The Secret of Kells Page #3

Just for a little while,

not very long.

Just to...

It was for Brother Aidan...

Brendan.

Have I not warned you

enough about what lies

outside these walls?

Yes, but...

Yet you disobey me.

I know,

but for the book...

Brendan.

You are never to

leave the abbey again

without my permission.

Uncle, if you

see the book...

Do you understand?

Yes, Uncle.

Good.

Now, come along,

there are matters to be

tended to in the workroom.

Look!

Huh? What?

I found them.

You did? So you did!

I did have a little help.

From a friend in the forest.

Ah.

Well, there's nothing

you can't do when you have

friends to help you, huh?

Now, let's see.

Yes. Yes, I believe

these will do very nicely.

From tiny berries

do great images

come to life.

Come along!

Hmm. Hmm!

A good one...

Lot of smoke.

That's a good sign.

It is?

Yes.

Ah, beautiful.

From a stinky berry.

Making ink is all very well,

but it is useless

without one of these.

I'm not...

I'm not allowed to...

There's no one

but us here now.

Just you

and your imagination.

Afraid?

Me? No.

I'm not afraid

of imaginary things.

Keep going.

Finish what you start.

Gold!

Not bad, huh?

I'd say he could

do it right enough.

Do what?

I must confess, my boy,

I haven't been

completely honest

with you.

I cannot do

the Chi-Rho page.

My eyes have become too old

and my hands unsteady.

- But you said...

- Brendan.

You should be the one

to do that page!

Me? No! I can never.

I won't... There must

be somebody else.

You have to do it.

I would ruin it.

- Brendan.

- No, no, no.

Of course you can do it.

You found those berries,

you've certainly developed

a steady hand.

Brendan!

Even before I came, you'd

already learned much from

the other Brothers' work.

You've only to

unleash your imagination!

Brendan!

I have to go.

Where have you

been so early?

Come along, there's

much work to be done.

I don't know, Pangur.

Something I cannot see

stops him.

If he is ever to light up

the Chi-Rho page,

he'll have to turn around

and stare whatever it is

in the face!

Brendan!

We're moving the scaffolding

to the west wall.

Hurry along now!

Well, I think

you're ready to learn

Columbkille's secret.

Mmm.

The mesmerizing detail.

Of course,

you'll need another eye.

Now, once I find

the crystal...

Brother...

...it'll open up

a whole new world.

A tiny wonder.

Columbkille instructed

that the crystal

should never be used

unless the work

is worthy of it.

It has not been

used since Iona.

What's a crystal?

This is not a crystal,

it's the crystal!

The Eye of Columbkille.

Columbkille created over

300 books in his lifetime.

By his own hand.

On his deathbed,

he prayed that

his apprentice

got a vision as clear

and wonderful as his own.

Then, as he drew

his last breath,

it dropped from his hand.

The Eye of Columbkille.

Columbkille would

want it to go to you.

Where is it?

Sorry, Pangur.

Have you seen it?

Where could it have...

It's lost.

It's all lost!

Where did you

last have it?

I don't understand.

If I could show

the crystal to you,

all would become clear.

But...

I...

I can still continue

my training, can't I?

Have you ever studied

the tiny pattern

on a greenfly's wing?

No.

And you never will

without the crystal.

What if we pray

for a miracle?

Like Columbkille did?

Some say that before

the crystal became known

as the Eye of Columbkille,

it had an ancient name.

Named for the creature

that Columbkille won

the crystal from

deep inside one of

its dwelling places.

Crom Cruach!

It was called

the Eye of Crom Cruach.

Crom!

I can't tell you which parts

of this story are true

and what parts are

shrouded by the mists.

Oh, there's nothing

in this life but mist.

We're only here

for a short while.

Don't worry, Pangur.

I won't be alone.

Oh!

You've been forbidden

to leave the abbey.

Now you are also forbidden

to enter the scriptorium.

Please, Uncle,

you don't understand.

Oh, I understand

perfectly well!

No more excursions,

no more scriptorium

and no more Brother Aidan.

No.

What did you say?

I can't do that.

I can't give up

the book, Uncle.

If you looked at just

one page, you'd see why.

You've forgotten

how important it is.

All you want for us

is this wall.

Brother Aidan said

you were an illuminator once.

He said...

That's enough!

If I can't trust you

to stay out of harm's way,

you'll have to remain here

until you see sense.

Cellach, please,

don't blame the boy.

I'll have a talk

with him and...

You'll do no such thing.

You can't...

Brother Tang will

bring him his meals

and once there is

nothing left here

to distract him...

Let me keep

the book, Cellach.

It was entrusted to me.

Have it then.

But on the condition

that you leave Kells with

the first thaw of spring.

Brendan.

Aisling!

How can I get you out?

I don't know.

The tower is locked.

And my door is bolted

from the outside.

The key is in

the Abbot's room.

Maybe you can take

a message to Brother Aidan.

You must go where I cannot

Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban

Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban

You must go where I cannot

Pangur Ban, Pangur Ban

Why did the Abbot

put you in there?

Because I disobeyed him.

Why?

Look!

The Eye of Crom!

No, it's a crystal.

I think there's one

in the Dark One's cave.

I have to go there.

No, Brendan,

it's tricking you.

You should have

stayed in your tower.

Crom Cruach

took my people,

it took my mother.

It takes everything.

You will die!

Aisling, if I don't try,

the book will never

be complete.

The book.

All right then,

I will help you.

Aisling!

This place is hurting you.

You must go back.

I'll find some other way.

I... I must help you.

Please, Aisling, go now!

Turn the darkness into light.

Oh.

Aisling!

Aisling!

Uh...

Old fools! Oh!

Old fools should

learn to keep quiet.

Unless young fools

want to listen.

Ha! You're here!

How... How did you...

How did you get out

of the tower?

You must go back

before the Abbot finds out.

Look, look, this...

This is not the place

for you, lad,

there is nothing

for you here.

But you are here,

the book is here

and the Eye is here.

How is this possible?

It was destroyed!

There is more than

one story about the Eye.

There is more than

one dwelling place

for the Dark One.

And he had more

than one eye.

You entered one of

the Dark One's caves?

You can't find out

everything from books,

you know.

And I think

I read that once.

Right, then,

it is time to begin.

Your breakfast, Abbot.

Take it to Brendan.

See if...

See if he has

come to his senses.

Ooh!

Mmm.

It's like heaven, no?

Heaven on Earth.

Please... Please, Abbot,

it's my fault.

You little fool!

The Northmen are upon us,

and here you are drawing!

We have one day

before the Vikings

attack Kells!

The gate won't hold.

We must...

We must run from here!

The gate will hold!

You will lead the new

refugees into the chapel.

They can seek comfort there

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