Strands Of Time

By Stuart Mackay

A Trilogy of short stories based on the isles of St Kilda.
The stories take you through the years and generations of the people of this forgotten land.

***The three parts of this trilogy are published separately and are available free on Smashwords.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stuart Mackay
• Release date: Jul 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311662194

Stuart Mackay

Stuart Mackay was born in Ayr Scotland in 1972. His poetry has been published in various publications in the UK, USA and West Africa, some of which are in his collection The Visions of a Macabre Mind. His first novel The Toxic Dream was released in 2013. His second novel The Vapour Trails of Hypocrisy was released in 2015. His third novel The Heads of Ayr was released in May 2020 Stuart has also written for magazines and has published several short stories including a trilogy based on the islands of St Kilda.

Book preview

Strands Of Time

By

Stuart Mackay

Published By

Last Pint Publishing

Copyright 2015 Stuart Mackay

Cover design by JD Allan

All Rights Reserved

Contents

Tosdach

1

2

3

Tioraidh Ma-tha

1

2

3

4

Ceann-Uidhe

1

Tosdach

1

On this day, Saturday, October the sixth, in the year of our Lord 1877, we are gathered to say our final goodbyes to Aonghas Gillios; Aonghas was a good man, a family man, a good husband to Isbeil, and a fine father to little Fionnlagh, Raibeart and Giorsail. Aonghas was a strong member of our community, just like his ancestors before him. We cannot question why God has chosen to take Aonghas at this time, but we can be assured that it is for a higher cause, the minister looked up at the sky and the approaching storm that would batter the island yet again, he looked at his congregation and saw the look in their eyes, let us bow our heads in prayer, the minister announced.

The islanders were walking back to their homes, they had laid to rest one of their own, the minister was in good form of usual Lachlann, the man looked at his lifelong friend and smiled.

Aye, I don’t often like a storm coming in, but in this case I do, he started to shake his head.

He tried his best, he prefers his English tongue, than the Gaelic, said Faolan, but I still think he should not be here.

Lachlann looked around them, not everyone on Hirta agrees with you.

I know, but it’s just not the same anymore, the old minister at least understood the Gaelic way of life, an island way of life, this one has come from Glasgow with a basic knowledge of Gaelic, the island is changing, and he is a big part of that change, replied Faolan.

Let’s worry about tomorrow, tomorrow, tonight, we say farewell to Aonghas, and to help us I have a couple bottles of uisge that I got off the tourist ship’s crew last week.

Faolan looked around the village, where? his voice lowered, making sure they could not be overheard.

Lachlann looked up and felt the first drops of rain hit his cheek, the old cleit.

Faolan nodded in agreement, we need to get out of our church clothes, we’ll get changed first and then pay our respects.

Lachlann and Faolan were sitting in a cleit that they use to play in when they were young, there used to be 4 of them, Catriona was first to leave, she went to Australia, on the promise of a better life, Aonghas was now in the graveyard where he would always remain; the cleit had not been used since before they had been born, it had originally been built as storeroom, the stone walls and the grass roof had been perfect for keeping things cool and waterproof, but the wind would find its way through the nooks and crannies of the stones, there were hundreds on the island but this one had been changed, the holes in the wall were now filled with earth to keep out the winds, Lachlann handed one of the bottles to Faolan, they opened the bottles with vigour and then looked at each other, to absent friends, Aonghas, your family is our family, Catriona, may you be living your dreams.

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