Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard141 Manuscript Eejits, Stab English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard141 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard141_1.jpg LHL Archive 133 CHAPTER FIFTEEN Mrs Rafferty, after her initail tirade, stood to one side and allowed the soldiers to enter. "If you want to waste your time that’s up to you," she shouted after them. "Eejits!" Brian came and stood on the pavement beside Kevin with his thumbs tucked into his belt. His jaw moved slackly from side to side, over a wad of chewing gum. He made no move to cross the street ti join his fat mother. Kevin glanced side- ways at him. He turned and looked at Kevin. "Aren't you worried?" asked Kevin. "What have I to be worried about?" "You should know." Brian laughed softly. The searchers were spending longer in the Raffertys' house than in any other that they had been in. It looked to Kevin as if they had been tipped off. "Can't trust anyone these days," said Brian, shaking his head. "Boys, what a life! An informer would look in you in the eye as easy as stab in you in the back." "I hope you're not making any insinuationslooking at me," said Kevin quietly. "I hate your guts but I wouldn't inform on you." "Expect me to believe that?" Brian stuck his hands in his pocketsBrian spat his chewing gun into the gutter. "You can bBelieve whatever you like. I'm not interested in what cowards believe." "Cowards?" Brian swung round, eyes blazing. "Yes, cowards. Anyone who has to bring two frhelpers to beat up one person is yellow right to the middle." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 986 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard142 Manuscript Jeering, Backyard English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard142 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard142_1.jpg LHL Archive 134 At that moment the soldiers clattered out of the Raffertys' house. They were empty-handed. "Satisfied?" demanded Mrs Rafferty. They did not answer; they went on to the next door. Brian Rafferty laughed, a loud triumphant laugh that made his mother look over at him. "Where have you been?" she called. "And where's your da? That's what I'd like to know. He'd have given those louts hell if he'd been here. Come on in for your supper." "Go on to your mammy," said Kevin. Brian glowered. "Come on this minute," said his mother, and he went. Kevin limped back up the street. The soldiers went from house to house, followed by a crowd of jeering children. They came eventually to the McCoys’. Mr McCoy blustered for a few minutes with Uncle Albert interspering a fewputting in some remarks and then Brede put her hand on her father's arm. "Might just as well let them," she said. "Save a lot of time." The soldiers were quiet and ashen-facedsolemn. Theirs was a difficult job. They had to keep their tempers whilst all around were losing theirs. They searched the McCoys house and found nothing. Kevin sighed with relief, not that he had any reason to feel guilty, but for a few minutes, when they were inside, it had come to him that Brian Rafferty might have planted his gun in their backyard or under the stairs. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 987 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard143 Manuscript Englishman, Eighteen English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard143 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard143_1.jpg LHL Archive 135 It would be easy enough to do: their door was unlocked all day. Teh whole street was searched and not a thing wae found. The soldiers drove off to a chorus of booing and abuse and a hail of ston stones. "They've only got what they asked for," declared Mr McCoy. The neighbours were angry. Voices were raised in the street for a full hour afterwards. "I Certainly it's not a nice thing to have your home pulled over," said Brede with a sigh, as they sat in the kitchen drinking another cup of tea. "I th thought an Englishman's home was meantto be his castle," said Uncle Albert. "That's if your an Englishman," said Mr McCoy. "If your an Irish- man that'sit's a different matter. You get treated like dirt by a everyone. "I'm away up to bed," said Kevin. He lay in bed listening to the voicesin the street outside. Most of them he knew well for he had been listening to them for nearly eighteen years. He was just on the borders of sleep when he the armoured cars returned to the street. The snoise made him blink and sleep slipped away. What was s up now? The cars were stopping outside their house. Feet clattered on the pavement, voices rang out. Kevin sat up, resting on one elbow, frowning. Gerald sat up too and nipped out of bed and wentto go to the window. "There's soldiers at our door," said Gerald. He hung out of the window with an imaginary machine gun in his hands and sprayed them Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 988 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard144 Manuscript Jail, Soldiers English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard144 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard144_1.jpg LHL Archive 136 below, making the sound of machine gun fire. "Quite it, Gerald, "said Kevin. He pushed back the bedclothes and joined his younger brotherGerald at the window. The door had been opened now and the men were holding a conversation with Mr McCoy. "Don’t be so daft," said Mr McCoy was saying. "Away and have your heads s examined." The bedroom door opened behind Gerald and Kevin. Brede slipped into the room. "The solde\irs have come for you, Kevin," she whispered. "For me? But what - ?" Uncle Albert appeared behind Brede, pushing/her aside. "Come on, boy, I'll get you over the back wall while your da keeps them talking." "What are you talking about?" "They're after you." "I haven't done anything." Kevin held out his arm hands. "You xxx don't think I'm going to go jumping over the back wall in my pyjamas at this time of night, do you?" "Better that than end up in the jail," said Uncle Albert. But the soldiers were in the house by now anyway. Kevin started to dress. "Don't worry," he said to Brede. "There's some mistake. I haven't f been in any trouble." "Kevin." Mr MCCoy came panting up the stairs. "I'm coming." "Now then, don't get excited, son. We'll get you out of this Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 989 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard145 Manuscript Son, Officer English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard145 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard145_1.jpg LHL Archive 137 somehow." "It's not me that’s excited. And when I find out what I'm supposed to be in then we can talk about getting out of it." Kevin went down to the front room. Three soldiers stood there looking large in the small space. A box laidwas lying on the table: it was the box that had been under Brian Rafferty's bed. Kevin half closed his eyes. "You recognise it, I see?" said the officer. "You recognisesee nothing of the kind," said Mr McCoy. "I'd prefer to speak to your son, Mr McCoy." The officer looked at Kevin. "Do you know what's in this box?" Kevin swallowed. "No." The officer flipped it open so that they could see the gun and ammunition. "You didn't find that in this house," said Mr McCoy. "And you're not going to get away with pretending that you did." "I haven't said that." The officer was keeping his eyes on Kevin's face. "We found it in MaloneKelly's scrapyard." "And what's that to do with us?" demanded Mr McCoy. "Your son works there." "He hasn't been at work this past two weeks. He got beat up by a gang of thugs. Look at him!" "But you've got a key to the yard, haven't you?" the officer asked Kevin. "Yes." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 990 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard146 Manuscript Albert, Reprisals English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard146 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard146_1.jpg LHL Archive 138 W "So t what does that prove?" said Mr McCoy. "Nothing," said Uncle Albert. "Not a blinking thing. Sure ould MaloneKelly must have half a dozen keys to his yard." "Half the time the place isn't locked anyway," said Mr McCoy. "Anyone could shin over the wall even if it was." Kevin said nothing. He felt as if his lips were frozen, as if he were caught up in a nightmare in which he found that he was unable to speak. Found guilty by his silence. "We have reason to believe that your son hid this box in the scrap- yard, Mr McCoy," said the officer. "Reason? You'd believe anything it'd suit you to believe." "What have you to say?" the officer asked Kevin. Kevin moistened his lips. "I know nothing about it." "You were seen taking the box into the yard." "Seen?" Kevin found his voice w e coming back with a surge of anger. "By whom?" "We will discuss that at the police stationbarracks. I think it would be better. But we do have a witness." "A witness?" said Brede. The quitetness of her voice made the soldier pause. "I think we have a right to know k who it is," aid Mr McCoy. "It might be better not. We don't want reprisals of or anything like that." "It wouldn't be Kate MaloneKelly, would it?" asked Brede. The officer started. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 991 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard147 Manuscript Protect, Clock English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard147 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard147_1.jpg LHL Archive 139 "So it was," said Brede. "How did you know?" "Instinct." "She's got fine instinct," declared Mr McCoy. "Just like her mother. So that wee brat Kate MaloneKelly's been telling lies, has she?" "We have to decide if they're lies or not. She was reluctant to reveal your son's name - " He broke off as Kevin laughed derisively. "But she had to to protect her father. After all, the box was found in his yard and he could have been blamed for it." "So it's her word against mine," aid Kevin. "Well, I'll come down to the stationbarracks and you can bring her there and I'll face her with it. You'll see then who's telling the truth." "I don't know if that'll be xx possible. She was very upset." "I bet she was," said Kevin sarcastixcally. "You can prove nothing," said Mr/McCoy. "And you can at wait on me. I'm coming too." Brede sat up all night with Uncle Albert waiting for them to come home. The birds began to chirp, the first flushes of colour came into the sky, and still there was no sign of her father and brother. "They can prove nothing," Said Uncle Albert for the hundredth time. "I think I'll take a walk down and see what's going on," she said when the hands on the red and cream kitchen clock stood at seven. "I'll come with you, Brede." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 992 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard148 Manuscript Police, Officer English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard148 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard148_1.jpg LHL Archive 140 "No, no, don't bother, Uncle Albert. You just stay here a in case any of the wee ones should wake." He would be asleep before she returned. As she left the kitchen his eyelids were closing. She ran all the way to the police station and arrived breathless. She asked the sergeant on duty if she could speak to the officer who had brought in her brother for questioning. At that moment the soldier came out of a door. Heroom and recognised Brede. "Can I have a word with you?" asked Brede. He nodded. He came over to her. "It’s about Kate MaloneKelly. I think you ought to know that she has a grudge against my brother Kevin." Brede gulped and went on,"You see, she's rather keen on him and he's given her the go-by. So I don't think you could call her an unbiased witness." The officer smiled fleetingly. "Perhaps not. As a matter of fact I'd beg un to suspect something of the kind. I've been back to talk to her. And your fat brother's stikcing to his statement that he had nothing to do with it." "I'm sure he had not," said Brede. "You don't know who did?" Brede shook her head. "And if you did you wouldn't say, would you?" "Well... I don't know. But since I don't know there's nothing I could be telling you anyway. So you'll let my brother go then?" "We can't keep him. I think ... Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 993 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard149 Manuscript Slander, Injustice, Border English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard149 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard149_1.jpg LHL Archive 141 I think he knows something about it but he won't tell us what. I'm just about to tell him he can go ho No one will ever tell us anything. If you hang on a minute you can go home with him and your father." "No, I'll not wait. I'd rather you didn't say I'd b come and told you about Kate MaloneKelly." "O.K." "Thank you." Brede ran back home. Uncle Albert was snoring, head slumped on the table between his arms. He sat up abruptly when she came in. "What the devil's going on?" "It's all right. I think father and Kevin will be coming soon." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx They arrived five minutes later. Mr McCoy had a great deal to say about the police and the army, slander, injustice, politics, the Border, the English... Uncle Albert nodded from time to time but was unable to get in a word. Kevin ate his the breakfast that Brede cooked for him. He was silent and grim-facedbrooding. He did not even seem to be listening to what his father was saying. Brede was unhappy about the look in his eyes. He stood up. "Are you going to bed, Kevin?" asked Brede. "It would do you good to have some sleep." "I don't feel like sleep." She did not like the sound of his voice either. It was heavy withfull of foreboding. She said, "But you look dead beat." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 994 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard150 Manuscript Ulster, Westminster English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard150 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard150_1.jpg LHL Archive 142 "I'm going out.” It was an announcement; no one would stop him. "Well, don't go killing yourself trailing around the streets,” said his father, breaking off in the midst of a dissertation on the treatment of Ulster by the Westminster governnment. ”Y No wonder a pair of shoes never lasts long on your feet.” Kevin walked out. "Be careful, Kevin,” Brede called after him. "Albert, they can send the whole of the Biritish army over here and it'll not solve a thing,” said Mr McCoy. "Aye, you're right, Pete, you're right.” "Da, I think I'm worried about Kevin,” said Brede. "Sure you're always worrying about something. Just like your mother.” "But I think he's away out to get the one that framed him.” Mr McCoy turned in his seat. "Kate MaloneKelly?" "Not her.” "Who then? Does/he know who put that box in the yard?” Brede shrugged. Her face flushed. She went to the sink to start the washing up. "Do you know, Brede?” demanded her father. "Me? How would I know?” she asked. "I'll just go and take a look for the milkman.” She went to the front door and stoodout on to the pavement. Kevin was going slowly down the street, sauntering almost, like one who had nothing/in particular to do. As he drew level with the Raffertys' Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 995 Chapter 15 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard151 Manuscript Scrapyard, Houses English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard151 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard151_1.jpg LHL Archive 143 house she saw him turn his head and stare at it. She went back inside. Kevin reached the end of the street, turned the corner in to the next one, passed the scrapyard. A few yards along an alley ran b between two blocks of houses. He stepped into slipped into it and stood with his back resting against the wall. The ris morning sun was warm on his face. Brian Rafferty wshould be along in a few minutes on his way to work Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:52 996