Part 37 (2/2)

Father White put a hand on Moira's shoulder. She shrugged it off.

*Don't be like that,' he said.

*I'll be as I like.'

*I'll come down and see you later. Explain everything. It's all quite straightforward.'

*Don't bother. I know what I saw out there.'

She spun on her heel and set off across the yard, pulling Christine with her.

With a slight shake of his head, Father White said, *She'll come around,' to n.o.body in particular.

Patricia disengaged. *I'll go after her,' she said. *See if she's okay.'

*She's okay,' I said.

She tutted. *Dan. You're a man.'

*What's that supposed to mean?'

*Work it out for yourself.'

She started after Moira. Little Stevie, up on her shoulder, looked back at me. I gave him a little wave.

*Do you want me to come with you?' I called.

*No,' she shouted back.

I had some difficulty with this. It was a nice gesture, of course, going to the aid of a friend who'd just stormed off. Genuine concern. But it was an odd type of concern, because it didn't seem to extend as far as me, her loving husband, whom she'd just left alone in the company of a ma.s.s murderer and his henchmen without even the courtesy of a goodbye kiss.

Father White, at my side, shook his head. *Strange breed, women,' he said.

It was the most human thing I'd heard from him since I'd arrived on the island, but coming from a man who'd most probably only ever had s.e.x with his left hand it was also based on a complete lack of direct experience. *Tell me all about it,' I said, nevertheless, and turned back to the fire. The four remaining gunmen warmed themselves by it, awaiting instructions.

White turned as well. He rubbed his hands together. The six of us stood in a circle. I should have been scared. These were evil men. My protector, Father Flynn, had been marched away. But I didn't feel scared. Not much, anyway. The barely disguised hysteria of the book burning seemed to have evaporated with the last of the books.

After a little, I said: *You didn't seem unduly fazed by our discovery of those bodies.'

*I wasn't. I was surprised it took so long.'

*Youse shot Constable Murtagh and Mary Reilly.'

*We did. We'd no alternative.'

*Of course. And a priest.'

*We'd no alternative.'

*And a government inspector.'

*Him too. Same reason.'

*He was here long before Christine was even born.'

*True.'

*So why . . .?'

*I'm not going to go through this twice. Come up to the church with me. I owe Frank Flynn an explanation before I owe you one. But I've no objection to you sitting in on it. You are the official historian, after all.'

*You want this written down?' I asked incredulously.

*Of course I do. It's important.'

He had me confused. Wrathlin had me confused, but Father White had me particularly confused.

*You're not concerned that history might portray you as a madman intent on murder?'

He stretched his lips into a half smile. *An historian not in possession of all the facts might portray me that way. On the other hand, an historian able to take the long view, once he has listened to all the facts with an open mind, who is able to put them into perspective, might record something completely different.'

*But what if he doesn't or can't or won't?'

*Well, then he might end up in a shallow grave as well. It's quite straightforward. Do you have an open mind, Mr Starkey?'

He had a way of saying Mister which rolled off his tongue like a wave of nausea.

*Gaping,' I said.

38.

Before we entered we could hear Flynn's hollow pacing along the floorboards. He wheeled round as the door opened. The short wait for our arrival had done nothing to cool his temper. His face was flushed. A dry white tongue flicked at his upper lip, his arms were clenched stiffly to his sides.

*Just who the h.e.l.l do you think you are?' he spat immediately.

I shrugged, an involuntary reaction based on long experience. White ignored him. He turned and closed the door firmly, then stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Thin lines of sweat had dried on his head like vague river traces in an African landscape.

*Well?' Flynn demanded.

*Frank,' White answered softly, *if we're going to get anywhere, you're going to have to calm down.'

Flynn's hands snapped away from his side. *How can I calm down? You've turned this from heaven to h.e.l.l! You've ruined it all!'

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