The Secret of Kells

I have lived

through many ages.

Through the eyes

of salmon,

deer

and wolf.

I have seen the Northmen

invading Ireland,

destroying all

in search of gold.

I have seen suffering

in the darkness.

Yet, I have seen

beauty thrive

in the most

fragile of places.

I have seen the book.

The book that

turned darkness

into light.

Brendan,

don't let her get away.

Come on.

Nice goosy,

goosy, goosy...

Hmm.

Stand back,

I will get her.

Which way?

Brendan,

that scaffolding

is not steady!

Oh!

Oh!

Brendan.

Coming.

Brendan.

Brendan.

Are you hurt?

I...

Ooh!

Keep it quiet, Brendan,

or the abbot will hear.

I'm sorry,

but we have

to do this.

It will all be

over in a minute.

One, two,

three, four, five.

Now, that wasn't

so hard, was it?

Lucky bird.

Your feathers will

become the tools

from which we create

immortal pages of sacred text.

Abbot,

I explain for you.

We tried to catch goose

and she run very fast

and I fall in the mud.

Forgive us, Abbot.

Uh...

Brendan, where are

those plans I asked for?

The plans?

I left them

in the scriptorium.

Bring them

to the tower.

Yes, Uncle.

Tomorrow, you will go back

to work on the wall.

Dawn till evening bell.

Brother Leonardo,

clean yourself up

for pity's sake.

I don't know why

there are artists in Kells

when all that man

wants us to do

is to build

this crazy wall.

Yes, that is all

the man cares about,

nothing else,

and you continue

to defend him, Brendan.

Uncle just wants to

protect us

from the outside.

When the Northmen

come to Kells,

they'll make no distinction

between young and old. So...

"Prepare or

meet your doom!"

You just don't understand.

But, Brendan,

you've never been

outside these walls.

I don't have to

go outside to know

how dangerous it is.

Where have you

all been?

We went to get these,

for you.

You should have

seen him,

Brother Sergei.

He took a flying dive,

like a beautiful swan.

It is not funny.

The Abbot sees us.

He is not happy

because we are not

working on the wall.

Now enough of that!

What about the books?

Does he not find them?

If there were no books,

all knowledge would

be lost for eternity.

Uh...

We cannot

only build walls.

The people must have books,

so that they may have hope.

If we had a true

master illuminator,

we would do such

splendid work.

Let us pray that one

will be delivered

to us one day.

Let us pray!

Surely you don't

need a master.

Your work is

the finest I've seen.

Thank you, Brendan.

But we are mere scribblers

next to true masters.

True masters? Such as...

Such as

Brother Aidan of Iona.

Aidan the Wise.

Aidan is indeed

the great one.

Who is the Brother Aidan?

A sage.

The wisest one

of them all.

The perfect illuminator.

Well, where is he then?

He lives on a tiny

island called Iona.

There is an abbey

on the island

where he works

on a magnificent book.

The Book of Iona.

The book was begun

200 years ago,

under the orders

of none other than

Saint Columbkille himself.

The Book of Iona

outshines all others

because of the miracle

of Columbkille's third eye.

No, not because

of his third eye,

because of his three hands

with 12 fingers on each.

That's not true!

He had a third eye,

not a third hand.

Have you not heard about

the Eye of Columbkille?

Of course!

But that was for

making the prophecies.

His third hand was

for beginning the book.

Enough!

Just tell the boy

about Brother Aidan.

His writings are

said to glow from the pages,

as though they are light.

Sinners have been blinded

while glancing upon the pages.

For to gaze upon the book

is to gaze upon heaven itself!

The Book of Iona.

But where is Iona?

It is far, far

away in the sea.

Like all islands should be.

A beautiful place

where the illuminators

do not have to build walls.

But the Abbot

says that islands are

too easy to attack.

Brendan,

are you still here?

You'd better bring

the Abbot those plans,

or you'll be

in big trouble!

Uncle!

Hurry, boy!

Here they are, Uncle.

Brendan, how am

I to trust you with

responsibility

when you continue

to disappoint me?

One day, you will take

control of this abbey.

Yet it takes you

several hours to

fulfill a simple task.

I'm sorry.

The monks were

talking of Iona.

I dreamt it was destroyed.

It was so real, Uncle!

It is real, Brendan.

One day that horror

will come to us.

That is exactly why

we must prepare ourselves.

This section of the wall

is supported by three pillars.

Here, here and here.

Uncle, someone has arrived!

He has a white cat!

Another victim of

the Northmen, no doubt.

Now, let's see.

Oh, no,

no not that far.

But we've the legs

walked off ourselves

all the same.

But, please, from where?

A very long way?

Oh, yes, 'twas

long enough all right.

Ah, but when you have

this little one

to keep up with,

well, it doesn't

take half the time.

Isn't that right,

Pangur Ban?

Will you

be staying long?

Welcome

to Kells, Brother.

Hmm?

Abbot Cellach.

Peace be with you!

Brothers, welcome to Kells

one of the great illuminators

of our times.

Must be a stone mason.

Brother Aidan of Iona.

Now, one question

at a time.

As Columbkille used to say,

"Questions do not

burn your tongue

"if you wait to ask them."

Welcome to Kells,

Brother Aidan!

It is this way.

Come on, everyone.

Hello, welcome to Kells.

Hey, wait!

We were only

just talking of you

and of the book.

I think

we are tempting fate,

this is true.

Oh! Fine size of

a place, isn't it?

Mmm.

Good clean air,

fine light coming

from those windows.

Brother!

Very good indeed. Yes.

Is that where

you keep the book?

Hmm?

Uh, is that

where you keep the...

And who might you be?

A very short

Brother I see.

The person who is short

of stature is never

as short of questions.

And of what interest

is the book to you?

Uh, well, the Brothers

were talking

and they said

that Saint Columbkille

himself began it.

Brothers,

now that you've

greeted Brother Aidan,

I must take him to

see the important work

we're doing to fortify Kells.

You all have work to do.

The plans are

in my work room.

Ah, but you see,

I was thinking

I could stay here...

Right this way, Brother.

Lad!

Hmm?

Find some food for, uh...

You see,

I am determined to

complete the fortifications

within two years.

So, you're Pangur Ban.

Well, I'm...

Hey, wait.

I'm supposed to feed you.

Wait!

Pangur Ban!

Pangur Ban!

You should

not have come here.

The Northmen will

have followed you...

Was I to stay

and be killed?

I escaped the Vikings

and left them far behind,

Brother Cellach.

Sorry, I mean,

Abbot Cellach.

The book is saved

and I mean to complete it.

Yes.

Well, we have

more pressing things

to complete here.

You mean your wall?

Not my wall, Aidan.

A wall to save civilization.

A wall to save your book!

Pagans, Crom worshippers.

It is with the strength

of our walls

that they will come

to trust the strength

of our faith.

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