‘And where are his writings now?’
‘I had assumed they would be in his room but I have heard a rumour that there was nothing there.’
‘Did he leave anything in the library, anything at all?’
‘He lodged several of his early works here as well as copies he made of other scholars’ work. He was a good copyist and his own commentaries were excellent. But that was, of course, before he went on his pilgrimage and I suspect you are more interested in the period following his return.’
‘Your suspicion is correct, Brother Donnán.’
‘Well, he came here several times. I think he was checking references in other works. But I never heard of anything he was writing.’
‘Some libraries keep a record of what books their scholars examine,’ Eadulf said. ‘Do you?’
Brother Donnán glanced towards a desk in the corner. ‘I pride myself on the way I run this library. I do keep a list of the items that members of the brethren ask for in the library.’ He smiled briefly.
‘So what manner of manuscripts was Brother Donnchad interested in?’ asked Fidelma.
‘Works on the philosophy of the Faith mainly, particularly the works of the founding fathers.’
‘Can you be more specific?’
Brother Donnán hesitated, thinking, before he said, ‘He asked to see the works of Origenes.’
‘Origenes?’ Eadulf frowned.
‘A Greek from Alexandria who was one of the great early theologians of the Faith,’ explained Brother Donnán. ‘He lived many centuries ago. He was nicknamed Adamantios — the unbreakable one.’
‘And do you have copies of his works here?’ Fidelma asked.
The scriptor smiled. ‘Not everything of his, I grant you, lady. But we have some of his important works such as On First Principles, some of his many commentaries on the books of the Bible, essays on prayer and on martyrdom …’
‘Do you remember what work Brother Donnchad was particularly interested in?’
Brother Donnán shrugged. ‘Not offhand.’
Eadulf glanced across to the desk in the corner. ‘Then perhaps your lists will provide an answer,’ he suggested, moving towards it.
Brother Donnán hurried forward to the large side table on which a ledger rested. Near the table was a member of the brethren deep in study of one of the manuscript books. He looked up as they approached and smiled briefly. It was the bruigad,the keeper of the guesthouse, Brother Máel Eoin. They exchanged a smile of recognition before he returned to the work he was reading. Brother Donnán started to turn the pages of the ledger. Fidelma and Eadulf peered over his shoulders. The pages consisted of lists given under various names. The scriptor halted at a page headed with Donnchad’s name and began running his finger quickly down the list.
‘Origenes,’ Fidelma said sharply. ‘You ran past the name, Brother Donnán. See there? It says Origenes, eight books entitled Contra Celsum, and you have marked it as a specific request. Isn’t that date only a few days before Brother Donnchad was killed?’
The scriptor flushed, apparently embarrassed at nearly missing the entry. ‘Indeed, I believe it was a week before he died.’
‘Contra Celsum? What is that?’ asked Eadulf.
‘Arguments against Celsus; he was a pagan writer.’
‘I have to admit, Brother Donnán, that I have never heard of Celsus.’
‘Better that no one hears of him,’ replied the scriptor in disapproval. ‘He was a great opponent of the True Faith. However, Origenes pointed out the error of his ways so that people could see his arguments were false.’
‘And do you have this work here?’ asked Fidelma.
Brother Donnán shook his head indignantly. ‘How can you ask if we have the work of Celsus, a pagan, in a Christian library, Sister? For shame.’
‘I meant the work of Origenes, the work that Brother Donnchad requested.’ Fidelma chose not to point out that most libraries were filled with the works of Greeks and Latins who had lived long before the coming of the Faith.
‘We do — or rather we did. The abbey at Ard Mór requested that we lend them the copy. We frequently exchange books with them. As soon as Brother Donnchad had finished with it, wesent it to the abbey of Ard Mór with someone who was making the journey there.’
‘I wonder why Brother Donnchad would be interested in reading the arguments of Origenes against Celsus?’ She posed the question rhetorically, not expecting an answer.
‘Little is known about Celsus except that he was probably a Greek who lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.’ The scriptor seem to pride himself on his knowledge of his books and he liked to share it. ‘That is, he lived about two centuries after the birth of the Christ. His main work was called Alethos Logos, which is Greek for The True Word, and he showed himself to be an implacable opponent of the Christians. He tried to ridicule Christians for what he claimed was their advocacy of blind faith instead of reason.’
Fidelma stirred uncomfortably. In the many years that she had served both the law of the Fénechus as well as the Faith, she had always been uncomfortable when her questions could not be answered. On every difficult question she was told one simply had to have faith; one had to believe and not question the belief. She wondered what Origenes had argued if Celsus had brought up similar questions.
‘And what do you know of the book Contra Celsum?’
‘I have not read it.’
‘A pity,’ sighed Eadulf. ‘And you never had a copy of Celsus’s original work? If you had the refutation, it surely would be logical to have a copy of what it refuted.’
‘Brother Donnchad made the very same point,’ replied Brother Donnán. ‘As I have said, our library is filled only with books by the faithful. Indeed, Brother Lugna now insists on obedience to this rule. I was told to discard the works of any that are critical of the Faith.’
‘Sometimes one learns and receives strength by studyingthe arguments of those of contrary opinion,’ Fidelma said. ‘Do we know what matters Celsus raised that needed to be refuted?’
‘The important thing is that we know he was wrong,’ said Brother Donnán with a pious air.
‘But how do we know that?’ asked Fidelma.
Brother Donnán looked shocked. ‘Because Origenes tells us it is so.’
Fidelma sighed softly but did not bother to pursue the argument.
‘Did Brother Donnchad mention why he was researching this work?’
‘He was never much of a conversationalist, unlike his brother Cathal. Cathal was always the talkative one but Donnchad was very introspective, and preferred his own company or that of the simpleton.’
‘Simpleton?’ Eadulf’s tone was sharp.
‘Brother Gáeth,’ the scriptor said, unabashed. ‘He is a field worker who can barely write his own name. You will meet him no doubt and will be able to judge for yourself.’
Fidelma shot a warning glance at Eadulf who was obviously about to admit to their discussion with Brother Gáeth.
‘But he was Brother Donnchad’s anam chara,’ she pointed out.
‘That was before he went on his pilgrimage,’ replied the scriptor. ‘Anyway, Brother Donnchad had no need of such a soul friend.’
‘Do you know if the brethren ever discussed why Brother Donnchad became reclusive?’ she asked, ignoring the remark.
Brother Donnán hesitated before lifting one shoulder and letting it fall to signal his lack of knowledge. ‘I do not listen to gossip.’
‘Yet sometimes gossip leads to truth,’ Fidelma encouraged.