The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,7
Jamie now knew that Ryan’s brash attack on the British soldiers had threatened everything the Brotherhood had been sworn to protect.
“A disaster!” bellowed the bald, rotund man Jamie knew as Father Liam.
“The Book of Galway was in that satchel!” exclaimed Father Shamus, the thin friar next to the Cardinal, whose hollow, haunted gaze reminded him of the starving families Jamie had seen in his travels across the countryside.
The Cardinal leaned on the table and looked to Jamie. “Are you sure Ryan still had the book with him when he was taken away?”
Jamie shook his head. “I don’t know for sure. According to the family that looked after me, the soldiers said that Ryan could keep the book for his travels before dragging him off to the harbour.”
Father Liam stood up, enraged. “For almost a thousand years, the Brotherhood has kept that text safe! If we had kept it in Limerick, this would never have happened!”
“We had to bring it to Cork,” the Cardinal reminded him. “We had good evidence that its location had been discovered by a treasure hunter. It was no longer safe in its old location.”
“Then why the boys?” asked Father Liam, pointing a finger at Jamie. “Why put a crucial text in the hands of two hopelessly incompetent boys and expect them to cross the entire Irish countryside without incident?”
Struck by the accusation, Jamie bit his lip and avoided the priest’s glare. “I’m sorry, Father Liam,” offered Jamie. “You trusted us to bring the book safely to Cork and we failed. We have let the Brotherhood down in every possible way.”
Father Shamus came to his defence. “Jamie, you yourself did nothing wrong. You and your brother have both been excellent students, and I’m proud of your dedication to the Brotherhood. The men at this table seem to have forgotten that the treasure hunter might have been aware of our identities; therefore, we needed a courier who would be above suspicion to bring the Book of Galway to Cork. We thought the family connection between yourselves and your direct ancestors, who wrote the text, would make the trip all the more meaningful for you, so we gave you and Ryan the task. It was unforeseen that Ryan would react the way he did when he saw the soldiers at the farm.”
“Unforeseen?” muttered Father Liam. “Anyone who ever met the boy could sense the simmering anger bubbling behind his gaze.”
“Remember Christ in the temple? Anger channelled in a proper way can also be a powerful ally and a source of strength,” countered Cardinal Shulls. “These arguments, however, are irrelevant to our current dilemma. What we must decide right now is a way to get our text back.”
“Why is the text so important?” asked Jamie, boldly. “I’ve never entirely understood.”
The Cardinal smiled at the young man’s curiosity.
“A thousand years ago, Father Francis of Athy designed an ingenious way of keeping his ancient treasure safe. He designed a map that was separated into four parts, and every part was required to decode the exact location of the treasure. The four parts were carefully hidden within the realm of the Irish church. Having four separated parts to the map ensured that the treasure would remain safe should one of the pieces fall into the wrong hands. Father Francis rightfully preferred to have the treasure remain lost for all time rather than fall into the hands of those who did not appreciate its intrinsic value to the people of Ireland. For a thousand years, no one has laid eyes on the treasure. It was decided long ago that no one would see the treasure again until Ireland is once again ruled by the Irish and the Irish alone. The Book of Galway is one of those crucial keys to the map.”
“Then what should we do?” asked Jamie.
“There is only one solution,” said Cardinal Shulls. “We must go to Canada and bring the text back to Ireland.”
Cardinal Shulls raised a hand. “Wait, Father Shamus. There may be some benefit to sending Jamie. This task must be carried out with the utmost secrecy. We all have important positions in the Church and are known to many in Ireland. For one of us to leave will only raise questions. Jamie, however, could leave the country without notice.”
“You’re asking us to put the future of the Brotherhood in the hands of a boy?” roared Father Liam.