo fer \u00fat a\u00f0 ganga og skilur br\u00e6\u00f0urna eftir starandi \u00e1 fyrirhugu\u00f0u gr\u00e6nu lei\u00f0ina, brei\u00f0a g\u00f6ngulei\u00f0 sem fylgir strandlengjunni \u00e1\u00f0ur en h\u00fan sveigir inn \u00ed landi\u00f0. Landamerkjal\u00ednur skera kortin eins og krosssaumur: fyrir hungursney\u00f0ina kv\u00e1\u00f0u l\u00f6g um a\u00f0 landi skyldi skipt jafnt \u00e1 milli allra barna, skilgetinna og \u00f3skilgetinna, og t\u00fanin splundru\u00f0ust \u00ed b\u00fatasaum. \u00dea\u00f0 hefur teki\u00f0 heila \u00f6ld fyrir l\u00ednurnar \u00e1 kortunum a\u00f0 f\u00e6kka og gisna sm\u00e1m saman, eftir \u00fev\u00ed sem landeigendur hafa gleypt v\u00ed\u00f0\u00e1ttumiklar landspildur sem l\u00e1gu me\u00f0fram \u00feeirra eigin j\u00f6r\u00f0um, \u00ed st\u00f3rum bitum \u00ed senn. N\u00fa er a\u00f0eins um helmingurinn \u00ed virkri r\u00e6ktun, en n\u00e6gilega miki\u00f0 er gert til a\u00f0 styrkirnir skili s\u00e9r, og eigendurnir drekka Barry\u2019s-te \u00ed Dubai og l\u00e1ta eins og \u00fe\u00e1 langi heim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00cd erf\u00f0askr\u00e1 f\u00f6\u00f0ur \u00feeirra st\u00f3\u00f0 a\u00f0 br\u00e6\u00f0urnir tveir \u00e6ttu landi\u00f0 og h\u00fasi\u00f0 jafnt, fremur en a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed v\u00e6ri skipt \u00ed hluta. En \u00ed sannleika sagt vildi hvorugur h\u00fasi\u00f0 n\u00e9 landi\u00f0. \u00dea\u00f0 henta\u00f0i \u00feeim a\u00f0 hunsa erf\u00f0askr\u00e1na \u2013 og \u00f3lj\u00f3sar \u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0ur \u00feess a\u00f0 fa\u00f0ir \u00feeirra haf\u00f0i gengi\u00f0 framhj\u00e1 eiginkonu sinni \u2013 og l\u00e1ta \u00feetta \u00ed sta\u00f0inn \u00ed hendur hennar, sem voru meira en h\u00e6far. En einn daginn haf\u00f0i m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra vakna\u00f0 og fundi\u00f0 \u00ferj\u00e1 hn\u00fata \u00ed handarkrikanum. H\u00fan flutti til systur sinnar \u00e1 me\u00f0an \u00e1 lyfjame\u00f0fer\u00f0inni st\u00f3\u00f0, og b\u00f3ndab\u00e6rinn var leig\u00f0ur ungu, ensku pari sem var a\u00f0 kanna hvort \u00fea\u00f0 vildi hugsanlega kaupa. Pari\u00f0 f\u00f3r af \u00f3tilgreindum \u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0um, \u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0um sem skildu eftir hnefast\u00f3r g\u00f6t \u00ed gifspl\u00f6tunum, og m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra s\u00fdndi engan \u00e1huga \u00e1 a\u00f0 sn\u00faa aftur. \u00cd sta\u00f0inn f\u00e9kk Margo, s\u00e6nskur n\u00fdb\u00fai me\u00f0 \u00f3nota\u00f0a gr\u00e1\u00f0u \u00ed landm\u00f3tunarfr\u00e6\u00f0i, \u00e1huga \u00e1 sta\u00f0num, eftir a\u00f0 hafa sta\u00f0i\u00f0 af s\u00e9r allar tilraunir Darraghs til a\u00f0 sl\u00edta sambandi \u00feeirra og r\u00e9ttilega s\u00e9\u00f0 a\u00f0 hann \u00feyrfti a\u00f0 taka s\u00f6nsum \u2013 or\u00f0alag sem h\u00fan l\u00e6r\u00f0i snemma \u00ed sambandinu og gaf, me\u00f0 hv\u00f6ssu enskunni sinni, sl\u00edkan \u00feunga og alv\u00f6ru a\u00f0 hann undra\u00f0ist hva\u00f0 hann br\u00e1st vel vi\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed. N\u00fa sinnir Margo innherjakr\u00edsustj\u00f3rnun hj\u00e1 fyrirt\u00e6ki \u00ed sj\u00e1lfb\u00e6rri plastvinnslu, en Darragh vinnur \u00ed n\u00e1tt\u00farul\u00edfsgar\u00f0inum klukkut\u00edma nor\u00f0ar, starf sem h\u00f3fst me\u00f0 sk\u00f3flu og \u00fer\u00f3a\u00f0ist yfir \u00ed a\u00f0 semja stefnum\u00f3tunarskj\u00f6l um raunh\u00e6fi endurinnlei\u00f0ingar tegunda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00deegar Margo kemur aftur hefur kortunum veri\u00f0 r\u00falla\u00f0 saman, og Mike dregur fram eftirr\u00e9tt \u2013 pakka af litlum Toblerone-stykkjum af flugvellinum \u2013 og hefur n\u00e6ga s\u00f3makennd til a\u00f0 l\u00edta vandr\u00e6\u00f0alega \u00fat. \u00deau horfa saman \u00e1 fimm \u00e1ra gamla st\u00f3rmynd og gretta sig vandr\u00e6\u00f0alega yfir kynl\u00edfssenunum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike safna\u00f0i einu sinni kjarki til a\u00f0 spyrja m\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00feeirra, eftir a\u00f0 Darragh, enn undir l\u00f6galdri, haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 handtekinn drukkinn undir st\u00fdri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hva\u00f0 myndi fa\u00f0ir ykkar segja? kveina\u00f0i h\u00fan \u00ed \u00e1tt a\u00f0 skelltum \u00fatidyrunum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dea\u00f0 er n\u00e6stum eins og vi\u00f0 s\u00e9um ekkert skyldir, sag\u00f0i Mike og fylgdist me\u00f0 svip hennar me\u00f0 heitan titring \u00ed maganum. Haf\u00f0i augnar\u00e1\u00f0 hennar or\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00f3sk\u00fdrt e\u00f0a fl\u00f6ktandi? Haf\u00f0i h\u00fan fikta\u00f0 vi\u00f0 neglurnar \u00e1 s\u00e9r me\u00f0 sektarsvip? N\u00fa man hann ekki lengur hva\u00f0 var raunverulegt og hva\u00f0 var lita\u00f0 af illgirni unglingsins. Hann var sautj\u00e1n \u00e1ra me\u00f0 hugann vi\u00f0 lokapr\u00f3fin og m\u00e6ldi tepruskap sinn \u00ed hlutfalli vi\u00f0 \u00f3h\u00f3f br\u00f3\u00f0ur s\u00edns. \u00deegar hann vissi a\u00f0 Darragh \u00e6tla\u00f0i \u00f6rugglega \u00ed valfrj\u00e1lsa auka\u00e1ri\u00f0 \u00ed sk\u00f3lanum, haf\u00f0i Mike skipt um sko\u00f0un \u00e1 s\u00ed\u00f0ustu stundu og stokki\u00f0 yfir br\u00f3\u00f0ur sinn upp \u00ed n\u00e6sta \u00e1rgang. \u00deessi svik ur\u00f0u fyrsta litla sprungan af m\u00f6rgum sem klufu vinah\u00f3pa og pirru\u00f0u kennara, og undu upp \u00e1 sig \u00ed hrindingar \u00e1 g\u00f6ngunum og rifrildi um \u00e1hugalausar stelpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beiskjan magna\u00f0ist \u00feegar Mike f\u00f3r \u00ed h\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00ed Dublin og Darragh elti hann \u00feanga\u00f0 \u00e1ri s\u00ed\u00f0ar. \u00der\u00e1tt fyrir b\u00e6nir m\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00feeirra neita\u00f0i Mike a\u00f0 koma heim \u00feegar br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans ger\u00f0i \u00fea\u00f0, og eftir drukki\u00f0 rifrildi, \u00fear sem \u00feeir st\u00f3\u00f0u b\u00e1\u00f0ir eftir me\u00f0 mar\u00f0a hn\u00faa, h\u00e6tti hann alfari\u00f0 a\u00f0 koma heim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh h\u00e6tti \u00ed h\u00e1lfvolgu hugv\u00edsindan\u00e1mi; Mike t\u00f3k BS-gr\u00e1\u00f0una s\u00edna \u00ed raunv\u00edsindum me\u00f0 s\u00e9r til London og datt inn \u00ed r\u00f6\u00f0 s\u00e1larlausa gagnastarfa sem veittu honum sm\u00e1m saman svo f\u00e1r\u00e1nlegar st\u00f6\u00f0uh\u00e6kkanir a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 freista\u00f0i hans a\u00f0 kl\u00fa\u00f0ra reikningi, bara til a\u00f0 upplifa spennuna vi\u00f0 agafund. Hann var\u00f0 loka\u00f0ri og h\u00e9lt \u00f6llum meira fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r; Darragh virtist hins vegar ver\u00f0a gegndr\u00e6pari, rak \u00far einu starfi \u00ed anna\u00f0, einu landi \u00ed anna\u00f0, einu l\u00edfi \u00ed anna\u00f0. M\u00f3\u00f0ir hans barma\u00f0i s\u00e9r yfir \u00f3r\u00e9ttl\u00e6tinu, a\u00f0 stj\u00f3rnendurnir \u00e1 barnum, bens\u00ednst\u00f6\u00f0inni, sl\u00e1turh\u00fasinu, allir hef\u00f0u horn \u00ed s\u00ed\u00f0u Darraghs, a\u00f0 hann \u00e6tti skili\u00f0 anna\u00f0, \u00feri\u00f0ja, fj\u00f3r\u00f0a t\u00e6kif\u00e6ri\u00f0. Mike hlusta\u00f0i me\u00f0 s\u00edmann klemmdan vi\u00f0 \u00f6xlina og var\u00f0 s\u00edfellt rei\u00f0ari yfir \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 kl\u00fa\u00f0ur br\u00f3\u00f0ur hans \u00fdtti honum sj\u00e1lfum \u00fat \u00ed hv\u00edta ja\u00f0arinn \u00e1 myndinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00de\u00e1 sjaldan \u00feeir s\u00e1ust n\u00e6sta \u00e1ratuginn m\u00e6ldu \u00feeir hvor annan \u00fat, \u00e1rangur og mist\u00f6k og \u00f6rsm\u00e1ar skapger\u00f0arbreytingar, fengu t\u00e6kif\u00e6ri til a\u00f0 sta\u00f0festa hugmyndir, sjaldan endursko\u00f0a \u00fe\u00e6r. M\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra neyddi \u00fe\u00e1 t\u00e1rvot til endurfunda \u00feegar krabbameinsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 hennar h\u00f3fst, og n\u00fa r\u00edkir kuldaleg kurteisi. Sama illkvittna fr\u00e6nkan kenndi m\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00feeirra n\u00fdlega a\u00f0 stofna h\u00f3pspj\u00f6ll, og str\u00e1karnir h\u00f6f\u00f0u skyndilega lent \u00ed \u00f3\u00fe\u00e6gilega mikilli n\u00e1l\u00e6g\u00f0 og horft \u00e1 h\u00f6kin tv\u00f6 ver\u00f0a bl\u00e1. \u00derj\u00f3ska m\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00feeirra vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 nota ekki gleraugu leiddi oft til ruglingslegra vi\u00f0brag\u00f0a; fr\u00e9tt um dau\u00f0a eins fr\u00e6ndans f\u00e9kk hl\u00e1turkall, glott kom \u00ed sta\u00f0inn fyrir koss. Mike haf\u00f0i reynt a\u00f0 hefja hli\u00f0arspjall \u00feegar h\u00fan rugla\u00f0i saman \u00feumalputta og l\u00f6ngut\u00f6ng, en Darragh svara\u00f0i ekki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dea\u00f0 haf\u00f0i komi\u00f0 Mike \u00e1 \u00f3vart a\u00f0 fr\u00e9tta a\u00f0 br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans v\u00e6ri fluttur heim, hann haf\u00f0i frekar b\u00faist vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 sj\u00e1 andlit hans n\u00e6st yfir sorglegri fyrirs\u00f6gn. Og a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri me\u00f0 ind\u00e6lli, s\u00e6nskri konu og ynni hlutastarf vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 moka mold \u00ed n\u00fdju n\u00e1tt\u00farul\u00edfsmi\u00f0st\u00f6\u00f0inni. Mike fannst mi\u00f0st\u00f6\u00f0in h\u00e1lfger\u00f0 s\u00fdndarmennska, ef marka m\u00e1tti glansandi vefs\u00ed\u00f0una: langs\u00f3tt landafr\u00e6\u00f0itenging vi\u00f0 Appalachian-sl\u00f3\u00f0ina, eikarlundur kalla\u00f0ur fornkeltneskur regnsk\u00f3gur, renglulegur \u00falfablendingur sem r\u00e1fa\u00f0i fram og aftur \u00e1 fjarl\u00e6gu t\u00fani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00de\u00e1 mundi hann eftir h\u00e1lfvilltum fj\u00e1rhundi n\u00e1grannans. Darragh var s\u00e1 eini sem hundurinn \u00feoldi, \u00feeir s\u00e1tu \u00fe\u00f6gulir hli\u00f0 vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0 klukkustundum saman, og hven\u00e6r sem Darragh var ni\u00f0ri \u00ed fylgsninu l\u00e6ddist hundurinn um t\u00fani\u00f0 \u00ed brei\u00f0um, v\u00f6kulum hring. Dag einn glefsa\u00f0i hundurinn \u00ed daglaunamann og reif bita \u00far f\u00e6tinum \u00e1 honum. \u00deeir ver\u00f0a a\u00f0 sv\u00e6fa hann, sag\u00f0i m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra bl\u00ed\u00f0lega daginn eftir. Mike \u00f3tta\u00f0ist a\u00f0 hjarta br\u00f3\u00f0ur hans myndi bresta, en hann t\u00f3k fr\u00e9ttunum heimspekilega. \u00dea\u00f0 var ekki fyrr en Darragh spur\u00f0i hva\u00f0 yr\u00f0i um traktor daglaunamannsins sem m\u00f3\u00f0ir \u00feeirra \u00e1tta\u00f0i sig \u00e1 misskilningnum: Elskan, \u00fea\u00f0 er hundurinn sem \u00e1 a\u00f0 sv\u00e6fa. Darragh var\u00f0 \u00f3huggandi, hlj\u00f3p \u00fat og \u00f6skra\u00f0i sv\u00edvir\u00f0ingar \u00e1 n\u00e1grannann yfir vegginn \u00fear til Mike dr\u00f3 litla br\u00f3\u00f0ur sinn burt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ein k\u00e6rasta Mikes keypti handa honum \u00e1skrift a\u00f0 DNA-leitar\u00fej\u00f3nustu \u00ed gr\u00edni. Foreldrar \u00fe\u00ednir voru \u00f6rugglega systkinab\u00f6rn, sag\u00f0i h\u00fan og \u00fdtti glettnislega vi\u00f0 \u00f6xlinni \u00e1 honum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00d6nnur kona tilkynnti \u00e1 \u00feri\u00f0ja stefnum\u00f3tinu a\u00f0 h\u00fan myndi krefjast ra\u00f0greiningar erf\u00f0amengis \u00e1\u00f0ur en til barneigna k\u00e6mi; \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri bara skynsamlegt a\u00f0 vita hva\u00f0 ma\u00f0ur v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 f\u00e1st vi\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2042<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh vaknar vi\u00f0 h\u00f6fu\u00f0verkinn eftir klukkut\u00edma svefn. Mike haf\u00f0i horfi\u00f0 inn \u00ed gamla herbergi\u00f0 sitt me\u00f0 hnefafylli af verkjat\u00f6flum eftir kv\u00f6ldmat, herbergi sem Margo hefur fyllt af terrakottapottum og g\u00f6mlum, lemstru\u00f0um h\u00fasg\u00f6gnum sem h\u00fan \u00e6tlar a\u00f0 b\u00e6sa sv\u00f6rt. Kv\u00f6ldi\u00f0 \u00e1\u00f0ur en br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans kom haf\u00f0i Darragh stungi\u00f0 upp \u00e1 a\u00f0 h\u00fan flytti eitthva\u00f0 af \u00feessu anna\u00f0, en h\u00fan \u00feverskalla\u00f0ist, jafn heimar\u00edk og sk\u00f3garm\u00f6r\u00f0ur. \u00deau g\u00e6tu eignast barn \u00e1 n\u00e6sta \u00e1ri, e\u00f0a ekki; Margo segist ekki hafa \u00e1kve\u00f0i\u00f0 sig enn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ni\u00f0ri finnur hann undarlega fyrir \u00feeirri g\u00f6mlu, kunnuglegu tilfinningu a\u00f0 h\u00fasi\u00f0 s\u00e9 fullt. Hann smeygir s\u00e9r \u00ed drullug st\u00edgv\u00e9lin \u00fe\u00f3tt hann viti a\u00f0 g\u00f6ngut\u00far muni a\u00f0eins vekja hann enn meira. Fyrir utan hallar sl\u00f3\u00f0in mj\u00faklega upp a\u00f0 n\u00f6gu\u00f0um klettunum, \u00fear sem s\u00ed\u00f0ustu vestl\u00e6gu leifar Appalachian-fjallanna r\u00edsa \u00far sj\u00f3num eins og drukkna\u00f0ur hundur. \u00c1r\u00fe\u00fasundin hafa sorfi\u00f0 \u00feau ni\u00f0ur \u00ed mildar h\u00e6\u00f0ir, segir Margo, en sl\u00f3\u00f0 jar\u00f0fr\u00e6\u00f0ilegra v\u00edsbendinga er sk\u00fdr: kvars\u00edt \u00ed nor\u00f0ri, gran\u00edt \u00ed austri og belti af fl\u00f6gubergi \u00ed gegnum mi\u00f0juna. Lengra inni \u00ed landi r\u00edsa \u00feau upp \u00ed Bluestacks-fj\u00f6llin, og s\u00ed\u00f0an liggur sl\u00f3\u00f0in vestur og nor\u00f0ur. Darragh \u00e1 enn erfitt me\u00f0 a\u00f0 tr\u00faa \u00feessu, a\u00f0 svignun og hno\u00f0un heims\u00e1lfa geti kasta\u00f0 upp bergke\u00f0ju sem sekkur undir hafi\u00f0 og r\u00eds aftur hinum megin Atlantshafsins, eins og saumspor sem hefur veri\u00f0 hert of miki\u00f0; og ekki s\u00ed\u00f0ur: a\u00f0 hann hafi \u00feurft a\u00f0 komast a\u00f0 \u00feessu hj\u00e1 saltrj\u00f3\u00f0ri, s\u00e6nskri konu \u00e1 bar \u00ed Byron Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh s\u00e9r eftir a\u00f0 hafa nefnt \u00fea\u00f0 lauslega vi\u00f0 hana a\u00f0 hugsanlega s\u00e9u \u00feeir Mike a\u00f0eins h\u00e1lfbr\u00e6\u00f0ur. Hann sag\u00f0i henni fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed seint eitt kv\u00f6ld fyrstu vikuna \u00ed Byron, \u00feegar hann ger\u00f0i r\u00e1\u00f0 fyrir a\u00f0 hann s\u00e6i hana aldrei aftur. Jafnvel \u00feegar h\u00fan sendi t\u00f6lvup\u00f3st h\u00e1lfum \u00e1ratug s\u00ed\u00f0ar og sag\u00f0ist \u00e6tla a\u00f0 koma \u00ed heims\u00f3kn bj\u00f3st hann vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 h\u00fan v\u00e6ri b\u00fain a\u00f0 gleyma \u00fev\u00ed. En h\u00fan hefur hvasst auga fyrir sm\u00e1atri\u00f0um, sm\u00e1atri\u00f0um sem h\u00fan safnar til a\u00f0 s\u00e1 fr\u00e6jum a\u00f0 n\u00fdjum samt\u00f6lum, eins og samb\u00f6nd eigi a\u00f0 r\u00e6kta af hagkv\u00e6mni \u00ed sta\u00f0 \u00feess a\u00f0 b\u00faast vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 \u00feau spretti villt upp \u00far sprungum \u00ed gangst\u00e9ttinni, h\u00e6fileiki sem hann b\u00e6\u00f0i hatar og \u00f6fundar hana af.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margo segir a\u00f0 \u00feeir s\u00e9u f\u00e1r\u00e1nlegir, a\u00f0 fr\u00e6nka \u00feeirra hafi veri\u00f0 og s\u00e9 enn b\u00f6lva\u00f0ur r\u00f3gberi, a\u00f0 \u00feeir hafi or\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00f3s\u00e1ttir \u00fat af engu \u00f6\u00f0ru en or\u00f0r\u00f3mi. Og jafnvel \u00fe\u00f3tt \u00feetta v\u00e6ri satt er ekki lengur fimmti \u00e1ratugurinn, segir h\u00fan. Pari\u00f0 sem rekur samvinnuverslunina eru mi\u00f0aldra lesb\u00edur me\u00f0 heilan h\u00f3p regnbogabarna, s\u00f3knarpresturinn var \u00ed Beatles-\u00e1brei\u00f0ubandi og skemmtir vegfarendum me\u00f0 s\u00f6gunni af lei\u00f0 sinni fr\u00e1 synd til heilagleika. Foreldrar hennar sj\u00e1lfrar voru ekki giftir, \u00ed gu\u00f0anna b\u00e6num, og litli br\u00f3\u00f0ir hennar situr \u00ed fangelsi fyrir a\u00f0 hafa r\u00e1\u00f0ist kynfer\u00f0islega \u00e1 konu sem var of drukkin til a\u00f0 standa, gripinn me\u00f0 h\u00f6ndina n\u00e6rri upp a\u00f0 \u00falnli\u00f0 inni \u00ed henni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Af hverju ert \u00fe\u00fa a\u00f0 bur\u00f0ast me\u00f0 sk\u00f6mm einhvers annars? spur\u00f0i h\u00fan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darragh sn\u00fdr baki \u00ed klettana og horfir inn \u00ed landi\u00f0, \u00fear sem fj\u00f6llin eru d\u00f6kk gretta vi\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringinn. Himinninn er sl\u00e9ttur og stj\u00f6rnulaus; of dimmt til a\u00f0 sj\u00e1 draugalegar leifar af \u00f6rinu \u00ed l\u00f3fanum \u2013 jafnvel \u00fe\u00f3tt eitthva\u00f0 v\u00e6ri \u00fear a\u00f0 sj\u00e1: s\u00e1ri\u00f0 haf\u00f0i gr\u00f3i\u00f0 og horfi\u00f0 n\u00e1nast samstundis, \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir bestu tilraunir Darragh til a\u00f0 halda hr\u00fa\u00f0rinu opnu \u2013 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir jar\u00f0fr\u00e6\u00f0ilegu sl\u00f3\u00f0ina eru \u00feetta ekki Bandar\u00edkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hann er samm\u00e1la Margo, samm\u00e1la! svo h\u00e1tt og \u00e1kve\u00f0i\u00f0 a\u00f0 hann endurtekur or\u00f0 hennar fyrir sj\u00e1lfum s\u00e9r. Hann \u00e1kve\u00f0ur a\u00f0 fara aftur heim, vekja br\u00f3\u00f0ur sinn og endurtaka \u00feau l\u00edka fyrir honum, svo hann geti l\u00edka veri\u00f0 samm\u00e1la. En hann rekur spor s\u00edn aftur a\u00f0 h\u00fasinu og smeygir s\u00e9r upp \u00ed r\u00fam vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0ina \u00e1 gla\u00f0vakandi Margo, sem finnur \u00edskaldar hendur hans og leggur \u00fe\u00e6r si\u00f0samlega milli l\u00e6ra sinna til a\u00f0 hita \u00fe\u00e6r. Hann vekur ekki br\u00f3\u00f0ur sinn, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 fa\u00f0ir \u00feeirra bar haglabyssu a\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0inu \u00e1 s\u00e9r \u00ed g\u00f6mlum j\u00e1rnbrautarg\u00f6ngum, og steypa hefur har\u00f0na\u00f0 \u00ed holr\u00famunum milli brj\u00f3sks og beins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2042<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Um morguninn eldar Margo morgunmat \u00e1\u00f0ur en \u00feau fara \u00f6ll saman upp \u00e1 t\u00fan. Darragh tortryggir \u00feessa rausn, hann veit a\u00f0 hennar venjulegi morgunver\u00f0ur er s\u00edgaretta og kaffi. Eggin eru st\u00edf eins og frau\u00f0plast, hv\u00edtar \u00e6\u00f0ar sj\u00e1anlegar \u00ed beikonsnei\u00f0unum, en Mike \u00feakkar henni af einl\u00e6gni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feitur, kubbslegur sm\u00e1hestur, jafn brei\u00f0ur og s\u00f3fi, kemur a\u00f0 limger\u00f0inu \u00ed daufri morgunbirtunni. Hann kl\u00f3rar s\u00e9r \u00e1 h\u00e1lsinum upp vi\u00f0 beitt plasti\u00f0 \u00e1 kosningaspjaldi sem hangir of l\u00e1gt. Mike rifjar upp minninguna um n\u00e1grannann sem \u00e1tti a\u00f0 \u201esv\u00e6fa\u201c, og Darragh fn\u00e6sir og r\u00e9ttir sm\u00e1hestinum opinn l\u00f3fann til sko\u00f0unar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uppi vi\u00f0 klettana l\u00edta \u00feeir saman yfir gir\u00f0inguna \u00e1 mj\u00f3u lei\u00f0ina \u00e1 milli t\u00fananna, svo gr\u00f3na a\u00f0 \u00feykkt mosateppi\u00f0 n\u00e6\u00f0i \u00feeim upp a\u00f0 mj\u00f6\u00f0mum ef \u00feeir v\u00e6\u00f0u \u00fat \u00ed \u00fea\u00f0. Sem b\u00f6rn \u00edmyndu\u00f0u \u00feeir s\u00e9r lestir \u00fej\u00f3ta gegnum t\u00fanin eftir glj\u00e1f\u00e6g\u00f0um teinum, ol\u00edusmur\u00f0a \u00e6\u00f0 af reyk og sv\u00f6rtu regni, far\u00feega g\u00e6gjast \u00fat um glugga, limger\u00f0in \u00fej\u00f3ta hj\u00e1, fjarl\u00e6g h\u00fasin f\u00f6st \u00e1 s\u00ednum sta\u00f0 vi\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringinn, s\u00edbreytilega sj\u00f3nhverfingu hra\u00f0a og fjarl\u00e6g\u00f0ar og t\u00edma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J\u00e1rnbrautarg\u00f6ngin eru minni en Mike minnti, og hr\u00f6rlegri, en rakur kuldi streymir enn \u00fat \u00far \u00feeim og sker mj\u00fakt sumarlofti\u00f0. \u201eGerum \u00feetta \u00fe\u00e1,\u201c segir hann, \u00fe\u00f3tt \u00fea\u00f0 hafi \u00ed raun aldrei veri\u00f0 spurning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c1 lei\u00f0inni aftur ni\u00f0ur t\u00fanin skrika h\u00e6larnir \u00f6rl\u00edti\u00f0 til \u00ed brattari k\u00f6flunum, og gamla freistingin vaknar, a\u00f0 velta s\u00e9r alla lei\u00f0 heim. Regnskvetta \u00far hei\u00f0sk\u00edrum himni gerir sl\u00f3\u00f0ina sleipari, og breytist \u00ed \u00farhelli \u00e1 \u00feeim t\u00edma sem tekur \u00fe\u00e1 a\u00f0 meta fjarl\u00e6g\u00f0ina a\u00f0 h\u00fasinu sem h\u00fakir fyrir ne\u00f0an. Hvorugur er \u00ed almennilegum jakka, og v\u00f6lust\u00f3rir dropar af hl\u00fdju sumarregni skella \u00e1 \u00feeim eins og rotnir \u00e1vextir \u00fear til \u00feeir eru rennblautir og hl\u00e6ja a\u00f0 f\u00e1r\u00e1nleikanum, hreinu rei\u00f0ikastinu sem himinninn hefur hellt yfir \u00fe\u00e1. G\u00f6ngulagi\u00f0 breytist \u00far staulandi skrefum \u00ed samstillt hlaup, og \u00feeir fylgjast a\u00f0, skref fyrir skref, blautt grasi\u00f0 sl\u00e6st vi\u00f0 hn\u00e9 \u00feeirra. Margo er komin \u00ed dyrnar og heldur \u00feeim opnum, en \u00feeir sveigja til h\u00e6gri sem einn ma\u00f0ur og stefna a\u00f0 hryggnum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Og skj\u00f3li\u00f0 er \u00fear sem skj\u00f3l hefur alltaf veri\u00f0: ekki \u00ed j\u00e1rnbrautarg\u00f6ngunum, heldur \u00ed fylgsninu, sk\u00e1linni undir r\u00f3tunum, fullkomlega varinni gegn su\u00f0vestan\u00e1ttinni sem r\u00eds yfir klettana og steypist ni\u00f0ur a\u00f0 brotna \u00ed h\u00e1a grasinu \u00e1\u00f0ur en h\u00fan r\u00eds aftur og kl\u00edfur fj\u00f6ll; og baldursbr\u00e1rnar sem hneigja sig fyrir \u00feeim \u00e1 vorin og refask\u00edturinn sem \u00feeir stigu \u00ed og b\u00e1ru heim, \u00e6pandi undir hendi m\u00f3\u00f0ur sinnar \u00e1 gar\u00f0sl\u00f6ngunni; sveppirnir sem \u00feeir \u00feurrku\u00f0u vandlega og \u00e1tu og \u00edmyndu\u00f0u s\u00e9r litskr\u00fa\u00f0uga v\u00edmu, hvorugur tilb\u00fainn a\u00f0 vi\u00f0urkenna a\u00f0 ekkert ger\u00f0ist; rotnir lokkar af bl\u00e1u reipi h\u00e1lfhorfnir \u00ed trj\u00e1grein, hn\u00fatunum ra\u00f0a\u00f0 \u00ed r\u00f6\u00f0 sem er l\u00f6ngu gleymd; heillandi geitarhausk\u00fapa h\u00e1lfgrafin \u00ed kvistgat; og fullor\u00f0nu mennirnir tveir sem hnipra sig saman undan skyndilegri sk\u00farinni sem hefur siglt inn af hafinu, foss af hl\u00fdjum vindi, og fr\u00e1 vissu sj\u00f3narhorni, \u00e1l\u00fatir og hli\u00f0 vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0, eru \u00feeir sami drengurinn, skorinn \u00fat \u00far landslaginu og afrita\u00f0ur tvisvar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u00cdslensk \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ing: Ingunn Sn\u00e6dal<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sheila Armstrong \u201eJ\u00e6ja,\u201c segir Darragh \u00feegar hann rennir inn \u00e1 plani\u00f0, stefnulj\u00f3si\u00f0 blikkandi. \u201eJ\u00e6ja,\u201c segir Mike og \u00fer\u00f6ngvar \u00ed\u00fer\u00f3ttat\u00f6skunni sinni \u00ed gegnum bili\u00f0 milli frams\u00e6tanna, teygir sig eftir sylgjunni \u00e1 \u00f6ryggisbeltinu \u00ed gegnum skrj\u00e1fi\u00f0 \u00ed s\u00edgarettupapp\u00edrnum. Hann haf\u00f0i heimta\u00f0 a\u00f0 taka str\u00e6t\u00f3 fr\u00e1 Belfast-flugvelli, Darragh heimta\u00f0i a\u00f0 s\u00e6kja hann, svo \u00feeir hittust \u00e1 mi\u00f0ri lei\u00f0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1037","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1037"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1055,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1037\/revisions\/1055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}