Chapter 128

 

Southern Ireland, 1985

 

“What do you want?” he moved too quickly and his weakness caused him to stagger so he clutched at the edge of the dresser.

“Come ta see the fuckin’ hero,” was followed by a sneer. “Not to worry, I’m fine now. They let me wander about. Fancy it? Ya never done nothing still ya get ta suck up all the glory.”

Kevin Henry continued in his nasty tone while Sean O’Donnell eased his way along the side of the dresser. “Hear tell ya even got ta pound Dede’s bones. Never got there myself.” He grunted and parked on the other boy’s bed.

“No big thing.” Sean’s lips trembled with a weak smile. “Didn’t know it then, but others were there before me. You mind?” He motioned towards the bed. “Gotta lay down.”

Though Kevin relinquished his seat he made no move to aid as the other boy nearly fell before he reached the bed to collapse against the cool sheets.

“My blanket,” Sean asked but Kevin ignored the request. “My blanket, please, I’m freezing.”

“Tough, suffer or get your ass up and get it yourself. I could care less. You ain’t shit to me glory boy.”

“‘Cause of Dede? Never tied you with her? ‘Cept as friends.”

“Sure’n that’s all we were. Never had the guts ta try. Figured she was special. Bet Neil knew different. Bet he was poking her all along. Fuck!” He yanked a quilt from a chair and tossed it over the shivering youth. “Everybody getting the goodies but this ass.”

Squirming beneath the welcome warmth, Sean felt obliged to come to the girl’s defense and muttered. “Sure, Dee screws around a bit, yanks do that. Don’t make her any different than you took her to be. Damn! Lad, she is special. I was shitting my pants but she never was scared. Only a girl and she put me to shame. All cut up like that, her belly meeting her backbone, and she wouldn’t give an inch.”

“Must be hell when your belly’s yelping for food? It sitting right there and ya don’t take it.” Kevin grudgingly admitted. “You didn’t do so bad yourself.”

“Few days it was rough then I got kinda numb. Pretty soon you start thinking about dying and you stop being afraid. You know the worse they can do is kill ya and since your already doing that yourself you can laugh at them.”

“You did do that. I watched the telly every day. Suppose…that’s why I was so rough on you just now. I’m damn ashamed of being a bloody coward.”

“What makes you think that? Hell, it weren’t your fault what the Brits did ta you. “

“You warm enough? Can I get you something?”

“If you don’t mind? There’s soda pop in the cooler.”

When Kevin returned with the Cokes, Sean said, “Rather have me a brew.”

“Me too,” Kevin grinned. “But you know Seamus’ rules. Your uncle’s a grand guy.”

“He’ll do.” Sean sipped at the legal beverage. “But like most politicians he has what he claims are priorities—bread and butter issues. Once he gets himself in office? Maybe? But I doubt he’ll do us much good. Now you and me.” Was enhanced by a confident smile. “We know what were about. ‘course Davy says we play it cool for a spell.”

“Davy?” was a surprised hiss. “Davy told me I mess in any more shit he’ll cripple my ass permanent like.”

“Naturally he’s gonna say that right now. Especially to you—you’re his family. He thinks we’re still kids and we might get hurt again. But we’re smarter now, right lad?”

A growing respect filtered through Kevin Henry’s words as he said, “The things you did in court? It wasn’t playacting. The way you taunted them with the battle hymns.”

The last of the afternoon sunlight brightened the pale complexion allowing it the illusion of health. The sharp blue eyes gleamed with a touch of insanity, and there was no fear in his voice as Sean O’Donnell said, “We got a ways to go to make ‘em pay up.”