Across the Barricades Read online

  Joan Lingard

  Across the Barricades

  PUFFIN

  PUFFIN BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group

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  First published by Hamish Hamilton 1972

  Published in Puffin Books 1973

  Reissued in Puffin Books 2003

  27

  Copyright © Joan Lingard, 1972

  All rights reserved

  Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN: 978-0-14-192670-4

  1

  ‘Sadie! Sadie Jackson!’

  She looked round. For a moment she could not see who was calling her. The pavement was thick with people heading homewards. Then she saw him coming through the midst of the throng. Tall, dark, broader than she had remembered, but with the same bright spark in his eyes. She waited for him to reach her.

  ‘Kevin,’ she said. ‘Kevin McCoy.’

  ‘It’s me all right.’ He was grinning.

  ‘Haven’t seen you for ages. It must be nearly three years.’

  ‘Suppose it is. It’s funny seeing you again after so long.’

  They only lived a few streets away from one another but it might as well have been a thousand miles. They stood and looked at one another and let the hurrying people push round them.

  ‘Fancy a cup of coffee?’ asked Kevin. ‘Have you time?’

  ‘Don’t see why not,’ said Sadie. There were many good reasons why not, her mother would say, but Sadie was not one to be put off by reasons, especially her mother’s.

  They walked side by side to a coffee bar without talking. They felt a little awkward walking together but once inside the café, seated across a table from one another, their tongues broke free again.

  ‘How’s Brede?’ she asked.

  ‘How’s Tommy?’ he asked at the same time, and they laughed.

  ‘Brede’s fine,’ he said. ‘She’s working as a nursery nurse.’

  ‘She always was soft on kids, wasn’t she? Tommy’s in the yard apprenticed as a welder.’

  They were silent for a moment, Sadie thinking of Kevin’s sister Brede and Kevin of Sadie’s brother Tommy as each had been three years ago. They had all been at school then, different schools. They had started as enemies, had even fought with stones and fists; then for a while they had been friends but eventually had drifted apart because of the difficulties of meeting.

  ‘And you, Sadie, what are you doing?’

  ‘Me?’ She shook her long fair hair back over her shoulder in a gesture that he remembered. ‘Well, first I went into an office’ – she wrinkled her nose - ‘and then I got a job in a linen mill…’

  He laughed. ‘You always were a restless one!’

  ‘Look who’s talking!’ They were used to sparring with one another; it came back to them easily. It was as if the three years had never been.

  ‘I’ve had the same job since the day I left school,’ he said. ‘So there!’

  ‘Is that so?’

  ‘That’s right. I’m working for Kate’s da in his scrapyard. Remember Kate, Brede’s friend?’

  ‘Indeed I do. She used to fancy you, didn’t she? Does she go with the job?’

  ‘Sarky as ever, aren’t you?’

  She made a face at him. ‘I think the scrap business would suit you rightly… roaming the streets and all that.’

  ‘The streets aren’t the same as they used to be. Plenty of scrap lying about not what we’re looking for.’

  Scrap in the streets: burnt-out cars and buses and armoured vehicles, torn-up paving stones, barbed-wire coiled to form barricades. And along the streets went soldiers on patrol with fingers on the triggers of their guns, men and women eyeing them watchfully, suspiciously, and bands of children playing at fighting and sometimes not just playing. Sadie and Kevin were quiet. The subject was too difficult to talk about, too difficult for them.

  ‘It’s a dead-end job anyway,’ said Kevin. ‘The scrap business. I won’t stay in it.’

  ‘What’ll you do?’

  He shrugged. ‘What are you doing now? You haven’t told me yet.’

  ‘I’m working in a hat department,’ she said in an affected voice.

  ‘You!’

  ‘We get a very nice class of customer.’ She arched one eyebrow.

  ‘I’ll bet.’

  ‘You should see some of the old bags.’ Sadie rolled her eyes. ‘Smirking at themselves in the mirror and then asking you how they look.’

  Kevin chuckled. ‘You never found it easy to tell a lie, did you?’

  ‘You’d have to be a real phoney for this job. It is time I was looking for something else. My mother would have a fit if she heard me saying that.’

  ‘Sadie, you must have given your ma a thousand fits, I’m thinking.’ Then Kevin asked, ‘Are you hungry?’

  ‘Starving,’

  He went to the counter and bought them two hamburgers each. They ate hungrily, enjoying the warm thick rolls with the meaty centres. Outside, the sun shone on the opposite side of the street. Sadie finished her last bite and sighed with contentment.

  ‘It’s a warm night,’ said Kevin. ‘It would be nice up on Cave Hill.’

  ‘It would that.’

  ‘Would you like to go up there?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Now?’

  ‘Yes.’

  He guided her out of the café into the street and then dropped his hand from her arm. On the way to the bus stop they passed a newspaper billboard. SHOP GUTTED BY BOMB, TWO KILLED, ONE INJURED, it declared. They both looked away and talked instead of Tommy and Brede, remembering days spent at the seaside the summer they had all been friends.

  When they reached the stop, Kevin stood with his back against the stance and looked at Sadie with a smile on his face.

  ‘You’re even better looking than I thought you’d be.’

  ‘Thanks very much!’ Sadie tossed her head, but not with anger.

  ‘At one time I thought you were going to make an all-in-wrestler. Do you remember the night you jumped on me when I slipped?’

  ‘How could I forget it? You’d been wrecking our King Billy.’

  ‘You could run, I’ll say that for you.’

  ‘Hello there, Sadie.’

  Sadie turned to see that a girl had stopped beside them. It was Linda Mullet, her old school friend, who lived in the same street.

  ‘Oh hello, Linda.’

  Linda looked pointedly at Kevin, waiting for an introduction. Sadie looked back at Linda.

  Suddenly a frown knotted Linda’s eyebrows. ‘I’ve seen
you before, haven’t I?’ she asked Kevin.

  ‘Everyone’s seen him before,’ said Sadie. ‘He’s a well-known man about town.’

  ‘Oh you!’ Linda pouted. She hated to be teased. She continued to stare at Kevin.

  ‘He can wiggle his ears too,’ said Sadie.

  ‘I’ve a few more tricks for by,’ said Kevin.

  ‘I know who you are,’ cried Linda triumphantly. ‘Your name’s Kevin and you’re –’ She broke off.

  ‘Yes, he’s –’ said Sadie. ‘So now you know. I’m glad you don’t have to sit all the way home on the bus with it worrying you.’

  Linda’s round little mouth straightened into a taut line. She edged away. ‘I’ll be seeing you, Sadie.’

  ‘No doubt.’

  Linda walked away swiftly.

  ‘She can’t get back quick enough to spread the good news in your street, Sadie,’ said Kevin.

  ‘Let her spread what she likes.’

  ‘I always liked the devil in you,’ Kevin grinned. ‘You never let them get you down, do you?’

  ‘Her bum wiggles just like her ma’s. I could see that startin’ three years ago and her tongue wags just like her mother’s, too.’

  ‘I thought she used to be your best friend?’

  ‘You’re jokin’.’

  ‘Here comes our bus.’ The bus swished in beside them. He bowed to her. ‘Madam, your carriage awaits you.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’

  ‘Come on, youse, if you’re coming,’ called the conductor. ‘I haven’t got all day to hang about, I’m wanting home for my tea.’

  Sadie and Kevin stepped aboard, both of them aware that they were embarking on something dangerous. But then neither of them had ever been inclined to shy away from danger. As long as they could remember they had always been aware of it.

  Sadie bounded up the stairs in front of Kevin. Half way up she turned and looked down at him and laughed.

  2

  Mrs Jackson flipped the bacon over in the pan and lowered the gas so that it would not frizzle.

  ‘Tea ready yet, Ma?’ asked Tommy, ‘I’m starvin’.’ He had changed out of his overalls and washed off the grime of the shipyards. He sat at the kitchen table with his knife and fork in front of him ready to devour the food as soon as his mother would set down his plate.

  ‘It’s ready,’ she said. ‘I’m just wondering where that girl’s got to. You’d think I’d nothing else to do but stand here slaving over a hot stove waiting for her convenience. It’ll be a different story when it’s her that’s standing over a stove!’

  ‘I can’t wait to see the day,’ said Tommy. ‘But I think she’s got other things in mind.’

  ‘Dear knows what she has in her mind,’ Mrs Jackson shook her head and wiped her hands down the sides of her wrap-around overall. ‘I’ll be glad when I see her settled.’

  ‘Oh, come on, Aggie, let’s have our tea, for dear sake,’ said Mr Jackson. ‘I’ve to be at the Lodge for seven. We can’t sit here waiting on Sadie.’

  ‘You’re right.’

  Mrs Jackson turned off the gas. It went out with a plop. She took the plates that had been warming above the cooker and served the food, watched hungrily by the men. They began to eat at once. She poured the thick strong tea from the old brown teapot and then sat down herself. She kept on her overall. Her thin greying hair was garnished with rollers. She took her rollers out after tea to sit and watch television and when the television closed down at night she put the rollers back in again.

  The men did not speak whilst they ate. They concentrated on the food, wiping the plates clean afterwards with thick hunks of bread taken from the packet on the table. Mrs Jackson talked all the time, grumbling mostly about Sadie, shaking her head and sighing and sniffing. From time to time Mr Jackson grunted, supposedly in agreement, but neither he nor Tommy listened. They knew what she was saying without having to listen. Mr Jackson was thinking about the Lodge meeting. It was an Orange Lodge and they were preparing now for the big Orange Walk on the twelfth of July. He had been a member of the Lodge since his youth and his father before him, but his son was not, and the fact grieved him. Tommy was still a good Protestant, he knew that, but he did not seem to realize that you had to be constantly reaffirming your faith.

  Tommy was trying to decide which film he should take Linda to see. There were two possibilities but one was rather violent and she liked what she called ‘a nice picture’.

  ‘Well, I don’t know,’ said Mrs Jackson. ‘But there’s one thing, she’s got no consideration for other people.’

  Tommy looked up. ‘She’d give you her last penny.’

  ‘If she had one to give.’ Mrs Jackson sniffed. She got up to clear the dirty dishes. ‘She spends her pay the day she gets it.’

  ‘But she doesn’t gripe about it,’

  ‘Pour us another cup of tea, Aggie.’ Mr Jackson pushed his cup across the table. ‘And then I’ll be off.’

  Mrs Jackson poured it.

  They heard the front door opening and Linda’s voice calling, ‘Anybody in?’

  Her feet tapped in the lobby and then she opened the kitchen door.

  ‘Oh, hello, Linda,’ said Mrs Jackson, ‘Did you get fed up waiting for Tommy?’

  ‘I was ready early so I just thought I’d come on over.’ Linda sat down on the chair Mrs Jackson had vacated and crossed her legs.

  ‘We’re a bit late the night,’ said Mrs Jackson, running hot water into the sink, ‘We were waiting for Sadie.’

  ‘I don’t think she was coming home.’ Linda smiled knowingly.

  ‘Have you seen her?’ asked Tommy.

  ‘I saw her on the way home.’

  ‘Where was she?’

  ‘At a bus stop.’ Linda swung her foot for a moment before she added, ‘She wasn’t alone.’

  ‘That’s nothing new. She hardly ever is.’ Mrs Jackson scraped the remains of the food into the bucket, ‘Our Sadie knows the half of Belfast,’ she said, not without pride. Part of her was pleased that Sadie knew so many people, the other part resented her daughter spending so much time on them. ‘It’s a wonder she didn’t think to send a message back by you.’

  ‘I don’t think she was that fussy about me seeing who she was with.’

  ‘Who was she with?’ asked Mr Jackson, taking an interest in the conversation for the first time.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know if I should tell you that,’ Linda lowered her eyelashes.

  ‘Maybe you shouldn’t then,’ said Tommy quickly. He got up. ‘Come on, Linda, let’s get going or we’ll miss the start of the picture.’

  Linda uncrossed her legs reluctantly.

  ‘Just a minute.’ Mrs Jackson dried her hands.

  ‘I think Linda knows something we ought to know,’ said Mr Jackson.

  ‘Dad, you’ll be late for the start of your meeting,’ said Tommy. ‘Away you go to it and let Sadie alone.’

  ‘You’re always covering up for that girl,’ said Mrs Jackson, ‘but I’m her mother and I’ve a right to know what she’s up to.’

  ‘Sadie’s all right,’ said Tommy. ‘Let’s go, Linda.’

  Linda got up and pushed back the chair. She looked round from one to the other. Her lower lip trembled slightly. ‘I don’t want to cause any trouble.’

  ‘No, all right then, let’s go.’ ommy took hold of her arm.

  Linda pulled it away and rubbed her elbow with her hand as if he had hurt her.

  ‘Mind your manners, Tommy,’ said his father sharply.

  Tommy’s face closed tightly. He went to the window and stood looking into the small back yard. A patch of sunlight touched the dustbin but the rest was in shadow.

  ‘Linda dear,’ said Mrs Jackson, ‘now if there’s anything you think we should know you must tell us.’

  Linda looked at Tommy’s back. He did not move.

  ‘That’s right, Linda,’ said Mr Jackson. ‘Your father wouldn’t like it if you didn’t.’

  ‘I suppose I’ll have to, won�
�t I?’ Linda kept her eyes on Tommy. ‘I mean to say, what else can I do?’ She paused. ‘She was with that Catholic boy Kevin McCoy.’

  Tommy wheeled round. ‘Kevin?’

  ‘A Catholic boy?’ said Mrs Jackson in a stunned voice.

  ‘Yes, the one Sadie and Tommy got mixed up with three summers ago, the one whose sister got hurt.’

  ‘Brede,’ said Tommy softly.

  ‘That’s the one,’ said Linda, not liking the look in Tommy’s eye.

  Mrs Jackson eased herself into a seat by the table. She gripped the edge of the wood with her red, house-worn hands. ‘What’s she doing with him?’

  ‘How should I know? I just saw the two of them together waiting for a bus.’

  ‘Jim!’ Mrs Jackson appealed to her husband, who had been scratching his head and looking bewildered.

  ‘What do you know about this, Tommy?’ he demanded.

  ‘Nothing.’ ommy lifted his jacket. ‘I’m going to the pictures. You can come if you want to, Linda.’

  ‘Thanks very much!’

  ‘This is a desperate shock, desperate.’ Mrs Jackson rocked herself on the chair.

  ‘For goodness sake, Ma, there’s nothing in it,’ said Tommy. ‘Don’t start going on about it as if she was about to marry him.’

  ‘Marry him?’ His mother put her hand to her throat.

  ‘She hasn’t seen him for years.’

  ‘As far as you know.’

  ‘Tommy, go and get the brandy from the sitting-room cabinet,’ said Mr Jackson. ‘Your mother’s just had a terrible shock.’

  Linda put her arm round Mrs Jackson’s neck. Tommy gritted his teeth and went through to the little sitting-room at the front. It smelt musty as he opened the door. They seldom used it, only for Christmas and special company. The room was overstuffed with furniture and every ledge was covered with faded photographs and souvenirs brought from Portrush, Bangor and the Isle of Man. He opened the glass-fronted cabinet in which the best china was kept. He put his hand carefully round the back of a tea pot and brought out a half-bottle of brandy and a glass.

  ‘You’re a good girl, Linda,’ his mother was saying as he returned to the kitchen. ‘You’ve got your head screwed on.’