““Above the abbot's desk, two little prints. Icons, I suppose he would call them. A male figure and a female one. The male one is standing on a green hill and has a white dove perched on his shoulder. He sees me looking. 'You'll recognize our patron, of course?' It takes me a second, but I realise he's talking about St. David, a Welsh bishop of the sixth century and the patron saint of Wales. 'David,' I say. 'A local boy.' 'Local enough. He was preaching at the Synod of Brefi to a large crowd. Because those at the back couldn't hear him, a small hill rose up beneath him. The dove here settled on his shoulder.' 'That's his big miracle?' I ask. 'Making a hill . In Wales ?””
