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“Ah, yes Thank you, Robert” Thomas handed the volume to Summer “Please help yourself to the collection If you need it, there’s a copy machine in the front office I shouldn’t be tied up for more than an hour”
“Thank you, Friar,” Summer said “We’ll show due care”
Thomas left the door ajar with the key in the lock and followed Robert back to his office Sulanced up at Brophy “I think you’ll have to review this one It’s in Gaelic”
“Not to worry” He took a seat alongside her “Let’s see if there’s a Falcon Rock to be found in these parts”
Behind the out a dusty book or two Most were in Gaelic and dealt with the history of Killarney and the surrounding area He found a book in English on the fauna of Ireland and took it to the table
“Well, there’s a Falcon Field near Kilgarvan to the south, and a Falcon Cove at Ballylongford up north,” Brophy said “But neither is close to the sea”
“This rine falcon is pervasive in Ireland This fierce bird of prey is partial to coastal cliffs and crags, particularly in the temperate months’”
“That es of his book “Unfortunately, I see no references to a peregrine”
“Perhaps the hieroglyphic translation has room for interpretation,” Suh cliff where the falcon lives”
Brophy searched for places so described and pointed at an open page
“Sceillec!” His droopy eyes turned bright “Sceillec is an Old Irish ter,’ or ‘splinter of pointed stone’”
“Does that relate to a coastal cliff?” Summer asked
Brophy nodded “TheThere’s a pair of well-known islands off the Kerry coast called the Skelligs”
Dirk turned back to his book “I saw that naer down the page “Here it is ‘Skellig Michael is one of the best-known coastal eyries, or nesting grounds, for the peregrine falcon’”
A broad smile crossed Brophy’s face