Redemption - Leon Uris [160]
A shock wave of fear they had never known ran through the Protestant population. Always feeling safe and with the British Army at the beck and call, the Orange factions were suddenly faced with a new set of facts. The Irish Catholics, held in little esteem, had secretly developed a fighting capacity capable of inflicting great damage. There would be no more free riots, no more tossing pennies down on Bogside without reprisal.
The Brotherhood had won the respect of their enemy and at the same time won the respect of the Irish people. The most devastating of all their messages was that Ireland was not going to abide by a deal to “lay low” during the war. Lettershambo’s destruction said that England’s war and Ireland’s struggle for freedom had nothing to do with each other.
Henceforth the Irish had to be reckoned with, and England in Ireland had to keep looking over its shoulder.
53
Christchurch, December 1914
Wally Ferguson halted his fist in midair, gulped uneasily, then rapped on the door of the Chief Matron of the hospital.
“Come in, please.”
“Hello, Georgia,” Wally said.
It was a familiar place for Wally. Sheepmen, cattlemen, timber men, miners, and sailors often checked into Wally’s Exchange with something in need of repair or something busted up after an altercation on the premises. Georgia could make out someone standing behind Wally, as was often the case.
“Sister Georgia, this is Squire Liam Larkin.”
“Yes, we’ve met. He brought his son in with some cracked ribs. Won’t you have a seat, lads?”
Eyes danced among the three. All of them were in the business of sizing up people rapidly. Liam removed his hat, a gesture he performed profoundly since he was recognized as a squire. Outside it was a usual sunny day. Inside the atmosphere turned gray.
“I’m looking for my boy, Rory,” Liam said directly.
“Are you here for consultation or confrontation?” Georgia asked.
“Liam came to me,” Wally interceded quickly. “We go all the way back, as you might know. I was Rory’s godfather. So he figured you would be the one to speak to and, knowing we are friends, you and me, I should introduce the two of you.”
“What did you tell him, Wally?” Georgia asked coolly.
“I don’t know where the hell Rory is or where he was going,” Wally lied with the innocence of a lamb in one of his holding pens. “The boy was all shot down over the death of his uncle, Conor Larkin, and he said he needed a hundred quid which the Squire would repay. Hell, I figured he went on a tear or something. He made a mess out of Oak Kelley.”
“Yes, we put Oak together here,” she said. “I’m rather surprised Rory didn’t confide in you, Wally.”
“It’s like this, Sister. I’m loyal to both these men. I’m sure Rory didn’t want to put me in to an awkward position with his da. I’d like to know where he is as well.”
Wally looked like a man standing over a trapdoor. “This is really between the two of you so I’ll wait outside, Liam.”
Liam had already started his reading on Georgia Norman. She wasn’t a chief matron before the age of thirty because she could be easily bullied about. She was much more attractive than a head nurse ought to be, nicely curved and certainly able to hold her own with a man. He wasn’t sure what to expect but was rather surprised at Rory’s good taste.
“Do you know where he is?” Liam asked.
“I’m not sure, but it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out,” she answered.
“The recruiting people haven’t given me much help.”
Georgia shrugged. “I don’t know if you know, but I did serve in the military.”
“I heard about that.”
“What I mean to say is that he could have easily used another name. In wartime the recruiters aren’t going to let a specimen like Rory get away.”
“I suppose you’re right. Rory’s a good enough liar to hoodwink anybody.”
“Rory is not a liar,” she said with eye contact to let him know he was starting his own war. “I was also underage