Brown Lord of the Mountain by Walter Macken

Author:Walter Macken [Macken, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

While Dino turned the tractor outside McNulty’s house, Donn got down and ran to the door. He could see the sheets of rain against the bright light from the window. He lifted the latch on the front door and went in. Tom McNulty was reading a newspaper, sitting at the fire. He was in his shirt sleeves. He was wearing his hat. He always wore his hat. Some time Donn meant to ask him if he wore his hat in bed too.

‘Bad night, Tom,’ he said. ‘We are looking for Sean.’

Tom looked at him over his glasses, then took them off and shoved them into his waistcoat pocket. He was annoyed that Donn had seen him wearing glasses. He was proud of his sight.

‘He’s back in the room,’ he said. ‘What devil’s work are ye up to?’

‘Social service,’ Donn said, grinning, and walking over to stand with his back to the fire. He looked at the bulb hanging from the roof. ‘Do you find the electric light better?’ he asked.

‘Dangerous thing,’ said Tom. ‘Man has to be careful with it. You could be killed with it.’

‘You could be killed tripping over a stone too,’ said Donn.

‘Tell me something,’ said Tom. ‘The day the boy came home and told his mother about staying at home, had he talked to you?’

‘He had,’ said Donn.

‘And you offered him the job?’ said Tom.

‘That’s right,’ said Donn.

‘I hope you had no hand in turning him from his persuasion,’ said Tom.

‘Why would I do that?’ Donn asked.

‘I don’t know. Did you? I wouldn’t like to think you did.’

Donn thought.

‘You have believed a certain way of life all your life,’ he said. ‘Would a few minutes conversation from me or anyone else change your way of thinking?’

‘No,’ said McNulty, ‘but he’s only a boy. His mother is hurt.’

‘Were you much more than a boy when you made your decisions?’ Donn asked.

‘No,’ said McNulty. ‘You have a very persuasive way with you, haven’t you?’

‘I believe in man’s liberty,’ said Donn, ‘to believe whatever the hell he likes. I wouldn’t interfere with anybody.’

‘I would make a bad enemy, Donn,’ said McNulty, his jaw tight.

‘Look, Tom,’ said Donn. ‘Aren’t you pleased that Sean is working at home? He is very good at what he is doing for me. I wouldn’t like to lose him. But say the word and I will let him go if this is what you want. I thought you would like to have him working at home instead of going away.’

‘So do I,’ said McNulty. ‘But his mother is in an awful taking. Maybe she is using you for her disappointment. All the changes that are happening so fast. Maybe that’s it.’

‘If Sean wanted to be a priest,’ said Donn, ‘there’s no power on earth could stop him. Is this true?’

‘I suppose so,’ said McNulty, ‘but his mother says the devil strews the path with temptations. You are one of them.’

‘I don’t want her to feel that way. Would I find her and talk to her?’

‘No,’ said McNulty, rising.

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