Strands Of Time

there was no pier on St Kilda so the larger boats would anchor in the bay and everything was transhipped by the smaller lifeboats.

  The factor stepped wearily off the boat and onto the rocks, villagers arms reached out to help him get to the pathway to the village, “rough journey Padean?” asked Eoin as he walked beside the factor.

  “Not too bad this time Eoin,” replied the factor, only a few of the elders called him by his first name, to most of the islanders he was Mr Brus, “how was the winter?”

  Eoin shook his head, “we lost four bairns and three of the elders.”

  Padean stopped walking and put a hand on Eoin’s shoulders, “I’m sorry to hear that,” he looked over at the row of houses that arched their way through the village, “you have a tough life here.”

  This brought a wry smile from Eoin, “aye, but it’s ours, well until you come and take some of it away,” he grinned at Padean, “what is it like, having someone telling you how to live your life?”

  Padean laughed lightly and shook his head, “every time I visit,” he looked on as the locals were laughing and smiling as they unloaded the produce from the ship, “one day I will stay longer and live your way of life,” he turned to Eoin, “and of course you are always welcome on Skye.”

  Eoin turned and looked out over the sea, “some days I see your land,” he pointed in the direction of the mainland, “and that is all I wish to see of it,” he gently slapped Padean’s back, “you must be hungry, there is a meal in the house for you.”

  Eoin and Padean started to walk back to the village, Padean stopped next to a wall and started to look at it, he nodded to himself and turned towards Eoin, “how is your new villager?”

  “New villager?” replied Eoin.

  “The quiet one,” replied Padean, who was now staring straight at Eoin.

  “I’m not sure what you’re meaning,” replied Eoin, “we don’t exactly get many people coming here, just the tourists, and yourself, of course.” Eoin started walking again, hoping that Padean would change the conversation.

  “Did I ever tell you the story of my nephew?” asked Padean, both men were sitting outside enjoying the village life.

  “No,” replied Eoin.

  “My sister and her husband and their 7 children, they lived on Skye, part of the MacLeod’s land,” Padean stopped talking and gazed over the sea towards the hidden Isle of Skye, “there was a fire at their house, 4 of the children survived but everyone else died,” Padean turned towards Eoin, “the house was basic, mainly wood,” he shook his head, “the eldest was Conar,” Padean started to smile at a distant memory, “we would talk about everything in life, but after what happened to his parents, after what he saw, he has never spoken another word, but, he did learn how to build walls, he built a new home for his younger brothers and sister,” he stopped and turned to look at the wall he had walked past earlier.

  “He sounds like a good man,” replied Eoin, “you must be proud of him?”

  Padean laughed lightly, “I am, but I’ve not seen him since last year, not since he had to run away after stealing a deer from the MacLeod’s, his sister was getting married, so, he had to feed the guests.”

  “A deer?” asked a puzzled Eoin.

  “A large and very fine to eat animal,” replied Padean, he didn’t want to insult Eoin by remarking on the fact he didn’t know what a deer was, “and also very prized by the MacLeod’s, they don’t like people stealing from them.” Padean turned back to look at the wall, “all I want to know is that he is safe,” he turned to look at Eoin, “you can understand that, can’t you.”

  Eoin looked at him, he was relieved that he knew the truth about the stranger, about Tosdach, he smiled, “I’m sure your nephew is fine, I’m sure he is happy, he may have even found himself the love of a good woman,” Padean raised his eyebrows at the last comment, “if he is a good a man as you say he is, then I’m sure he has found a woman.”

  “Thank you Eoin,” Padean stood up and look across the bay, “you look after each other here, you’re like one family.”

  “Of course,” replied Eoin, he was puzzled by the comment, he got up and stood beside Padean, he nodded into the distance, “is it not the same for you?”

  Padean shook his head, “if I told you the difference between here and there, you wouldn’t believe me,” he turned and held out his hand, “I’m feeling tired, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Goodnight Padean,” replied Eoin shaking his hand.

  3

  Lachlann and Faolan had just returned to the village after taking Tosdach some food, Eoin met them outside Faolan’s house, “Tosdach’s real name is Conar,” announced Eoin before telling both men his story.

  “What if he not telling the truth, what if Tosdach doesn’t want to meet him?” asked Lachlann after Eoin told them that Tosdach and Padean should meet.

  “He knows he is here, he saw the wall he built and recognised the workmanship,” replied Eoin.

  “What if he takes him away, think of Isbeil,” stated Lachlann.

  “Padean is his uncle, we wants what is best for his family, I just want him to see that Tosdach is happy, is that too much to ask?” replied Eoin.

  Both men had no response to Eoin and reluctantly nodded their heads in agreement.

  Lachlann and Faolan reluctantly brought Tosdach from his hiding place in the hills and down to Eoin’s house, Tosdach grinned when he saw his uncle but then quickly took a step back and started to look in every direction, “Its ok, there is no one else here,” said Padean as he looked at the fear in his nephews eyes.

  The two men spent the rest of the day walking around the village, Tosdach introduce his uncle to Isbeil, he also showed him the walls he had helped build, when the villagers found out the truth behind Tosdach, they all came forward to Padean to tell him how proud he should be of Tosdach, when he was introduced to the two young boys that his nephew had saved from the winter sea, Padean had to wipe away the tears of a very proud man.

  “Thank you,” said Padean when the two men had returned to Eoin’s house.

  “So what now?” asked Lachlann, staring into Padean’s eyes.

  “He stays here, is that ok?” asked Padean looking at Lachlann, Faolan and Eoin in turn.

  “You are not going to say anything to MacLeod?” Faolan reluctantly asked.

  “Of course not, he is happy here,” he put an arm round his nephew’s shoulder, “and it looks like he has found the love of a good woman,” he looked at Eoin, “I will tell his family he is safe, and that I have seen him with my own eyes.

  “That would be good,” replied Faolan.

  “His family are most welcome to visit him,” added Lachlann.

  Eoin and Padean both looked at Lachlann in surprise, Padean held out his hand towards Lachlann, “I am glad he has you and Faolan as friends.”

  Faolan shook his head, “as a brother.”

  Padean nodded and then turned to stare around the village, he nodded his head as if he was answering a silent question, the ships horn brought him back to reality, he turned towards the ship, “looks like I need to leave,” he turned and embraced his nephew and then shook the hands of the other three men, “if an approaching ship blasts its horn 4 times,” he turned towards Tosdach, “it will mean a MacLeod is on board.”

  Eoin looked at Padean and grinned, “we will make an islander of you yet my friend.”

  Padean turned to his nephew, “enjoy your life here Conar, these are good men you have at your side.”

  Tosdach nodded his head and silently wiped away a tear.

  Tìoraidh Ma-tha

  1

  Generations had walked the same ground as the villagers now walked for possibly the last time ever. Tomorrow this dying community would be dead. This would be the last night they would lay down their heads and sleep where their forefathers had done the same for hundreds of years before them.

  “Do you think they would understand?” asked Donnchadh as they walked among the graves of their ance
stors.

  John turned to look at him, moisture on his face, Donnchadh did know if it was from the harr or tears, he nodded, and then looked out over the sea, “probably not, but we have to go to survive,” he turned towards his lifelong friend, he placed his hand on his heart, “we will always be together in here,” he said as he patted his heart.

  “Are you scared?” asked Donnchadh, a slight hesitant in his voice.

  John grinned at him, “maybe not scared,” he shook his head unable to properly answer the question.

  “Do you think we will change?” Donnchadh turned to look as Aonghus Gillies approached them.

  “Donnchadh, Seathan,” Aonghus nodded at both men, he called John by the Gaelic pronunciation. “Hard to believe, we will be gone tomorrow,” he continued in the Gaelic.

  Donnchadh nodded towards the ground, “will they forgive us?” he asked in Gaelic.

  A fierce biting wind from the sea added to the answer, Aonghus turned towards the sea, “to live, we have to let things die,” he turned and nodded towards the bay, grinning at a distant memory, he turned to John, “and if it wasn’t for your grandfather, I would have been lying under your feet more than 60 years ago,” John smiled knowing he would hear the story again, but this time, it may be the last. “Your grandfather saved my life, and Uilleam MacKinnon’s too.” Aonghus turned towards a stone that marked where his friend now lay, “we had been swept out to sea and your Grandfather, a man of few words,” he turned and grinned towards John, “before anybody knew what was happening