Chapter 2

While Bridget and Michael were exchanging pleasantries with the Minister and his family inside the church, a sudden commotion was heard immediately outside. When those left inside rushed out to see what was going on, an ugly sight met their eyes. Dan Moore lay sprawled on his back in the mud with a painful looking bruise already beginning to show on his jaw while Harry Walsh stood over him full of wrath and indignation.
‘I warned you before not to lay a hand on my sister you cowardly little swine so, for your sake, this had better be the last. If you harm a hair on her head again I swear I’ll kill you. Make no mistake, I mean what I say.’ In his dirty, working clothes Harry looked mean and dangerous as he glowered angrily down at the cowering man. Among his Sunday-best-dressed neighbours he was a man apart.
‘Please stop, Harry. Dan didn’t do anything. It was my own fault. I just had an accident.’ Clearly upset that her brother should have caused such a horrible scene in front of the church and before the eyes of the entire village, Cathy tried to pull her brother away from her husband; tears of humiliation and misery flooding down her cheeks.
Dan made no attempt to get up and face his powerfully built brother-in-law but instead, restricted himself to snarling up at the towering Harry. ‘You heard her. She had an accident. I didn’t touch her.’
‘My sister has become very accident-prone since she married you, you good-for-nothing bastard,’ Harry rasped, clenching and unclenching his fists as he spoke. It was clear to all those watching that he was having considerable difficulty keeping his hands off Dan.
‘As far as I’m concerned, from now on it won’t matter how Cathy injures herself. If my sister has another ‘accident’, as you call it, I’m holding you responsible. So, make sure you take extra good care of her from now on or be prepared to suffer the consequences.’ Having issued his ultimatum, Harry turned on his heel and strode back to where his father stood watching anxiously from their field.
In the silence that followed, Bridget rushed over to comfort Cathy, as did Piers and Alice Moore. Dan was left to get to his feet unaided. As he stood up, he blustered to whoever would listen, ‘The man’s an animal. I never touched her. Did you see the way that ugly bastard hit me? Who the hell does he think he is? He’s got another think coming if he thinks he can attack me and just get away with it. He picked the wrong man when he picked on me. He’ll be sorry, just you wait and see.’
Blanche Peters made a half-hearted attempt to go across to sympathise with Dan but her father immediately ordered her back to his side. ‘Come back here, young lady. We are going home.’ Then, holding her firmly by the hand as if fearing she might run away, he and the rest of the Peters family went around to the crèche to collect their youngest child, Julia, before returning home.
Out of the corner of his eye Michael noticed the Reverend Campion and Jim Hughes standing together just inside the door to the church and it occurred to him that the Minister had said not a single word through the entire commotion, even as his eyes and ears had missed nothing. Michael was also aware of the anxious look Jim sent after Blanche, his unofficial fiancé. By this time, most of the other islanders were huddled together looking shocked that such a thing should happen, particularly just outside the house of God.
As the villagers began moving away from the church, Michael noticed that Piers and Alice Moore, having completely ignored their son, were now walking on either side of Cathy as if to give her support. They were taking their distraught daughter-in-law back to their own cottage. Finding himself isolated, Dan slunk off to his studio which was located in one of the nearby, old, MOD huts.

Later that same afternoon, Bridget and Michael were clearing away the remains of their Sunday lunch. Unusually, he had failed to compliment Bridget on a fine meal and it was obvious his mind was elsewhere. She guessed the dreadfully embarrassing scene outside church was probably still upsetting him. In fact, he had hardly spoken a word since returning home.
Trying to raise his spirits, Bridget said, ‘Well, I think the question most of you men on the island were asking yourselves about Monica was finally cleared up today, wasn’t it?
Michael looked up. ‘Sorry Bridget, what did you say?’
She repeated her comment.
With an effort Michael wrenched his mind back to the present and tried to pay attention to his wife. He smiled briefly. ‘Yes, I suppose it was,’ he said vaguely. Then, as if he expected his wife to be a mind reader, he said, ‘You don’t think he’d really do what he threatened to do, do you?’
So quickly had he changed the subject, it took Bridget a moment to realize what Michael was asking.
‘I suppose you’re referring to Harry’s threat? Well, if you are, you can relax. I don’t believe Harry would do anything quite so stupid. He’s not like that.’
Michael stared at his wife urging her to go on and Bridget was only too happy to oblige.
‘Harry was trying to frighten Dan because he wants him to behave more reasonably towards Cathy, that’s’ all; and let’s face it, if anyone can do the frightening, Harry can.’
‘Do you really think that’s all it was?’
‘Of course I do, and believe me, he scared Dan as much as any man could.
‘Well, let’s hope Dan believes Harry’s threat enough to mend his ways.’
‘I’m sorry to say, I think it’ll take more than a damn good hiding to stop Dan knocking Cathy about. There’ll be another time, I’m sure. It’s too much in his nature. When that happens, I don’t know what Harry will do, but he certainly won’t kill Dan. You can be sure of that.’

In the Peters’ household, Sunday lunch had also just been cleared away and Dan Moore was again the topic of conversation. Sara worked hard to produce appetizing meals for her family and Ben knew better than to bring up the subject of Dan Moore before or during Sunday lunch. A row was bound to follow and he knew better than to spoil Sara’s meal. But the meal was now over and Ben finally felt free to express himself. ‘I don’t want you to have anything more to do with that dreadful fellow,’ he said turning to his oldest daughter.
Blanch flared back defiantly. ‘If you’re talking about Dan Moore, he’s not dreadful. He’s a very talented artist and if he occasionally loses his temper, it’s only because his wife doesn’t understand him.’
‘Oh! And I suppose you do,’ Ben sneered.
‘And what if I do?’ Blanche snapped back.
A row was set to explode when Sara stepped in.
‘Now, now, this won’t do. You know we only want what’s best for you, Blanche. Your father and I are very worried about your relationship with Dan.’
‘And what relationship might that be?’
From being all fire and set to explode Blanche was suddenly icy calm.
‘He paid me the compliment of asking me if he could paint my portrait. Is that what you mean by a relationship?’
‘Why did he ask you? That’s what I want to know?’ Ben muttered.
‘Well, thank you very much for that resounding vote of confidence. It’s very reassuring to know how proud you are of me.’
Blanche was hurt and upset that her father should fail to see her as the rather beautiful young woman she imagined herself to be; a beautiful young woman any artist worth his salt would be desperate to paint.
‘If you must know, Dan thinks my face has Gioconda-like similarities.’ She decided it would be prudent to refrain from telling them what he said about her other charms. Her parents were far too stuffy to understand.
‘What the hell’s a Gioconda? Isn’t that some sort of snake?’ Ben demanded. Art was not his forte.
‘You’re thinking of an anaconda, Ben. The Gioconda is another name for the Mona Lisa.’ Sara, ever the schoolmistress, quietly corrected her husband.
Ben had heard of the Mona Lisa and proceeded to snort his disgust.
‘And you fell for that line of crap?’ he said, incredulity in his voice. ‘God give me strength.’
‘Watch your language, Ben Peters; and calling on the Almighty is not going to do any good, either.’
Sara was as quick to put her husband in his place as she was to correct his mistakes. In any case, intemperate outbursts would be of no help in sorting out this little matter. Even if Ben had not noticed, she, Sara, was all too well aware of her daughter’s feminine charms. She and Ben saw eye-to-eye on one thing, however. She trusted neither Dan nor his motives and while she might not agree with the way her husband was handling the situation, she completely sympathised with his motives. Turning, she spoke to Blanche.
‘You don’t need us to tell you that Dan has a bad reputation, Blanche. Everyone knows how much he likes chasing after women and he doesn’t allow a little thing like being married to get in his way, either. I feel very sorry for poor little Cathy. She doesn’t deserve to be treated the way Dan treats her. Surely you can see that?’
Blanche was not entirely without feeling but she was young and naive and she had been very flattered when Dan started paying attention to her and complimenting her on her looks. On the other hand, she was not a stupid girl, either. Like all the other islanders, she was fully aware that Dan treated his wife badly. He, however, had persuaded her that he did what he did because he became so frustrated because, unlike her, Cathy was a woman unable to appreciate his talent, which, of course, was yet another thing she couldn’t tell her parents, so she clamped her mouth closed and said nothing.
Sara continued. ‘Even if you don’t care what happens to Cathy, have you no consideration for Jim? Surely he deserves some thought?’
Blanche felt she was on more secure ground dealing with her relationship with Jim. In fact Blanche was very angry with Jim Hughes. It had been her hope that Jim might have asked her to marry him by now, but he was so slow. If he was concerned by her involvement with Dan, he very effectively hid that concern. He really was the limit.
‘And just what consideration do you think I owe Jim Hughes?’ she demanded. ‘You might know what it is; I certainly don’t. As far as I’m concerned, we’re just friends and while that’s all we are I can see whoever I like. It’s not as if we are engaged or anything.’
Sara understood and shared her daughter’s annoyance at Jim’s tardiness. He was obviously attracted to Blanche but he lacked the courage to take their relationship that one essential step further. Dan, on the other hand would take without even asking – if he hadn’t already done so.
‘I know you’re cross with Jim, Blanche, but I don’t think seeing Dan is a sensible thing for you to do.’
‘I’m not ‘seeing Dan’ as you call it. I’m merely sitting for him. And as far as Jim is concerned, I’m not cross with him at all. In fact, I couldn’t care less about Jim Hughes.’ So saying, Blanche flounced off outside and sat on the small wall in front of the cottage where she gradually gathered her composure.
Left to themselves, Ben and Sara continued their discussion but now in whispers lest Blanche should overhear what they were saying.
‘I don’t trust that man. He’s no good,’ Ben said. ‘Blanche is pretty enough but what was it he called her?’
‘Giaconda-like,’ Sara said automatically.
‘That’s right, Giacoda-like,’ Ben stumbled over the unfamiliar word. What sort of stupid girl have we brought up that she would fall for such an obvious line?’
Sara shook her head sadly in agreement. ‘She’s just young and silly and I know Jim is much more upset than he’s letting on. He asked me the other day how much longer Blanche expects to sit for Dan. When I said I didn’t know, he asked me if I was happy with what she was doing. I said I wasn’t but that Blanche was determined to carry on. I could tell he was unhappy about her involvement with Dan and I even suggested that if he really was worried, he should do something about it. But he’s too afraid of being rejected.’
‘And while we’re on the subject, I wonder what sort of painting Dan is doing of Blanche. Whatever it is, he’s taking his time over it,’ Ben mused.
Sara said. ‘Whenever I’ve asked Blanch, she’s never given me a direct answer. If it’s just a head and shoulders, like the Mona Lisa, it would probably be all right but Blanche won’t ever tell me. We might well have cause for concern if it’s anything else.’
‘We won’t be the only ones,’ Ben said grimly.
Sara looked up quickly hearing the threat in her husband’s voice.

In the Manse, Alan Campion was just finishing his lunch. Around him were ranged most of the adults of his now extended family. These included Valerie, his oldest daughter and her husband, Andrew Armstrong, as well as Hugo and Monica. Alan’s wife Christine, and Ruth, Hugo’s wife, were in the kitchen washing up. Three of the growing band of children, including the Armstrong’s youngest two, Matthew and Faith, together with Hugo and Ruth’s baby, Alan junior, were sleeping in one of the bedrooms. Only the Armstrong’s oldest two, eight year old Christine and six year old Robert, were sitting playing in one corner of what was the only separate dining room on Hirta.
Alan was in an expansive mood. His service had gone well and he had just enjoyed a fine lunch. He now sat back, well satisfied with the world, and addressed himself to his son-in-law.
‘What did you make of that little altercation outside the church this morning, Andrew?’
‘For a start, I saw it as considerably more than a ‘little altercation’, sir,’ Andrew replied.
Alan shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly. He was not in the mood to quibble over words.
Andrew continued, ‘Dan deserved all he got and it’s a pity Harry had to get involved but it’s Cathy I really feel sorry for. We all know Harry’s like a second father to Cathy and Michael. It stands to reason he feels protective towards them and especially towards Cathy. He’s rather committed himself now, though.’
‘Oh! So you think there’ll be another time, do you?’ Alan looked curiously at his son-in-law.
‘Almost certainly, I’m sorry to say,’ Andrew replied heavily. He and Harry had once been close friends but pressing family commitments had caused them to drift apart.
‘Once a wife beater, always a wife beater,’ Valerie contributed sagely.
‘What do you think, Hugo,’ Alan asked, bringing his son into the conversation.
‘I have to agree with Andrew and Valerie. There’s bound to be a next time. Dan won’t be able to control himself and when Harry finds out the fur is certain to fly. I wouldn’t like to be in Dan’s boots the next time Harry goes after him. We all know what Harry is capable of doing when he’s roused.’
‘He’ll give him another damn good hiding but I don’t think Harry would go that extra step, if that’s what you’re suggesting, Hugo.’ Andrew was quick to jump to the defence of his friend. ‘What Harry did all those years ago he did because he had to. You know as well as I do that he saved us when we were powerless to save ourselves. Basically, he’s a gentle man trying to protect his little sister.’
Hugo nodded his head. ‘Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting Harry’s a cold-blooded murderer. It’s just that if drastic action is called for, I’m certain he won’t flinch. I really thought he was serious with his threat – in fact he said he meant every word of it. Let’s hope Dan believed him.’
‘Harry was just angry at the time. He’s probably already regretting what he said now that he’s calmed down,’ Andrew said.
‘I have to agree with the first part of what you said, Hugo,’ Alan finally voiced an opinion. ‘Harry was quite emphatic about his threat and I think he’d be quite prepared to do what he promised. If I were Dan, I’d make sure I treated Cathy very carefully from now on. Unfortunately, like the rest of you, I’m inclined to believe there will be a next time.’
‘I’m surprised to hear you say that, sir,’ Andrew began. ‘If you really think Harry was in earnest, shouldn’t you try to do everything in your power to stop him? I don’t think he’ll carry out his threat, but if you believe he will, you must try to talk him out of it.’
Alan shrugged. ‘As well you know, Andrew, neither Harry nor his father will have anything to do with me or with my little church so it would be a waste of my time trying. I’ll go further; if he thought I was against the idea, that would simply strengthen his resolve.’
All this while, Monica sat looking from face to face as each new person spoke but she made no attempt to join in the conversation. Turning to her, Alan finally brought her into the conversation, changing the subject as he did so.
‘Monica, did I tell you what that young Peters boy, James, their freckle-faced seven year old, said to me?’
Monica shook her head. ‘No, I don’t believe you did, daddy.’
‘He came to me in a fine state yesterday. He said he saw the disembodied head of the island’s old Amazon Queen floating about near the shore two nights ago.’
While everyone smiled at the superstitious youngster’s silly idea, Monica seemed startled. She sat quietly for a few moments before answering.
‘I remember reading something about the old Amazon Queen when we first came to St Kilda. Wasn’t she mentioned in one of the legends of the early people here?
‘That’s right,’ Andrew said. ‘She was a mythical being who used to wander about scaring everyone to death. The old Hirtans believed she would kill any man who ventured onto her side of the island after dark. If she’s decided to move to our side of Hirta, we men had better watch out.’
‘I suspect we should all watch out,’ Alan said laughing as if at some secret joke.
‘So, what did you tell young James, daddy?’ Monica said.
Between chuckles, Alan replied, ‘I told him he’d probably seen a sea-gull flying slowly against the wind.’
‘And did he accept your explanation?’
‘Not at first, dear. He insisted it was the head of a lady with a white veil pulled down over it, but visibility was so poor, I suspect he was seeing things. But just in case it was the Amazon Queen, perhaps we should all be on our guards from now on.’ Everyone joined in the laughter.

In their snug little cottage, Bob and Jesse Armstrong were sitting with their daughter, Anna, and the same subject that presently occupied so many other Hirtan households finally cropped up.
‘Wasn’t it just typical of Harry Walsh to think he can solve everything by resorting to violence,’ Anna volunteered to no one in particular.
Bob never hardly ever attended the church services and Jesse had told him about the incident immediately on her return from church. Naturally, he’d been most disturbed to hear that Harry’s patience had finally snapped. He took his role of leader very seriously and felt it reflected badly on him that the matter of Dan and Cathy appeared to be escalating out of control. His inaction stemmed from his reluctance to interfere in someone else’s marriage when others were so much better placed to offer advice to the young couple.
Anna was irritated when neither of her parents responded to her opening, barbed attack. Of course, that came as no surprise to her. She knew nothing would get them to condemn anything Harry Walsh did. As far as they were concerned, he could do no wrong. Raising her voice, she continued.
‘It’s just like the pot calling the kettle black. Dan is accused of being violent towards his wife, so what is Harry Walsh’s response? Violence! You can just imagine what life would be like married to someone like that. Woe betides you if you didn’t do exactly what you were told.’
There had been a time when Bob and Jesse had wondered if their only daughter and Harry Walsh might have paired off and married. They knew her remark was her none too subtle way of telling them what a lucky escape she’d had. After such a pleasant lunch, however, Jesse had no intention of discussing the merits or otherwise of Harry Walsh with her daughter. Such conversations had always proved fruitless in the past and she felt too sleepy and contented to enter into a fruitless argument.
Not so Bob. Harry was a man he held in the very highest esteem and he would never forget the debt he and all the other islanders owed to Harry Walsh. But for his life-saving interventions when he was still just a very young man, they would not now be living their hard but secure lives. He was also convinced that the islanders would not now be completely cut off from the outside world if they had listened to him and to his father, Jack. Bob still smarted from that defeat, largely at the hand of Alan Campion. They should have welcomed the offer with open arms when Frank Williams and his family wanted to join the group and was willing to contribute their small but sea-worthy yacht. The frustration and anger of that defeat made him speak far more strongly than was normal for him.
‘For reasons best known only to you, Anna, you’ve always disliked Harry. I can’t believe it’s because one side of his face is scarred because no one could be that petty, so it must be something he said or did to you in the past. You’ve never before complained about the way he might have treated you in the past but if you want to continue criticising someone who, personally, I hold in very high esteem, you’ll have to tell me what your complaint is or I must ask you, please, to refrain from this silly and spiteful carping.’
Jesse was shocked by the strength of her husband’s statement. It was quite unlike him to be so confrontational, especially to the daughter he genuinely adored.
Anna, too, was surprised at the vehemence of her father’s reply but she was a spirited girl and shot back, ‘That’s the trouble with you, daddy, you’d prefer to call your own daughter silly and spiteful rather than believe any criticism against the great Harry Walsh might be valid.’
‘Didn’t you hear me, Anna?’ Bob said quietly but distinctly. ‘I just invited you to put your complaint or complaints against Harry into words. What I don’t want is an emotional outpouring. Now, if you have a genuine complaint against Harry, let’s hear it.’
‘Well, for a start, he’s a know-all and he always tries to put me down,’ Anna began weakly and rather petulantly.
‘He’s certainly a very clever and competent man but I’ve never noticed him ever try to put anyone down.’ Anna was about to interrupt when Bob held up his hand to stop her. ‘I’m not saying he hasn’t tried to put you down, Anna; it’s just that I’ve never noticed him do so. I’ve always thought he is very considerate towards others.’
‘It’s easy for you to say that. You’re the leader of our community. He’s always on his best behaviour when he’s around you.’
‘Let’s agree for the moment that he really does try to put you down, as you call it. Since he doesn’t seem to do the same with other people, perhaps it’s because he’s trying to impress you. Have you ever thought of that?’
Anna shrugged her shoulders as if to say she was not interested in Harry’s reasons for doing anything.
Bob continued. ‘But isn’t that a very small crime to punish him with such dislike and over so many years. Surely there must be something else?’
Anna hesitated for a moment before she blurted out, ‘Where was he when Robin Chivers needed help. He knew we were seeing each other but he made no effort to save him.’
Bob was speechless. How could a child of his sit there and make such an incredible accusation. Jesse, too, was so startled by Anna’s remark, it stung her out of her comfortable lethargy.
‘What on earth are you talking about?’ she demanded. ‘I don’t ever recall you being particularly interested in Robin Chivers – or him in you, for that matter.’
‘Why should you. We never made a big thing about it but that didn’t make it any the less real.’
‘So your ‘interest’ in Robin was something known only to you, Robin and Harry. Is that what you’re saying?’
Anna hung her head but made no reply.
‘And knowing of your ‘interest’, you believe Harry deliberately allowed Robin to be killed by McLeod’s men all those years ago?’
Still there was no reply from Anna who now had the grace to look embarrassed.
‘Would it have been better if Harry had been killed instead of Robin?’ Jesse asked quietly.
‘Yes it would,’ Anna cried out and immediately burst into tears, ‘but why are you badgering me?’
‘My god! I’m genuinely shocked to hear you say that, Anna,’ Bob said. ‘Your remarks are childish, malicious and make no sense. Surely you can see that? I’m sure Harry was as unaware of your involvement with Robin as we all were but even if he knew about it, there was nothing he could have done to save Robin. But what he did saved the rest of us, including you. In fact he did what no other person on this island could possibly have done.’
Anna got up and ran sobbing to her bedroom. Her parents looked sadly after her.
‘There goes an embittered, mixed up and very frustrated spinster,’ Bob said quietly. ‘How can she distort reality so?’