Peter Tremayne - Penance of the Damned

‘The words of Christ can only come from an understanding of the history of His people and their religion,’ declared the abbot.

‘But Christ is divine and above a product of one nation, one language and one culture. Is this not so?’ demanded Prior Cuan. ‘Aren’t we taught that?’

‘It is following the law of God that gives us the Faith,’ replied Abbot Nannid. ‘The law of God can only be that of his chosen people.’

‘So what are you saying?’ Prior Cuan asked. ‘Is it that the newfound law of the God of Israel must now be the sole arbiter of all our lives, just because we accept Christ? Yet Christ Himself did not accept this law but questioned it.’

‘We are talking about the murder of Abbot Segdae. A life for a life! It is clearly said in the Old Testament.’

‘We are not arguing Gorman’s case,’ Brehon Faolchair reminded him again, ‘but whether the New Faith has abolished our laws.’

Prior Cuan would not let the matter alone and surprised Fidelma by his vehemence. ‘You demand more than a life for a life, Abbot Nannid. Is it not so? You argue that whatsoever is ordered in the Holy Scriptures is now the law we must obey. That is what you claim as the Penitentials.’

‘The sacred scriptures are there to be obeyed,’ the abbot agreed dourly.

Prior Cuan shook his head as if in sorrow. ‘The people of the Five Kingdoms hold most of their wealth in cattle, is it not so? Sometimes there are accidents with bulls, indeed, with other animals that become fractious, escape confinement and injure and even kill people. When this happens, in our law, compensation is made to the injured or their family. But the scripture known as Exodus says that not only must the animal be put to death but the owner as well. There is no choice in the matter. Do you follow that law?’

‘The law of God is the law,’ Abbot Nannid returned stolidly.

‘And a man gathering wood for his poor fire on a holy day, as recounted in the Book of Numbers: God instructed that he be put to death for his impudence. Do you agree with that?’

‘The judgement of God is not to be questioned.’

‘So we must follow these laws without question because they are written in scripture?’

‘That is what they are there for.’

‘This morning in the marketplace in the township, I saw a group of boys making fun of a merchant struggling with a bag too heavy for him. Often boys and even girls have a cruel sense of humour. But would you put them to death?’

Abbot Nannid frowned momentarily. ‘Why should I?’

‘Because you say the judgement of scripture must be obeyed. In the second Book of Kings you will find that when the prophet Elisha was entering a town, a group of boys gathered round and made fun of his bald head. Elisha immediately had God strike them all dead for their impertinence. Do you find justice in that?’

Abbot Nannid hesitated a little. ‘That law is the law,’ he finally mumbled.

‘Your law – not mine,’ Fidelma declared.

Prior Cuan was not finished. ‘There are many things in the Old Testament scriptures that merit death according to your lights, Abbot Nannid. Even acts of kindness are punishable by death. Yet doesn’t Christ demand that we are all kind to one another?’

Abbot Nannid was on the defensive now. ‘I have no knowledge of what you mean.’

‘I see. Yet I had assumed that your knowledge of scripture would have been extensive for one who advocates such a blind obedience to the law written there.’

‘Acts of kindness aren’t punishable by death.’

‘Then what of the story in Samuel when the Ark of the Covenant was being transported by ox cart down a hill and was in danger of falling off the cart because one of the ox team stumbled? Did not young Uzzah reach out a hand to steady it, to prevent it from falling into the mud and being damaged? For this offence it says that God struck him dead.’

‘He was punished for daring to touch the Holy Ark.’

‘To save it from being damaged. Did he deserve death as a reward for his act?’

‘It is God’s judgement. We must obey the law which is instituted by God. The judgement of death is mandated by the Old Testament.’

‘Then many of us are worthy of being put to death,’ Prior Cuan said with mock resignation. ‘We must execute those who are disrespectful to their fathers or mothers, we must kill fortune-tellers, and women who are not virgins on their wedding night, we must slay adulterers … the list is endless. Will there be anyone left to inhabit your sort of Christian world, Abbot Nannid?’

‘Only those worthy of God’s infinite goodness will be saved.’

‘And you have appointed yourself God’s judge?’

‘God has already made judgement, and those judgements are in the scriptures that comprise the Old Testament.’

Fidelma made one last attempt to bring reason into the discussion. ‘When I was young, I was taught by Brother Ruadan of Inis Celtra. That venerable old man told me that we are Christians because we are followers of the teachings of Christ, but we are not like the slaves of the ancient laws of the Israelites. The principles of our Faith were set forth by Christ.’

‘Did Christ not tell us in the scripture of Matthew that His mission on this earth was not to abolish the Law of Moses?’ The abbot proposed this with a look of triumph on his face.

‘Paul told the Galatians that the whole of the law is summed up in a single Commandment – that you shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ Prior Cuan replied. ‘Your Commandment seems to be that you will kill and punish as many of your neighbours as you see fit.’

Abbot Nannid reared up in anger. ‘I have done with this. You will not move me from what I know to be right.’

Prince Donennach belatedly intervened. ‘Abbot Nannid, have you considered where this matter might end?’

‘I have only considered what is right and wrong.’

‘Is there nothing I can say to you as Prince of the Ui Fidgente, as your prince, to persuade you to hand back the Cashel warrior to the custody of my Brehon so that he might be tried according to law? Will it avail me nothing if I plead with you not to go forward with your threat?’

‘It is not to make a point that I make this stand, Donennach. I argue that I must support what is right according to the Faith.’

‘Nannid, we are both descendants of Fiachu Fidgennid, both of the Ui Fidgente. My desire is to prevent our people descending headlong into war.’ The plea was almost a cry of despair. ‘For the sake of peace and our people, Nannid …’

‘You are the ones who will not see peace if you allow this matter to go unpunished. Does it not say in the writings of Deuteronomy that if you reject the words of a priest, or judge of God’s holy laws, you will also be put to death?’

His words brought a shocked intake of breath from the assembly.

‘Be careful, Nannid of Mungairit,’ Prior Cuan intervened fiercely. ‘That clearly seems a threat against your lawful prince. Is it not said in Galatians, whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap?’

‘My faith and my duty are clear. Gorman of Cashel killed an abbot. Tomorrow at noon, he shall meet with the penalty prescribed by the Faith which has been embraced by our people.’

Abbot Nannid now turned and, followed by his steward, Brother Cuineain, he left the chamber.

Prior Cuan looked apologetically at Prince Donennach. ‘I have done my best to argue with him on the grounds of the Faith, but I have failed. He is not moved. Nor will he be.’

Prince Donennach raised his hands helplessly. ‘I thank you for your service. I thank you as well, Fidelma. I thank you both for trying to find some peaceful way of resolving this matter.’