Chapter 17 Don't Count Your Chickens...

 

Chapter 17 Don’t Count Your Chicks…

In which each of the three generations of Cullens undergoes an ordeal.


A grey fisherman sat on one of the huge iron bollards on the working pier at Howth Harbour smoking a pipe and using some kind of a wooden shuttle to repair a heavy blue nylon net that had a huge rent in its side. He had a dark peaked captain’s cap on his head and was dressed in an oatmeal coloured woolen bawneen jumper that was patched and worn. He had dirty denim jeans poked into the tops of shiny black rubber boots. Behind him was a bright red fishing vessel tied up fore and aft to his bollard and its brother bollard twenty metres along the pier. From time to time he would remove the pipe, casually spit a small gob of damp tobacco over the stone pierside into the dark undulating waters of the harbour, glance around thoughtfully ,replace his pipe and resume his mending.


The Cailleach led Dermot and Gráinne up to the fisherman. Gráinne could make out the name of the boat inscribed in old irish on the prow “The Wave Sweeper”. The wiry looking captain looked up at them and stood. “Well it took you long enough,” he remarked to the Cailleach “What time do you call this?”

The Cailleach strode up to him and gave him a light affectionate slap across the face.

“Fool,” she said. Then taking his face in her two hands she gave him a long languorous kiss. “Dermot, Gráinne let me introduce you to my husband. This play- acting fool here is Mannanán Mac Lir, King of Emain Ablach, the island of paradise, keen fisherman and part-time God of the Sea.”


Then she turned to Mannanán and said “She tried to kill Dermot, Mannanán. She used her venom in an apple pie and handed it over to these innocents. I had to save his life.That is what delayed us. Now we have proof that she has violated the truce. Can she be punished now?”


Mannanán nodded sadly, looking down,“It’s worse, I’ve lost the island.” “In anim Croim,” exploded the Cailleach “How could ye lose the island? I mean it is stuck in one place. Did you blow it up in one of your magical experiments?”

“Fomorians,” spat Mannanán “Thousands of them coming up out of the sea in their longships, painted and armed and ready to kill. There are many dead and wounded. I managed to get Cúan and the Royal Princes of the Orkneys away before flying here myself.”

“How did they escape from an tír faoi thonn? How did they find oileán Emain Ablach?”

asked the Cailleach. Then she and Mannanán looked at each other and spoke together. “Maedhbh!” “There is worse news still,” continued Mannanán “Betrayal. Scátha has finally acted. She has taken the Claiomh Solais and I believe she has given it to Maedhbh.“


“All these years I have been telling you and Lugh that it was a mistake to neglect the matter of her soul. Now Maedhbh will free her will and if she can command Scátha, the Claiomh Solais, Balor and the Fomorians we will be outmatched. She still has Aoibheann and Aoife as hostages. How can we defeat them all?”

“Maedhbh hasn’t won yet, “ replied Mannanán “ “you don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”

Just then on the summit of the Hill behind them a great beacon lit up and turned the dusk into an orange glow with leaping, multicoloured flames and a heavy smoky smell of burning, well seasoned lumber. “Ahh, Young Cúan has succeeded,” said Mannanán. “The Host of the Sidhe will be up and you must send them to the Ireland’s Eye after us as soon as you can. I must go now to face Maedhbh and delay her until the Warrior of Light comes.”


With that Mannanán stepped off the pier and onto the rail. He unhitched the huge bow cable and threw it onto the deck of The Wave Sweeper. “Can you cast off astern?” he called out, looking at Dermot. Dermot looked at Gráinne who nodded at him silently. “I can do better than that,” answered Dermot, “I will be joining you. If Aoibheann is on that island then I must join you too.”


There was a loud bang as a battered old Toyota jeep made its way up the pier towards them. The Cailleach winked at Gráinne. The Jeep pulled up and the back doors opened. Out hopped two young tracksuit clad boys, both younger than Cúan. They were covered from head to toe in mud with bits of greenery sticking out of their hair, sleeves, pockets and waists. “Cailleach, Cailleach we found Cúan!“


Then the front doors of the Jeep opened and Cúan himself emerged clutching his trusty hurl. Manus Cullen stepped out of the driver’s seat and stood looking over the little group. He walked over to Dermot looked him squarely in the eye and said. “That’s one great warrior you have as a son. I saw him take on a full grown man dressed as a Chief Superintendent who was shooting fire at him from his eye. He stood up to him so bravely. You would have been so proud of him Dermot.”

Dermot said nothing but embraced his father in a huge hug. Gráinne grabbed Cúan and held him closely, shedding silent, desperate tears. “Mum,” whispered Cúan “I’ve got to rescue Aoibheann. She’s out on that island and I have to go and get her. I gave my word.”


“No,” said Gráinne in anguish “She can’t have both my children.” Everyone was silent. Nobody knew what to say. Lochlann took Malachi’s hand and the two boys went up to Gráinne. Each of them went up to Gráinne and clutched at her arms wrapped around Cúan. “Mistress,” began Lochlann “Cúan is no longer just a child I have seen him perform the three feats of a warrior with my own eyes.” “And he has saved our lives on the Island of Paradise and here fighting the Fomorians” added Malachi.

“The Gaebolg, the spear of the Warrior of Light guards him from magic.” finished Lochlann pointing at the old hurl in Cúan’s hand. “But it’s just a hurl!” whispered Gráinne. “No Mum it’s more than that,” said Cúan “it can see through magic. Look, just hold it.”


As Gráinne Cullen took the hurl the eye of the Gaebolg opened and winked at her. She stared back in surprise. Then to her amazement the Gaebolg began to swing up into mid-air so she had to hold onto it with both hands. In a moment she was suspended in mid-air with her feet dangling a metre off the ground. It let her back down softly to her feet.

Then Cúan, in a loud ringing voice, spoke.“Now watch closely, Gaebolg,Taispeain thú féin!”

(Gaebolg, Show yourself) The Gaebolg transformed with a dramatic flash of electricity into its spear form and Gráinne and Dermot’s mouths flopped open in stunned astonishment. “And I can always disappear,” added Cúan, “okkulte!” And with that he vanished from sight.


Dermot whipped out his pistol and looked around desperately but it was Gráinne who spoke. “It’s okay Dermot, put the gun away. Cúan’s still standing right here. I can see him clearly through the eye of the Gaebolg. A green beam of light spread out from the Gaebolg’s emerald, highlighting Cúan’s form exactly where he had been but with a strange black helmet on his head.


“The Tarnhelm,” breathed Mannanán, “We might have a chance against Maedhbh after all. I was afraid Maedhbh would give it to Balor and her armies would be nearly invincible.” Cúan reappeared looking sad. “Huh more like the darn helm,” said the Cailleach, “a nasty sneaky weapon. How is it you have it? And you Manus Cullen what is that you said about a Garda shooting fire from his eye?”


Manus looked at Dermot and spoke solemnly . ”I regret to tell you Dermot that Breslin is dead. He tried to kill Cúan.” Then he recounted the story of how Cúan was ambushed at the bonfire on the summit. He retold of how Cúan’s Salmon leap knocked Chief Superintendent Breslin backwards and allowed Manus to grapple him until Cúan finished him off with the spear.


Mannanán smiled grimly. “Another one of Maedhbh’s innocent victims.So Balor has been vanquished. Good, now we are closer to defeating her. She has only one last Warrior of Darkness to hide behind. She can no longer use Fergus, or Balor the Formorian. His warlike warriors will be hard for her to control without him.” The sooner we get out there the better.”


The Cailleach plucked a small ring off her finger and placed it on Dermot’s finger saying.” This ring will draw you to where Aoibheann is. Maedhbh will be nearby waiting to pounce like a snake striking from the dark. Save her Dermot, and get her away. Maedhbh is our concern but Aoibheann is yours, do not let anger or vengeance taint your fate.”


Mannanán growled “The tide is turning so who’s coming aboard with me now?” “I am,” said the three generations of Cullen men together. “And us!,” chimed in the two Kellys. The Cailleach and Gráinne both grabbed the two boys, Grainne gripped Lochlann by the collar and yanked him to her side. The Cailleach wasn’t so gentle but grabbed Malachi by the arm and said “ what you two need is a wash before your parents see you again! Now you can have it in hot water or if not, there’s a natural alternative right there.”


“All we need now,” said ex-Sergeant Major Cullen “is the element of surprise and a bit of luck.” “Here’s your luck now,” predicted the Cailleach as Dove and Lee came clattering up the pier. “Never cross one of the Pavee people and you will have the best of luck.”

Lee pulled Dove up beside them and hopped down from his seat.

“Here, Captain, hold the boat I’m coming too. There’s a friend of mine missing out there too. Here ye two young lads,” Lee addressed the two struggling princes “would either of ye take care of Dove and the sulky for me till I get back?” “Yes please,” said Malachi. “I bags the reins” said Lochlann.


With that the boarding party stepped on board the Wave Sweeper and the fishing vessel chugged away from the pier. Mannanán set its bow towards the Martello tower on Ireland’s Eye and a showdown with the waiting Queen Maedhbh.







Aoibheann could hear voices up in the Tower as she slid up the wall of the stairs. The Tower was old and primitive and she felt curiously at home with the stone, wood and iron technology around her. She passed the lower chamber where the five lamp boys were gathered around a large wooden table eating some meal and talking in hushed voices. Noddy Grundy was doing most of the giving out as proposer of the motion. “I mean what are we doing here? We are bossed and bullied around by Alex and Philly. We are just as much prisoners as those two girls.” The two Lawlors were nodding in agreement.


Spitsy Spillane was playing the role of the leader of the opposition. “ You just shut up right now Noddy. Have you forgotten, we’re on an island and there is no way we can get off. If Alex hears us talking he will beat us up and that Philly will be worse. I hear he took pleasure in killing someone with a knife. Now that cop Callan has a gun and he’ll just shoot you but Maeve Naughten, now she’s the worst of all. She is talking to the crows and she has snakes all coiled around her body. She’ll use her magic on you as soon as look at you and you’ll end up a drooling zombie or something.” Again the eminent judges of sound reasoning of the Lawlor persuasion nodded their twin heads in solemn agreement.”So what will we do? asked Noddy “If we stay around we are in danger of ending up like Callan.” “What we do,” argued Spitsy “is we wait until the coast is clear and take the next boat off the island and go home.” A silence fell over the group and Aoife thought that they had reached a final decision. They clearly wanted out.





Above them in the Tower Alex stirred and opened his eyes. Immediately Maedhbh gestured to Inspector Callan who covered the restrained teenager with his Glock.

Maedhbh strode over to where Alex was and asked sweetly. “Is that you finally Cúchulainn? “No,” replied Alex in his normal voice, “I am still Alex O’Leary and Fergus seems to have disappeared. Why did you put him in my body?” Maedhbh shrugged her shoulders and turned to look at the Claiomh Solais. “If Fergus has succeeded then where is he? If Cúchulainn has defeated him, why hasn’t he returned? You haven’t felt the release of your soul yet Scátha have you?”


Scátha glowered at her and shook her head. Maedhbh glanced at the blazing fire and smiled a small cruel smile.“Well then I think we have to give Cúchulainn a little push to come out of hiding. Scátha, as you have already handled the Claiomh without any ill effect, pick it up and hold it in the flames.”

Scátha strode over and grasped the sword by its handle. Within three strides she had the sword deep in the fire. “This will not work,” she growled “the magic of the Claiomh resists fire and water, heat and cold, human force or dark magic.”

“Maybe” agreed Maedhbh “but I wonder if Cúchulainn will enjoy hearing his descendent scream as she is burned and cut? I wonder will he remain hidden and allow his line to be ended?” Scátha looked over at Aoibheann and said “No.”

“Come on,” laughed Maedhbh “you have taken so many lives, why should hers be any different? Take a soul to regain a soul, it seems a fair exchange. Callan cover her, shoot her if she refuses. I hear she is very fast but I should like to see her try to dodge a bullet.”


Callan retrained his pistol on Scátha and cocked the hammer back.

Scátha strode over to Aoibheann with the glowing sword. She hesitated but Callan stepped in behind her and brought the pistol up against the back of her temple.


Aoibheann saw Maedhbh licking her lips in anticipation. Scátha looked down at Aoibheann and for a moment Aoibheann saw a spark of fury light in Scátha’s eye. “I am sorry.” Scátha uttered out loud for all to hear. The next thing Aoibheann felt an incredible pain as Scátha ripped open her sleeve and drew a long straight searing line of blood along her left forearm using the Claiomh. Aoibheann screamed! She lunged upright and strained in the chair. Because of the heat of the Claiomh the line sealed itself with the sickly smell of burnt flesh. Aoibheann looked up at Scátha and said despite the pain and suffering. “I forgive you Scátha.” Scátha started with the shock of hearing the words. “Again,” shouted Maedhbh “ Can you hear her Cúchulainn? I will kill her.” Scátha lifted the sword again a little more uncertainly. She and Aoibheann made eye contact again.


Then a new voice rang out “if you touch her again Maedhbh dies.” Aoibheann saw Callan glance behind him and there was Aoife holding Maedhbh around the throat as Scátha had taught her with her steel pin pressed up against Maedhbh’s right jugular vein.


Callan didn’t flinch. Maedhbh’s shoulder-blades opened and two cobras sprouted from them snapping their fangs at Aoife. Aoife leaped backwards and Callan’s gun turned and began firing in her direction. As Aoife ran at spirit speed around the round room with bullets kicking the wall behind her and ricocheting off in unpredictable directions, Scátha swiftly sliced with the Claiomh Solais severing Aoibheann’s bonds. With a clatter the Claiomh fell to the floor and Aoife grabbed Aoibheann’s hand “Run” she screamed in the girl’s ear.


Aoibheann came up out of the chair like a rocket and dived for the door. With a tremendous bang the gun went off and caught Aoife in the back as she dived too and covered Aoibheann’s escape.


As they both tore down the staircase a large grey wolfhound passed them running with its ears flattened and its tail out in a straight line. The five lamps gang tried to cut off their escape but only Spitzy had made it through the door with his hurl before the two Lawlors got stuck together in the jamb. The wolfhound leapt on Spitsy and tore the hurl from his hands with an enormous bite. Spitzy went over backwards down the stairs with Aoife and Aoibheann rushing down after them. Now the rest of the gang piled out into the narrow passage after them,blocking Callan and Alex who came rushing down pursuing the two girls.


In the Cavern Philly could only watch helplessly as first the wolfhound and then the two prisoners came rushing in. Aoife had the presence of mind to shove some wooden crates across the steps. As she looked around Aoibheann was watching Scátha transform back into the warrior woman. Philly’s eyes were starting out of his skull from his gagged face. “You must swim for it now,” Scátha said to Aoibheann. “We won’t have time to get out of range of zaCallan’s gun,” replied Aoibheann. Scátha shook her head “Remember your lessons. I will buy you time. Today might be a good day for me to die.” Then Aoibheann dragged Aoife into the water and they began to swim as fast as they could out of the cave. Looking back Aoife saw Scátha unsheath her black sword, cover her head with her hood and melt into the shadows. Within a minute an eerie sea mist poured in over them obscuring them from view.