Read Online Where the Stones Sing by Eithne Massey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Eithne Massey
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many of them, like Albert, felt it their duty to help where they could. Other monks, such as the ones at Thomas Court and St John the Baptist to the west of the city, brought those who were ill into their monasteries and looked after them there, but the canons of Christ Church went out into the homes of Dublin, bringing food and medicines and warm clothes. Kai did not mind going out with Brother Albert. He was always so cheerful, even when he had to face the most desperate cases. But even he grew worried as the number of illnesses in the city grew greater and began to show some disturbing symptoms.
Kai also really enjoyed visiting Dame Maria, who askedher to help with gathering the autumn apples and pears, and promised to bring her nutting through the hazel bushes along the Liffey when the time came.
One day, as they cut back the raspberry canes in her garden, she looked at Kai, puzzled. ‘You are a very gentle little boy, Kai, but would you not rather be out with Jack and Tom, having adventures?’
Oh no, thought Kai. I hope she’s not going to start suspecting something. But she smiled and said, ‘I do spend lots of time with them too.’
This was true; she had had lots of adventures with her two friends. She smiled to herself as she remembered what they had been up to just the day before. The three of them had sneaked onto one of the boats docked in the Liffey and, thinking there was no one on board, they had gone into the captain’s cabin. Jack had wanted to have a look at the mariner’s equipment; he had been fascinated with the wooden astrolabe and the compass. But while Jack and Tom had been engrossed in examining the compass, Kai had heard a movement from the deck, and the three of them had had to dive under the bunk in the cabin and lie there, squashed tightly in, as a pair of leather sea boots appeared. Kai, who was on the outside, had the best view of what was happening. She deeply regretted this, when the whistling sea boots sat down on the bed. The sailor removed the boots and his hose, and then began to pare his toenails with a knife. She could feelJack’s silent laughter at her back, barely contained, and the more he laughed the more she could feel it spreading to her. To make things worse, the dust under the bunk and the strong smell of feet made her want to sneeze. Luckily, the sailor was called outside just as he began to clean between his toes, and the children had managed to make their escape through the porthole and along the rope that kept the ship moored to land. They had arrived home to a scolding for being late and for the state of their clothes, but it had been worth it.
Any time she thought of their adventure she could feel the laughter rising again. But she knew she could not tell any adult about such escapades, especially not Dame Maria, who was such a gentle person. Kai liked these quiet times with her. There was something so restful about being with Dame Maria; she never hurried or shouted, and yet she seemed to get an enormous amount of things done. Like Brother Albert she was very busy helping the poor and sick in the city.
For now, Kai continued with her answer: ‘And Tom is bringing us out to his house in Kilmainham next Saturday, for the day. It’s his sister’s Saint’s Day and we are going out there for the celebrations.’
Dame Maria smiled. ‘You will love it there. Here, let me send out some of my comfrey ointment with you. I know Alisoun, Tom’s mother, will be happy to have some. With such a large family there is nearly always somebody tumbling or falling and bruising themselves.’
Saturday turned out to be a perfect autumn day, bright and cool. The children left the cathedral directly after lauds, having been given the whole day off from choir duty. It was less than an hour’s walk to Kilmainham, but they wanted to be there as early as they could be so they could spend as much time as possible at the farm and the mill. Brother Albert had also asked them to
Kai also really enjoyed visiting Dame Maria, who askedher to help with gathering the autumn apples and pears, and promised to bring her nutting through the hazel bushes along the Liffey when the time came.
One day, as they cut back the raspberry canes in her garden, she looked at Kai, puzzled. ‘You are a very gentle little boy, Kai, but would you not rather be out with Jack and Tom, having adventures?’
Oh no, thought Kai. I hope she’s not going to start suspecting something. But she smiled and said, ‘I do spend lots of time with them too.’
This was true; she had had lots of adventures with her two friends. She smiled to herself as she remembered what they had been up to just the day before. The three of them had sneaked onto one of the boats docked in the Liffey and, thinking there was no one on board, they had gone into the captain’s cabin. Jack had wanted to have a look at the mariner’s equipment; he had been fascinated with the wooden astrolabe and the compass. But while Jack and Tom had been engrossed in examining the compass, Kai had heard a movement from the deck, and the three of them had had to dive under the bunk in the cabin and lie there, squashed tightly in, as a pair of leather sea boots appeared. Kai, who was on the outside, had the best view of what was happening. She deeply regretted this, when the whistling sea boots sat down on the bed. The sailor removed the boots and his hose, and then began to pare his toenails with a knife. She could feelJack’s silent laughter at her back, barely contained, and the more he laughed the more she could feel it spreading to her. To make things worse, the dust under the bunk and the strong smell of feet made her want to sneeze. Luckily, the sailor was called outside just as he began to clean between his toes, and the children had managed to make their escape through the porthole and along the rope that kept the ship moored to land. They had arrived home to a scolding for being late and for the state of their clothes, but it had been worth it.
Any time she thought of their adventure she could feel the laughter rising again. But she knew she could not tell any adult about such escapades, especially not Dame Maria, who was such a gentle person. Kai liked these quiet times with her. There was something so restful about being with Dame Maria; she never hurried or shouted, and yet she seemed to get an enormous amount of things done. Like Brother Albert she was very busy helping the poor and sick in the city.
For now, Kai continued with her answer: ‘And Tom is bringing us out to his house in Kilmainham next Saturday, for the day. It’s his sister’s Saint’s Day and we are going out there for the celebrations.’
Dame Maria smiled. ‘You will love it there. Here, let me send out some of my comfrey ointment with you. I know Alisoun, Tom’s mother, will be happy to have some. With such a large family there is nearly always somebody tumbling or falling and bruising themselves.’
Saturday turned out to be a perfect autumn day, bright and cool. The children left the cathedral directly after lauds, having been given the whole day off from choir duty. It was less than an hour’s walk to Kilmainham, but they wanted to be there as early as they could be so they could spend as much time as possible at the farm and the mill. Brother Albert had also asked them to
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