The Storyteller of Inis Mór
Prologue
Ireland - 2017.
The old man was staring across at me, his eyes glittering in the firelight.
“So, you’re thirty-eight years of age and your life is in tatters.” He smiled. “You’re a fortunate man.”
“Fortunate? I lose everything I own, and you consider that fortunate? This is a catastrophe for Christ’s sake!”
“Settle down now, boy, settle down.” He leaned forward and placed another log on the fire, “Take a good look at yourself. You were sick of the job, it was meaningless, you said as much yourself. What have you lost? The marriage? It was no use to either of you the way it was. Sure, you were driving the poor woman mad with your advertising nonsense. The house in Australia? It wasn’t even yours. The Mercedes? No, that was just an arrogance on wheels.”
Maybe he’s mad, I thought, Maybe that’s why he’s always alone.
“What you lost was an illusion, boy, the illusion of being a big shot.”
“You’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” My heart was beginning to race. “I worked bloody hard in that business.”
But he continued on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Your life fell apart through lack of meaning. What value was your work? To anyone but yourself, that is. And your marriage is in tatters because you put your career ahead of your family.” He pointed the stem of his pipe at me, “But listen to me now, and listen well. With all your problems and all your woes, what you are now calling a catastrophe would be better understood as a calling.” He stared across, his dark green eyes clear and bright. “Do you understand that?”
“No, I don’t!” I grabbed the poker and began stabbing at the logs, sparks flying up the ancient, soot caked chimney. What are saying? You think I’m working in the wrong career, is that it?”
“That’s not for me to say.” He took a sip of tea before going on. “But now you’ll be forced to take a good look at yourself. That’s why I say you’re fortunate. Most of your kind stagger on for years in jobs they hate, ignoring their wives and families, trading their souls for an illusory sense of security while sinking deeper into mediocrity each year.”
I tossed the poker back on the hearth.
“That might be fine for you, but some of us have to live in the real world too you know.”
But he just shook his head and continued.
“Others become addicted to the almighty dollar. Trapped in the delusion that the fancy cars and inflated expense accounts will bring them lasting happiness whilst they avoid doing anything of value in the world.” He raised his eyes to meet mine, and I was struck by the fearlessness of his gaze. “Self-centred fools preying on a crippled planet.”
“What did you mean by a Calling?” I said.
“Your Calling, boy. Your purpose in life. Your gift. Call it what you will.”
“Who are you?” I said, “You’re not from the island, are you?”
But again, he just ignored me, staring into the flames as if lost in a dream…
