Across the Barricades by Joan Lingard

Author:Joan Lingard
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780198320791
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 1972-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12

‘The last time.’ repeated Kevin.

‘It’s not because I don’t want to see you,’ said Sadie. ‘You know I do.’

‘So you’re going to give in to them?’ Kevin’s voice had an edge of bitterness.

‘It’s not a case of giving in.’

‘What is it then?’ he demanded.

‘I don’t want you to get hurt again,’ she said simply. ‘That’s all.’

They were quiet for a moment before Kevin spoke. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound angry with you, Sadie. It’s just that I hate the idea of Brian Rafferty telling me what to do.’

‘It’s not just Brian Rafferty, is it? If it wasn’t him it would be somebody else. Every time I left you I’d be wondering if you were going to be beaten up on the way home.’

‘They needn’t know, we could meet in secret.’

‘Where?’

Kevin sighed. He closed his eyes.

Mr Blake knocked before he entered. He put his head round the door and looked at them. Then he came in and shut the door. He sat down.

‘What’s the matter? The two of you don’t look very happy.’

‘We’re not,’ said Kevin. ‘Sadie thinks we’ll have to give up seeing one another.’

Mr Blake shook his head. He reached out to a pipe rack, took down a pipe and began to fill it with tobacco. ‘It’s a pity that. Since you seem so fond of one another. But I know it must be difficult.’

Sadie felt herself blush. Yes, it was true: she was fond of Kevin; that was why she could not bear to have him hurt.

‘It is difficult,’ she said. ‘Even to meet.’

Kevin had closed his eyes again. His face looked pale and exhausted.

‘I think we’ll have to get that boy home,’ said Mr Blake.

They helped him back into the car. Sadie sat in the back as before.

‘You’ve got to let me off outside my neighbourhood.’ Kevin insisted. ‘I’ll manage the last bit alone.’

‘All right,’ said Mr Blake. ‘I’m not happy at letting you walk but there’s no point in causing any more trouble.’ He stopped the car in a side street. ‘Will you make it from here?’ Kevin nodded. He put his hand on the handle of the door and looked round at Sadie. Was this to be the last time they would see one another?

‘I tell you what,’ said Mr Blake. ‘Would the two of you like to come round to my house for supper one evening?’

‘We’d love to, wouldn’t we, Kevin?’

‘Yes,’ said Kevin.

‘Shall we say Friday?’ suggested Mr Blake. ‘That’ll give Kevin a few days to be going about again.’

‘See you Friday then,’ said Kevin.

He opened the door. They watched him as he walked up the street. He was limping badly but walking fairly steadily. At the corner he turned to wave, then was gone. Sadie moved over on to the front seat beside Mr Blake.

‘I hope he’ll be all right,’ she said.

‘Don’t worry. He’ll make it. He looks a tough one.’

Mr Blake drove Sadie home. They passed several armoured cars heading in the opposite direction.

‘These are bad times, Sadie,’ sighed Mr Blake.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.