Part 44 (2/2)

We'd probably started out the wrong way with Little Stevie. We had enough problems to overcome with him not being mine, without subjecting the three of us to life on Wrathlin. The idea had seemed romantic, and it had stayed an idea. Often, romance is.

One night, when Little Stevie was just about six months, Patricia and I stood in his nursery, hand in hand in the half light, just watching him. He was beautiful. Even his hair. It looked like it might darken sufficiently for him to pa.s.s as an out-of-season strawberry blond.

*You do love him, don't you, Dan?'

*Of course I do.'

*As much as me?'

*As much as you love him?'

*No, as much as you love me.'

*Yes. I do. I really do. Honest.'

*Thank you.' She gave me a little kiss.

*Thank you,' I said.

She gave me another kiss, then slipped her hand from mine. *Come to bed, lover,' she said.

She went ahead of me. I lingered by the cot. Little Stevie's eyes were open, there was the merest hint of a smile on his face. He was a great wee fella, and so what if he wasn't mine by blood. I'd look after him. I'd do him proud. Daddy Starkey.

Wrathlin might as well have been four years away as four months. He wouldn't remember it. He wouldn't remember Duncan, Duncan's death, the bodies, the mania; he wouldn't know how close he'd come to death himself, through illness, through my gambling his life on a hedgehog. Blissfully ignor ant, smiling there in his cot at nothing, not a care in the big bad world.

I stood for another moment by the door, then slowly turned down the dimmer switch. *Good night, son,' I said, and closed the door softly after me.

*Good night, dad.'

I was back through the door in a flash . . .

Author's Note.

Wrathlin Island is a real place, and well worth a visit, lots of birdlife, although it goes without saying that the people and most of the places mentioned in this story are completely fict.i.tious, with the exception of the Messiah, who is coming, so get your act together. Radon, likewise, does exist and can be found at varying levels in many parts of the United Kingdom. I would like to thank Dr H. C. H. Glochamner of the Department of the Environment's Natural Gases division for his valued a.s.sistance in researching this novel. I would like to, but he doesn't exist, nor does his department. Dan Starkey will return shortly.

Also by Bateman.

Cycle of Violence.

Empire State Maid of the Mist.

Wild About Harry Mohammed Maguire.

Chapter and Verse.

I Predict A Riot.

Orpheus Rising Mystery Man novels.

Mystery Man The Day of the Jack Russell Dr Yes Martin Murphy novels.

Murphy's Law Murphy's Revenge Dan Starkey novels.

Divorcing Jack Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men Turbulent Priests Shooting Sean.

The Horse with My Name Driving Big Davie Belfast Confidential Nine Inches For children.

Reservoir Pups Bring Me the Head of Oliver Plunkett The Seagulls Have Landed t.i.tanic 2020.

t.i.tanic 2020: Cannibal City SOS: Icequake SOS: Firestorm.

SOS: Tusk.

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