Editing Prompt September 2021 (section)

== Gabriel Nelson ==
He looked out over the highland cliffs.  It struck him as the most beautiful thing he had seen in his time in Scotland.  He pulled the robes of a monk closer to him.  He had come on a trip to see the fulfillment of two more holy scriptures in this seaside monastery.  So far, the trip had been a success and he had the books to bring back to London.  Now as he looked out across the endless sea, he felt peace.

The sun slowly set over the lapping of the ocean.  Everything said peace.  The waves hitting the sides of the longboat.  The rhythmic rowing of oars.  The Scandinavian looked through his star charter and finally matched it to the directions given to him by his now sleeping chief.  He shivered from the salt spray rushing past them.  Then he saw the towering cliffs.

The sun had reached its halfway point on the seashore.  The monk finally turned around and started walking toward the monastery.  He then barely saw something slip into the sheltered cove that led up a grassy slope.  He shrugged it off as a trader coming for supplies and left.

The Scandinavians started climbing the hill.  Luckily, they didn’t have to use the climbing gear that they had been asked to bring.  They made quick, speedy progress on the hill and finally hit the top of the hill.  The sun was now only a few rays of light.

The Monk finally got to the door and the Canon opened it.  “Peace be with you brother” he said.  “And also, with you.” The monk replied.  He walked in and turned around and said, “you should prepare some food, a trader just landed in the cove.”  The Canon looked at him and asked, “What did it look like?”  The monk replied, “It was longish with shields hung along the side.”  The Canons eyes grew wide, “We must act quickly…. That is no trader, those are the dreaded sea pirates.”  To another monk close by he shouted, “Quick!  To the bell tower!  The Sea Raiders are back!”  Turning back, he gave a final instruction, “You must run away, I will take you to the hidden place where we keep our holy books.”

In the quiet of the night the church bell pealed out a warning.  The Sea raiders brought up a great roar and rushed upon the defenseless monastery with murder in their eyes.  They quickly sacked it and took its gold and supplies.  They found the canon huddled in the secret room with one of the bible copies.  He was about to run but it was too late for him and his bible…

The monk fled with the fear of the sea men.  He held the last copy that this monastery would produce.  He looked back on the fire consuming it and wept for them.  The sun had fully set...

''10 years later''

A man touched the ground in Scandinavia, in the land which they called Iceland.  He was to be a missionary among the ones they called, “Vikings”.  He walked toward the Viking leader in the front.  He crossed himself and pronounced a blessing.  He then, through an interpreter, told the leader why he was here.  To explain the one true God of Heavan and Earth, who sent Jesus to save all those who believe.  The Viking leader looked confused and told him that they already knew about this God, and even mentioned Jesus by Viking name.  Now the missionary was confused, ''how could some pagan Vikings know about God?''  The leader motioned for him to follow.  He led him to a wood hut with what seemed a stolen lectern.  And on the lectern stood….a bible.  The man recoiled; he knew this book.  Was this the bible that he had seen stolen that terrible night at the monastery?  He then motioned to the leader and asked the question.  The Viking nodded and said that he had taken it for himself and wondered what it said.  He then took it home to an Irish servant he had.  The man read it and the Viking had come to faith.  He then never raided again.  The monk then said back that he was there that day.  The Viking’s eyes started watering and then embraced the Englishman.   Now two different people of different upbringings wept as brothers………

Even the most beautiful places turn dark during night…..But the night will always lead to day