At the end of it, we will still have our faith and we will also have comfort that Madeleine will be looked after. We haven't dwelt on that but I think that is what we will be left with.
The parents of Madeleine McCann were "relieved" today after Portuguese police called a halt to a major search for her body. Kate and Gerry McCann were told shortly after 10am today that the search of scrubland close to the resort of Praia Da Luz had failed to find any trace of Madeleine. Portuguese police officers with sniffer dogs carried out the fruitless search after a tip-off from a Dutch source. Starting at dawn, they cordoned off the area nine miles from where she was abducted in Praia da Luz. For several hours, more than 30 Guarda Nacional Repulicana, 20 Policia Judiciara (PJ) and four specialist dogs combed the scrubland. But the search was called off later in the morning and the lead dismissed.
He said the dogs had not found anything significant and denied claims that officers had dug up land: "If the dogs do not pick up any sign then why would we dig?
"We would only dig if the dogs found anything relevant on the ground. They went back to double check before ruling it out completely," he said.
The news comes as a video montage of the Madeleine set against Bryan Adams' hit song Everything I Do was released on the Find Madeleine website. It shows a mixture of photos and video footage of her smiling and looking into the camera.
Earlier today Gerry McCann admitted that his faith would be "severely tested" if his daughter was not found safe and well.
"If we don't get Madeleine back alive and well, I am sure our faith will be severely tested," he told The Tablet, a Catholic newspaper.
"At the end of it, we will still have our faith and we will also have comfort that Madeleine will be looked after. We haven't dwelt on that but I think that is what we will be left with. Our friends, our family, the Church have really rallied round. I think that's the key thing for me."
Mrs McCann, a part-time GP, said she had also wondered if her belief was strong enough: "I have felt guilty asking, 'Will this make or break my faith? And yet at the same time you could argue that what's happened in the first place could make or break your faith and it hasn't."
The couple said they regularly use three Portuguese words - esperanca, forca, coragem (hope, strength and courage) - as comfort when they are going through low periods. (Daily Mail link to story)
Daily Merlin Update
7:10pm
Giver of Staves
Five of Weapons
Prime of Weapons
The Giver of Staves appears once more ... holding the stave bearing the hand; undecided on what is offered by the robed, unknown figure to its right ... they stand on a dusty trail with the great Mythological beast behind them, its head turned away ... its attention caught by something else. It seems its role is now done though it appears still to be in attendance ... The Giver seemingly considering now what is best ... how to respond to that which is offered ...
The image of the five of weapons ... one sword opposed by four ... the bearers of the swords to the left of the sword ... the sword marking perhaps that same path of the flaming design, but note it does not bear that conflagration .... seemingly, it would appear ... the force of the flaming has been transfered to the opposing four swords .. which bear evidence of the flaming at the end of their tips ...
Brazen therefore to suggest ... but this situation perhaps to fade into the background for a moment --- a while --- whilst four more tales of swords appear and grab the attention. Mercilessly this will be for those who suffered the hoax .... something significant most surely will take place during the absence of the one sword ... but it is not perhaps meant for the world to know; personal to them and necessary ... but nothing malevolent or deceptive here. A chain of events to occur .... gladly to avert the situation from the rapture of the path of the flaming sword ...
