Page 18 - ModernParadiseFLIPBOOKcomplete

18

“It was no island that we had landed on” but a whale, “that animal which is the

greatest of all creatures that swim in the sea. It is called Jasconius.” [from the Irish
world for “fish”].
A “vast number of pure white birds” appear. “We are fallen angels” one tells them.
“You have completed one year of your journey. Six more years remain” “They sang in
union: ‘Hear us, O Lord, thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of
them that remain in the broad sea’ ”.
“A creature of gigantic proportions writhing along in their wake” came “charging
towards them at top speed, ploughing up the surface of the water and shooting out

spray from its nostrils. It looked as though it would devour them.” Brendan prayed for
God’s help and “another huge sea monster lunged from the west towards their
attacker, and spewing out fire began to give battle”. The attacker was “chopped into
three parts” and the victorious monster swam back into the deep. On the next island
they found the victims’ carcass which they butchered and stored away.
A gryphon flew towards them “stretching out its claws to catch the monks” as they
sailed. But another bird fought it off.

On St Peter’s day the seas became so clear they could see to the bottom and watch
the creatures “lying head to tail, like a city on the march.”
“A column of pure crystal” “higher than the sky” “with a two-mile wide canopy.

Then, hell itself: an island where blacksmiths were hammering on anvils and who
picked up blazing slags with tongs and flung them at the monks’ boat, then at each
other, till they set fire to their forges, then the whole island was ablaze and the sea
hissed; there was a fetid smell and a long, drawn-out wailing. Brendan tried to

comfort his flock: “Soldiers of Christ, put on spiritual arms and stand firm in faith
unfeigned. Watch and play the man, for we are at hell’s gates.”

Next day a high mountain wreathed in white cloud which turned out to be “smoke
belching from its peak”. There were high black cliffs. One of the monks jumped out of
the boat: “Woe is me, father, I am being torn away from you and am powerless to

turn back”. The monks witnessed the wretch being led off to torment by a group of
devils. He and they would burn together.” Brendan exclaims, “Woe to you, my son!
What a dreadful doom you have brought upon yourself!’ ”
“A fair wind carried them away southwards, and when they looked back from afar
they saw the mountain, clear of clouds, vomiting forth flames sky-high and then
sucking them back upon itself so that the whole mass of rock right down to sea level
glowed like a pyre.”

Then they find a swarthy and disfigured man crouching on a stark, bare rock, waves

crashing over his head. “I am of all men the most wretched, for I am Judas Iscariot”.