Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard058 Manuscript Swimming-pool, Riveria English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard058 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard058_1.jpg LHL Archive 54 CHAPTER SEVEN Sadie and Kevin satrode to Bangor on the top deck of the bus, in the front seat. The country-side looked lush and pretty; the trees were in full bloomin leaf and sprays of pink and yellow blossom still lingered here and there. It was still early in the morning when they got off the bus in Bangor. The resrt resort was not busy: it was too soon in the year for holiday-makers. The local inhabitants moved in and out of the shops gettingi in their stores for the week-end. Sadie and Kevin walked along by the sea wall enjoying the smell of the sea. The breeze whipped back their hair and tinged their cheeks with pink. "It's good to be out of the town," said Sadie with a little skip. They walked round the bay as far as Pickie Pool, the outdoor swimming poolnd. They had brought their bathing costumes. "It looks icy cold to me," said Kevin, lookingstaring down at the green water. "I'm not sure if I fancy it muchx." 'Oh , come on, Kevin*. Once you we're inwet it'll be O.K." Kevin looked doubtful. "It's all right for you. Women have an extra layer of fat on them. They don't feel the cold so much." But he went off to change and reappeared to join her a few minutes later. "The first bathe of the year," said Sadie as they stood at the side of the pool. "It's mad I'm thinking we are to beWe must be mad going swimming in May. This isn't the Riviera." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 903 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard059 Manuscript Boyne, King William English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard059 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard059_1.jpg LHL Archive 55 "We’re mad anyway," laughed Sadie, and in a flash she was poised up on her toes and dived in neatly. She surfaced gasping. "You look like you've dived into the Arctic Ocean," aid Kevin, still hovering on the edge. "Coawrd!" Her teeth chattered That brought him in. She swam away from him with strong even strokes; he pursued her in a fast sprawling crawl. He caught her by the shoulders. "What was that you said?" "You're the bravest man this side of the Boyne." "The Boyne? I'm not fond of the Boyne." The Boyne was where King William had fought and defeated the Catholics under James II. "Let's say the Shannon." Sadie could say nothing more. Her lips were blue. They swam a length and then clambered up out of the water. "Enough's enough,""God, let's get out" said Kevin. They dressed and went into the restaurant to drink hot chocolate. As they drank, heat gradually returned to their bodies. "Boys, I thought the shock would have> killed me," said Kevin. "Who's idea was that anyway?" "I thought you were one for a challenege?" He smiledgrinned back at her. "I'd hardly be here if I weren't, would I? Theres's a few in my street would be having a heart attack if they could see us now." "Let's forget about your streext, " said Sadie "and mine." "A good idea that." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 904 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard060 Manuscript Girls, Monday English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard060 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard060_1.jpg LHL Archive 56 They walked round the path beside the sea. They met no one . It was as if they had the whole world to themselves. "Wouldn’t it be nice if we did?” said Sadie. They sat on the rocks and spun stones through the waves vying with one another to see who could reachthrow furthrst. "You’ve got a good a reachthrow for a girl,” said Kevin. "They’re usually hopeless at throwing things.” Sadie threw another stone skimming it closely through the waves. "You must have known the wrong girls,” she said. At midday she unpacked her bag. She had made up a picnic after her mother had gone to bed the night before. Ham and cheese sandwiches, cold sausages, crisps, little sponge cakes, and a bottle of Coca-Cola. "I never imaginedFancy you being domesticated, ” said Kevin, watching with admiration. ”I'm not. But I like eatingmy grub.” They were ravenously hungry afther their bathe., and the fresh salt air, blowing all around them as they perched on the rocks close to the sea. They ate the loteverything. "There was supposed to be enough there for our tea as well,” aid Sadie. "We won't worry about that.Who cares? I'll buy you a meal in a cafe. I've plenty money on meI'm loaded" "So you’re rich eh?” "Well, I got my pay yYesterday was payday. By Monday most of it’ll be spent. But tThat’s the way it goes.” Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 905 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard061 Manuscript Shooting, Arcade English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard061 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard061_1.jpg LHL Archive 57 That was the way it went for her too. They kept finding things on whcih they agreed, attitudes they shared. They walked backreturned to the town, and there their mood changed again They sampled the amusement arcades playing the pin ball machines and fruit machines and even trying their luck at the shooting gallery. Kevin proved to be a good shot. Sadie watched his concentration as he lined up his target, his dark eyes intense, his hand steady. He won first prize. "You're handya dab hand with a gun," she said. And then he thought of Brian with hisa gun hidden under thehis bed and of hism standing there with it in hands at the top of the stairs, and he frowned. "What's wrong?" asked Sadie. "Nothing. Let's go." He led the way out of the arcade and she followed, puzzled. But outside he smiled again and she forgot the moemtnlook of blackness x on his face. She lived in the present too much to worry about even the moment before. "Candy floss, madam?" He presented her with a large mound of pink frothy. They visited the harbour to look at the boats, They hesitateding for^ a long time choosing which one they would have inover the one they would choose in which to sail round the world He took her hand and led her on again. The day was endless, full of delight and variation. A day of bright sky and white-tipped green water and seagulls wheeling overhead. After they had eaten at tea-time they wandered round the bay to Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 906 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard062 Manuscript Ballyholme, Priests, Protestant English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard062 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard062_1.jpg LHL Archive 53 Ballyholme and went down on to the sands. They found a sheltered place in which they could sit shielded from the wind. Sadie took off her sandals and rubbed her feet in the sand. "I feel happy, " she said. "Me too." Kevin lay back with his hands clasped behind his head. She rolled on to her stomach and looked down at his face. "StrangeFunny we should get on so well together." "StrangeFunny?" "Well, you know what I mean. With so many things against it." Only anxxx one. And that doesn't seem to matter." "No. Not when we're together." "Does it bother you when we're not?" "I don't know. In a way. I find a it odd when I think about you going to things like - " she paused "- confession." "It's a part of my religion." "It's apart I don.'t like. Kevin, dowould you confess to the priest that you keep companywere going with a Protestant girl?" He sat up. "There's no law against it. It's not a venialmortal sin." "I hate that word sin." He shrugged. She sat up too and looked him in the face. "Don't you resent the power the priests have over you?" "They don't have that much power," he muttered. "ButOf course they dox," she insisted. "You know nothing about it." His voice had a hard edge. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 907 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard063 Manuscript King Billy, Micks English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard063 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard063_1.jpg LHL Archive 59 Give over, a voice inside her was saying, but the stubborness in her would not let it lie. "And those statues and things. I don't know how you can bring yourself to pray to them." "Aye, and what about your lot?" His temper was risingsurging. "Worshipping a silly old Dutchman dead these fo three hundred years!"" "We don't worship him." "Ah, for God's sake!" He stood up. "King Billy on his white horse. Long Live King Billy! Keep the Micks down." "If there were more of you than there were of us you'd soon keep us down." Sadie's eyes blazed. Her father's words, cut into her mind. "So you're afraid, that's what it is!x" He laughed contemptuously, and at that moment she hated him. He turned on his heel and walked away. She let him go. She watched until he was out of sight. Now she was alone on the sands. The sky was covered with grey cloud, the sun gone for the day. A spot of rain touched her cheek. She sat with her chin on her knees glowering at the grey water. Their beautiful day was spoiled. Another spot of rain. Let it pour. She did not care if she was soaked and caught pneumonia and died. Maybe then he would be sorry. He was not better than the rest of them. The rain began to come down, fuirst in a fine drizzle,and then in a solid sheet. She felt x handson her shoulder pulling her up. "Stupid twit!" he shouted at her, and he hauled her across the x Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 908 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard064 Manuscript Rat, Streets English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard064 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard064_1.jpg LHL Archive 60 darkening b sand. They ran to a shelter and once inside,stood there panting, looking at one another. Sadie’s hair hung in long wet strands to her waist. "Get your towel out and dry yourself," he said, and she did so. She took off her anorak andhe shook it vigorously. He looked angry yet, his eyes were black, and there was no hint of a smile. He must hate her, she thought. "Did you want to catch your death out there?" he demanded. She shook her head. She swallowed deeply and then she said, "I'm sorry." Hsi His mouth softened. "That's all right. I'm sorry too." "No, no, it was ray fault. I have a terrible tongue on me at times, my mother's always telling me." He laughed, put out his xxxxx hand and smoothed her hair. "It was all silly anyway." She nodded."I'm glad you came back for me." There was a time when he would have been too proud to go back but when he had returned and seen her crouching on the wet beach he knew he could not walk away. "Did you think I'd leave s you sitting there all alone on the sands?" He helped her put her anorak back on and then putlaid his hands on her shoulders. "You look like a drowned rat," he said, and then he kissed her. She moved closernearer to him. She linked her hands round the back of his neck and rested her cheek against his sweater. Outside the rain beat down, hissing on the pavement, drumming on the roof of their shelter. They stayed there until it ceased, holding one another close. It was time then to go for the last bus home. They walked through the wet streets, arms around Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 909 Chapter 7 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard065 Manuscript Belfast, Sash English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard065 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard065_1.jpg LHL Archive 61 one another's waists, feeling dazed and damp, but not caring about the dampness. As they came in to the bus station the saw the rear end of the Belfast bus sliding away. Kevin broke free from her and ran after it shouting, but the bus gathered speed and was soon heading for Belfastthe open road leaving them behind. "Last bus, son," said a conductor, who was on his way homewards. "Sadie," said Kevin with mock solemnity," that was the last bus." "I don't care," she said dreamily. "We could go back andsit on the sand." "And get washed away with the tide! If We'll have to try and hitch a lift." They set out on the road. Kevin thumbed several cars but they pas swept past with their lights blazing. It was not easy to get a lift at night. Drivers were wary of picking up strangers these days. They walked fairly briskly to keep themselves a warm and as they walked they sang. He sang 'The Wearing of the Green' and she sang 'The Sash My Father Wore.', and then they laughed together. "Our parents would have a fit if they could hear us, " said Kevin. "Hey, just a minute, here's another car coming. And it's not travelling as fast." It chugged towards them. What it lacked in speed it made f up for in noise. Kevin held up his thumb. It stopped. "Hurrah!" shouted Sadie. Kevin led her to the motor car and opened the passenger door. He peered inside to have a word with the driver. "Glory be!" he said. "It's Uncle Albert." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:49 910