An Sclábhaí
- English Translation
 A
graphic novel by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh
English Translation
Copyright Cló Mhaigh Eo 2001
Back Cover
The harsh, cruel life of a slave lies in store for the young
Roman, Patrick, when he is taken captive to Ireland by Niall
of the Nine hostages. But when his chance to escape comes,
many dangers still await him...
P3
The coast of Britain circa 400 A.D.
The young Roman - Patrick, son of Calpurnius.
I had always run on the shore by my home.
It never occurred to me that I might be in danger.
P4
But... I was wrong.
Niall... of the nine hostages.
I had often heard of the pagans from the island of Hibernia
but had never seen them until now!
P5
I was in hiding by the time they came
ashore but my heart was beating wildly.
It wasn't the pounding of my heart but the little
dog that gave me away.
I tried to flee... but I tripped.
''Who have we here?!''
P6
Later...
I shall never forget that sea journey in
chains and tears in my eyes.
 P7
No sooner had the rat appeared on the deck
before me than the storm broke overhead.
Beneath the electric blue of the lightning the cat inflicted
the same fate on his prey as his master had on us.
Christ!
P8
My first sight of Ireland or Hibernia as we called it. A
cloak of mist surrounds us as the slave dealers wait
impatiently.
But who is this? My new master, Milchú.
''This one'll do! A fine young lump of lad, indeed! Come on,
you little sniveler!''
P9
A long bumpy ride then, in the back of the chariot.
An interminable journey.
''My God...''
''Where am I?'' Lash!
P10
Journey's end at last but now I'm a circus attraction in the
middle of the pagans.
''Look!'' ''Slave.''
''Here... Take this.''
''So..up.'' ''Soup?''
''Drink!''
P11
Hungry... and thirsty.
''Can it be that some of these people are kind?''
''O do they even know what kindness is?''
''My God... I'm exhausted!''
 P12
Now a new life awaits me... the life of a slave! With no one
beside me on the bare slopes of Slieve Mish but the one who
created me.
''The Lord is my shepherd... I shall not want.''
''My shepherd!''
P13
Life on the mountain has its own rhythm.
The passing seasons... and company... from the skies.
P14
Lash!
''Damn you, you little idler! Get up out of that!''
'I'll put an end to your nonsense!''
But I no longer care about the brutality of this man - my
master, Milchú. He cannot know that I have another
master... one who is invincible.
P15
''Little lamb, where are you?''
Grrrr! ''What...?''
P16
A wolf! But...
''Quiet!''
''Sit, I say.''
P17
''Christ with me, Christ before me...''
''Christ behind me...''
''Christ above me, Christ below me.''
P18
''Come on, little lamb.''
Homeward... but now I have the strangest feeling
that my own day of freedom is at hand.
P19
Yet another dream... but this time a haunting nightmare.
''Arise, slave... your ship is waiting.''
FREEDOM!?!
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