Saturday, April 16, 2005
The woman who was never surprised
"I remember the frost of the wind in winter time.
I recall the heat of the sun in summer time.
I hear the song of the corncrake when spring awakes.
I smell the joy of dolphins when autumn arrives.
I embrace every loop of every path of Inishowen.
I breathe the shores from Innis Head to Dunaff Head.
I finger the sands of Trawbreaga and Carrickaveal.
I even walk through the secret gates to the Other World.
But my heart is still painful when I breathe. My will is no stronger than a candle in the storm.
Why, oh why, does nothing await me?
Why, oh why, does nothing move me?"
The wind was taking her lament away to the East, to Garvan islands where only birds live.
They all knew Etain's chant by heart but none of them could join her, for the western winds were too strong. They could see her when passing by Wee Malin House, but she never noticed them.
One sundown, and a strange dawn it was, the tide went out and never came back. The sea retired from the coast and left nothing but dry land. Even the strong gales from the West drifted away. The north coast of Hibernae became a rocky field crammed with brown seaweed and orange stones.
Without any further waiting the birds flickered directly towards Etain's shelter. Amongst them gathered Albatross, Gannets, Shear Water, Skuas and Auks. There were also Redwings, Finches and Snow Buntings. An amazing spectacle it was, but not a soul to admire it.
Etain was standing on the entrance to Danngus Bens where a secret tunnel leads to Ancient's fort. She was shedding so many tears that her whole body seemed like a shuddering.
The flock of birds almost concealed the sky, but hardly a sound came from them. They were all appalled by Etain's solace. Floating around, they tried to draw her attention. Only a sad whisper echoed. When the moon rose high and the stars enlightened the dark, Etain sheltered in the Wee House of Malin. The flock followed her inside. There were so many of them that it would have taken a man's life to count them. Nevertheless they all entered the hollow rock for, in the Wee House, no matter how many came, there was always room for more.
Standing on a boulder Etain was surrounded by the birds but hardly a sound could be heard for no bird dared to bother her.
"Go away birds", said she, "for nothing moves me anymore. Please leave me with my solitude." None of them moved.
Only the tallest of the birds risked an answer "Why are you so weary?" said the Albatross.
She refused to answer.
"You are young, fair and beautiful. But still you stay alone all the time. You do not deserve solitude. Why don't you take a man?"
"Three times I took a man. Three times I cried. I will not bear another sorrow anymore".
The Albatross stood silent for he was clueless.
Then a little redwing flew upon Etain's shoulder and piped the following:
"What did you see in their eyes? Men's gaze is an open gate to their heart."
"See?" answered she, "What a strange way of speaking. I know only the salty one and men do not taste so".
The Redwing asked again "Are you saying that you cannot see?".
"Again, little bird, you are speaking in a sound manner. Men and Sea are different. They have nothing in common."
The Redwing, smart as it was, was unable to clear up the misunderstanding. He proposed the following:
"We people of the sky, travellers of the seas and wanderers of the lands are going to search for a man who can see. He will tell you what his eyes discover and, then you will be surprised by what lies in a man's heart."
Etain grimaced at first. Eventually, she accepted the birds' proposal, though without any conviction.
Henceforth, the birds scattered away from Wee House, from Innishowen, from Mourning County, from Donegal, from Ulster, from Hibernae. They went North and South, East and West and never came back.
A month passed, and Etain forgot the challenge amidst flowering tears of despair.
Time flew until a foggy dew spilled over Malin Head. A man arrived, looking for a shelter where he could rest. He entered the Wee House as if he always knew/had always known the place.
"Good evening Etain", said he
"Good evening Stranger", said she anxiously.
"My name is Eoghain", added he to reassure her.
"Welcome then, Eoghain" answered she, relieved.
After a silence he said in a confessional tone "I have come a long way for you"
"For what reason have you come?"
"For the birds of the North warned me that in Malin Head was a young woman who did not believe that women could see"
"I still do not believe that"
"What if I told you what I see? Would it be proof enough?"
"Tell me what you …"see" and I'll make up my mind."
"I see a beautiful woman standing alone in a grey rocky house without any fire inside"
"You have a smooth and even voice, Eoghain, but I do not believe you. You say I am beautiful only because you want me. You say there is no fire because cannot feel any heat. Grey is a sound word but still a lie because it does not exist."
Eoghain sighed but said nothing. He rested for the night and went away in the morning.
The following night a strange storm embraced Malin Head. A second man arrived, looking for shelter. He entered the Wee House.
"Good evening Etain"
"Good evening stranger"
"My name is Echùn"
"Then welcome Echùn… from the North" said she ironically.
"No Etain I come from nowhere else than/but the West. Birds told me that in Malin Head was a woman who did not see what was in men's eyes"
"I am not convinced at all"
"Tell me how can I change your mind"
"Tell me what you pretend to "see"..."
"I see a beautiful lady with blonde flowering hair, deep grey eyes and charming lips. She lives in a dark hollow rock , in a country where rivers are black, boulders green-bearded, rocks dark-orange, hills brown and the sea turquoise. She is alone but shall not be alone for much longer."
"You have a grave and slender voice, Echùn, but it is only a cover cast upon lies. You flatter my body because you desire it. And the qualities or flaws with which you describe my country are pitiful attempts to soften my ears. They are mere melodies, not truths"
Echùn sighed twice. He wanted to add something but did not. He tried to rest. By the morning he was gone.
The following night a strange coolness settled in Malin Head lands. A third man arrived, looking for nothing.
He entered the Wee House as if he did not know it.
"Good evening" said he
"Good evening stranger" answered Etain.
Silence flew around.
"Do you have a name stranger?"
"I have but it would mean nothing to you."
"For what reason have you come here" asked Etain anxiously.
"I have no reason"
"Did not the birds of the East asked you to come here?"
"I have seen many birds but none spoke to me."
"Don't you pretend to see like other men?" asked she in a shrill tone.
"To see? What a strange question!"
"Tell me what you "see" here and now!" imposed she angrily.
" I only see a lone woman who is never surprised." Whispered the nameless.
" Your voice is smooth and grave but you're just like the others. You cannot "see"."
The nameless did not answer and stood still for the whole night.
When the sun rose up, a queer sound woke Etain up. There was water dropping next to her hand. It was not raining for there was no damp.
"Who or what is pouring water?"
"It is me Etain" echoed the nameless.
"Why are you crying?"
"Three nights I came, three nights I changed my voice, three nights I told the truth… three nights you distrusted me. I am sad and you will never see it."
And, for the first time of her life, Etain opened her eyes and saw what lied in a man's heart.
As for the nameless man, he took his bag and stood up. He gazed deep into her before turning back to the long dark night. Since then he goes from valleys to oceans, mountains to forests, telling the only story he knows by heart : the story of the woman who was never surprised.
