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Authors: Peter Tremayne
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unkindly.
‘There is no danger from sea monsters where we voyage,’ he assured her. ‘You may observe sea creatures which you have not encountered before, but they pose no threat. Our main danger lies only in inclement weather. Now, if we do encounter storms, it is best, unless I instruct you otherwise, to remain below and make sure that all lamps and candles are extinguished …’
‘But how can we see down here in the dark without lamps?’ wailed Sister Crella.
‘All lamps and candles must be extinguished,’ insisted Murchad with an emphasis which was his only acknowledgment of her question. ‘We do not want to contend with fire on shipboard as well as a storm. Lamps must be extinguished and everything battened down.’
‘I do not understand.’ The ascetic Brother Tola appeared confused at the term.
‘Anything movable, liable to cause damage in the shifting of the vessel, should be securely tied or fastened,’ explained the captain patiently. ‘In such circumstances, young Wenbrit will be on hand to advise you and ensure that there is nothing you lack.’
‘How likely is it that we will encounter a storm?’ asked the tall, elderly religieuse, Sister Ainder.
‘A fifty-fifty chance,’ admitted Murchad. ‘But don’t worry. I have never lost a pilgrim ship yet, nor even a single pilgrim in a storm.’
There were polite but rather strained smiles among those gathered at the table. Murchad was obviously a good judge of character, for Fidelma noticed that some of her companions were in need of further reassurance and Murchad shared that insight.
‘I will be honest with you,’ he confided. ‘This month is one of frequent storms and rain which can last for many weeks. But why have I chosen to set sail on this particular day? Is it by chance that I insisted we take this morning’s tide? Does anyone know the reason?’
The party gazed at one another and there was some shaking of heads.
‘Being religious people, you all ought to know what this day is,’ the captain chided them good-naturedly. He waited for an anser. They looked bewildered. Fidelma thought she should answer for them.
‘Are you talking about the feast day of the Blessed Luke, Beloved Luke the Physician?’
Murchad glanced approvingly at her knowledge.
‘Exactly so. The feast day of Luke. Have none of you heard of “St Luke’s Little Summer”?’
There was a bewildered shaking of heads.
‘We sailors have noticed that there is usually a fine period in the middle of this month which occurs on the feast day of St Luke – a dry period with lots of sunshine. That’s why, if we are going to sail during this month, we usually choose to sail at that time.’
‘Can you guarantee this fine weather for the voyage?’ demanded Sister Ainder.
‘I am afraid that nothing can be guaranteed once you set sail on the sea, no matter the time nor the place, whether at high summer or midwinter. I am merely saying that out of the several voyages that I have made at this time of year, only one has failed to be pleasant and calm.’
Murchad paused and, as there were no comments, he continued.
‘There is, of course, one other matter that I am sure you have all been told about before you booked passage. The seas are dangerous these days and the waters in which we will be journeying are not excluded from such danger. I no longer refer to risk from the elements – from the tides, winds and storms. I refer to the risk from our fellow men – from pirates and sea-raiders, who attack and rob ships, seize their occupants and sell them into slavery.’
A hush descended on the company.
Fidelma, who had travelled to Rome, knew some of the dangers of which Murchad spoke. She had heard many stories of raiders who sailed against the western ports of Italy from the Balearic Islands, and of the spread of the Corsairs from the Arabian world through the Mediterranean – the great middle sea of the world.
‘If we are attacked, what defence shall we
‘There is no danger from sea monsters where we voyage,’ he assured her. ‘You may observe sea creatures which you have not encountered before, but they pose no threat. Our main danger lies only in inclement weather. Now, if we do encounter storms, it is best, unless I instruct you otherwise, to remain below and make sure that all lamps and candles are extinguished …’
‘But how can we see down here in the dark without lamps?’ wailed Sister Crella.
‘All lamps and candles must be extinguished,’ insisted Murchad with an emphasis which was his only acknowledgment of her question. ‘We do not want to contend with fire on shipboard as well as a storm. Lamps must be extinguished and everything battened down.’
‘I do not understand.’ The ascetic Brother Tola appeared confused at the term.
‘Anything movable, liable to cause damage in the shifting of the vessel, should be securely tied or fastened,’ explained the captain patiently. ‘In such circumstances, young Wenbrit will be on hand to advise you and ensure that there is nothing you lack.’
‘How likely is it that we will encounter a storm?’ asked the tall, elderly religieuse, Sister Ainder.
‘A fifty-fifty chance,’ admitted Murchad. ‘But don’t worry. I have never lost a pilgrim ship yet, nor even a single pilgrim in a storm.’
There were polite but rather strained smiles among those gathered at the table. Murchad was obviously a good judge of character, for Fidelma noticed that some of her companions were in need of further reassurance and Murchad shared that insight.
‘I will be honest with you,’ he confided. ‘This month is one of frequent storms and rain which can last for many weeks. But why have I chosen to set sail on this particular day? Is it by chance that I insisted we take this morning’s tide? Does anyone know the reason?’
The party gazed at one another and there was some shaking of heads.
‘Being religious people, you all ought to know what this day is,’ the captain chided them good-naturedly. He waited for an anser. They looked bewildered. Fidelma thought she should answer for them.
‘Are you talking about the feast day of the Blessed Luke, Beloved Luke the Physician?’
Murchad glanced approvingly at her knowledge.
‘Exactly so. The feast day of Luke. Have none of you heard of “St Luke’s Little Summer”?’
There was a bewildered shaking of heads.
‘We sailors have noticed that there is usually a fine period in the middle of this month which occurs on the feast day of St Luke – a dry period with lots of sunshine. That’s why, if we are going to sail during this month, we usually choose to sail at that time.’
‘Can you guarantee this fine weather for the voyage?’ demanded Sister Ainder.
‘I am afraid that nothing can be guaranteed once you set sail on the sea, no matter the time nor the place, whether at high summer or midwinter. I am merely saying that out of the several voyages that I have made at this time of year, only one has failed to be pleasant and calm.’
Murchad paused and, as there were no comments, he continued.
‘There is, of course, one other matter that I am sure you have all been told about before you booked passage. The seas are dangerous these days and the waters in which we will be journeying are not excluded from such danger. I no longer refer to risk from the elements – from the tides, winds and storms. I refer to the risk from our fellow men – from pirates and sea-raiders, who attack and rob ships, seize their occupants and sell them into slavery.’
A hush descended on the company.
Fidelma, who had travelled to Rome, knew some of the dangers of which Murchad spoke. She had heard many stories of raiders who sailed against the western ports of Italy from the Balearic Islands, and of the spread of the Corsairs from the Arabian world through the Mediterranean – the great middle sea of the world.
‘If we are attacked, what defence shall we
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