Chapter 2

Montserrat Monastery. Catalonia. Spain.

A beautiful and sunny morning dawned. Looking at the blue sky, one could have predicted that another hot day at the beginning of summer was dawning although at this time of the year such weather was common. It would be much more surprising to look up in the morning and see dark, ominous clouds like evil shadows in the sky, foretelling rain and wind. Fortunately, it is the middle of May and the rainy season is still far away. This means the air temperature will rise with each passing day and soon every living creature will look up to the sky in the hope of seeing those dark harbingers of fresh rain.

Montserrat Monastery has been bustling with life since dawn. After the daily morning service, the monks have been scurrying around the monastery‘s vast grounds like ants on a giant anthill. Although the monks are usually visited by travellers all year round, the beginning of the warm season is a different story. Millions of tourists from all over the world flock to this place. Every day, the monastery is visited by countless people who turn this oasis of tranquillity into a cacophony  of noise leaving behind their litter and the stench of sweat. But despite all this, during the summer season the monks earn money for the rest of the year by selling various handicrafts, olive oil produced in house, and all kinds of herbal infusions with healing properties. As a result, the monks work from dawn til dusk making sure everything is in order before the first groups of tourists arrive. Anyone who has been to Montserrat will confirm without blinking an eye, that it is a place that can amaze even those who claim to have seen it all.

Set among the uniquely shaped, million-year-old Montserrat Mountains, the monastery lies about 45 kilometres north-west of the Catalan capital. It is said to date back to 880 AD, when angels appeared to a few shepherds in a village at the foot of the mountains. Later, an image of the Holy Virgin Mary was discovered in a cave, and. Benedictine monks built four chapels set in the mountains, before the monastery itself was built. Since the 13th century, pilgrims from all over the world have been drawn to the site.

The Monastery of Montserrat though has seen some very difficult times. During 1811 and 1812, it was devastated and completely destroyed by Napoleon Bonaparte‘s army. Later, the monks were brutally stripped of what little they had and were forced to move out. A few decades later, the monks returned and undertook the arduous work of rebuilding, which required a great deal of determination and strength, but alas fate was not on their side. Again, the monks were  forced to leave their sacred sanctuary during the Spanish Civil War at the beginning of the 20th century. This time, the monastery was saved from total destruction by the autonomous government of Catalonia, and from then on the monastery began to grow rapidly. With the support of the government, the devastated buildings were rebuilt, a new museum was created, and the basilica was reconstructed.

From where the Montserrat Monastery buildings are located, two modern funiculars take visitors to other important and beautiful places including the famous rock called Santa Cova, where an image of the Virgin Mary was found, and to the Chapel of Saint Joan, where you can literally walk in the clouds.

As impressive as the monastery's buildings are, the landscape of Montserrat is even more impressive. Formed over millions of years, the mountains have taken on a rather unusual shape, which is why they are known as jagged mountains. The views are fabulous, even on a cloudy and overcast day. The panoramic views of the mountains and plains  are breathtaking. Of course, you should dress a little warmer to be comfortable, as the wind is often gusty and strong due to the altitude being around one kilometre, meaning that it‘s always much cooler at the top than at the bottom.

The monastery is already expecting the first influx of tourists for the day. As usual, the grounds look immaculate: the windows of the buildings glisten in the morning sun, the flower pots bloom with multi-coloured blossoms, and the cosy shops are lined with beautiful panoramic paintings by the monks of the surrounding countryside. If you didn‘t pay attention to the people constantly milling around, you might feel as if you were looking at the pictures in advertising brochures that lie scattered on hotel reception desks.

Katelyn had woken just over an hour ago and was in no hurry to get out of bed. As soon as she opened her eyes, she realised that she had missed morning prayers again, but she didn’t feel too bad about it. She knew that today, Grandfather Vincent would not have time to deliver a sermon on duty and responsibility to God, to others, and to oneself. But for all that, before leaving the room, Katelyn knelt down beside the bed and said a prayer of apology, consoling herself that it would be an excuse for missing the service.

The room where she lived was on the second floor and to the right of the monks' dormitory. Like most of the rooms in the monastery, it was very modestly furnished, just twenty-five square metres, with a single bed, which was quite comfortable, a two-door wardrobe as old as the monastery, the door of which always creaked very loudly when it was opened, and a tiny desk next to a small window which overlooked the beautiful courtyard and garden. Kate, as she was more commonly known, spent much of her time there, dreaming of one day packing up her meagre belongings and setting off to unseen foreign lands, where she would have many adventures and learn about new cultures. Unfortunately, she considered it to be just a pipe dream. Now eighteen years old, she had spent her entire life  at the Montserrat monastery. Of course, she did not regret it, in fact, she loved it and sometimes asked herself that if she could go anywhere at anytime, would she really dare to leave her beautiful home where she felt safe and loved? Her grandfather, Vincent, was a respected monk and the monks took good care of her. From a young age, Kate was everyone‘s darling and never complained about the lack of attention, sometimes even wishing that everyone around her wouldn’t be so nice to her.

She never went to school with other children, but was taught by the monks. Mathematics, history, geography, literature and even physical education were part of her daily routine. She was also taught from an early age about spiritual development and self-knowledge through meditation, and many hours were spent searching for that inner peace which, as she grew up and became a teenager, became increasingly difficult to find. Despite sometimes missing morning prayers, she was a very diligent and zealous student, and in her spare time she always helped the monks particularly during the tourist season.

Of course, it should be mentioned that nature hasn‘t spared her good looks either. With her long dark hair falling like silk on her tanned, smooth shoulders, and big brown eyes that her grandfather said she inherited from her mother, the small nose, perfect posture and a firm but shapely, feminine, trained body. It was no wonder that most young men visiting with one of the tourist groups would drool with desire at the sight of Kate. Although many attempts were made, none succeeded in seducing her, for she was too clever and never got caught up in any adventures. The only guy she was willing to spend time with was Geoffrey, a Spanish boy, a year older, sporty and cheerful, who lived in a village not far from the monastery with his aunt and uncle. Like Kate, he didn‘t know his parents, which may be why they were so close. Geoffrey had visited the monastery from a very young age because his aunt worked there as a cleaner, and the children became very close friends. For two years, Geoffrey had been working as a guide for a local travel agency, taking tourists around the local attractions including the monastery. Kate loved Geoffrey like a big brother and he loved her like the sister he never had. No doubt there was a time when romantic feelings were felt by them both as they grew up and spent all their free time together, but after their first kiss they realised that they were probably not meant for each other and decided to remain friends. They have been friends ever since. Each other‘s best and only friend.

Kate quickly tidied up her room, not because she liked tidiness, but more because the strict rules of the monastery demanded it. She put on one of her favourite short-sleeved blue dress and went down the creaky wooden stairs to the courtyard. The first tourists, who had arrived a little early, were already gathered chatting loudly, taking pictures of everything around them, and the most impatient were arguing about who would be the first to get on the funicular. Kate saw her grandfather standing at the gate chatting with the guide from the local travel agency who had escorted the first group of tourists. He must be talking about the upcoming tourist season, she thought and ran over to say hello.

 “Good morning!” she said happily. She kissed her grandfather on the cheek and nodded her head to the guide standing nearby.

“Good morning, my child. In a good mood today?” Vincent replied with a smile.

“Yes, it’s a great morning, and I’m always in a good mood. After all, you‘ve often said that my charming smile helps sell more olive oil.” Kate’s smile beamed even wider.

            Grandpa Vincent laughed.

“What is true is true. By the way, young lady, don't think you'll be able to get away with talking about missing this morning's service, so do not drink the day without the evening,” he wagged his finger defiantly. But Kate had already wandered off and said nothing, just turned round and fluttered her pretty eyes.

It was a hot day. For a couple of hours, Kate had been working in the small shop, explaining to tourists who could hardly understand English how and where the monastery‘s oil is made, which was available to but there and then. She enjoyed interacting with the different nationalities who came by, and talking about the monks‘ ingenuity in making oil or herbal infusions with healing properties. The tourists were also happy to talk to her, and when they were in a better mood, they were eager to tell her about the countries they had visited on their travels and to share their impressions of them. It helped that Kate could easily converse in Spanish, English, German, and French, which was a pleasant surprise for the visitors, many of whom did not miss the opportunity to chat in their own language in a foreign country. Kate loved their stories about the different countries and soaked up all the information like a sponge.

It was getting hotter outside and the shop’s air conditioners were turned on to keep the shop cool. Groups of tourists were increasingly looking around for some nice shade to escape the increasingly hot Spanish sun. Despite the heat, the number of visitors to the monastery did not diminish; in fact, you would have thought that all the travellers on holiday in Spain and the surrounding area had gathered here.

“Buenos dias, damas y caballeros!” was heard in the shop. Here's the most handsome, the coolest and the most desirable guy in Catalonia. And I'm ready to kidnap the prettiest girl for a delicious brunch," shouted a young man who appeared in the doorway, one arm raised in the air like a matador who had walked into an arena. Everyone in the shop immediately turned in his direction.

“Geoffrey!”  Kate’s face lit up when she saw her best friend.

Geoffrey gestured to Kate, “Well, let‘s go! I‘ve brought the most delicious sandwiches made by my aunt, and I‘m going to treat you to these delicacies.”

“First of all, a lady like me needs to be invited in a more respectful manner, and a bunch of flowers might make things a little easier,” Kate answered, accepting the rules of the game and flirting lightly. The people in the shop smiled as they watched this little play between friends. And anyway, my break is only twenty minutes away.

“Go on, girl, just go quickly, before you scare away all my customers. I'm sure I can manage without you, and God help me if I have to listen to that rascal for another twenty minutes,” said Brother Austin, who had been looking after the business and customers of this shop for many years, as he pushed the girl from behind the counter. Kate didn't need to be told a second time. She hurriedly grabbed Geoffrey’s arm and ran into the courtyard.

“Ah, youth... How beautiful it is to see and remember the joy of our younger days,” said an elderly lady wistfully, while sniffing her herbal infusions in a corner of the shop.

“Yeah... Although sometimes I'd be happy to chain a black man up,” Brother Austin grumbled in response to the woman's comment.

The monk was in his late sixties, with hair as grey as the snow on the mountain tops, of short stature with a slightly stubby nose. He loved the children, but often punished them, because Kate and Geoffrey never missed an opportunity to tease him. At the beginning of last year’s tourist season, Brother Austin was the first one to open the shop and put the goods on the shelves. However, when he went inside, he could not find a single bottle of herbs, only a note on the counter: “Goats are sacred animals. If you catch one, you‘ll have something to sell”. Turning towards the courtyard, the brother saw a goat walking calmly beside the shop, with the bags attached to its back, which later turned out to contain the missing bottles from the shop. The monk chased the goat around the courtyard of the monastery for perhaps half an hour, until the other brothers, having finished laughing, started to help him. It was really funny, but not for Brother Austin. After all this circus, a few of the monks tried to intercede with the young pranksters, but it did not help. As recompense, Kate had to get up early before the sun came up for a whole week to get the shop ready for work so that all the goods would be on the shelves when they opened, and poor Geoffrey had to come in every evening after work to tidy the shelves, wash the floors and clean the shop windows. That was exactly a year ago, but Brother Austin was always on the alert to make sure the youngsters didn‘t think of any more mischief.

As soon as they walked out of the shop door, Geoffrey, with a mischievous smile on his face, quickly started dragging Kate towards the inner courtyard of the convent saying, “Let‘s get going before it starts.”

“Not started? What hasn't started Geoffrey? What have you done?” said Kate. The guy didn't say anything, just stepped up his pace. “Geoffrey?” repeated kate.

“No big deal. I just left a small snake on the shelf among those bottles of oil,” he replied with an indifferent look on his face.

“A snake? Are you crazy?” exclaimed Kate, “We'd better go back and get it!” Kate was terrified.

“Calm down. The snake is fake, it‘s rubber,” Geoffrey reassured her with the same charming expression on his face, adding, “but I still think it‘ll be fun.”

“Oh, God!” Kate squeaked, “you do realise it‘s going to be bad for both of us, don‘t you? You‘ve got me in trouble, you scoundrel,” and she punched him in the shoulder.

“Oh, don't, don't act like a saint here. Last year, in case you forgot, the goat was your idea," her best friend reminded Kate with a caress of her shoulders. “And by the way, we can't let Brother Austin down. He would be very upset if the season started without any problems,” he added wryly. They both laughed and started looking for a comfortable place to sit down.

The young couple sat down in the undergrowth of a lemon tree that has been there for decades, right under the window of Kate‘s room. They would often sit like this, forgetting about time and chatting and daydreaming together for hours, until the silhouette of Kate‘s grandfather appeared at the window to the left of the lemon tree, reminding them that it was getting late and time to leave.

Under the lemon tree stood a small double bench, placed there by the monks after their friends had laid the ornamental lawn which they very carefully tended. But despite the young couple’s objections, they still preferred to sit on the ground until the monks finally tired of disciplining them and they were able to enjoy undisturbed rest in their favourite spot. As was their custom, they sat down on the ground and leaned their backs against the trunk of the lemon tree. Geoffrey took the sandwiches his aunt had made out of the bag and handed one to Kate. They ate in silence, enjoying the gentle breeze that occasionally coaxed them out of the sweltering heat. A moment later, a woman's scream rang out. Kate had a bite of her sandwich in her mouth. Everyone who was in the garden at that time immediately turned in the direction of the scream. A few monks hurriedly ran towards the oil and herbs shop. Kate and Geoffrey looked at each other and smiles appeared on both their faces. Someone had found a snake. Kate could already picture Brother Austin‘s face flushed with anger and silently accepted in her mind the consequences of the joke.

“Ok,” said Geoffrey, standing up. “Looks like it’s time to disappear. We are sitting too close to the threat”. He helped Kate to stand as if nothing anywhere was happening, and they quickly mingled into the crowd of people and headed towards the great gates of the monastery.

The commotion quickly died down when someone finally realised that the poisonous snake crawling along the shop shelf was fake and life in Montserrat‘s anthill was back to normal.

At the main gate of the monastery, Geoffrey gave Kate a quick peck on the cheek and called out as he walked away: “See you later, beautiful! Enjoy the rest of your day!”

“Thank you very much. Thanks to you, it will be a nightmare!” replied Kate. “Don't worry. I'll join the punishment tomorrow!” Geoffrey shouted back and he disappeared into the crowd of people, which, despite the heat, was growing in number. Kate smiled, took a deep breath and, realising what was ahead, went to face Brother Austin. As she walked, her gaze fell on the fountain in the far corner of the courtyard, where she saw her grandfather talking to a strange-looking man. It might not appear odd, since her grandfather was always talking to strangers, but the man looked really strange. Despite the fact that it was about forty degrees outside, the man was wearing a black suit and his posture gave the impression of a very confident and dangerous man. It was the type of man Kate had only seen in the war and crime films that Geoffrey loved so much. The conversation seemed to be at an end. The man in the black suit handed her grandfather what looked like an envelope, shook his hand and quickly walked away. Vincent looked very thoughtful, and even from this distance Kate could see the concern, maybe even fear, on his face. Her grandfather stood there for another moment, then put the envelope in his inside pocket and walked with uncharacteristic speed towards the monks' dormitory. A strange, and not altogether good feeling came over the girl. She wanted to run after her grandfather and find out what had happened, but she heard a voice behind her.

“Do you try to focus before you return to the shop? Yes, kids, you improve every year. Poor Austin will get a heart attack one day…” Kate looked up to see Brother Carlitos smiling broadly. Carlitos was responsible for all the monastery‘s financial affairs.

“I don‘t know, what are you talking about”, Kate replied with an innocent tone. “Yeah, right”, said Carlitus, laughing, before walking away and adding, “Good luck, my girl, you‘ll need it.”