The Guns of Easter by Gerard Whelan

Author:Gerard Whelan [Gerard Whelan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847174062
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2013-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

PART THREE: THE CITY AT WAR

12

THE YOUNG VOLUNTEER

THE FOLLOWING MORNING JIMMY WOKE EARLY. He heard no movement. In the half-light he saw that Ma and Sarah were still asleep, their heads on the same pillow. Sarah had slept through most of yesterday, but had woken for long enough to eat some soup from one of Jimmy’s tins. It was the first food she’d had for days, a sign that her fever had lessened.

Jimmy got up quietly now. He heard no sounds outside. He didn’t hesitate: he was afraid that if he did he wouldn’t go at all. He’d feel too guilty, thinking of Ma’s worry. He wished he could leave her a note, but they had no pens or pencils and he couldn’t think what he might say.

He crept to the door and turned the handle. It made no noise. As soon as the gap was wide enough he squeezed out through it and closed the door quietly behind him.

It wasn’t fully light. The hall and stairs were still dark. There was a drunk asleep on the landing, but Jimmy skipped over him lightly and continued on his way. Outside he saw no-one, just one more huddled form snoring by some railings.

Jimmy looked mistrustfully at the sky. It had rained yesterday evening, and he hoped it wouldn’t rain again today. The thin, worn jacket that he was wearing was his only coat. His head felt a bit odd, and he hoped that he hadn’t caught Sarah’s fever. That would be a disaster.

Sackville Street was deserted. Most of the roadway and pavement were covered with broken and abandoned loot. It made a thick layer that had been soaked by the rain and then trampled underfoot.

‘What are you doing here, boy?’ The voice came from behind him. Jimmy jumped in fright and whirled around.

A Volunteer carrying a rifle was looking at him from the recess of a shop doorway. The man’s face was white, his eyes rimmed with dark circles. He looked exhausted.

‘Well?’ the Volunteer demanded. ‘Are you deaf? I said what are you doing here? Looking for something to steal, is it? You’re too late, your mates have already taken it all.’ His voice was sour under the tiredness.

‘I’m doing nothing,’ Jimmy said. He swallowed. ‘I just came to see what was happening. I was afraid the British might be here.’

The young Volunteer smiled, but it was a bitter smile. ‘They are,’ he said. He gestured up Sackville Street with his rifle. ‘Look for yourself. They haven’t started shooting yet, but they’re here all right.’

Jimmy stared up Sackville Street. There were figures moving about near the Parnell Monument at the top of the street. Jimmy could just make out the khaki of their uniforms.

‘They came during the night,’ the young Volunteer said. ‘It’s swarming with them up there – and down the other end too, beyond the river. They took our positions around the City Hall.’

‘City Hall? I heard there was shooting down that way yesterday.’

‘There was plenty of that. I’m sure the Citizen Army gave them a lot to worry about.

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