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46 AN EXILE OF THE MIND THE FLYING PRIEST OF CAMIGUIN 47
One of the 7000 islands in the Philippines. rays until his wings quivered and Kong. And at last we cast off to leave
folded like an umbrella to plunge behind our troppo priests. And Nifty,
the commander if he could see the entrance to the port of Mambajao. into the coconut trees below. a small dark form amidst a gaggle of
ship’s doctor. We took a sudden Perhaps because of my surname Inhabiting the small island were white frocks. Their figures receding
interest in our shoes as Steve gave and Patrick’s Irish name, the Irish four more priests. Three also Irish as we left the shore and headed out
a salacious commentary about his priest offered us lodgings. Silver- and the fourth a New Zealander to sea.
Manila exploits and penile blisters. haired and smiling benignly above from the Irish-sounding town of Leaving Nifty behind was a huge
We were relieved to learn that many his cassock, dazzling bright under Shannon. They met every Tuesday relief. Temperament, the dreaded
of the ship’s crew had a similar the tropical sun, the good father had for afternoon tea. With too much disease on any small vessel, had
predicament. Percentagewise my a passion for flying. To dangle from altar wine taken, these shindigs raised its ugly head with conflicts
crew fared much better. the harness of enormous yellow usually deteriorated in a whirl of intensifying until a parting of the
With the backside of our crew wings ─ a hang glider. Climbing fisticuffs. Only to be repeated the ways restored calm to the ship. Nifty
member perforated with penicillin, the steep sides of the volcano we following Tuesday. Ministering to had to wait several weeks for trans-
we continued southwards past many watched this strange cleric cast off their flocks under a sweltering sun portation off this remote ‘garden of
deserted islands until we reached into space with a goggled red face for over 20 years these padres were paradise’, with its seven volcanoes
the small island of Camiguin off uttering a prayer. His priestly ankle- now fruitcake crazy, waiting to go to and natural wonders. This little
Mindanao. With our propeller shaft length cassock billowing white in heaven. known island was later to become
damaged, we navigated under sail the wind. This flying angel soared Six weeks were spent on Camiguin the most visited tourist haven in the
through a ship-break of coral at the heavenwards in a halo of the sun’s to await propeller parts from Hong Pearl of the Orient.
