{"id":116,"date":"2023-09-22T11:29:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/?page_id=116"},"modified":"2024-07-25T12:25:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T12:25:46","slug":"tidasongur","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/?page_id=116","title":{"rendered":"T\u00ed\u00f0as\u00f6ngur"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Steinunn G. Helgad\u00f3ttir<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Raddirnar komu n\u00fa n\u00e6r, \u00fe\u00e6r h\u00e6kku\u00f0u og jafnframt var einhverjum \u00e1h\u00f6ldum slegi\u00f0 saman \u00fear til h\u00e1va\u00f0inn var\u00f0 \u00e6randi. \u00c1 h\u00e6\u00f0inni vestan vi\u00f0 klaustri\u00f0 var h\u00f3pur af \u00e6stum b\u00e6ndum. Og \u00feeir voru me\u00f0 uppr\u00falla\u00f0an hampka\u00f0al sem \u00feeir veifu\u00f0u \u00f3tt og t\u00edtt.
\n\u2001S\u00e6ki\u00f0 syndarann! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i einhver. Hr\u00e6snarann sem t\u00e6lir saklausar d\u00e6tur okkar og barnar \u00fe\u00e6r. Hengjum hann!
\n\u2001\u00c9g \u00feekkti r\u00f6ddina. \u00deetta var fa\u00f0ir hennar Aifric, tilvonandi afi barnsins m\u00edns og \u00e9g var flj\u00f3tur a\u00f0 \u00e1tta mig.
\n\u2001H\u00e9r skilja lei\u00f0ir Tadhg! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i \u00e9g yfir h\u00e1va\u00f0ann og fa\u00f0ma\u00f0i hann. \u00de\u00fa ert g\u00f3\u00f0ur drengur, besti myndskreytirinn \u00ed landinu, og \u00e9g er stoltur af \u00fe\u00e9r!
\n\u2001Svo \u00feerra\u00f0i \u00e9g l\u00edti\u00f0 t\u00e1r \u00e1\u00f0ur en \u00e9g greip me\u00f0 m\u00e9r k\u00e1lfskinnsr\u00fallu og litla skinnpoka me\u00f0 rau\u00f0u bj\u00f6lludufti, saffrani og fagurbl\u00e1um m\u00f6lu\u00f0um lapis lazuli og kasta\u00f0i yfir mig br\u00fanu ullark\u00e1punni um lei\u00f0 og \u00e9g l\u00e6ddist \u00fat um bakdyrnar.
\n\u2001En Tadhg elti. Hann hlj\u00f3p af sta\u00f0 me\u00f0 marglita\u00f0a belti\u00f0 sitt \u00ed hendinni og \u00fear sem hann var fr\u00e1r \u00e1 f\u00e6ti n\u00e1\u00f0i hann m\u00e9r strax.
\n\u2001\u00deegar vi\u00f0 komum \u00e6\u00f0andi ni\u00f0ur a\u00f0 \u00e1nni var b\u00e1turinn hans Cathals a\u00f0 leggja fr\u00e1. Skipverjar voru undrandi \u00feegar \u00feeir ur\u00f0u varir vi\u00f0 hamaganginn og doku\u00f0u vi\u00f0 \u00e1 me\u00f0an vi\u00f0 stukkum um bor\u00f0, en svo \u00fdttu Flann og Brj\u00e1nn strax fr\u00e1 landi og otu\u00f0u mj\u00f3um \u00e1runum a\u00f0 \u00feeim sem reyndu a\u00f0 n\u00e1 til okkar.
\n\u2001\u00c9g horf\u00f0i aftur fyrir mig og naut \u00feess a\u00f0 sj\u00e1 klaustri\u00f0, hr\u00e1an s\u00edvaxandi pl\u00e1gukirkjugar\u00f0inn og h\u00f3pinn sem steytti hnefana og sveifla\u00f0i ka\u00f0linum \u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum fjarl\u00e6gjast. Segli\u00f0 var ni\u00f0ri og enginn r\u00e9ri, en \u00fea\u00f0 kom ekki a\u00f0 s\u00f6k \u00fev\u00ed straumurinn bar okkur \u00ed burtu. Brj\u00e1nn brosti svo a\u00f0 skein \u00ed st\u00f3rar hv\u00edtar tennur sem \u00e9g haf\u00f0i aldrei s\u00e9\u00f0 \u00e1\u00f0ur og r\u00e9tti okkur brau\u00f0 og \u00f6l, en Cathal spur\u00f0i einskis \u00fe\u00f3 hann g\u00e6ti ekki leynt \u00fev\u00ed hva\u00f0 hann var k\u00e1tur a\u00f0 f\u00e1 okkur me\u00f0 um bor\u00f0.
\n\u2001Velkomnir k\u00e6ru br\u00e6\u00f0ur, sag\u00f0i hann og fa\u00f0ma\u00f0i okkur. Herran hefur f\u00e6rt ykkur til m\u00edn og n\u00fa siglum vi\u00f0 til Su\u00f0ureyja Deo gratias.
\n\u2001Amen, s\u00f6g\u00f0u Flann og Brj\u00e1nn.
\n\u2001Og Amen, s\u00f6g\u00f0um vi\u00f0 Tadhg \u00fe\u00f3 \u00e9g efa\u00f0ist um a\u00f0 \u00e6\u00f0ri m\u00e1ttarv\u00f6ld \u00e6ttu einhvern \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed \u00feessum l\u00e1tum, en fer\u00f0a\u00e1\u00e6tlunin henta\u00f0i m\u00e9r pr\u00fd\u00f0ilega og \u00e9g \u00e1kva\u00f0 strax a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta mig hverfa \u00fearna \u00e1 Su\u00f0ureyjum. B\u00faa \u00fear me\u00f0 munkum e\u00f0a piktum og jafnvel h\u00f6ggva grj\u00f3t.
\n\u2001\u00deegar Cathal haf\u00f0i hringt litlu ferk\u00f6ntu\u00f0u j\u00e1rnbj\u00f6llunni og vali\u00f0 vi\u00f0eigandi s\u00e1lm sigldum vi\u00f0 syngjandi ni\u00f0ur \u00feennan kunnuglega \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0veg, framhj\u00e1 fyrstu h\u00f3ff\u00edflunum sem g\u00e6g\u00f0ust upp \u00far grasinu \u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum og h\u00f3pum af sv\u00f6rtum nautgripum og m\u00f3rau\u00f0u sau\u00f0f\u00e9 sem var \u00e1 var beit \u00ed vors\u00f3linni. \u00dea\u00f0 eina sem skipti m\u00e1li var a\u00f0 straumurinn sem g\u00e6ldi kump\u00e1nlega vi\u00f0 h\u00fa\u00f0irnar sendi okkur \u00ed burtu.
\n\u2001E\u00f0a \u00e1fram.
\n\u2001Og \u00fe\u00f3 jafnvel mig gruna\u00f0i a\u00f0 \u00feessar g\u00e6lur v\u00e6ru bara byrjunin, a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e6r \u00e6ttu eftir a\u00f0 breytast \u00ed h\u00f6gg, \u00fe\u00e1 lag\u00f0ist fer\u00f0alagi\u00f0 vel \u00ed mig. \u00c9g leyf\u00f0i m\u00e9r a\u00f0 a\u00f0 slaka \u00e1 \u00ed augnablik, lag\u00f0ist ni\u00f0ur \u00ed b\u00e1tinn og horf\u00f0i upp \u00ed himininn \u00fear sem \u00f6rn sveif tignarlega yfir og fylgdi okkur \u00e1lei\u00f0is. Hugsunin um Aifric leita\u00f0i \u00e1 mig en \u00e9g \u00fdtti henni strax fr\u00e1 m\u00e9r. \u00dea\u00f0 var ekkert sem \u00e9g gat gert, hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g og \u00feetta var alveg jafn miki\u00f0 henni a\u00f0 kenna. Kannski meira.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flann og Brj\u00e1nn voru vanir siglingum og Cathal kunni \u00fdmislegt fyrir s\u00e9r l\u00edka \u00fe\u00f3 hann v\u00e6ri farinn a\u00f0 eldast, en \u00fea\u00f0 kom strax \u00ed lj\u00f3s a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 Tadhg h\u00f6f\u00f0um ekki reynslu af sj\u00f3mennsku. Enginn l\u00e9t okkur \u00fe\u00f3 gjalda \u00feess.
\u2001Hinar helgu eyjar Barinthusar og Brendans b\u00ed\u00f0a okkar \u00fearna \u00fati, sag\u00f0i Cathal \u00e1n\u00e6g\u00f0ur og kipra\u00f0i augun \u00ed \u00e1ttina a\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringnum um lei\u00f0 og hann stakk upp \u00ed sig s\u00ed\u00f0ustu bitunum af bl\u00f3\u00f0pylsunni og lauknum og \u00feurrka\u00f0i fingurna me\u00f0 gr\u00f3fu brau\u00f0inu.
Og n\u00fa munum vi\u00f0 einnig skr\u00e1setja okkar fer\u00f0ir og myndskreyta d\u00fdrlega, \u00fev\u00ed Drottin f\u00e6r\u00f0i m\u00e9r ykkur svo \u00fei\u00f0 g\u00e6tu\u00f0 l\u00fdst fur\u00f0unum sem b\u00ed\u00f0a okkar \u00feegar or\u00f0 duga ekki lengur yfir \u00fea\u00f0 sem auga\u00f0 s\u00e9r.
\u2001Cathal f\u00e9kk s\u00e9r sopa af \u00f6linu, ropa\u00f0i og brosti f\u00f6\u00f0urlega til okkar Tadhgs.
\u2001Eyjar eru svo forvitnilegar, sag\u00f0i Tadhg og horf\u00f0i feiminn ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 t\u00e6rnar \u00e1 s\u00e9r, en hann var greinilega \u00e1n\u00e6g\u00f0ur me\u00f0 \u00feessa l\u00fdsingu \u00e1 okkar hlutverki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u00deegar v\u00edkingarnir komu og brenndu b\u00e6inn og klaustri\u00f0 \u00ed Wicklow byrja\u00f0i br\u00f3\u00f0ir Cathal a\u00f0 tala um siglingar heilags Brendans. \u00der\u00e1hyggja hans fyrir \u00feessum fer\u00f0al\u00f6gum birtist \u00ed endurtekningars\u00f6mu og ruglingslegu sagnastagli og r\u00e6\u00f0uh\u00f6ldum \u00ed glundro\u00f0anum sem r\u00edkti \u00ed klaustrinu \u00feessar hr\u00e6\u00f0ilegu vikur \u00feegar vindurinn bar \u00f3\u00feefinn af brunar\u00fastum og svi\u00f0nu holdi alla lei\u00f0 til okkar.
\u2001Sj\u00e1lfsagt hefur Cathal alltaf haft \u00e1huga \u00e1 \u00feessum fer\u00f0um Brendans og l\u00edklega greip hann bara t\u00e6kif\u00e6ri\u00f0 um lei\u00f0 og kv\u00ed\u00f0inn fl\u00e6ddi um klaustri\u00f0, fr\u00e1 br\u00e6\u00f0runum \u00ed ysta hringnum sem s\u00e1u um kornr\u00e6ktina og b\u00faf\u00e9na\u00f0inn og alla lei\u00f0 inn \u00ed hjarta\u00f0, turninn sem reis upp \u00far mi\u00f0ri \u00feyrpingunni eins og \u00e1minning. T\u00edmasetningin var fullkomin \u00e1 \u00feessum d\u00f6gum \u00f3ttans \u00feegar skelfingar\u00f3pin b\u00e1rust eins og ke\u00f0jus\u00f6ngur upp eftir \u00e1nni ef framandi skip s\u00e1st vi\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringinn.
\u2001V\u00edkingarnir koma! \u00f3ma\u00f0i \u00far \u00f6llum \u00e1ttum og hringjari klaustursins, sem \u00e1tti eftir a\u00f0 deyja \u00far h\u00f3stanum s\u00ed\u00f0ar um veturinn, svefla\u00f0ist \u00ed strengnum me\u00f0 kuflinn \u00e1 lofti en vi\u00f0 hinir fl\u00fa\u00f0um \u00ed skelfingu upp \u00ed turninn me\u00f0 handritin og allar gersemar sem vi\u00f0 g\u00e1tum bori\u00f0 \u00e1\u00f0ur en vi\u00f0 dr\u00f3gum upp stigann \u00e1 eftir okkur. Fyrir m\u00edna parta var\u00f0 \u00feetta n\u00e6stum hversdagslegt, og \u00e9g var or\u00f0inn lei\u00f0ur \u00e1 \u00feessum endurteknu truflunum og hamagangi \u00fe\u00f3 aldrei \u00feyr\u00f0i \u00e9g a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a eftir ni\u00f0ri \u00ed skrifsalnum. M\u00e9r fannst skiljanlegt a\u00f0 v\u00edkingarnir v\u00e6ru s\u00f3lgnir \u00ed d\u00fdrgripina sem klaustrin geymdu en s\u00e1rna\u00f0i um lei\u00f0 hvernig \u00feessir ribbaldar spilltu daglegri i\u00f0ju og gla\u00f0v\u00e6r\u00f0 klausturl\u00edfsins.
\u2001N\u00fa hv\u00edldi drungaleg r\u00f3 yfir h\u00e9ra\u00f0inu, f\u00f3lk fer\u00f0a\u00f0ist sjaldnar og \u00fea\u00f0 var ekki eins gestkv\u00e6mt \u00fev\u00ed \u00feeim f\u00e6kka\u00f0i sem heims\u00f3ttu okkur \u00ed leit a\u00f0 hv\u00edld fr\u00e1 heiminum, matar\u00f6gn, yfirb\u00f3t og b\u00e6num e\u00f0a huglj\u00f3mun.
\u2001Reyndar gat \u00e9g aldrei \u00edmynda\u00f0 m\u00e9r a\u00f0 svona laga\u00f0 g\u00e6ti komi\u00f0 fyrir okkur, svona hryllingur ger\u00f0ist annarsta\u00f0ar en \u00fea\u00f0 leyndi s\u00e9r ekki a\u00f0 eftirl\u00e6ti \u00e1b\u00f3tans, br\u00f3\u00f0ir Cathal, var \u00e1 \u00f6\u00f0ru m\u00e1li og hann l\u00fdsti \u00fev\u00ed yfir a\u00f0 ekki v\u00e6ri spurning um hvort, heldur hven\u00e6r \u00fatlendingarnir k\u00e6mu til okkar.
\u2001Og \u00e1 sj\u00e1lfri f\u00f6stunni, \u00feegar vi\u00f0 minntumst dau\u00f0a frelsarans, klifra\u00f0i karlinn upp \u00e1 l\u00e1ga pallinn \u00ed matsal klausturbyggingarinnar eftir aftans\u00f6nginn og bo\u00f0a\u00f0i br\u00e6\u00f0runum \u00e6gileg endalok \u00ed bland vi\u00f0 hetjulegar fer\u00f0as\u00f6gur \u00far fort\u00ed\u00f0inni \u00e1 me\u00f0an \u00feeir tv\u00edstigu \u00f3r\u00f3legir \u00ed kringum hann.
\u2001Hvar \u00e6tli\u00f0 \u00fei\u00f0 a\u00f0 fela ykkur \u00feegar v\u00edkingar koma hinga\u00f0, brenna kirkjuna og klaustri\u00f0 og myr\u00f0a alla sem \u00feeir ekki geta n\u00fdtt sem \u00fer\u00e6la!? spur\u00f0i hann og hvessti \u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1 augun. \u00c6tli\u00f0 \u00fei\u00f0 a\u00f0 b\u00ed\u00f0a h\u00e9r eins og geldf\u00e9 me\u00f0 \u00f3ttann a\u00f0 st\u00f6\u00f0ugum fylgisveini? \u00c6tli\u00f0 \u00fei\u00f0 a\u00f0 liggja andvaka \u00ed sellunum og svipast um eftir skuggum sem hugsanlega skr\u00ed\u00f0a eftir veggjunum, sperrandi eyrun vi\u00f0 minnsta gelt, minnsta marr? \u00c9g segi ykkur a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 \u00feurfum ekki a\u00f0 hafa \u00feetta svona, vi\u00f0 getum fari\u00f0! Vi\u00f0 getum siglt \u00ed burtu eins og br\u00e6\u00f0urnir sem f\u00f3ru \u00e1\u00f0ur, \u00feeir sem jafnvel ger\u00f0ust einsetumenn \u00ed Gu\u00f0i \u00fe\u00f3 ekkert \u00f3gna\u00f0i \u00feeim.
\u2001Eins og Barinthus sem heims\u00f3tti \u00e1b\u00f3tann Brendan og sag\u00f0i honum fr\u00e1 klaustrinu \u00ed Merno\u0301cs, \u00fear sem br\u00e6\u00f0urnir lif\u00f0u saman \u00ed au\u00f0m\u00fdkt og einni tr\u00fa og hlupu fagnandi \u00e1 m\u00f3ti honum eins og b\u00fdflugnasvermur hver \u00far sinni sellu \u00feegar hann heims\u00f3tti \u00fe\u00e1.
\u2001Eins og heilagur Brendan sem sigldi \u00fear til hann fann fyrirheitna landi\u00f0, land d\u00fdrlinganna og h\u00e9lt alltaf \u00e1fram a\u00f0 sigla \u00fear til Drottinn kalla\u00f0i hann til s\u00edn, n\u00edr\u00e6\u00f0an!
\u2001R\u00f6dd Cathals var alltaf mj\u00f3 og \u00feunn og hlj\u00f3\u00f0vistin \u00ed salnum ger\u00f0i ekkert fyrir hana, en sm\u00e1m saman kvikna\u00f0i samt eitthva\u00f0 \u00ed augum br\u00e6\u00f0ranna og \u00e9g var farinn a\u00f0 velta fyrir m\u00e9r hvort \u00e1hugi \u00feeirra v\u00e6ri kannski ekki uppger\u00f0. Voru \u00feeir virkilega svona hr\u00e6ddir vi\u00f0 \u00fatlendingana e\u00f0a \u00e1ttu \u00feeir \u00feessa tr\u00fa, \u00feessa fullvissu sem \u00e9g haf\u00f0i aldrei fundi\u00f0?
\u2001Ef vi\u00f0 b\u00ed\u00f0um h\u00e9r munum vi\u00f0 allir farast! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i Cathal og engin \u00feor\u00f0i a\u00f0 segja neitt \u00e1 me\u00f0an reipi\u00f0 sem hann haf\u00f0i hn\u00fdtt um snj\u00e1\u00f0an kirtilinn losna\u00f0i \u00ed \u00e6singnum, rann ne\u00f0ar me\u00f0 hverri setningu og enda\u00f0i a\u00f0 lokum undir v\u00f6mbinni og ofan \u00e1 rasskinnunum. Sj\u00e1lfur t\u00f3k hann ekki eftir \u00feessu, geifla\u00f0i bara v\u00ed\u00f0an munninn og svipbrig\u00f0in li\u00f0u eins og sk\u00fdafar yfir andliti\u00f0 \u00e1 me\u00f0an munnvatnsdropar lentu \u00e1 \u00feeim sem st\u00f3\u00f0u fremstir.
\u2001\u00deeim var n\u00e6r, hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g og for\u00f0a\u00f0i m\u00e9r.
L\u00e1gu \u00feeir kannski \u00ed myrkrinu \u00e1 str\u00e1fletunum, andvaka og \u00f3ttaslegnir eftir r\u00e6\u00f0uh\u00f6ldin, kl\u00f3randi s\u00e9r undan i\u00f0andi \u00f3v\u00e6runni? Var \u00fea\u00f0 bara \u00e9g sem hl\u00f3 h\u00e6\u00f0nislega \u00ed huganum? \u00c9g sem gat leyft m\u00e9r \u00fea\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed \u00feegar, og ef, v\u00edkingarnir k\u00e6mu yr\u00f0i \u00e9g farinn. M\u00e9r leiddist klausturl\u00edfi\u00f0 og var a\u00f0 undirb\u00faa fer\u00f0alag \u00feanga\u00f0 sem meira var a\u00f0 gerast. \u00c9g \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 fara me\u00f0 p\u00edlagr\u00edmum og sko\u00f0a ver\u00f6ldina, \u00feessa \u00e1\u00fereifanlegu, \u00fev\u00ed \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir kuflinn tr\u00fa\u00f0i \u00e9g f\u00e1u.
\u2001\u00deetta me\u00f0 tr\u00faleysi\u00f0 var almennt vita\u00f0 en \u00e1b\u00f3tinn og hinir munkarnir umb\u00e1ru mig \u00fev\u00ed \u00e9g var besti myndskreytir sem v\u00f6l var \u00e1, eftir a\u00f0 forveri minn og kennari Fionn l\u00e9st fyrir t\u00edu \u00e1rum. \u00c9g var sex \u00e1ra \u00feegar hann f\u00f3r me\u00f0 mig \u00ed klaustri\u00f0 \u00fear sem hann mennta\u00f0i mig \u00ed listinni og seinna f\u00e9kk \u00e9g svo minn eigin l\u00e6rling, Tagh sem kom til m\u00edn sj\u00f6 \u00e1ra gamall, f\u00ednlegur og sm\u00e1vaxinn og minnti helst \u00e1 l\u00edtinn prins \u00fear sem hann st\u00f3\u00f0 einn \u00e1 steing\u00f3lfinu me\u00f0 aleiguna, allt of st\u00f3rt, litr\u00edkt belti hn\u00fdtt um mj\u00f3tt mitti\u00f0. Okkur kom strax vel saman og flj\u00f3tlega vissi \u00e9g a\u00f0 hann yr\u00f0i s\u00e1 allra f\u00e6rasti \u00ed greininni. \u00deannig komu \u00f6rl\u00f6gin m\u00e9r fyrir \u00e1 milli tveggja st\u00e6rstu myndskreytanna \u00ed s\u00f6gu klaustursins, en \u00e9g hef aldrei teki\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 n\u00e6rri m\u00e9r \u00fev\u00ed \u00e9g er g\u00f3\u00f0ur, n\u00f3gu g\u00f3\u00f0ur, einn af \u00feeim bestu og myndl\u00fdsingarnar \u00ed handritunum okkar eru v\u00ed\u00f0fr\u00e6gar.
\u2001Au\u00f0vita\u00f0 var \u00e9g l\u00edka \u00fe\u00e6gur, l\u00e9t mig hafa a\u00f0 taka \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed b\u00e6nahaldi og t\u00ed\u00f0as\u00f6ng sj\u00f6 sinnum \u00e1 s\u00f3larhring og \u00fe\u00f3 hinir br\u00e6\u00f0urnir seg\u00f0u mig hrokafullan var m\u00e9r sama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me\u00f0 t\u00edmanum efldist Cathal allur \u00ed r\u00e6\u00f0uh\u00f6ldunum, hann var\u00f0 a\u00f0 lokum \u00f3st\u00f6\u00f0vandi og tala\u00f0i n\u00fa yfir br\u00e6\u00f0runum tvisvar \u00e1 dag.
\n\u2001Hann var l\u00edka kominn me\u00f0 kerfi \u00ed \u00feetta, \u00fev\u00ed hann byrja\u00f0i alltaf \u00e1 a\u00f0 hr\u00e6\u00f0a munkana me\u00f0 vo\u00f0alegum fr\u00e1s\u00f6gnum af grimmd v\u00edkinganna, fr\u00e1s\u00f6gnum sem hann fygldi eftir me\u00f0 bulli um \u00e6vint\u00fdralegar fer\u00f0ir og \u00e6vi \u00e1b\u00f3tans Brendans og andagiftin var svo mikil a\u00f0 jafnvel \u00e9g hreifst me\u00f0 \u00f3\u00f0am\u00e1la r\u00f6ddinni sem leita\u00f0i alla lei\u00f0 a\u00f0 skrifp\u00faltinu m\u00ednu. \u00c9g gat ekki anna\u00f0 en hlusta\u00f0.
\n\u2001… og Barinthus sag\u00f0i Brendan fr\u00e1 gj\u00f6rninga\u00feokunni sem umlukti skipi\u00f0, svo \u00feykk a\u00f0 br\u00e6\u00f0urnir s\u00e1u ekki hvor annan, \u00fev\u00ed hvergi er myrkri\u00f0 svartara en einmitt \u00e1 milli okkar og fyrirheitna landsins. \nCathal h\u00f3sta\u00f0i svol\u00edti\u00f0 \u00e1\u00f0ur en hann h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram. Um lei\u00f0 og \u00feeir brutust \u00fat \u00far sortanum og inn \u00ed birtuna, f\u00f3ru \u00feeir \u00far einni tilveru \u00ed a\u00f0ra og vi\u00f0 \u00feeim bl\u00f6stu endalaus frj\u00f3s\u00f6m engi \u00feung af gr\u00f3\u00f0ri og \u00e1v\u00f6xtum, \u00fev\u00ed \u00e1 \u00feessum sta\u00f0 eru allar jurtir \u00ed eil\u00edfum bl\u00f3ma og \u00e1rst\u00ed\u00f0irnar sem vi\u00f0 \u00feolum vegna erf\u00f0asyndarinnar eru ekki \u00fear. \u00c1 mi\u00f0ri eyjunni fundu br\u00e6\u00f0urnir l\u00edka flj\u00f3ti\u00f0 helga sem rennur fr\u00e1 austri til vesturs og fleygar hana, en yfir \u00fea\u00f0 hefur enginn ma\u00f0ur nokkurn t\u00edma komist.
\n\u2001Cathal \u00feagna\u00f0i og \u00fe\u00f3 \u00e9g v\u00e6ri ekki \u00fearna fann \u00e9g alla lei\u00f0 inn til m\u00edn hvernig br\u00e6\u00f0urnir sperrtu eyrun. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um allir heyrt \u00feessar s\u00f6gur \u00e1\u00f0ur, en Cathal m\u00e1 eiga \u00fea\u00f0 a\u00f0 hann b\u00e6tir alltaf einhverju vi\u00f0, breytir a\u00f0eins, b\u00e6tir \u00ed og segir aldrei alveg s\u00f6mu s\u00f6guna tvisvar.
\n\u2001Eftir stutta en \u00e1hrifamikla \u00fe\u00f6gn h\u00e9lt hann \u00e1fram. \u00deegar Brendan heyr\u00f0i fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn Barinthusar \u00e1kva\u00f0 hann og a\u00f0 sigla sj\u00e1lfur og sko\u00f0a \u00feessi undur og \u00feegar hann sag\u00f0i br\u00e6\u00f0runum \u00feetta vildu allir fylgja honum, \u00fev\u00ed \u00e1b\u00f3tinn var verndari \u00feeirra og foringi og \u00feeir treystu honum. A\u00f0 lokum valdi Brendan fj\u00f3rt\u00e1n munka til fararinnar en vonbrig\u00f0i \u00feeirra sem eftir s\u00e1tu voru mikil og s\u00e1r.
\n\u2001Cathal \u00feagna\u00f0i aftur. \u00de\u00f3 hann v\u00e6ri ekki \u00e1b\u00f3ti vildi hann l\u00edklega fullvissa sig um a\u00f0 saml\u00edkingin k\u00e6mist til skila og \u00e9g gat ekki stillt mig um a\u00f0 l\u00e6\u00f0ast fram og k\u00edkja \u00e1 karlinn \u00fear sem hann horf\u00f0i f\u00f6\u00f0urlega yfir rytjulegan \u00e1heyrendah\u00f3pinn. Undir br\u00fanum skikkjunum voru allir magrir, flestir aldra\u00f0ir og nokkrir b\u00e6kla\u00f0ir e\u00f0a lasnir, en allir hlustu\u00f0u af athygli.
\n\u2001\u00deess vegna vinir m\u00ednir og br\u00e6\u00f0ur, sag\u00f0i Cathal, \u00feess vegna \u00e6tla \u00e9g ekki a\u00f0 b\u00ed\u00f0a h\u00e9r eftir \u00feessum afkv\u00e6mum L\u00fasifers. Sj\u00e1lfur mun \u00e9g fara a\u00f0 d\u00e6mi Brendans og sigla \u00e1samt \u00feeim sem vilja fylgja m\u00e9r, en \u00fev\u00ed mi\u00f0ur geta \u00feeir \u00fe\u00f3 ekki or\u00f0i\u00f0 fleiri en fj\u00f3rt\u00e1n.
\n\u2001\u00de\u00f6gn.
\n\u2001Br\u00e6\u00f0urnir voru greinilega a\u00f0 meta l\u00edkurnar. \u00c9g var ekki s\u00e1 eini sem \u00e1tti b\u00e1gt me\u00f0 a\u00f0 tr\u00faa a\u00f0 \u00feessir r\u00e6ningjar g\u00e6tu brotist inn \u00ed rammger\u00f0a turninn okkar og allir litu undan, allir nema tveir af b\u00e6ndamunkunum, br\u00e6\u00f0urnir Flann og Brj\u00e1nn br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans sem alltaf h\u00e9ngu \u00ed kuflfaldi Cathals.
\n\u2001Vi\u00f0 f\u00f6rum me\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e9r, sag\u00f0i Flann sem haf\u00f0i or\u00f0 fyrir \u00feeim. \u00c9g og Brj\u00e1nn.
\n\u2001En, m\u00e6la klausturreglurnar ekki gegn \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 yfirgefum sta\u00f0inn? tauta\u00f0i \u00e9g \u00far fylgsni m\u00ednu vi\u00f0 dyrnar en \u00e9g hef\u00f0i alveg eins geta\u00f0 hr\u00f3pa\u00f0 \u00feetta \u00ed hvellu hlj\u00f3\u00f0r\u00fdminu innan klausturveggjanna.
\n\u2001Allra augu hv\u00f6rflu\u00f0u til m\u00edn og \u00feegar Cathal ger\u00f0i sig l\u00edklegan til a\u00f0 svara for\u00f0a\u00f0i \u00e9g m\u00e9r aftur upp \u00ed skrifsalinn. \u00cd \u00f6rygginu vi\u00f0 p\u00falti\u00f0 blanda\u00f0i \u00e9g \u00ed ostruskel verdigris vi\u00f0 gr\u00e6nan leir og eggjahv\u00edtur \u00fear til \u00e9g n\u00e1\u00f0i litarrafti v\u00e6ngja\u00f0a p\u00fakans sem flaug hl\u00e6gjandi ni\u00f0ur \u00ed v\u00edti me\u00f0 \u00f6rv\u00e6ntingarfullan bl\u00e1hv\u00edtan og nakinn syndara \u00ed kl\u00f3num.
\n\u2001Lyfta penslinum, aldrei snerta h\u00fa\u00f0ina me\u00f0 fingrunum. \u00dea\u00f0 var gott a\u00f0 gleyma s\u00e9r, ofbeldinu, Cathal og s\u00f6gunum af Barinthusi og Brendan, svo \u00e9g einbeitti m\u00e9r a\u00f0 m\u00ednum eigin or\u00f0afor\u00f0a, f\u00ednlegu l\u00ednunum og fj\u00e1rsj\u00f3\u00f0i litanna sem lifna\u00f0i \u00e1 bj\u00f6rtu skinninu og \u00feegar \u00e9g loks lygndi aftur augunum, lag\u00f0i fr\u00e1 m\u00e9r pensilinn og l\u00e9t fingurg\u00f3m sv\u00edfa yfir sveig\u00f0ar br\u00fanir s\u00ed\u00f0unnar fann \u00e9g a\u00f0 h\u00fa\u00f0in var af h\u00e1lsinum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loksins f\u00e9kk Cathal leyfi fr\u00e1 \u00e1b\u00f3tanum til a\u00f0 sigla \u00e1samt fj\u00f3rt\u00e1n br\u00e6\u00f0rum og hann f\u00f3r raklei\u00f0is til smi\u00f0sins \u00fear sem hann panta\u00f0i \u00ferj\u00e1 \u00ferj\u00e1t\u00edu og sex feta b\u00e1ta.
\n\u2001S\u00e1 br\u00e1st flj\u00f3tt og vel vi\u00f0 og til h\u00e6g\u00f0arauka reisti hann, me\u00f0 a\u00f0sto\u00f0 munkanna, st\u00f3ra skemmu \u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum nor\u00f0an megin vi\u00f0 klaustri\u00f0 \u00fear sem hann gat athafna\u00f0 sig \u00e1samt \u00feeim a\u00f0sto\u00f0arm\u00f6nnum sem hann taldi sig \u00feurfa.
\n\u2001\u00deetta voru mikil umsvif. Askur \u00far h\u00e9ra\u00f0inu og s\u00e9rvalin eik af nor\u00f0urhli\u00f0 trj\u00e1stofnsins var s\u00f3tt \u00ed mastri\u00f0 og grindina auk mikils magns af mj\u00f3um hrossh\u00fa\u00f0arlengjum, fitu og vaxi til a\u00f0 bera \u00e1 samskeyti.
\n\u2001Tv\u00f6hundru\u00f0 nautsh\u00fa\u00f0ir voru l\u00edka sendar a\u00f0 sunnan, \u00f3skemmdar af flugnabiti og \u00f6\u00f0rum meinum og \u00fe\u00e6r voru lag\u00f0ar \u00ed eikarb\u00f6rk \u00ed t\u00f3lf m\u00e1nu\u00f0i, ba\u00f0a\u00f0ar heitri ullarfitu.
\n\u2001Ekkert b\u00f3la\u00f0i \u00e1 \u00fatlendingunum vo\u00f0alegu, en \u00f3\u00feefurinn fr\u00e1 skemmunni l\u00e1 eins og ford\u00e6ming yfir klaustrinu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c9g var \u00fe\u00f3 \u00f3snortinn af \u00f6llu \u00feessu tilstandi enda upptekinn vi\u00f0 anna\u00f0. \u2001Aifric var d\u00f3ttir b\u00f3nda sem bj\u00f3 r\u00e9tt utan vi\u00f0 klaustri\u00f0. H\u00fan var svo lj\u00f3s a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 var n\u00e6stum yfirn\u00e1tt\u00farlegt og eiginlega var \u00e9g saklaus af \u00fev\u00ed sem ger\u00f0ist. \u00dea\u00f0 var h\u00fan sem t\u00e6ldi mig, bara me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vera n\u00e1l\u00e6gt m\u00e9r. Me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 ilma \u00f6\u00f0ru v\u00edsi en allt sem \u00e9g haf\u00f0i fundi\u00f0 \u00e1\u00f0ur og \u00e9g var\u00f0 a\u00f0 vera hj\u00e1 henni.
\u2001Helst alltaf.
\u2001Hittu mig hj\u00e1 korngeymslunni ni\u00f0ri vi\u00f0 \u00e1na eftir s\u00f3lsetur, ba\u00f0 \u00e9g.
\u2001\u00de\u00fa ert enginn munkur, sag\u00f0i Aifric og hl\u00f3 str\u00ed\u00f0nislega. \u00de\u00fa ert syndugri en nokkur ma\u00f0ur sem \u00e9g hef kynnst.
\u2001\u00c9g vi\u00f0urkenndi \u00fea\u00f0 og vi\u00f0 h\u00e9ldum \u00e1fram a\u00f0 hittast \u00ed laumi. Bara einu sinni enn, hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g alltaf, en \u00e9g var ekki fyrr kominn heim en mig lang\u00f0i til hennar aftur. Hvernig \u00e1tti \u00e9g l\u00edka a\u00f0 standast hana? Aifric var a\u00f0 springa \u00far l\u00edfsgle\u00f0i og h\u00fan var svo d\u00e1samlega \u00f3l\u00edk hlj\u00f3\u00f0l\u00e1tu br\u00e6\u00f0runum heima \u00ed klaustrinu \u00fear sem Cathal var s\u00e1 eini sem h\u00e6kka\u00f0i r\u00f6ddina.
\u2001M\u00e9r var \u00fe\u00f3 aldrei alveg r\u00f3tt \u00feegar \u00e9g var me\u00f0 Aifric, sem virtist ekki \u00f3ttast neitt, ekki einu sinni Gu\u00f0. H\u00fan var verri en \u00e9g.
\u2001\u00c9g tr\u00fai ekki svona bulli, sag\u00f0i h\u00fan.
\u2001\u00deeir sem tala svona skipta um sko\u00f0un ef \u00feeir ver\u00f0a hr\u00e6ddir, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g. Til d\u00e6mis ef v\u00edkingarnir koma.
\u2001Allir tr\u00faa \u00e1 Gu\u00f0 \u00feegar v\u00edkingarnir koma, svara\u00f0i h\u00fan h\u00e6\u00f0nislega.
\u2001S\u00e1 eini sem m\u00e9r st\u00f3\u00f0 virkilega stuggur af var drykkfelldur fa\u00f0ir hennar \u00fe\u00f3 st\u00f3rv\u00f6xnu br\u00e6\u00f0urnir g\u00e6tu l\u00edka veri\u00f0 h\u00e6ttulegir \u00fev\u00ed \u00feeir voru flj\u00f3tir a\u00f0 rei\u00f0ast.
\u2001En m\u00e9r var alltaf sama \u00fe\u00f3 Liam, vonbi\u00f0ill Aifric af n\u00e6sta b\u00e6, fylgdist me\u00f0 okkur. Hann gruna\u00f0i \u00e1rei\u00f0anlega \u00fdmislegt og augnar\u00e1\u00f0i\u00f0 sem hann sendi m\u00e9r var ekki fallegt en Liam var ekki h\u00e6ttulegur, hann var bara sorgm\u00e6ddur og hann var hr\u00e6ddur vi\u00f0 mig eins og alla sem voru st\u00e6rri en hann. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00dea\u00f0 s\u00fdndi sig a\u00f0 \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir r\u00e6\u00f0uh\u00f6ld og litr\u00edkar fer\u00f0al\u00fdsingar voru \u00fea\u00f0 bara \u00feeir Flann og Brj\u00e1nn sem h\u00f6f\u00f0u \u00e1huga \u00e1 a\u00f0 taka \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed \u00feessari siglingu Cathals og \u00e1b\u00f3tinn \u00e1kva\u00f0 a\u00f0 einn b\u00e1tur yr\u00f0i a\u00f0 n\u00e6gja.
\n\u2001Cathal gafst \u00fe\u00f3 ekki upp og h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram a\u00f0 reyna a\u00f0 kveikja \u00e1huga hinna br\u00e6\u00f0ranna me\u00f0 fer\u00f0as\u00f6gum. \u00dea\u00f0 eru d\u00fdrgripir \u00fearna \u00fati, sag\u00f0i hann. Gersemar. Og \u00e1 einni eyjunni t\u00f3k st\u00f3r hundur t\u00f3k \u00e1 m\u00f3ti \u00feeim Brendan og bau\u00f0 br\u00e6\u00f0runum inn \u00ed st\u00f3ran sal \u00fear sem bor\u00f0in svignu\u00f0u undan kr\u00e6singunum, eldsteiktri villbr\u00e1\u00f0, lambi, k\u00f6kum og drykkjum \u00fe\u00f3 engin manneskja v\u00e6ri sj\u00e1anleg.
\n\u2001S\u00edsvangir munkarnir sperrtu eyrun.
\n\u2001En eftir a\u00f0 \u00feeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u bor\u00f0a\u00f0 n\u00e6gju s\u00edna kom Satan \u00fear a\u00f0 og freista\u00f0i yngsta br\u00f3\u00f0ursins og f\u00e9kk hann til a\u00f0 stela. Og \u00fe\u00f3 Brendan og br\u00e6\u00f0runum t\u00e6kist a\u00f0 lokum me\u00f0 heitri \u00e1st og vi\u00f0urkenndum kristilegum a\u00f0fer\u00f0um a\u00f0 reka dj\u00f6fulinn \u00far syndaranum, \u00fe\u00e1 var L\u00fasifer svo rammur a\u00f0 yngsti br\u00f3\u00f0irinn l\u00e9t l\u00edfi\u00f0 \u00ed \u00e1t\u00f6kunum. Til allrar hamingju n\u00e1\u00f0i hann \u00fe\u00f3 a\u00f0 lofa Gu\u00f0 og f\u00e1 fyrirgefningu fyrir s\u00ed\u00f0asta andvarpi\u00f0 og Brendan l\u00e9t jar\u00f0a hann \u00e1 sta\u00f0num \u00e1\u00f0ur en \u00feeir sigldu burt.
\n\u2001Nokkrir munkanna, s\u00e9rstaklega \u00feeir yngri, voru n\u00fa farnir a\u00f0 mjaka s\u00e9r hlj\u00f3\u00f0lega \u00ed \u00e1ttina a\u00f0 dyrunum og Cathal h\u00e6kka\u00f0i r\u00f6ddina.
\n\u2001H\u00fan var l\u00edka undursamleg p\u00e1skaveislan sem \u00feeim Brendan var bo\u00f0i\u00f0 til hj\u00e1 m\u00e1llausu munkunum \u00ed St. Ailban.
\n\u2001\u00de\u00f6gn og n\u00fa beyg\u00f0i Cathal h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 og l\u00e6kka\u00f0i aftur r\u00f6ddina, \u00fea\u00f0 var eins og hann \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 segja \u00feeim leyndarm\u00e1l og \u00e1heyrendurnir n\u00e1mu sta\u00f0ar.
\n\u2001\u00cd St. Ailban er m\u00e1lum nefnilega \u00feannig h\u00e1tta\u00f0 a\u00f0 \u00fear eru haldnar d\u00fdrlegustu p\u00e1skaveislur sem um getur. \u00der\u00edr h\u00f3par munka b\u00faa \u00fearna, hver \u00e1 s\u00ednu fjalli, hinir elstu vestast, \u00feeir sem eru mi\u00f0aldra \u00ed mi\u00f0junni og yngstu br\u00e6\u00f0urnir austast. Enginn \u00feeirrra m\u00e6lir nokkurn t\u00edma or\u00f0, en \u00f6ll tj\u00e1skipti fara fram me\u00f0 s\u00e1lmas\u00f6ng og k\u00f3rarnir syngjast gu\u00f0lega \u00e1 yfir dalverpin. \u00dearna hafa munkarnir l\u00edka n\u00e1\u00f0 \u00fev\u00edl\u00edkri fullkomnun \u00ed tilbei\u00f0slunni a\u00f0 \u00feeir eldast ekki.
\n\u2001En \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir \u00feetta l\u00fdsti enginn \u00e1huga \u00e1 a\u00f0 sl\u00e1st \u00ed f\u00f6r me\u00f0 Cathal \u00feegar hann \u00feagna\u00f0i og matsalurinn t\u00e6mdist \u00e1 \u00f6rskotsstund. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fer\u00f0af\u00e9lagarnir \u00e1kv\u00e1\u00f0u a\u00f0 fara a\u00f0 d\u00e6mi Brendans og fasta tvisvar \u00ed fj\u00f6rut\u00edu daga me\u00f0 \u00feriggja daga millibili og var\u00f0 andr\u00famslofti\u00f0 \u00ed klaustrinu lei\u00f0inlegt \u00e1 me\u00f0an, enginn sag\u00f0i s\u00f6gur og \u00fea\u00f0 vanta\u00f0i eitthva\u00f0 \u00ed t\u00ed\u00f0as\u00f6nginn. \u00c9g reyndi a\u00f0 heims\u00e6kja Aifric en \u00e1b\u00f3tinn var\u00f0 var vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 og t\u00f3k alveg fyrir a\u00f0 \u00e9g yfirg\u00e6fi klaustri\u00f0 svo \u00e9g s\u00f6kkti m\u00e9r \u00ed myndskreytingarnar.
\u2001Dagarnir voru stuttir og kaldir og f\u00e1tt til skemmtunar. \u00deegar \u00e9g kvarta\u00f0i undan \u00feessu eftir fyrstu fj\u00f6rut\u00edudaga f\u00f6stuna, \u00e1minnti Cathal mig.
\u2001A\u00f0rir hafa f\u00f3rna\u00f0 meiru, sag\u00f0i hann strangur, allar g\u00f6tur fr\u00e1 J\u00f3hannesi sk\u00edrara, okkar fyrsta br\u00f3\u00f0ur. Og \u00fearf \u00e9g a\u00f0 minna \u00feig \u00e1 a\u00f0 \u00feegar Brendan heims\u00f3tti einsetumanninn P\u00e1l, bj\u00f3 d\u00fdrlingurinn einn \u00e1 \u00f3kleifum kletti i mi\u00f0ju \u00fathafinu, a\u00f0eins kl\u00e6ddur s\u00ednu s\u00ed\u00f0a h\u00e1ri sem hann sveipa\u00f0i um l\u00edkamann, en otur f\u00e6r\u00f0i honum n\u00e6ringu?
\u2001\u00c9g nennti ekki a\u00f0 r\u00e6\u00f0a \u00feetta frekar og \u00fea\u00f0 var l\u00e9ttir \u00feegar s\u00ed\u00f0ari f\u00f6stunni lauk og \u00feeir f\u00e9lagar f\u00f3ru til St. Edna til a\u00f0 f\u00e1 blessum \u00e1b\u00f3tans \u00fear fyrir fer\u00f0alagi\u00f0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Um lei\u00f0 og \u00e9g gat hlj\u00f3p \u00e9g til Aifric sem var gl\u00f6\u00f0 a\u00f0 sj\u00e1 mig aftur og dr\u00f3 mig strax a\u00f0 korngeymslunni. Eftir fyrstu fagna\u00f0arfundina s\u00e1 \u00e9g \u00fe\u00f3 a\u00f0 eitthva\u00f0 var breytt og gekk \u00e1 hana. Elskar\u00f0u mig ekki lengur? spur\u00f0i \u00e9g str\u00ed\u00f0nislega og dr\u00f3 \u00ed reimina \u00ed bolnum hennar.
\n\u2001En h\u00fan hl\u00f3 ekki.
\n\u2001\u00c9g er \u00f3fr\u00edsk, sag\u00f0i h\u00fan.
\n\u2001Sk\u00fd dr\u00f3 fyrir kalda marss\u00f3lina og \u00e9g \u00e1tti erfitt me\u00f0 a\u00f0 hugsa r\u00f6kr\u00e9tt.
\n\u2001Ertu viss? stama\u00f0i \u00e9g.
\n\u2001Au\u00f0vita\u00f0 er \u00e9g viss, svara\u00f0i h\u00fan.
\n\u2001\u00deetta er hr\u00e6\u00f0ilegt. \u00de\u00fa ver\u00f0ur a\u00f0 gera eitthva\u00f0 \u00ed \u00feessu.
\n\u2001\u00c9g? Aifric var rei\u00f0, \u00f3\u00fearflega rei\u00f0 fannst m\u00e9r, eiginlega \u00f3gnvekjandi.
\n\u2001Ja, \u00fe\u00fa veist a\u00f0 m\u00edn sta\u00f0a er vonlaus. \u00c9g er munkur. Ef \u00feetta fr\u00e9ttist er \u00e9g b\u00fainn a\u00f0 vera.
\n\u2001H\u00fan s\u00fdndi \u00feessu engan skilning og sag\u00f0i ekkert, star\u00f0i bara fyrirlitlega \u00e1 mig, sem horf\u00f0i \u00e1 alla m\u00edna drauma hverfa. \u00c1b\u00f3tinn var ekkert lamb a\u00f0 leika s\u00e9r vi\u00f0, hann myndi ekki styrkja mig til p\u00edlagr\u00edmsfer\u00f0ar \u00feegar \u00feetta fr\u00e9ttist og sennilega reka mig \u00far klaustrinu. \n\u00dea\u00f0 eina sem \u00e9g kunni var a\u00f0 myndskreyta. \u00c9g var ekki b\u00f3ndi, ekki vei\u00f0ima\u00f0ur, ekki handverksma\u00f0ur. \u00c9g f\u00e6ri \u00e1 vergang.
\n\u2001Allt \u00ed einu laust hugmynd ni\u00f0ur \u00ed h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00e1 m\u00e9r, og \u00fe\u00f3 h\u00fan v\u00e6ri \u00f3gu\u00f0leg bar \u00e9g hana undir Aifric.
\n\u2001Liam! Hann vill \u00feig. \u00de\u00fa g\u00e6tir l\u00e1ti undan honum. Bara einu sinni. \u00de\u00e1 m\u00e6tti kannski telja honum tr\u00fa um a\u00f0 hann eigi barni\u00f0 og vi\u00f0 g\u00e6tum jafnvel haldi\u00f0 \u00e1fram a\u00f0 hittast.
\n\u2001Aifric hlj\u00f3p \u00ed burtu \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 kve\u00f0ja og s\u00ed\u00f0an hefur ekkert veri\u00f0 eins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loksins var fari\u00f0 a\u00f0 vora, dagarnir ur\u00f0u lengri og \u00ed sal Computusbr\u00e6\u00f0ranna, \u00fear sem almanaki\u00f0 er skr\u00e1\u00f0, var l\u00f6ngu vita\u00f0 hven\u00e6r fyrsta sunnudag eftir fullt tungl a\u00f0 li\u00f0num vorjafnd\u00e6grum b\u00e6ri upp. Klaustri\u00f0 i\u00f0a\u00f0i af undirb\u00faningi fyrir p\u00e1skana, \u00feessa st\u00e6rstu h\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0 hins kristna heims og andr\u00famslofti\u00f0 var gott.
\n\u2001Sj\u00e1lfur t\u00f3k \u00e9g l\u00edtinn \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed \u00feessu en h\u00e9lt mig til hl\u00e9s eins og venjulega, reyndi a\u00f0 gleyma Aifric og umgekkst n\u00e6stum bara Tadhg, sem n\u00fa var or\u00f0inn fj\u00f3rt\u00e1n \u00e1ra og alltaf jafn fagur. Hann var byrja\u00f0ur a\u00f0 spila \u00e1 l\u00fdru og eins og allt anna\u00f0 sem hann ger\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 hlj\u00f3ma\u00f0i \u00fea\u00f0 d\u00e1samlega, \u00fea\u00f0 spillti heldur ekki fyrir a\u00f0 hann leit \u00fat eins og engill. \u00deetta me\u00f0 \u00fatliti\u00f0 haf\u00f0i reyndar stundum veri\u00f0 varasamt \u00e1 svona sta\u00f0 og \u00feegar drengurinn kom til m\u00edn og sag\u00f0i a\u00f0 tveir af eldri munkunum v\u00e6ru a\u00f0 snerta sig \u00e1kva\u00f0 \u00e9g a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta Tadhg sofa inni hj\u00e1 m\u00e9r.
\n\u2001St\u00f3ri dagurinn hans Cathals rann loksins upp og fagurskapa\u00f0ur b\u00e1turinn skoppa\u00f0i eins fj\u00f6rug \u00edl\u00f6ng heslihneta vi\u00f0 litlu bryggjunna \u00ed \u00e1nni. Allir sem vettlingi g\u00e1tu valdi\u00f0 f\u00f3ru \u00far klaustrinu til a\u00f0 kve\u00f0ja \u00fe\u00e1 f\u00e9laga, sem h\u00f6f\u00f0u byrgt sig vel upp af \u00f6li, h\u00f6frum, h\u00e6nsnum, \u00feurrku\u00f0u kj\u00f6ti og korni. Sumir s\u00f6g\u00f0u a\u00f0 meiri matur v\u00e6ri \u00ed b\u00e1tkr\u00edlinu en klaustrinu \u00f6llu, \u00ed litlum le\u00f0urskjatta voru l\u00edka geymd eldf\u00e6ri og kol og undir g\u00f6mlu skinni voru net, l\u00edtil \u00f6xi, le\u00f0urreimar, aukah\u00fa\u00f0 og feiti til a\u00f0 bera \u00e1 h\u00fa\u00f0ir skipsins og samskeyti og segli\u00f0.
\n\u2001Dj\u00e1sni\u00f0 um bor\u00f0 var \u00fe\u00f3 fagurlega skreyttur kistill me\u00f0 Gamla testamentinu, t\u00ed\u00f0abj\u00f6llu, v\u00edg\u00f0u vatni, gr\u00edskum fj\u00f6gurra arma tr\u00e9krossi, kertum, messuv\u00edni \u00ed krukku sem var vafin inn \u00ed ka\u00f0al og hv\u00edtt hveiti \u00ed obl\u00e1turnar. \u00c1 bak vi\u00f0 kistilinn me\u00f0 skarlatsrau\u00f0u bl\u00f3\u00f0i frelsarans og snj\u00f3hv\u00edtt ver\u00f0andi holdi\u00f0 var svo akkerissteininn geymdur undir \u00f6ftustu \u00fe\u00f3ftinni.
\n\u2001\u00dear sem \u00feetta upp\u00e1t\u00e6ki Cathals haf\u00f0i aldrei heilla\u00f0 mig \u00e1kva\u00f0 \u00e9g a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a eftir \u00ed skrifsalnum og Tadhg var\u00f0 eftir hj\u00e1 m\u00e9r. Okkur vannst vel \u00ed notalegri \u00fe\u00f6gninni sem r\u00edkti eftir a\u00f0 klaustri\u00f0 t\u00e6mdist og m\u00e9r hitna\u00f0i um hjarta\u00f0 \u00feegar \u00e9g horf\u00f0i ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 l\u00e6rlinginn og vi\u00f0 m\u00e9r blasti raka\u00f0i \u00fer\u00edhyrninginn efst \u00e1 h\u00f6f\u00f0inu og s\u00ed\u00f0a h\u00e1ri\u00f0 sem var snyrtilega bundi\u00f0 \u00ed tagl vi\u00f0 hnakkann.
\n\u2001Fyrir framan hann \u00e1 p\u00faltinu var teikning af bo\u00f0un Mar\u00edu og \u00e9g s\u00e1 a\u00f0 engillinn l\u00edktist Tadhg sj\u00e1lfum. Gamli meistarinn minn sag\u00f0i einu sinni a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 v\u00e6rum alltaf a\u00f0 gera eftirmyndir af okkur sj\u00e1lfum, en a\u00f0 mikilv\u00e6gt v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 \u00feegja um \u00fea\u00f0.
\n\u2001Tadhg brosti \u00feegar \u00e9g sag\u00f0i honum \u00feetta og \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 segja eitthva\u00f0 en \u00fe\u00e1 barst fjarl\u00e6gur kli\u00f0ur inn um gluggann. Vi\u00f0 litum \u00fat og s\u00e1um \u00f3gnandi m\u00faginn n\u00e1lgast klaustri\u00f0. Fremstur \u00ed flokki var fa\u00f0ir Aifric og \u00fea\u00f0 f\u00f3r ekkert \u00e1 milli m\u00e1la hva\u00f0 hann \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 gera vi\u00f0 ka\u00f0alinn sem hann sveifla\u00f0i \u00ed \u00e1ttina a\u00f0 glugganum.
\n\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 var kominn t\u00edmi til a\u00f0 fara. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u00c9g var feginn a\u00f0 sj\u00e1 klaustri\u00f0 hverfa \u00feegar vi\u00f0 sigldum ni\u00f0ur \u00e1na og Cathal t\u00f3k upp l\u00ednb\u00fatinn sem s\u00fdndi hvernig flj\u00f3ti\u00f0 rann \u00ed \u00e1ttina a\u00f0 Atlantshafinu og lei\u00f0ina til Su\u00f0ureyja.
\u2001J\u00e1, vi\u00f0 \u00e6tlum a\u00f0 heims\u00e6kja margar eyjar og \u00fe\u00e6r eru svo sannarlega dularfullar og d\u00e1samlegar en \u00fei\u00f0 ver\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3 a\u00f0 hafa \u00ed huga a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e6r geta l\u00edka veri\u00f0 varasamar og sumar eyjar eru ekki einu sinni neinar eyjar, sag\u00f0i Cathal og lyfti v\u00edsifingri. Stundum eru \u00fe\u00e6r eitthva\u00f0 allt anna\u00f0. Eins og til d\u00e6mis Jakon\u00edus.
\u2001Hva\u00f0 er Jakon\u00edus \u00fe\u00e1? spur\u00f0i Brj\u00e1nn \u00fe\u00f3 hann hlj\u00f3ti a\u00f0 hafa heyrt fr\u00e1s\u00f6gnina oft \u00e1\u00f0ur.
\u2001J\u00fa, sj\u00e1i\u00f0 \u00fei\u00f0 til, \u00fea\u00f0 atvika\u00f0ist \u00feannig a\u00f0 laugardag fyrir p\u00e1ska leitu\u00f0u Brendan og hans menn a\u00f0 landi til syngja vesper. \u00de\u00e1 komu \u00feeir auga \u00e1 glj\u00e1andi svarta klettaeyju og l\u00f6g\u00f0u a\u00f0 henni. \u00dearna l\u00f6g\u00f0ust \u00feeir \u00e1 b\u00e6n og \u00fe\u00f6kku\u00f0u Gu\u00f0i og Brendan s\u00f6ng messu til a\u00f0 fagna \u00fej\u00e1ningum frelsarans, en \u00feegar \u00feeir \u00e6tlu\u00f0u a\u00f0 matast og kveiktu eld s\u00f6kk eyjan.
\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 kom \u00ed lj\u00f3s a\u00f0 h\u00fan var lifandi, \u00feetta var Jaskon\u00edusarhvalurinn. Cathal gaf fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r eitthva\u00f0 sem hef\u00f0i hlj\u00f3ma\u00f0i eins og fliss ef \u00fea\u00f0 hef\u00f0i komi\u00f0 fr\u00e1 \u00f6\u00f0rum.
\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 er alltaf r\u00f3andi a\u00f0 hlusta \u00e1 s\u00f6gu sem \u00fe\u00fa \u00feekkir og \u00feetta var notaleg stund.
\u2001Um n\u00f3ttina l\u00e9tum vi\u00f0 strauminn flytja b\u00e1tinn \u00ed gegnum myrkann birkiilminn fr\u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum og s\u00f6ng \u00ferastanna sem t\u00f3ku s\u00e9r ekki hv\u00edld nema r\u00e9tt um mi\u00f0n\u00e6tti\u00f0. N\u00f3ttin var undarlega heit, vi\u00f0 sv\u00e1fum bara \u00ed l\u00ednkl\u00e6\u00f0unum og m\u00e9r br\u00e1 \u00feegar br\u00e6\u00f0urnir Flann og Brj\u00e1nn st\u00f3\u00f0u allt \u00ed einu upp, stukku fyrir bor\u00f0 og hurfu. Flj\u00f3tlega birtust \u00feeir \u00fe\u00f3 aftur \u00ed glitrandi vatnsyfirbor\u00f0inu, hl\u00e6jandi og k\u00e1tir og klifru\u00f0u upp \u00e1 \u00e1rbakkann \u00fear sem \u00feeir s\u00f6fnu\u00f0u netlum.
\u2001\u00deetta heldur okkur \u00f6llum hraustum, sag\u00f0i Flann \u00feegar \u00feeir komu aftur um bor\u00f0 og \u00fe\u00f3 hann v\u00e6ri bara einn af b\u00e6ndabr\u00e6\u00f0runum \u00fe\u00e1 var Flann \u00f3neitanlega gl\u00e6silegur \u00fearna \u00ed tunglskininu me\u00f0 l\u00ednskyrtuna l\u00edmda vi\u00f0 st\u00e6ltan bolinn.
\u2001\u00dea\u00f0an sem \u00feeir br\u00e6\u00f0ur koma syndir f\u00f3lk, sag\u00f0i Cathal og m\u00e9r fannst \u00fea\u00f0 hlj\u00f3ma eins og honum fyndist \u00fea\u00f0 mi\u00f0ur.
\u2001S\u00ed\u00f0asta n\u00f3ttin \u00e1 \u00e1nni var stj\u00f6rnubj\u00f6rt. \u00dalfar spang\u00f3lu\u00f0u \u00ed fjarska og \u00feegar Cathal sko\u00f0a\u00f0i \u00e1ttirnar heyr\u00f0i hann undarleg hlj\u00f3\u00f0 fr\u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum \u00e1\u00f0ur en steinn \u00feaut framhj\u00e1 stefninu. Fleiri steinar fylgdu strax \u00e1 eftir en sem betur f\u00f3r sluppum vi\u00f0 \u00f3skadda\u00f0ir og Cathal s\u00f6ng pr\u00edm, t\u00f3k fram Gamla testamenti\u00f0, ger\u00f0i krossmark yfir \u00fev\u00ed og kyssti k\u00e1puna \u00e1 me\u00f0an sv\u00f6luh\u00f3pur flaug inn \u00ed landi\u00f0 samtaka eins og ein skepna.
\u2001Fiat voluntas tua.
\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 var undarleg tilfinning a\u00f0 sleppa takinu \u00e1 landi og leggja \u00fat \u00e1 hafi\u00f0 sem m\u00e9r virtist endalaust. Vi\u00f0 settum upp segli\u00f0 sem var sauma\u00f0 \u00far fj\u00f3rum br\u00fanum h\u00fa\u00f0um og vindurinn fyllti \u00fea\u00f0 strax.
\u2001H\u00f6frungar l\u00e9ku s\u00e9r \u00ed kringum okkur fyrsta daginn og \u00fear sem vi\u00f0 vorum vanir \u00fev\u00ed \u00ed klaustrinu a\u00f0 sofa a\u00f0eins fj\u00f3ra t\u00edma \u00ed einu reyndust vaktirnar au\u00f0veldar. Si\u00f0ir munkanna fylgdu okkur um bor\u00f0 og b\u00e6nir og t\u00ed\u00f0as\u00f6ngur voru \u00e1 s\u00ednum sta\u00f0 \u00ed s\u00f3larhringnum.
\u2001Matudinum, laudes, prim, ters, sext, nona, vesper, completorium …
\u2001\u00deannig \u00f3x klaustri\u00f0 og breiddi \u00far s\u00e9r \u00fear til \u00fea\u00f0 n\u00e1\u00f0i yfir alla n\u00e1tt\u00faru \u00ed ver\u00f6ldinni. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vi\u00f0 Cathal vorum me\u00f0 sj\u00f3ri\u00f0u \u00feegar vi\u00f0 komum \u00ed land \u00e1 Su\u00f0ureyjum \u00fear sem br\u00e6\u00f0urnir t\u00f3ku vel \u00e1 m\u00f3ti okkur.
\n\u2001H\u00fdb\u00fdlin voru alveg \u00feokkaleg, greinilega enginn skortur \u00e1 mat og \u00fearna gat \u00e9g vel hugsa\u00f0 m\u00e9r a\u00f0 dvelja.
\n\u2001\u00de\u00f3 skynja\u00f0i \u00e9g flj\u00f3tlega a\u00f0 l\u00edklega v\u00e6ru heims\u00f3knir sjaldg\u00e6far \u00e1 \u00feessum sta\u00f0, \u00feagnir voru \u00e1berandi og talsvert var um h\u00fd\u00f0ingar. Br\u00e6\u00f0urnir kv\u00f6rtu\u00f0u l\u00edka miki\u00f0 undan piktum. Tr\u00favillingarnir brugga sei\u00f0 og form\u00e6la klaustrinu, sag\u00f0i \u00e1b\u00f3tinn.
\n\u2001\u00d6ll h\u00fas \u00e1 eyjunni voru reist \u00far steinum \u00fev\u00ed ekki var miki\u00f0 um trj\u00e1gr\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00fearna, en \u00e1b\u00f3tinn, sem var f\u00f6lur og gr\u00e1r jafnvel \u00fe\u00f3 hann skarta\u00f0i skarlatsrau\u00f0um og hv\u00edtr\u00f6nd\u00f3ttum kyrtlinum, bau\u00f0 okkur til veislu \u00fear sem veitt var vel og \u00feeir Cathal r\u00e6ddu saman langt fram \u00e1 n\u00f3tt.\nHinga\u00f0 hefur aldrei nokkur kona komi\u00f0, heyr\u00f0i \u00e9g \u00e1b\u00f3tann segja og \u00fea\u00f0 var stolt \u00ed r\u00f6ddinni. Klaustri\u00f0 er hreint.
\n\u2001J\u00e1, sag\u00f0i Cathal smja\u00f0urslega, enda konan misheppnu\u00f0 \u00fatg\u00e1fa af karlmanninum og a\u00f0eins h\u00e6f til barneigna.
\n\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 \u00feyrmdi yfir mig \u00feegar \u00e9g heyr\u00f0i \u00feetta. Minningin um Aifric var\u00f0 svo sterk a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 var n\u00e6stum \u00f3\u00feolandi. Og hva\u00f0 yr\u00f0i um \u00feetta barn hennar sem \u00e9g var viss um a\u00f0 v\u00e6ri drengur. Myndi hann lifa? Og ef svo v\u00e6ri, myndi Liam \u00fe\u00e1 ala hann upp? E\u00f0a yr\u00f0i hann kannski sendur \u00ed klaustur?
\n\u2001\u00c9g vona\u00f0i \u00fea\u00f0.
\n\u2001Eftir a\u00f0 \u00e9g kynntist \u00feessari reglu betur fannst m\u00e9r eins og a\u00f0 munkarnir \u00fearna hlytu a\u00f0 eiga s\u00e9r skuggalegri fort\u00ed\u00f0 en okkar br\u00e6\u00f0ur, \u00fev\u00ed margir gengu \u00ed h\u00e1rskyrtum og l\u00edfi\u00f0 virtist a\u00f0allega sn\u00faast um \u00fej\u00e1ningu, i\u00f0run og yfirb\u00f3t. Vi\u00f0 heims\u00f3ttum l\u00edka nokkra einsetumenn sem bjuggu \u00ed n\u00e1grenninu og gamall munkur s\u00fdndi okkur kastalar\u00fastir og h\u00f6ggmyndir piktanna.
\n\u2001\u00deegar vi\u00f0 gengum \u00e1samt \u00e1b\u00f3tanum og nokkrum af eldri br\u00e6\u00f0runum eftir gr\u00fdttri fj\u00f6runni \u00ed sko\u00f0unarfer\u00f0 um eyjuna var\u00f0 berf\u00e6ttum br\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00e1 barnsaldri \u00fea\u00f0 \u00e1 a\u00f0 kvarta undan hv\u00f6ssum steinnibbunum.
\n\u2001Af hverju ertu ekki \u00ed sk\u00f3m? spur\u00f0i \u00e9g \u00e1\u00f0ur en Cathal n\u00e1\u00f0i a\u00f0 hnippa \u00ed mig og um lei\u00f0 sl\u00f3 \u00e1b\u00f3tinn drenginn svo fast a\u00f0 hann f\u00e9ll vi\u00f0. \nM\u00e9r br\u00e1 og \u00e9g fann a\u00f0 Cathal t\u00f3k kipp. Vi\u00f0 vorum \u00fer\u00edr sem deildum \u00feessum kinnhesti.
\n\u2001\u00deeir Brendan r\u00e1kust \u00e1 s\u00e6skr\u00edmsli \u00e1 fer\u00f0um s\u00ednum sem r\u00e9\u00f0ist \u00e1 minnsta br\u00f3\u00f0urinn og bl\u00f3\u00f0ga\u00f0i hann, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i Cathal. Og \u00feeir dr\u00e1pu skr\u00edmsli\u00f0 og \u00e1tu.
\n\u2001\u00deetta var alla vega ekki r\u00e9tti sta\u00f0urinn fyrir mig. M\u00e9r var ekki \u00e6tla\u00f0 a\u00f0 gera h\u00e9r \u00e6vilanga yfirb\u00f3t \u00ed h\u00e1rskyrtu vegna Aifric. Henni leiddist \u00f6rugglega ekkert. L\u00edklega var h\u00fan n\u00fa gift Liam.
\n\u2001Vonandi? \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hafi\u00f0 var bl\u00fdgr\u00e1tt morguninn sem vi\u00f0 h\u00e9ldum \u00fat \u00ed \u00f3vissuna. L\u00ednd\u00fakurinn sem Cathal haf\u00f0i nota\u00f0 til a\u00f0 sigla eftir og finna Su\u00f0ureyjarnar kom ekki lengur a\u00f0 gagni, vi\u00f0 vorum a\u00f0 sigla \u00fat af honum og \u00fea\u00f0 var hrollur \u00ed okkur \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir ullarf\u00f6tin. \u00deegjandi horf\u00f0um vi\u00f0 \u00e1 landi\u00f0 hverfa \u00fear til \u00feoka skall \u00e1, svo sv\u00f6rt a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 t\u00f3kum ni\u00f0ur segli\u00f0 og l\u00e9tum \u00f6rl\u00f6gin og alm\u00e6tti\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0a stefnunni.
\n\u2001\u00c9g held a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 s\u00e9um \u00e1 lei\u00f0 \u00ed vestur\u00e1tt \u00fear sem \u00e6vint\u00fdrin b\u00ed\u00f0a okkar, sag\u00f0i Cathal hikandi, en \u00ed n\u00f3tt dreymdi mig drottninguna \u00e1 Eyju lystisemdanna og \u00fea\u00f0 bo\u00f0ar aldrei gott.
\n\u2001Hva\u00f0a eyja er \u00fea\u00f0? spur\u00f0i Tadhg forvitinn og h\u00e6tti \u00ed augnablik a\u00f0 hreinsa tennurnar og g\u00f3mana me\u00f0 litla ullartuskunni sinni.
\n\u2001T\u00edr na n\u00d3g heitir h\u00fan, stundum l\u00edka k\u00f6llu\u00f0 Eyja eil\u00edfrar \u00e6sku, svara\u00f0i Cathal. Brendan komst aldrei \u00feanga\u00f0, en hetjan Br\u00e2n kynntist henni illu heilli. Cathal d\u00e6sti.
\n\u2001Br\u00e2n dreymdi nefnilega a\u00f0 f\u00f6gur kona kom til hans og sag\u00f0i honum hvar alla fegur\u00f0 \u00ed ver\u00f6ldinni, hamingju og eil\u00edft l\u00edf v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 finna. Og \u00feegar hann vakna\u00f0i gat hann au\u00f0vita\u00f0 ekki gleymt \u00feessari konu svo hann sigldi af sta\u00f0 me\u00f0 m\u00f6nnum s\u00ednum \u00ed leit a\u00f0 drottningunni og hir\u00f0 hennar. \n\u00deetta var vi\u00f0bur\u00f0ar\u00edk fer\u00f0 og m\u00f6rg undur og kraftaverk ger\u00f0ust \u00e1 lei\u00f0inni.
\u2001\u00deeir hittu l\u00edka a\u00f0ra hetju, Manann\u00e1n mac Lir sem \u00f3k gullkerru og haf\u00f0i s\u00e9\u00f0 margt merkilegt. Me\u00f0al annars sag\u00f0i hann \u00feeim a\u00f0 hafi\u00f0 v\u00e6ri \u00ed reynd v\u00ed\u00f0fe\u00f0mt engi \u00fear sem gl\u00e6sivagnar, \u00f3s\u00fdnilegir m\u00f6nnum, \u00f3ku \u00e1 \u00e6silegum hra\u00f0a \u00ed endalausri keppni hvor vi\u00f0 annan.
\n\u2001Kv\u00f6ld eftir kv\u00f6ld bau\u00f0 hann \u00feeim til veislu \u00fear sem hann veitti vel og sag\u00f0i \u00feeim fr\u00e1 \u00f6llum fur\u00f0um veraldarinnar \u00fear til drottningin var\u00f0 a\u00f0 lokum \u00f3\u00feolinm\u00f3\u00f0 og kasta\u00f0i t\u00f6frahnykli fr\u00e1 Eyju lystisemdanna til Br\u00e2ns sem greip \u00fer\u00e1\u00f0inn og fylgdi honum \u00e1samt m\u00f6nnum s\u00ednum \u00fear til \u00feeir fundu eyjuna.
\n\u2001\u00dearna var miki\u00f0 um d\u00fdr\u00f0ir, d\u00e1samlegur matur og drykkir, dans og gle\u00f0i og allar konur fagrar og bl\u00ed\u00f0ar. Sj\u00e1lf var drottningin fegurst af \u00feeim \u00f6llum og a\u00f0ra eins konu h\u00f6f\u00f0u \u00feeir aldrei augum liti\u00f0. H\u00fa\u00f0in og h\u00e1ri\u00f0 var gulli\u00f0, framkoman t\u00edgulleg og r\u00f6ddin una\u00f0slega \u00f3jar\u00f0nesk \u00feegar h\u00fan s\u00f6ng fyrir \u00fe\u00e1.
\n\u2001Flann hnippti \u00ed Brj\u00e1n sem hnippti \u00ed hann \u00e1 m\u00f3ti og \u00feeir brostu dreymnir. Getum vi\u00f0 ekki reynt a\u00f0 finna \u00feessa eyju? spur\u00f0i Flann. Okkur Brj\u00e1ni finnst \u00feetta vera sta\u00f0arlegasta eyjan sem \u00fe\u00fa hefur sagt okkur fr\u00e1.
\n\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 er ekki allt gull sem gl\u00f3ir Flann, sag\u00f0i Cathal strangur en h\u00e9lt svo \u00e1fram me\u00f0 s\u00f6guna.
\n\u2001\u00dearna undu \u00feeir Br\u00e2n og hans menn \u00ed s\u00e6lu og vellystingum \u00ed heilt \u00e1r, en \u00fe\u00e1 fengu \u00feeir heim\u00fer\u00e1 og vildu fara.
\n\u2001Drottningin var treg til a\u00f0 sleppa \u00feeim, h\u00fan reiddist og \u00feegar \u00feeir yfirg\u00e1fu eyjuna \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir m\u00f3tm\u00e6li hennar form\u00e6lti h\u00fan \u00feeim.
\n\u2001\u00deeir t\u00f6ldu sig hafa sloppi\u00f0 vel en \u00feegar Br\u00e2n og f\u00e9lagar hans \u00e6tlu\u00f0u heim komust \u00feeir a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 eitt \u00e1r \u00e1 Eyju lystisemdanna eru hundra\u00f0 \u00e1r samkv\u00e6mt okkar t\u00edmatali. Ef \u00feeir sn\u00e9ru aftur yr\u00f0u \u00feeir a\u00f0 dufti um lei\u00f0 og \u00feeir snertu \u00edrska j\u00f6r\u00f0 og \u00feeir g\u00e1tu \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0eins fari\u00f0 heim sem go\u00f0sagnir af sj\u00e1lfum s\u00e9r.
\n\u2001En kannski hef\u00f0u \u00feeir bara \u00e1tt a\u00f0 vera \u00e1fram \u00e1 \u00feessari eyju, sag\u00f0i Flann og Brj\u00e1nn kinka\u00f0i \u00e1kafur kolli.
\n\u2001Cathal svara\u00f0i ekki en m\u00e9r var\u00f0 hugsa\u00f0 til Aifric. \u00c9g var nokku\u00f0 viss um a\u00f0 h\u00fan form\u00e6lti m\u00e9r. Var hugsanlegt a\u00f0 h\u00fan hef\u00f0i lagt einhvern \u00f3\u00feverra \u00e1 mig? Var ekki amma hennar fr\u00e1 M\u00f6n? H\u00fan var til alls v\u00eds.
\n\u2001Tadhg var brug\u00f0i\u00f0 eftir a\u00f0 hafa hlusta\u00f0 \u00e1 \u00f3farir Br\u00e2ns og f\u00e9laga hans. \u00c9g er of ungur fyrir \u00feetta, sag\u00f0i hann dapur og \u00feag\u00f0i svo \u00fea\u00f0 sem eftir var dagsins nema r\u00e9tt \u00e1 me\u00f0an vi\u00f0 sungum s\u00e1lamana. En reyndar \u00fe\u00f6g\u00f0um vi\u00f0 allir og \u00feessa n\u00f3tt hreyf\u00f0um vi\u00f0 okkur ekki nema r\u00e9tt til a\u00f0 gera \u00fearfir okkar yfir bor\u00f0stokkinn.
\n\u2001Eftir n\u00e1tts\u00f6nginn, \u00feegar \u00e9g var a\u00f0 sofna s\u00e1 \u00e9g a\u00f0 Cathal settist hj\u00e1 Tadhg.
\n\u2001Ekki vera hr\u00e6ddur, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i hann. Vi\u00f0 siglum ekki \u00e1 s\u00f6mu sl\u00f3\u00f0ir og Br\u00e2n. Vi\u00f0 stefnum \u00ed gagnst\u00e6\u00f0a \u00e1tt \u00fear til vi\u00f0 finnum \u00feetta sem okkur er \u00e6tla\u00f0 a\u00f0 skr\u00e1setja og myndskreyta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daginn eftir lentum vi\u00f0 \u00ed gj\u00f6rningave\u00f0ri. Stormurinn bar\u00f0i h\u00fa\u00f0irnar, sj\u00f3rinn rauk og vi\u00f0 ur\u00f0um sj\u00f3veikir. \u00dear sem ekki haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 reikna\u00f0 me\u00f0 okkur Tadhg \u00ed \u00feessa fer\u00f0 voru bara \u00ferj\u00fa sett af ol\u00edubornum g\u00e6ruskikkjum og h\u00f6ttum um bor\u00f0.
\n\u2001Flann og Brj\u00e1nn s\u00f6g\u00f0ust ekki \u00feurfa \u00e1 \u00feessu a\u00f0 halda og l\u00e9tu okkur Tahg eftir s\u00ednar yfirhafnir, en \u00feegar vi\u00f0 \u00e6tlu\u00f0um a\u00f0 \u00feakka \u00feeim fyrir, hristi Flann h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0. Erum vi\u00f0 ekki br\u00e6\u00f0ur? sag\u00f0i hann. Kristi\u00f0 f\u00f3lk?\nM\u00e9r lei\u00f0 undarlega, en kannski var \u00fea\u00f0 bara sj\u00f3veikin sem var farin a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta \u00e1 s\u00e9r kr\u00e6la.
\n\u2001F\u00e1rvi\u00f0ri\u00f0 geysa\u00f0i \u00ed fj\u00f3ra daga og stundum langa\u00f0i mig a\u00f0 kasta m\u00e9r fyrir bor\u00f0 \u00feegar litla skipi\u00f0 hrundi af \u00f6ldutoppunum ni\u00f0ur \u00ed dalina.
\n\u2001En \u00e1 me\u00f0an \u00feetta gekk yfir st\u00f3\u00f0u Flann og Brj\u00e1nn uppi, sj\u00f3lagi\u00f0 haf\u00f0i engin \u00e1hrif \u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1 og \u00feeir hl\u00fa\u00f0u a\u00f0 okkur hinum um lei\u00f0 og \u00feeir sigldu b\u00e1tnum, reyndu a\u00f0 sinna t\u00ed\u00f0as\u00f6ngnum og raulu\u00f0u s\u00e1lma af veikum m\u00e6tti til a\u00f0 gle\u00f0ja Cathal.
\n\u2001Tadhg og Cathal ur\u00f0u verulega veikir, s\u00e9rstaklega Cathal og eitt kv\u00f6ldi\u00f0, \u00feegar hann var sl\u00e6mur, gaf hann m\u00e9r merki um a\u00f0 koma til s\u00edn.
\n\u2001Ef \u00e9g lifi \u00feetta ekki af tekur \u00fe\u00fa vi\u00f0, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i hann undan daunillri ullarg\u00e6runni sem einhver haf\u00f0i breitt yfir hann.
\n\u2001\u00c9g?! svara\u00f0i \u00e9g hneyksla\u00f0ur.
\n\u2001\u00de\u00fa ert \u00e1 r\u00e9ttum aldri og \u00f3fyrirleitnastur af ykkur, sag\u00f0i hann og lei\u00f0 svo \u00fat af.
\n\u2001Um lei\u00f0 ve\u00f0ri\u00f0 sk\u00e1na\u00f0i hresstumst vi\u00f0 og Tadhg f\u00f3r a\u00f0 su\u00f0a um s\u00f6gur. Flann og Brj\u00e1nn s\u00f6g\u00f0ust engar muna og \u00e9g aft\u00f3k me\u00f0 \u00f6llu a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a vi\u00f0 \u00feessu, en \u00feegar Cathal ranka\u00f0i vi\u00f0 s\u00e9r reyndi hann af veikum m\u00e6tti a\u00f0 gle\u00f0ja unga manninn. Fr\u00e1sagnirnar voru \u00fe\u00f3 snubb\u00f3ttar og \u00f3vanda\u00f0ar \u00ed byrjun og \u00fea\u00f0 vanta\u00f0i neistann \u00ed \u00fe\u00e6r.
\n\u2001Brendan og hans menn komu a\u00f0 eyju \u00fear sem fyrir var mikill fiskur og lindir sem sv\u00e6f\u00f0u \u00fe\u00e1. \u00dear sv\u00e1fu \u00feeir \u00ed sj\u00f6 daga, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i Cathal \u00fereytulega.
\n\u2001Tadhg geispa\u00f0i. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eftir nokkurra daga siglingu s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 m\u00f3ta fyrir svartri \u00fe\u00fast sem virtist sv\u00edfa \u00ed \u00feokusl\u00e6\u00f0unum vi\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringinn.
\n\u2001\u00deetta er eyja st\u00f3rvaxna fj\u00e1rstofnsins! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i Cathal \u00e6stur \u00e1 me\u00f0an vi\u00f0 leitu\u00f0um lendingar \u00fear sem helst virtist m\u00f6guleiki til \u00feess. \u00c1b\u00f3tinn tala\u00f0i miki\u00f0 um \u00feessa eyju, b\u00e6tti hann vi\u00f0, lygndi aftur augunum og nudda\u00f0i saman h\u00f6ndunum um lei\u00f0 og hann tala\u00f0i, en vi\u00f0 hinir b\u00f6r\u00f0umst vi\u00f0 grynningarnar.
\n\u2001\u00deeir Brendan komu a\u00f0 gr\u00f6sugri klettaeyju \u00fear sem st\u00f3rir flokkar af snj\u00f3hv\u00edtu og g\u00e6fu f\u00e9 \u00e1 st\u00e6r\u00f0 vi\u00f0 nautgripi var \u00e1 beit. \u00deetta var sk\u00edrdagur og \u00fearna dv\u00f6ldu munkarnir \u00ed g\u00f3\u00f0u yfirl\u00e6ti til laugardags fyrir p\u00e1ska \u00feegar til \u00feeirra kom ma\u00f0ur, sem kalla\u00f0i sig Formann og benti \u00feeim \u00e1 a\u00f0 sigla til annarrar eyjar \u00fearna r\u00e9tt hj\u00e1 og dvelja \u00fear yfir h\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0arnar. Br\u00e6\u00f0urnir fylgdu fyrirm\u00e6lum Formanns og h\u00e9ldu p\u00e1skadag heilagan \u00e1 eyjunni \u00fear sem \u00feeir sn\u00e6ddu agnus immaculatus, flekklaust lamb \u00far hj\u00f6r\u00f0inni sem var svo meyrt a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 br\u00e1\u00f0na\u00f0i \u00e1 tungunni …
\n\u2001Cathal \u00feagna\u00f0i en vi\u00f0 fengum allir vatn \u00ed munninn vi\u00f0 l\u00fdsingarnar.\n\u00deegar okkur haf\u00f0i loksins tekist a\u00f0 lenda b\u00e1tnum vi\u00f0 \u00f6rmj\u00f3tt skar\u00f0 \u00ed klettinn og klifra vi\u00f0 illan leik upp \u00e1 grasbalann efst, kom \u00ed lj\u00f3s a\u00f0 \u00fearna voru bara nokkrar \u00f6rreytis\u00fe\u00fafur og einstaka rolla, sm\u00e1vaxin og fremur horu\u00f0 innan um holurtina og giljafl\u00e6kjurnar. Vonsviknir leitu\u00f0um vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 s\u00e6milega \u00feurrum sprekum, sem var t\u00edmafrek i\u00f0ja og vi\u00f0 or\u00f0nir svangir.
\n\u2001\u00deetta getur ekki veri\u00f0 r\u00e9tta eyjan, sag\u00f0i Flann og \u00fea\u00f0 kom hik \u00e1 okkur alla en Cathal virti hann ekki svars.
\n\u2001Loks gripum vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3 einn lambhr\u00fatinn, sl\u00e1tru\u00f0um honum undir s\u00e1lmas\u00f6ng og tilreiddum \u00fearna \u00ed fj\u00f6rukambinum.
\n\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 er ekkert mark takandi \u00e1 \u00feessum Brendan, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g \u00f6nugur \u00e1 me\u00f0an vi\u00f0 vorum a\u00f0 elda magurt l\u00e6ri\u00f0 yfir logandi sprekum og \u00feurrum \u00feara.
\n\u2001\u00dea\u00f0 er bara svo langt s\u00ed\u00f0an hann var h\u00e9r, sag\u00f0i Cathal fri\u00f0samlega. Hlutirnir breytast. En h\u00e9r \u00ed n\u00e1grenninu er l\u00edka Parad\u00edsareyja fuglanna samkv\u00e6mt Brendan. B\u00ed\u00f0i\u00f0 bara \u00feanga\u00f0 til vi\u00f0 komum \u00feanga\u00f0. \u00dear ger\u00f0ust m\u00f6rg kraftaverk.
\n\u2001Hvernig \u00e6tlar\u00f0u a\u00f0 \u00feekkja \u00feessa Parad\u00edsareyju fr\u00e1 hinum skerjunum \u00fearna? spur\u00f0i \u00e9g og benti \u00e1 sj\u00f3ndeildarhringinn.
\n\u2001\u00c9g \u00feekki \u00fe\u00e1 eyju \u00feegar \u00e9g s\u00e9 hana, sag\u00f0i Cathal og \u00feerra\u00f0i munninn me\u00f0 erminni.
\n\u2001Og \u00fea\u00f0 ger\u00f0i hann.
\n\u2001\u00dearna! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i hann \u00feegar vi\u00f0 komum a\u00f0 \u00f3venju st\u00f3rum og gr\u00f3num kletti \u00e1 fj\u00f3rum s\u00e9rkennilegum st\u00f6llum sem minntu \u00e1 bor\u00f0f\u00e6tur. F\u00fdlan var\u00f0 n\u00e6stum \u00f3b\u00e6rileg \u00feegar vi\u00f0 n\u00e1lgu\u00f0umst, klettarnir hv\u00edtir af driti og fuglagargi\u00f0 \u00e6randi \u00fev\u00ed \u00fearna var allt fullt af svartfugli.
\n\u2001\u00deetta lag\u00f0ist vel \u00ed mig. Vi\u00f0 getum n\u00e1\u00f0 \u00ed egg og m\u00e1fakj\u00f6t, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g spenntur.
\n\u2001\u00de\u00fa snertir ekki fuglana h\u00e9r, sag\u00f0i Cathal strangur. \u00deetta eru ekki fuglar, \u00feetta eru englar.
\n\u2001\u00c9g var\u00f0 fyrir vonbrig\u00f0um, en beit \u00e1 jaxlinn um lei\u00f0 og vi\u00f0 r\u00e9rum a\u00f0 \u00feunnri strandr\u00e6mu sem virtist eina m\u00f6gulega lendingin \u00fearna og hlusta\u00f0i me\u00f0 \u00f6\u00f0ru eyranu \u00e1 s\u00f6guna sem Cathal sag\u00f0i, um lei\u00f0 og hann star\u00f0i einbeittur \u00ed land.
\n\u2001Brendan sigldi a\u00f0 Parad\u00edsareyjunni fuglanna sem r\u00eds fj\u00f3rf\u00e6tt \u00far \u00fathafinu og \u00fear sem fuglar b\u00faa \u00ed risaeik \u00e1 mi\u00f0ri eyjunni og syngja inn t\u00edmann. \u00deessir fuglar t\u00f3ku \u00e1 m\u00f3ti \u00feeim br\u00e6\u00f0rum me\u00f0 f\u00f6grum s\u00e1lmas\u00f6ng og saman lofu\u00f0u \u00feeir Gu\u00f0 og p\u00e1skah\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0ina. Svo flaug einn fuglinn til Brendans og tala\u00f0i til hans me\u00f0 r\u00f6dd sem var hlj\u00f3mf\u00f6gur eins og klausturbjalla.
\n\u2001H\u00e9r h\u00f6ldum vi\u00f0 til, f\u00f6llnu englarnir. \u00deessir sem lentu \u00e1 milli \u00feegar styrj\u00f6ldin mikla geysa\u00f0i \u00ed himnar\u00edki og L\u00fasifer var varpa\u00f0 ni\u00f0ur til jar\u00f0arinnar. Vi\u00f0 vorum hlutlausir, studdum hvorki Drottinn n\u00e9 L\u00fasifer og t\u00f3kum ekki afst\u00f6\u00f0u fyrr en eftir fall L\u00fasifers, en \u00fe\u00e1 fylgdum vi\u00f0 Drottni. Og n\u00fa s\u00fdnir hann okkur n\u00e1\u00f0, sag\u00f0i fuglinn. Enn f\u00e1um vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 vera \u00ed n\u00e1vist Gu\u00f0s og fer\u00f0umst holdlausir \u00ed gegnum loft og j\u00f6r\u00f0, en \u00e1 helgum d\u00f6gum eins og \u00ed dag erum vi\u00f0 fuglar og getum sungi\u00f0 Skaparanum til d\u00fdr\u00f0ar.
\n\u2001R\u00f6dd Cathals titra\u00f0i svol\u00edti\u00f0 \u00feegar hann sag\u00f0i s\u00ed\u00f0ustu or\u00f0in. Okkur setti hlj\u00f3\u00f0a eftir \u00feessa fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn og \u00feegjandi dr\u00f3gum vi\u00f0 b\u00e1tinn ofar \u00ed fj\u00f6runa, en vi\u00f0 fundum enga risaeik \u00e1 \u00feessari illalyktandi eyju og gargi\u00f0 \u00ed sj\u00f3fuglunum \u00e1tti ekkert skylt vi\u00f0 englas\u00f6ng og klausturbj\u00f6llur.
\n\u2001\u00c9g held a\u00f0 okkur s\u00e9 alveg \u00f3h\u00e6tt a\u00f0 narta a\u00f0eins \u00ed \u00feessa m\u00e1va, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g fri\u00f0samlega.
\n\u2001En Cathal var ekki viss.
\n\u2001Vi\u00f0 viljum engin slys h\u00e9r, sag\u00f0i hann. Vi\u00f0 getum \u00f3m\u00f6gulega vita\u00f0 hverrar n\u00e1tt\u00faru \u00feessir fuglar eru, hvort \u00feetta eru fuglar e\u00f0a englar.
\n\u2001En \u00fea\u00f0 er ekki helgur dagur \u00ed dag, sag\u00f0i Brj\u00e1nn. Og englarnir \u00fev\u00ed ekki \u00ed holdinu.
\n\u2001\u00deetta \u00e1ttu til, hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g fullur a\u00f0d\u00e1unar, \u00fe\u00f3 \u00e9g seg\u00f0i ekki neitt og flj\u00f3tlega vorum vi\u00f0 komnir me\u00f0 t\u00f3lf svartfuglsbringur og t\u00f6luvert af eggjum.
\n\u2001\u00deetta espa\u00f0i upp \u00ed okkur gr\u00e6\u00f0gina og Flann og Brj\u00e1nn rifu sig \u00far sk\u00f3num, \u00f3\u00f0u \u00fat \u00ed \u00f6ldurnar og sn\u00e9ru aftur me\u00f0 lax sem var bl\u00f3\u00f0ga\u00f0ur \u00e1 sta\u00f0num og skellt \u00e1 eldinn.
\n\u2001N\u00fa h\u00f6ldum vi\u00f0 \u00ed vestur, sag\u00f0i Cathal eins og hann vissi hvert vi\u00f0 v\u00e6rum a\u00f0 fara, og vi\u00f0 vorum svo saddir a\u00f0 enginn kom me\u00f0 efasemdir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00cd viku sigldum vi\u00f0 \u00fafinn sj\u00f3 \u00fear til vi\u00f0 komum auga \u00e1 land \u00ed fjarska \u00e1 bak vi\u00f0 \u00f6ldutoppanna. \u00deegar vi\u00f0 n\u00e1lgu\u00f0umst str\u00f6ndina bl\u00f6stu vi\u00f0 mikil fj\u00f6ll og upp \u00far einu \u00feeirra gekk mikill reykur.
\u2001Engum leist \u00e1 \u00feetta nema Cathal.
\u2001\u00deetta er fordyri v\u00edtis, sag\u00f0i Tadhg skelka\u00f0ur. Hva\u00f0 sag\u00f0i Brendan aftur um \u00feessa eyju? Hvarf ekki einn af m\u00f6nnum hans \u00fearna?
\u2001\u00c9g reyndi a\u00f0 bera mig vel til a\u00f0 hr\u00e6\u00f0a ekki Tadhg og \u00feag\u00f0i.
\u2001Nei, k\u00e6ru br\u00e6\u00f0ur. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6fum fundi\u00f0 fyrirheitna landi\u00f0 d\u00fdrlinganna. Landi\u00f0 \u00fear sem sendibo\u00f0i Gu\u00f0s bau\u00f0 Brendan a\u00f0 taka me\u00f0 s\u00e9r alla \u00e1vexti og gimsteina sem hann gat bori\u00f0 \u00feegar hann sigldi aftur heim, sag\u00f0i Cathal \u00e1n\u00e6g\u00f0ur.
\u2001\u00dearna \u00e6tla \u00e9g ekki a\u00f0 dvelja, hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g um lei\u00f0 og broti\u00f0 skall \u00e1 okkur og ver\u00f6ldin hvarf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me\u00f0 ofbirtu \u00ed augunum og \u00ed yfir\u00feyrmandi \u00fe\u00f6gn skrei\u00f0 \u00e9g upp svarta fj\u00f6runa, sannf\u00e6r\u00f0ur um a\u00f0 \u00feetta v\u00e6ri b\u00fai\u00f0, a\u00f0 \u00e9g v\u00e6ri d\u00e1inn.
\n\u2001En \u00fearalyktin og s\u00e1rsaukinn \u00ed \u00f6xlinni tilheyr\u00f0u l\u00edfinu, og eins m\u00e1vagargi\u00f0 og \u00f6lduni\u00f0urinn sem var\u00f0 sm\u00e1m saman til \u00feegar heyrnin kom aftur. \u00deessi strandlengja var \u00fea\u00f0 s\u00ed\u00f0asta sem vi\u00f0 s\u00e1um og fordyri v\u00edtis, g\u00edgurinn, en n\u00fa uppg\u00f6tva\u00f0i \u00e9g l\u00edka \u00fe\u00e9tt, fj\u00f6lgr\u00e6nt kjarrlendi vi\u00f0 fj\u00f3lubl\u00e1ar fjallshl\u00ed\u00f0ar sem titru\u00f0u \u00ed t\u00edbr\u00e1nni. \u00dea\u00f0 var kv\u00f6ld en \u00fe\u00f3 bjart og m\u00e9r l\u00e9tti \u00feegar \u00e9g s\u00e1 a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 vorum \u00fearna allir fimm, undir \u00feessum svala og t\u00e6ra himni. \u00c9g var svo ringla\u00f0ur a\u00f0 \u00ed augnablik datt m\u00e9r \u00ed hug a\u00f0 kannski hef\u00f0i Cathal haft r\u00e9tt fyrir s\u00e9r. Var \u00feetta fyrirheitna landi\u00f0 sem d\u00fdrlingurinn skrifa\u00f0i um, apokalypsis, sj\u00e1lf afhj\u00fapunin?
\n\u2001\u00d3gle\u00f0in og gargandi kr\u00edur, sem voru n\u00fa or\u00f0nar a\u00f0gangshar\u00f0ar og hnitu\u00f0u hringi yfir okkur, voru hversdagslega jar\u00f0neskar \u00fe\u00f3 r\u00f6dd Cathals, sem barst til m\u00edn \u00e1 me\u00f0an \u00e9g \u00e6ldi h\u00e9ldi \u00f6\u00f0ru fram.
\n\u2001Samkv\u00e6mt m\u00ednum \u00fatreikningum er Hv\u00edtasunnudagur, sag\u00f0i hann. Lofum Gu\u00f0 fyrir a\u00f0 lei\u00f0a okkur hinga\u00f0! \u00deetta er landi\u00f0 sem vi\u00f0 leitu\u00f0um a\u00f0, h\u00e9r er enginn og h\u00e9r getum vi\u00f0 helga\u00f0 l\u00edf okkar b\u00e6num og s\u00e1lmas\u00f6ng.
\n\u2001Ertu viss? spur\u00f0i Flynn. Kannski er anna\u00f0 f\u00f3lk h\u00e9r einhverssta\u00f0ar? Hann leit \u00ed kringum sig og m\u00e9r fannst \u00e9g greina vonarneista \u00ed r\u00f6ddinni.
\n\u2001Nei, \u00feetta er eyjan. S\u00fa sem heilagur Brendan skrifa\u00f0i um og h\u00e9r eru ekki a\u00f0rir, sag\u00f0i Cathal \u00e1kve\u00f0inn.
\n\u2001Nei, l\u00edklega ekki, segir Flynn og andvarpa\u00f0i. \u00deetta er fremur ey\u00f0ilegt.
\n\u2001Br\u00e6\u00f0urnir sungu \u00e1 me\u00f0an \u00e9g h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram a\u00f0 k\u00fagast og horf\u00f0ist \u00ed augu vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1 sta\u00f0reynd a\u00f0 l\u00edklega hef\u00f0i Cathal r\u00e9tt fyrir s\u00e9r, a\u00f0 h\u00e9\u00f0an \u00ed fr\u00e1 yr\u00f0u \u00feessir mj\u00f3r\u00f3ma s\u00f6ngf\u00e9lagar minn eini f\u00e9lagsskapur.
\n\u2001\u00deegar \u00e9g loksins jafna\u00f0i mig halla\u00f0i \u00e9g h\u00f6f\u00f0inu a\u00f0 sv\u00f6rtum kletti og virti samfer\u00f0armenn m\u00edna fyrir m\u00e9r undan h\u00e1lfluktum augunum. Jafnvel eftir \u00feessa hrakninga var Tadhg undurfallegur. Rakt h\u00e1ri\u00f0 li\u00f0a\u00f0ist og b\u00e6r\u00f0ist \u00ed l\u00e9ttum andvaranum og f\u00ednlegir fingurnir g\u00e6ldu vi\u00f0 \u00feetta belti sem hann var svo stoltur af, \u00feetta belti sem var aleiga Tadhgs. \u00c9g var feginn a\u00f0 hann tapa\u00f0i \u00fev\u00ed ekki \u00ed l\u00e1tunum, en var\u00f0 strax dapur vi\u00f0 tilhugsunina um a\u00f0 sennilega \u00e6ttu ekki a\u00f0rir en vi\u00f0 eftir a\u00f0 f\u00e1 a\u00f0 d\u00e1st a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed h\u00e9r.
\n\u2001En, \u00fe\u00fa sag\u00f0ir a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 myndum sigla \u00ed kj\u00f6lfar Brendans og hann f\u00f3r heim aftur, sag\u00f0i Flynn feimnislega og gj\u00f3a\u00f0i augunum \u00e1 Cathal \u00e1\u00f0ur en hann beindi \u00feeim ni\u00f0ur fyrir sig \u00e1 i\u00f0andi, sterklegar hendurnar. \u00c9g man ekki eftir a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00fa hafir tala\u00f0 um a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 \u00e6ttum a\u00f0 gerast einsetumenn, b\u00e6tti hann vi\u00f0.
\n\u2001Vi\u00f0 komumst ekki h\u00e9\u00f0an \u00fev\u00ed b\u00e1turinn er \u00f3n\u00fdtur, sag\u00f0i Cathal gla\u00f0lega og m\u00e9r k\u00f3lna\u00f0i \u00feegar \u00e9g s\u00e1 \u00e1n\u00e6gjuna \u00ed augunum \u00e1 honum.
\n\u2001\u00deetta er helgun, sag\u00f0i hann h\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0lega. V\u00edgsla.
\n\u2001Gu\u00f0 er v\u00edgi mitt minn miskunnsami Gu\u00f0, tautu\u00f0u br\u00e6\u00f0urnir \u00f3\u00f6ruggir.
\n\u2001Minn miskunnsami Gu\u00f0, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i Tadhg svo l\u00e1gt a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 heyr\u00f0ist varla.
\n\u2001\u00c9g \u00feag\u00f0i.
\n\u2001Var Cathal kannski ekki \u00feessi rugludallur sem \u00e9g haf\u00f0i alltaf tali\u00f0 hann vera? hugsa\u00f0i \u00e9g. Var \u00feetta heilagur ma\u00f0ur?
\n\u2001Vi\u00f0 horf\u00f0um allir yfir fj\u00f6runa. Hinu megin vi\u00f0 \u00feangl\u00ednuna var braki\u00f0 \u00far b\u00e1tnum, segli\u00f0, eitthva\u00f0 af verkf\u00e6rum, kistan f\u00edna og blautur pokinn me\u00f0 eldf\u00e6rum og handan vi\u00f0 \u00feetta allt saman var meinleysislegur haffl\u00f6turinn \u00fear sem ekkert minnti lengur \u00e1 ofsann \u00ed brotinu sem skellti okkur upp \u00e1 \u00feessa str\u00f6nd.
\n\u2001Flynn leit undan og st\u00f3r l\u00edkaminn seig saman. Brj\u00e1nn, br\u00f3\u00f0ir hans, sag\u00f0i ekkert en l\u00edkamstj\u00e1ningin var s\u00fa sama. Stundum var eins og \u00feessir st\u00f3ru menn hreyf\u00f0u \u00feeir sig vi\u00f0 einhvern takt sem \u00feeir einir skynju\u00f0u.
\n\u2001Svo st\u00f3\u00f0u \u00feeir upp og dr\u00f3gu \u00fea\u00f0 sem eftir var af b\u00e1tnum og farminum lengra upp \u00e1 land. Hinu megin vi\u00f0 st\u00f3ran kletta fann Brj\u00e1nn nokkra steina og byrja\u00f0i a\u00f0 hla\u00f0a hring \u00fear sem gras og bleikar \u00fe\u00fafur t\u00f3ku vi\u00f0 af sandm\u00f6linni.
\n\u2001Hann \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 kveikja eld.
\n\u2001Enginn sag\u00f0i neitt en augu okkar \u00feriggja sem eftir s\u00e1tum beindust a\u00f0 \u00e1lft sem kom flj\u00fagandi og settist sp\u00f6k og \u00f3hr\u00e6dd hj\u00e1 okkur.
\n\u2001Cathal teyg\u00f0i h\u00f6ndina r\u00f3lega \u00ed \u00e1tt til fuglsins, greip hann svo og sn\u00e9ri \u00far h\u00e1lsli\u00f0num. \n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Steinunn G. Helgad\u00f3ttir Raddirnar komu n\u00fa n\u00e6r, \u00fe\u00e6r h\u00e6kku\u00f0u og jafnframt var einhverjum \u00e1h\u00f6ldum slegi\u00f0 saman \u00fear til h\u00e1va\u00f0inn var\u00f0 \u00e6randi. \u00c1 h\u00e6\u00f0inni vestan vi\u00f0 klaustri\u00f0 var h\u00f3pur af \u00e6stum b\u00e6ndum. Og \u00feeir voru me\u00f0 uppr\u00falla\u00f0an hampka\u00f0al sem \u00feeir veifu\u00f0u \u00f3tt og t\u00edtt. \u2001S\u00e6ki\u00f0 syndarann! hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i einhver. Hr\u00e6snarann sem t\u00e6lir saklausar d\u00e6tur okkar og barnar […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-116","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/116","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\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=116"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":550,"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/116\/revisions\/550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stelkur.is\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}