The author is a miners son born in a mining colliery in N E England. He enjoyed his time, 1947 1949, in the !".

. !llan #uali$ied as %et in 19&4 at 'i%er(ool )ni%ersity. The author then *or+ed as %eterinary assistant until 19,- in .ridlington, /toc+ton, and .arnard 0astle. He began his o*n (ractice in 1eterlee in 19,-. !llan has al*ays been interested in history, in ballroom dancing since 1949, and in gardening since 19,-.

Allan Henderson

PAIN AND PASSION

0o(yright 2 !llan Henderson The right o$ !lan Henderson to be identi$ied as author o$ this *or+ has been asserted by him in accordance *ith section 77 and 73 o$ the 0o(yright, 4esigns and 1atents !ct 1933. !ll rights reser%ed. No (art o$ this (ublication may be re(roduced, stored in a retrie%al system, or transmitted in any $orm or by any means, electronic, mechanical, (hotoco(ying, recording, or other*ise, *ithout the (rior (ermission o$ the (ublishers. !ny (erson *ho commits any unauthori5ed act in relation to this (ublication may be liable to criminal (rosecution and ci%il claims $or damages. ! 061 catalogue record $or this title is a%ailable $rom the .ritish 'ibrary. 6/.N 973 1349,7 4&1 9 ***.austinmacauley.com "irst 1ublished 89-14: !ustin ;acauley 1ublishers 'td. 9& 0anada /#uare 0anary <har$ 'ondon E14 &'.

1rinted and bound in =reat .ritain

!c+no*ledgments
6 *ish grate$ully to ac+no*ledge the guidance 6 ha%e recei%ed $rom the under mentioned boo+s and com(uter 04s. A Concise History of England, " E Halliday A Concise History of Scotland, "it5roy ;aclean A History of England, >eith "ielding A History of the English Speaking Peoples, 0hurchill A History of the Indians of the United States, !ngie 4ebo America, !listair 0oo+e Bowman of Crcy, onald <elch British Social History, ?ames ;ain*aring Cassells Battlefields of Britain Ireland, ichard .roo+s Encarta !""#, Encyclopaedia Britannica 4@4 9--7 History of England, ;acaulay History of the $orld, ? ; oberts %he Early St&arts, =od$rey 4a%ies %he 'ingfisher %reas&ry of (yths and )egends %he )ittle Book of Celtic (yths and )egends The ABbridge )> Encyclo(aedia C e$erence 0ollection %he 'ings Peace %he 'ings $ar, 0 @ <edg*ood %he $orld Atlas of $arfare, ichard Holmes

Authors Notes
! %isit to /outh <ales triggered my imagination *hen 6 sa* a dense *all o$ *hite mist a((arently solid and (ermanent hanging o%er the estuary o$ i%er Ta$$ that, unbelie%ably, disintegrated and %anished in the blin+ o$ an eyelid. This (henomenon conjured u( notions o$ *i5ardry in a magical %alley (rotecting the old race inhabiting .ritain be$ore the time o$ the 0elts and (ersuaded me to *rite a boo+ o$ 0rom*ells .ritain. 6n a human li$etime be$ore and since the *hole rigmarole o$ scienti$ic debate began, Earth to the ordinary (erson is eternal and has been since ;ans simian ancestors came do*n $rom the trees, *al+ed on t*o hind limbs, inherited a bigger brain courtesy o$ organic e%olution, e%ol%ed into ;an, obser%ed our *orld, and decided a =od, gods, or s(irits controlled the uni%erse and the a$$airs o$ humans *ho are $leeting and *ho thin+ only the hills last $ore%er. 1ro$essors o$ History agree stronger races dro%e (rimiti%e (eo(les into the mountainous regions o$ /cotland and <ales. <e must concede ;an has absorbed a %ast amount o$ +no*ledge gathered (ainsta+ingly by the best brains in our history, but he doesnt +no* e%erything. /ha+es(eare tells usD EThere are more things in Hea%en and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt o$ in your (hiloso(hyF and he has said it all. The hills are not as ?ulie !ndre*s sings Eali%e to the sound o$ music, but, as an eBercise in humility and research, let us *al+ in the hills o%erloo+ing =lencoe a glen scoured out o$ the Highlands by a retreating glacier ele%en thousand years ago and eB(erience the eerie silence, the strange, deathly #uiet. Ar try the high ground $ro*ning do*n on the @alley o$ the "allen 8@alle de los 0aidos: in North /(ain *here %isitors can hear murmurs $rom other humans three hundred metres a*ay and sense hints or *his(ers o$ a *eird, s(ineGchilling (resence. .oth (laces ha%e *itnessed massacres. 4oes an inde$inable something inhabit these hillsH 4o /(irits o$ the 4ead haunt them and by collecti%e e$$ort im(inge on our sensesH 6s it (ossible (rimiti%e Ald Anes at home in hills

any*here, e%en be$ore the time o$ the 0elts, ha%e retained ancient s+ills and abilities, (reser%ed intimate contact *ith Nature o%er the #uiet, mistGladen centuries o$ human eBistence, and (ractised (o*ers lost to others li%ing in the noise and bustle o$ lo*land to*ns and %illagesH 1o*ers *hich e%en no* enable them to reach humans o$ rare sensiti%ity, humans susce(tible to their (resenceH 'et us acce(t there$ore, humbly, that *e do li%e in a %ast mystery *here ha((enings outside the realm o$ logic are (ossible, e%en (robable. 6n Pain and Passion, s(irits haunt the hills o$ <ales and /cotland and ma+e contact *ith and eBert a benign in$luence on (erce(ti%e humans dra*n to *al+ing o%er them, or lingering on them.

Part I Britain

Introduction
;edie%al belie$ in =od *as absolute. 6t is di$$icult to gras( the curious #uality o$ this belie$F it *as more an acce(ted +no*ledge, li+e +no*ing it is morning or night, li+e a childs acce(tance o$ the eBistence o$ its (arents. No #uestions *ere as+ed. =od *as e%ery*here, al*ays, and this did not alarm or de(ress $or He did not object to $un. 'ater, >ing ?ames had the authorised .ible (rinted in English. .oo+s *ere so rare they ins(ired belie$ in their truth. ;en studied the .ible a%idly and regarded it as the literal and direct re%elation o$ =od to ;an but, e%entually, some denied the necessity $or the churchs inter(retation o$ it and re(udiated (riests, ceremony and dogma ali+e. 6n England, the church shran+ $rom uni%ersal 0atholicism to a National 0hurch and then to a 0hurch o$ the Home. .y Tudor times, monarchy re(laced the (a(acy, and the $ather o$ the $amily in /tuart times, .ible in hand, *as to re(lace the monarchy and teach 0hristianity as he understood it. To 1uritans e%ery *ord in the .ible *as trueD i$ the ;osaic commandment ordered that the /abbath should be +e(t holy, this justi$ied sending soldiers into the home to en$orce itF hellG$ire a*aited sinners, and (aradise *ould *elcome the good and saintly in a house (re(ared by ?esus. >ing 0harles 6 chose to o((ose obstinate 1uritans, and it *as on the hard roc+ o$ 1uritanism that absolute monarchy destroyed itsel$.

One
$ales * Sarah * %he Hills
ees E%ans (ut out a hand to touch his ne*born but dre* it bac+ as i$ touching a sna+e, gul(ed, and said, IHo* is this (ossibleH Jou ha%e deli%ered a s+inned rabbit. This, *hate%er it is, taints normal (arental a$$ection.K I6 su$$ered dro((ing this abomination,K ;air cried, Iand reject it no* 6 see it. This is my $irst and last baby.K /he loo+ed to the ceiling. INo more, =od, 6 beg Jou.K ees said, I>ee( it hidden. Ho* could =od do thisHK I;y breast $ills *ith loathing not mil+. 'et a maid suc+le it.K Ance the child named /arah reached *al+ing age, habitual inG coordination in broomGshan+ limbs led to $re#uent $alls, *hich alienated her (arents $urther. Their $aces dis(layed e#ual re%ulsion, and they ignored childish *ails unless near enough to (unish. 6$ the childs distress (ersisted a$ter smac+ing her bottom, they sla((ed bare legs. This se#uence (re%ailed until /arah su$$ered (ain in silence. .y the age o$ $our, /arah realised screaming e%o+ed more (ain than that caused by $alls, and she +e(t her sobbing soundless. !$ter injury, no matter ho* se%ere, one thought go%erned her res(onseD 6 must +ee( #uiet. <hen still, she seemed in%isible. No one cared, no one loo+ed, and no one listened. The only a$$ection in her isolated li$e came $rom horses. An those rare occasions *hen (arents re#uired her location, ser%ants +ne* to $ind her in the stables or riding in the $ields. The regime o$ aloneness *ith only the com(any o$ horses $or consolation (re%ailed until one month a$ter /arah *as eight. The day a$ter her eighth birthday, she stumbled to the stables and negotiated the yard but $ell into the (addoc+ gate tearing a sli%er o$ s+in $rom her nose. ;omentary shoc+ o%er, her mouth o(ened *ide and a cry gre* in her throat but not a sound esca(ed. ! chestnut mare cantered to the gate, (ushed its head o%er and do*n, and nudged her gently.

ees E%ans staring moodily through an o(en house *indo* caught sight o$ her, glim(sed her tonsils, didnt hear the scream he thought must ha%e been heard in 0aerleon, and cursed loudly. I<hat is itHK ;air as+ed. He sco*led, tugged his goatee beard, and said, I6 cannot tolerate seeing your daughter, the *ay she sti$les her screams, nor her relationshi( *ith a lame horse. 6 *ill em(loy a go%erness to hide this blot on my li$e.K ! month later, a carriage *ith a gracious lady (assenger dre* into the courtyard. The lady *aited until a ser%ant o(ened the door but *a%ed him a*ay *hen he held out his arm to aid her descent. ees gro*led to his *i$e, IThe tutor Eli5abeth ;ore is here at last. 6 *ill remind her to +ee( your mista+e and my curse out o$ sight.K ;airs $ace soured, and she re(lied, I4o not $orget your role in my mista+e. ;ethin+s this *ido*ed member o$ the (enniless nobility *ill $ul$il our needs.K Eli5abeth ;ore hid her distaste at the inter%ie* *hen %erbal instructions clari$ied the *ritten in$ormation in her (ossession and said, I6 understand my role as duenna. ;ay 6 see /arah on my o*nHK ees directed her to the stables. Eli5abeth, *ithout being noticed, *atched a shambling child lead a lame chestnut mare $rom the stable to the (asture, struggle onto a stra* bale to mount, and, her bac+ straight, urge the horse $rom hobbling *al+ to smooth gallo(, her hair a blac+ cloud $lying behind her. Eli5abeth, eyes *ide in ama5ement, thought, E6 am *itnessing an uneB(lainable $usion, a stri+ing con%ersion $rom indi%idual human and e#uine clumsiness into a meld o$ grace *his(ering o$ magic. The metamor(hosis is miraculousD the horse turns into 1egasus, and the rider trans$orms into 4iana =oddess o$ the ;oon and Hunt. /arah returned and dismounted clumsily. Eli5abeth hid behind some stra* bales and thought, EThis ha(less child is a dollD t*o enormous green eyes ato( a scra*ny body su((orted by limbs li+e stic+s *ra((ed in s+in. 6 detest both (arents, but through /arah they ha%e brought (ur(ose to my li$e.

Tiny hands gently rubbed a s*ollen (astern, large eyes registered concern, and a tiny %oice said in a *his(er, I6 *ill rub the (ain a*ay.K The chestnut mare snic+ered so$tly and raised the heel o$ the o$$side hind hoo$ o$$ the stable $loor. ! tiny body trying to stand u(right sli((ed and $ell. The horse nudged the tiny body and, head held lo*, *aited. Tiny hands gras(ed the mane and (ulled the tiny body into standing (osition. ! so$t %oice said, IThan+ you, .la5e. 4ont get blood on your *hite nose.K The horse nu55led the tiny body gently li+e the touch o$ a light $eather. Eli5abeth ste((ed $rom behind the stra* bales and $ound hersel$ tal+ing *ithout intending to and, although un*illing to intrude and (re$erring to obser%e longer, mo%ed nearer in%oluntarily *ith *ords dra*n out o$ her as i$ she *ere (ro(elled by an unseen $orce to mo%e and s(ea+. I/he is at ease *ith the horse, and the horse *ith her. ! $la*ed animal acce(ts the tric+ Nature has (layed on a childs im(er$ect body.K The child heard, sa* her, staggered, and $ell. T*o beauti$ul green eyes signalled alarm. Eli5abeth rushed to the child, noticed the torn nose and a smudge on the childs bro*, *i(ed the bro* clean *ith a hand+erchie$, and said, I6 tal+ to mysel$ because 6 ha%e no one else to tal+ toF you tal+ to a horse. Jou soothe the horseF 6 *ill do the same $or you because there is no one else to do it $or you. <hat do you say to thatHK /arah trembled and loo+ed to the $loor. Eli5abeth li$ted /arahs $ace by a light touch under the chin to loo+ into her eyes. /arah didnt res(ond. IJour gla5ed eB(ression *arns me no one is at home here.K Eli5abeth touched /arahs head gently. I/*allo*ed your tongue, ha%e youH No tearsH <hat lo%ely eyes.K /he li$ted /arah to her $eet. IJou ride really *ell. !re you a $emale centaurHK Eyes *idened. I<hat is a centreLa...HK I! centaur is hal$ man hal$ horse.K Eyes gre* larger. Eli5abeth smiled and said to hersel$, I6%e got through to herF 6m ma+ing contact at last. /he is all alone just as 6 am. 6m tal+ing to mysel$ again.K Then, she tal+ed to /arah about horses until hoarse *hile introducing /arah to motherly hugs as she did so.

6n the $ollo*ing months, she (ersuaded /arah to call her 'i5 not ;rs ;ore or EGlithGaGbeth. 6n the $ollo*ing years besides introducing lo%e to a lo%eless child, she brought dee( learning to her education. 6n 1lymouth, ?ane Hastings +issed and hugged her $ather and said, I1lease, (lease, (lease, "ather, you (romised a s(ecial treat $or my tenth birthday. 6 *ant to meet /arah E%ans and ha%e her %isit to (lay *ith me.K I@ery *ell, darling, ;r E%ans *ill be here tomorro* to buy su((lies $or colonists in the !mericas. 6 *ill in%ite him to bring /arah neBt month...K His *i$e interru(ted, I;r Hastings, sir, 6 tolerate ees and ;air because o$ the trade he brings you. 6s it not strange they ne%er bring /arah *ith them or e%en tal+ o$ herHK I.usiness ac#uaints us *ith strange bed$ello*s, dear.K I/trange is too mild a *ord.K ;air E%ans objected strongly to /arah going to 1lymouth. ees said, I<e are obliged to ta+e /arah other*ise *e might lose lucrati%e business dealings, and *e *ill ha%e the duenna accom(any us to +ee( /arah a*ay $rom us, out o$ our sight i$ (ossible.K IThen *e *ill tolerate it *ith us and hide our loathing.K Thus, ees and ;air too+ /arah to 1lymouth, and it came about that the Hastings $amily too+ to /arah, and ?ane became /arahs only $riend and begged that /arah %isited monthly. Ane late !ugust, ;rs Hastings arranged a (icnic $or the E%ans $amily. ees E%ans glanced around *hile stro+ing his goatee beard (roudly, $ro*ned *hen his glance too+ in /arah *ithin hearing range (laying on the sandy beach *ith ?ane su(er%ised by Eli5abeth ;ore, and said to ;rs Hastings, I?ane is lo%ely.K ;rs Hastings $ro*ned and re(lied, I/arah has beauti$ul green eyes.K /(ittingGaG$lyG$romGhisGmouth noises eru(ted $rom ees bulging red $ace and then, IHmm...hmm......K /arah reacted be$ore her $ather s(o+e *ords and said #uic+ly, I4ear 'i5, ?ane and 6 are going do*n to the seashore. 1lease *atch us $rom here.K

/he stumbled to the *aters edge $ar $rom the con%ersing adults, and ?ane ran *ith her. They concentrated on counting the number o$ s+ims *hen each thre* a $lat (ebble to bounce o$$ the *ater. /arahs $alls interru(ted the game, and ?ane became so engrossed hel(ing /arah a$ter one a*+*ard stumble that neither noticed a boat close to shore ro*ed around the nearby headland. .arbary corsairs beached near the girls, snatched ?ane, and ro*ed a*ay to their shi( lea%ing /arah screaming $or hel(. 'i5 reached her $irst, hugged her, and crooned, IJou are sa$e my (recious. No one *ill hurt you *hile 6 am *ith you.K I<hat *ill they do to ?aneHK /arah managed to gas( through her sobs. IJou must not *orry about that.K /arah *ailed, IThey le$t me because 6 am ugly.K I4ont be silly. 0orsairs are !rabs and ta+e only $air girls.K I.ut 6 *ill ne%er see ?ane again,K /arah gabbled. I<hat *ill ha((en to herH 'i5, *hy did they ta+e ?ane *ho e%eryone lo%es and le$t me *ho only you lo%eH 'i$e isnt $air.K I'i$e is ne%er $air, my dear.K IJou care $or me, 'i5, *ho...*ho *ill care $or ?aneHK I/ometimes a good result can stem $rom bad $ortune. Jou must learn to acce(t the bad *ith the good.K I'i5, 6 lo%e you, but you are not ans*ering my #uestion.K /arah glim(sed her $ather rushing to them and sti$led her sobs. He ignored them, cursed the inade#uate English na%y, and le$t a$ter *atching the corsairs boat disa((ear round the headland. /arahs sobs recommenced harsher than be$ore. 'i5 cuddled her, and the sobs subsided. 'i5 thought, E6 ha%e to lie, and said, I;y guess is a rich shei+ *ill ado(t ?ane and lo%e her as he *ould a daughter. !rabs lo%e English roses.K I<hat are theyHK IEnglish roses ha%e blue eyes, blonde hair and rosy chee+s.K 'i5 *i(ed /arahs tears care$ully to a%oid the usual scra(ed nose. /arah mumbled, I!rabs dont *ant me. ;y o*n (arents hate me.K I;y dear, 6 regard you as my daughter. <hen you gro* older, men *ill long to loo+ into your eyes and touch your shining blac+ hair.K INo man *ill lo%e me.K

I! nice man li+e ;r Hastings *ill come along one day.K I6 *ill stay *ith you, 'i5. 6 could ne%er lo%e anyone the *ay 6 lo%e you. 6 hate men *ho ha%e a goats beard.K 'i5 smiled tenderly. IJou mean a goatee.K Jears later during a tri( to .ristol, ees and ;air died o$ $e%er, *hich made it necessary $or /arah ad%ised by 'i5 to re(resent her $athers business interests *hen <alter ees the ca(tain and (artner o$ the shi( the Sarah +ose *as at sea. /arah *as inconsolable not because o$ the death o$ her (arents but because o$ her $athers *ill, *hich obliged her to *ed the ca(tain, *hom they discussed. 'i5 said, I0olonies in !merica are gro*ing. 6t is inconcei%able that <alter ees routinely trans(orts one hundred settlers and their belongings $rom .ristol to the colonies *ith su((lies $or those already there, loads $ish in Ne*$oundland, sells it at 0adi5, and doc+s at 1lymouth rich *ith /(anish *ines. Ho* is this (ossible *hen a *ine glass is glued to his handHK I<hy must 6 marry an old man li+e himHK as+ed /arah. I6 am ha((y *ith you, ha%e been $or eight years. ;y $ather reaches out $rom the gra%e to hurt me.K IHis *ill re#uires you to marry the ca(tain to +ee( your share o$ the business *ith that o$ the ca(tain in a %iable *hole. <hen your $ather is (ro%iding $or you, it (ro%es my contention that good might come $rom e%il. K I.y $orcing me to marry a drun+H 6$ you *ere not *ith me, 6 *ould (re$er to be +idna((ed by 0orsairs $or the sla%e mar+ets in !$rica.K /arah smiled and hugged 'i5. I6 +no* the $ate o$ ?ane and ho* you lied to ease my hurt.K 'i5 +issed her, sighed, and said, I6$ only your body e#ualled your mind...K /arah enjoyed riding on her lame chestnut mare since it seemed to her .la5e ignored the des(erate imbalance o$ her matchstic+ body, and she o$ten rode alone $rom her home north o$ 0aerleon into the hills *here she $elt at one *ith Nature and *here serene (eace massaged her *ounded s(irit. The .recon .eacons, a ha%en $or the stoneGage race be$ore the 0elts and $or the 0elts themsel%es in the 0eltic t*ilight, became her retreat $rom the (ain and ridicule she su$$ered $acing

the outside *orld, and a (lace in *hich she esca(ed into the inner *orld o$ the s(irit *here ad%ice came to her magically $rom /(irits or others in the a$terli$e. 6n the .eacons, $or /arah, the sun al*ays shone, the air held its breath, or a light bree5e gently li$ted her hair, and colours and scents caressed her senses. =od *as in His Hea%en but allo*ed her to share Hea%en on Earth *hen in enchanted hills *here she enjoyed the ha((iness o$ harmony *ith Nature, the ha((iness o$ needing nothing more in her li$e. 6n addition, strange ha((enings beyond eB(lanation occurred *hen she *as in the hills.

Two
Scotland * In the ,at&re of %hings
Natural ability lin+ed *ith tireless, determined, diligent (ractice *ith the longbo* combined *ith *illingness to learn $amily hunting lore (roduced in Tomas Hunter, in the eB(ert o(inion o$ 0raig the clans to( bo*yer, the $inest archer and hunter in 0lan Hunters history. Not that Tomas belie%ed this. 0raig said, ITomas, 6 beg you to com(ete to demonstrate your s+ill $or all to see.K Tomas loo+ed do*n to hold the disbelie%ing ga5e o$ 0raig and said, I<hy should 6 *hen to me it is unim(ortantH 6t is enough $or me that you say 6 am the best.K I;y 'aird,K 0raig concertinaed the bac+ o$ his nec+ to loo+ into Tomas eyes, Iyour uncle +no*s through meF the clan should +no* through you.K I/to( calling me laird.K Tomas shoo+ his head. IJour uncle made me your gillie *hen you *ere $our. Thirteen years $ull o$ (romise $or me. To me, you are laird.K I! gillie obeys a laird.K The corners o$ Tomas mouth li$ted *ith a light grin, and he gri((ed 0raigs arm $irmly. 0raig gras(ed Tomas *rist. I/a%e your strength, my laird. Jou must com(ete. 6$ you do, you *ill com(ete last. 0ome $irst $or me. ?usti$y my li$e.K An the $iring range later, Tomas last sha$t ho%ered in the s(ring sunshine and s*oo(ed do*n a thin blac+ blur into the centre o$ the butt to join nine others. 0heers ended the clans o(enGmouthed silence. An the lairds stand, the laird thum(ed his brothers bac+ and said, I0raig trains our archers *ell. Tomas is (er$ect. 4oes he also eBcel at huntingHK I!ye, hunting to my son is li+e $lying to an eagle.K IEd*ard, you sing the (raises o$ 0raig, yet 6 ha%e to as+ about your sons ability. <hyH 6$ 6 had a son and he eBcelled at archery, 6 *ould shout it $rom the castle *alls.K

Ed*ard said, I0raig is our best bo*yer and ta+es s(ecial care *ith Tomas bo*s by using the best *ood only $or him *ood $rom the ye* tree in your castle grounds a branch o$ *hich he dries $or t*o years and *or+s on the sta%e o%er $our more years.K I!ye, 0raig is a (er$ectionist. Ho* many times must 6 tell you the grounds are o&r groundsH 'et us go to your lad together no* and tell him *e are (roud o$ him.K I.rother, you ha%e been abroad too long. Tomas hates $uss.K I! laird has the right to ma+e a $uss.K I<e are too late. 'oo+, Tomas told me he *as o$$ to the Highlands a$ter the $inal sha$t and is already lea%ing the $iring range.K The untamed region $i$ty miles $arther north *here a glen (ro%ided an almost inaccessible lair sheltering 0lan ;acNab *as a land indi$$erent to humans, a land inca(able o$ su((orting $ully this *ild (eo(le *ho gre* as hard and strong as the granite o$ the Highlands and their s(irit o$ inde(endence just as indestructible. !nd ory ;acNab *as the strongest, hardest and biggest o$ their $ighting men. To rugged Highlanders li+e him, the barren Highlands, the small blac+ cattle that someho* sur%i%ed on them, and the clan $ore%er guarding land and cattle *ere im(ortant abo%e all else. "or them, ory *ould die. The large eyes and s*ollen bellies o$ dead sons *ould haunt him $ore%er, and he o$ten made the (ledge, ENe%er again *ill 6 allo* children o$ mine to go hungry. aiding and (lundering o$ necessity became a *ay o$ li$e. He acce(ted hungerGins(ired raids on other clans as in the nature o$ things, as normal as sunriseF and *hen the raided clan *as a 'o*land clan Norman !ngloG/aBon so much the better to be retrie%ing in small measure that *hich they had stolen $rom his clan in the (astF it *as then the %ery (oor stole $rom the (oor. 6t *as his res(onsibility on orders $rom his laird, and not one to *hich he *as a%erse, to decimate clans they raided and instil such $ear into %ictims that they dissuaded retaliatory (ursuits by any sur%i%ors. Jet the same chie$ +e(t o(en house $or tra%ellers and relie%ed the (oor at his door, not a((reciating or e%en considering the dichotomy or dis(arity o$ his actions. 6t *as le$t to *omen to har%est the (oor cro(s o$ oats *hen the men *ere a*ay, al*ays donating a share to the lairds household. <hen not in%ol%ed in agriculture, they made homes(un garments. 'i$e *as hard and

dangerous $or menF it *as harsh, dangerous and $ear$ul $or *omen. The unci%ilised (art o$ the li$e o$ a Highland clan *as denounced by 'o*landers as barbarous but *as o$ten secretly admired and occasionally imitated. To ory, lo*land (easants li%ing in and sharing *ith animals a tur$ or roughGhe*n stone hut *ere rich and o(en to raiding. That their main cro(s *ere oats and barley, and $ood *as so scarce $or them the hunting o$ hares, grouse and (artridge and the $ishing o$ salmon and trout *as essential red deer had almost disa((eared $rom the 'o*lands did not enter his thought (rocesses. 0lan ;acNab, a((arently in%ulnerable in its Highland retreat, had ne%er contem(lated retaliation $rom decadent 'o*landers, *hom they loo+ed do*n u(on as %ulgar. <ould an incom(lete massacre change the nature o$ thingsH <as retribution against ;acNabs, contrary to the nature o$ things, remotely (ossibleH 6n the hills a lo*, la5y, lonely trireme cloud and its shado* sailed slo*ly u( the glen, a single eagle soared e$$ortlessly, a lone *ol$ ho*led a lament to the s+y, and a solitary stag bello*ed de$iance. Ed*ard Hunter s#uinted into sunshine to locate the stag, sam(led a dee( breath o$ cool, heatherGscented air, smiled his delight, and said aloud, I;y son $re#uents the Highlands and soa+s u( the ambience. =od (ermits him to enjoy Hea%en on Earth in these hills. 6 understand *hy my son haunts them.K ! %oice $rom a (osition nearby startled him. I4o you thin+ =od haunts these hillsH Jou are tal+ing to yoursel$, "ather. 6 o$ten do the same *hen alone in the hills.K Ed*ard Hunter turned, one hand on chest one on dir+, and said, I4amn it, Tomas, *hy do you snea+ u( on meHK Tomas stood and said, I6 *as (ractising stal+ing. <hat brings you to the hillsHK I/te*arts *arn o$ ;acNabs raiding.K I4id ;other send you to tell meHK I/he did, lad. /he *orries *hen you ta+e root u( here. 6s there not a bonny lass at home you *ould li+e to be *ithHK INo lass could tem(t me a*ay $rom the beauty 6 see u( here and the stag 6 intend to see.K

IJour $uture clan duties might restrict your enjoyment. 6 bore you by ad%ising re(eatedly your uncle is older than 6 and *ithout male child. <hy doesnt this register *ith youHK I<hy should itHK I'ad, do you e%er listenH 6n the 'o*lands you are di%orced $rom reality, on the hills detached $rom the *orld.K 0hee+s and eyes crin+led in tender amusement. I0lan a$$airs bore you. ! time *ill come *hen they *ill not. /tal+ your stag, but $or once heed the *arning o$ /te*arts. The dreaded ;acNabs are in%ading /te*art land in $orce.K Tomas said o%er his shoulder as he *al+ed a*ay, I"ather, /te*arts are $ore%er *arning o$ unseen ;acNabs. Today *ill be no di$$erent. >iss ;other $or me.K I6 *ill, lad. Enjoy the solitude *here you are content.K Hal$ a day later, Tomas heard a stags grunt in the distance, detoured right to a((roach into the *ind slithering li+e a *orm o%er the s(ringy tur$, and, discernible in his stal+ only to =od and eagles, succeeded in nearing the stag. 6t *as his stag. He al*ays a((roached this stag, the stag he regarded as his (ersonal stag, silently into the *ind and out o$ sight sho*ing himsel$ only at the last moment to ta+e u( $iring stance. He *ould ne%er +ill this stag. Today *as the nearest he had reached it in t*o years o$ stal+ing. He noted its tension. <hat had gi%en him a*ayH The stag scented danger, and lingering memory o$ searing (ain one late summer urged caution. Nostrils #ui%ering and eyes dilating, he li$ted his antlerGhea%y head and shoo+ his massi%e head just as he once did *hen loc+ing horns *ith a challenger. 6n years (ast, he had tolerated (ain $rom an inGcontact o((onent, e%en *elcomed (ain during the rutting season as this *as in the nature o$ things, and he had been the %ictorious monarch o$ the glen $or years. No*, he associated his (resent isolation and the cri((ling o$ his le$t $oreleg, leading to his untimely de$eat t*o ruts (ast, *ith t*oGlegged beings. They stood a(artD gi%ers o$ (ain $rom a distanceF beings o$ mystery in animal eyesF and creatures o$ dread in animal memory. 1o*er$ul ol$actory senses (ro%ed reliable $or he no* discerned *indGblo*n noise $rom t*oGlegged ones in the distance. /himmering muscles summoned (o*er to $lan+s ready $or $light. He (oised and eased the lame leg.

Tomas rose to standing as i$ emerging $rom glue, too+ u( bo*mans stance, and said #uietly, I6 tal+ to mysel$ *hen alone on the hills but ne%er loud enough $or you to hear. <hat ga%e me a*ay this timeHK !larmed animal eyes met (u55led human eyes. T*enty lea(s a*ay out o$ no*here stood one o$ the beings the stag dreaded more than *ol%es. Terror (um(ed a $lood o$ blood to muscles. "lee. Esca(e. The stag cleared a giant clum( o$ heather li+e a *inged horse. <indGcarried %oices reached Tomas. eali5ation o$ danger no* $lic+ered in his eyes. He $lung himsel$ behind a clum( o$ heather, breath held, chest hammering, and loo+ed directly into startled unblin+ing eyes. He scra(ed round through a right angle to ease his body o$$ rough terrain, and his (rimate stereosco(ic %ision (resented him *ith one beauti$ul eye and the thum(ing thoraB o$ a young hare. The le%eret stayed $ro5en in its $orm just as a ne*ly born $a*n *ith its s(otted coat stays motionless $or a $e* days camou$laged to *ol%es and eagles. 6t *as in the nature o$ things. Tomas ignored the le%eret, raised his head inch by inch abo%e the heather line, sa* men belo* herding lean, shaggy, stunted cattle or carrying small shee( o%er their shoulders, recogni5ed a co* *ith one horn, closed his eyes, shoo+ his head and $lung dishe%elled hair to the right as i$ thro*ing o$$ loch *ater a$ter a s*im, and o(ened eyes *ide. The cattle and shee( *ere 0lan Hunters. His heart ballooned and thum(ed so strongly he thought the herders must hear. He buried his $ace in the heather and s(o+e #uietly. I"ather *arned me, and 6 (aid scant attention. This is too $ar south $or ;acNabs yet about one hundred o$ them are here in my hills, and one stands out by his enormity and by the round buc+ler he carriesD the uni#ue s#uare boss screams o*nershi(. The buc+ler is my $athers.K Tomas chest no* rose and $ell in time *ith that o$ the le%eret. I"or as long as 6 remember, $ather has *arned me o$ ;acNabs, that 6 hate them is in the nature o$ things, as indis(utable as my grandmas saying Eit *ill either rain or gang dar+ a$ore mornin.Ance ;acNabs *ere out o$ sight, he *hooshed through the hills, $orded the 0lyde ten miles *est o$ =lasgo* *here sandG bottomed shallo*s made the crossing easy *hen the tide *as out, and gas(ed through /te*art land in haste to reach 0lan Hunter

land. Ance there, he thought hea(s o$ rags littered the oat $ield. <hen closer, he sa* they *ere bodies. 6n the garden o$ the Ecastle a large house and dining hall surrounded by small d*ellings and a high *ooden $ence blo*$ly erratic, he 5ig5agged until three ne*lyG(lanted (osts claimed $ull attention. The bloodied heads o$ his $ather, brother, and uncle adorned the to(s o$ the (osts. He ran around ha(ha5ardly searching des(erately $or his mother. Near demolished buildings he located her and his older sister, hac+edGo$$ *hiteGmarble breasts beside themF and he eBtricated his baby sister, e%iscerated li+e a gutted hare, $rom the ruins o$ the large house. 0on$usion reigned. He closed his eyes, stood motionless *ith head bo*ed until breathing eased, loo+ed to the s+y, and shouted, I6 *ill +ill all ;acNabs my *ay, the .ig Ane slo*ly.K >neeling he as+ed, I=od, *here *ere Jou and *hy ha%e Jou let me li%eHK Tranceli+e he stood, closed the eyes o$ his mother and sisters, and *his(ered, I;y $irst eB(erience o$ a raid by ;acNabs. !m 6 cursed or blessed to be le$t ali%eHK 6n his be*ildered mind, his stag roared a challenge, other than that deathly silence (re%ailed. He *aited motionless $or ten more heartbeats, sur%eyed the +illing ground, raised his ga5e to loo+ at his $athers bloody head, and %o*ed loudly, I6 *ill a%enge this mis$ortune, "ather, 6 (romise you.K He shoo+ his head and *his(ered, IHo* ridiculous to re$er to these obscene deaths as mis$ortune.K His general, unde$ined, youth$ul hatred o$ ;acNabs *as no* con%erted into (ersonal, s(eci$ic loathing. He had li%ed se%enteen good years and had gone hungry only once *hen hea%y sno* sto((ed all hunting. The +illing o$ his $amily signalled the end to good years in a most gruesome $ashion. !nd mis$ortune, uni%ersally acce(ted, al*ays stri+es in threes. !(art $rom hate, Tomas *as no* dead inside. .lind hate go%erned thoughts and actions. ! deranged se%enteenGyearGold +nelt again *ith head bo*ed ho(ing to commune *ith =od. No message reached him. Ecdysis s(lit and cast aside his mantle o$ immaturity, and he emerged $rom the chrysalis o$ youth *ith young body hunt hardened, legs hill hardened, arms bo*Gmuscle hardened, mind set in stone, and a harsh determined manhood re(lacing (er(leBed sorro*ing youth. The ;acNabs *ith cattle and shee( could tra%el only siB or se%en miles daily. There *as no time $or burials. /tudy o$ the >ing ?ames .ible, bought by his

(arents in Edinburgh $or $i%e shillings t*o years (ast, at last (ro%ided him *ith a (ractical eB(ression o$ its teachings, and his strict 0al%inist u(bringing insinuated an eBcuse into his brainD 'et the dead bury the dead. He *ould (ursue his enemies and stal+ them into their lair $orty to $i$ty miles a*ay +illing *hene%er (ossible. He ado(ted his distanceGeating lo(e, easily maintained $or hours, reached the hills one hour be$ore dar+, and a hunters instincts cradled him. He *aited #uiet and unobtrusi%e *ith a sha$t noc+ed ready *here he obser%ed hare dro((ings so$t enough to be reGeaten he +ne* hares made a second meal o$ these and *ould return. He shot an un*ary buc+, retrie%ed the arro* $or reG use, gutted the hare, and laid it under heather near *here he intended to slee(, lay in heather *ith s+in an un$eeling blan+et around him, and curled under his cloa+ chasing slee(. !t da*n, he jarred t*o $lint stones to s(ar+ $ire into li$e u(on sha%ings $rom heather bar+ that he carried as routine in his s(orran. !dding heathers thic+er branches to the $lames, he s(eared the hares hind legs on his skean.dh&, and coo+ed and ate them. Hours later, he o%ertoo+ the ;acNabs as they made a turn into a gorgeGli+e glen, the stee(er slo(es o$ *hich in one section *ere littered *ith detritus le$t by a retreating iceGage glacier. ory ;acNab chec+ed men and animals *hen one hundred yards into the narro* stee(Gsided glen, $ound the rear guards *ere missing, and told t*o young clansmen, I"ind the t*o rear guards and s(eed them here.K They didnt return. ory sent t*o %eterans *ith orders to *arn by shouting and *aited $or an interminable ten minutes. There *ere no shouts. He summoned his best man and said, I/ean, t*o rear guards and $our others are delayed. "ind out *hy.K /ean and ten (ic+ed men hugged the sides o$ the glen. /ean alone le$t co%er *hen at the entrance. He $ound siB dead *ith arro*s through either head or nec+, scrambled bac+, rushed to ory, and re(orted his $indings. ory grabbed him by the arms and shoo+ him. I6m(ossible. No one dare attac+ ;acNabs on the hills.K /ean $reed himsel$. INo man dare, but /(ir...K

IMuiet, you *oman,K ory roared and +noc+ed him to the ground. IJou and your men *ait in ambush $or our enemy *hile 6 and the others (ush on *ith the cattle and shee(.K "arther into the glen, a roc+Gcrunching din alerted ory. ! massi%e boulder rolled slo*ly do*n the more (reci(itous (art o$ the glen *all. =athering momentum, it collided *ith and dislodged into motion other boulders to $orm a hurtling mass too dis(ersed $or all men and animals to a%oid. ! rain o$ roc+s made a $inal arching s*oo(. ;en and animals heard and sa* a((roaching crushing death. ory and others $lung themsel%es aside. <hen breath returned to bursting lungs, ory grumbled to a clansman, INo man +ills cattle unless $or $oodF no man could ha%e mo%ed that $irst huge boulder.K The clansman said #uietly, IThe *or+ o$ a /(irit.K ory hid his dismay and alarm and *as grim. I6 *ill stay *ith hal$ our men to $ace this unusual unseen +iller. Jou and hal$ the men ta+e any sur%i%ing li%estoc+ to our laird.K /ean and his ten men no* tried to get bac+ to ory o%er the roc+ slide. !rro*s out o$ no*here into heads or nec+s +illed the ten, but a #ua+ing /ean sur%i%ed by hiding under a dead $riend, *aited $or dar+ness, and blurted on his return to ory, I;y ten ha%e an arro* in head or nec+. No man could be so accurate.K I!re you sureHK ory almost *his(ered. IThere is no doubt. 6 eBamined the dead mysel$.K /ean $linched and co*ered. I/(irits... 6t is /(irits *e $ace not archers. !rchers aim $or bodies.K ory ga(ed. I<hat shall 6 tell the lairdH /(irits...H 6 hit you *hen you *ere about to mention /(irits (re%iously. Jou ha%e been (ro%ed right.K He buried his $ace in his hands. Tomas, in hiding o%erloo+ing the glen, rubbed his shoulder *here hed jarred it (ushing the enormous boulder to start it do*nhill and tal+ed to himsel$, I6 thought 6d ne%er get the boulder mo%ing. ;y #ui%er is em(ty.K He clas(ed his head hard. I;y head is so $ull o$ %oices *his(ering in my brain 6 cant ma+e out *hat they say... ;y hateGorientated (ursuit has (ro%ed $oolhardy... Ho* do 6 +ill the .ig Ane *ithout arro*sH ... <hat shall 6 doH ... 6 no longer care i$ 6 li%e or die. 6 *ill $ollo* the ;acNabs *ithout inter%ention thus lulling them into a $alse sense

o$ security so that they slee(F then 6 *ill slay the guards and the .ig Ane *ith my dir+, $or$eiting my o*n li$e to eBact re%enge.K 6n /cotland, rebuttal o$ la* and order held s*ayF endemic la*lessness ruledF clan $euds *ere lasting and deadly, clan raids ruthless li$e seems more ruthless *hen short and in the se%enteenth century it *as o$ten brie$. Jet *hen clans gathered $or deer hunting in late summer, di$$erences *ere tem(orarily $orgotten unless the $eud *as to the death. The $eud bet*een 0lan Hunter and 0lan ;acNab in Tomas eyes *as no* o$ this $atal +ind.