Across the Divide

by Brian Gallagher

  ‘Really well,’ answered Nora, but before she could elaborate, Maurice Fitzgerald entered the room excitedly.

  He normally arrived at least five minutes before rehearsals began, but tonight he had obviously been side-tracked, and Liam could see at once that he had some sort of news to tell.

  ‘Have you heard?’ the boy asked breathlessly.

  ‘Heard what?’

  ‘About Mr Larkin?’

  ‘What about him?’ asked Liam worriedly. He knew that Larkin was up in court yet again, and a lot was riding on what happened there.

  ‘His trial has finished.’

  Liam looked at the other boy anxiously ‘Was he found guilty or not guilty?’

  ‘Guilty!’

  Liam felt his heart sink, but he asked the question that he knew had to be asked. ‘What was the sentence?’

  ‘Seven months in prison!’ answered Maurice, clearly delighted to be the bearer of such dramatic news. Liam looked away, unable to bear the other boy’s excitement. This could be a disaster. After all the pain and sacrifice, now they had lost their leader. And with their leader gone, how were they going to survive the lockout and beat the employers?

  Chapter 17

  Nora licked the mixture of fresh cream and icing sugar from her fingers as she finished her second cream slice. It was usual when performing at weddings for the singers to be provided with food and drink, and the choir had tucked into beef and Yorkshire pudding, wedding cake, and now the unexpected treat of cream slices in a small side-room off the main hotel ballroom where the wedding meal was being served. They had already sung at the church, and would be performing again after the speeches, but for now they could relax.

  ‘Do you think we might hear some tango music at this?’ asked Liam.

  ‘Have you seen the musicians?’

  ‘No.’

  Nora grimaced. ‘I saw them outside. I’d say it’ll be old time waltzes.’

  Nora and Liam loved the musical rhythms of the Latin American dance that was rapidly growing in popularity. A group of Argentine musicians had been brought in specially for the Panama Party a few weeks previously and their music had been the highlight of the evening. The party itself had been lavish and colourful and, despite not winning any prizes for her fancy dress, Nora had enjoyed herself thoroughly and had told Liam all about it at the next rehearsal.

  Now, he looked disappointed that they weren’t likely to hear any tango at the reception. ‘You’d get sick of old-time waltzes, wouldn’t you?’ he said.

  ‘You would a bit.’

  ‘Still, the grub was great. And a bob each for singing is pretty good.’

  ‘Very good,’ agreed Nora.

  They had each been given a shilling by the best man after the church ceremony, and once they had sung again after the speeches they would be free to go, making it a well-paid day’s work. Nora was sure that it was money badly needed by Liam for his family, but, although it was extra pocket money for her, she didn’t dare offer to give it to him, after his last refusal.

  ‘Another one, Nora?’ Liam held out the cake plate.

  Nora shook her head. As much as she loved cream slices, she just couldn’t manage a third. A thought struck her. The cream slices would surely be a treat for Liam’s sisters. On the other hand, she didn’t want him to feel humiliated, which he might be if she suggested taking left-over food.

  She looked at the three-tiered cake stands that were still half full of wedding cake and cream slices. ‘I’m going to bring these home for my brothers,’ she said, reaching out and wrapping two slices of cake in a napkin. ‘Why don’t you take some for your sisters?’

  She could see at once that Liam was taken by the idea, but he also looked a little uncertain.

  ‘Do you think that’s OK? They wouldn’t think we were stealing?’ he asked.

  ‘Why would they think that? They were put there for us to eat, weren’t they?’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ said Liam, and he wrapped up a good few slices of cake. If he thought it strange that Nora was bringing home cake for two brothers that she normally gave out about, he said nothing.

  Nora was pleased that her idea had worked. She had learned recently that there was a fine line between helping a friend in need and appearing to be doling out charity. She really admired Brother Raymond for how he had come up with the scheme of serving the stew. He had increased the number of rehearsals too, now that the big concert in the Mansion House was only a week away, but Nora suspected that in part the extra rehearsals were to ensure that choir members like Liam were guaranteed hot meals that they wouldn’t have at home.

  Liam finished loading his pockets with cake, then he turned to Nora and smiled. ‘My sisters will be delighted.’

  Nora tried to smile back, but suddenly the effort of pretending was too much.

  ‘Are things really bad, Liam?’ she asked.

  Liam’s smile vanished. He looked at her, then nodded his head slowly.

  ‘Pretty bad. Larkin is back in England trying to get support. If he doesn’t get it I don’t know what will happen.’

  Nora had heard from her father that with public opinion strongly sympathetic to the plight of the locked out workers – and with voters heeding a call to vote against the ruling Liberal Party in by-elections – the government had given in to pressure and released Mr Larkin seventeen days into his latest sentence. But Liam’s father and many other workers were still in prison.

  ‘And…and your family, Liam?’

  Again he hesitated. Nora knew that she mustn’t push him. But he was her friend and she wanted him to know that he could talk to her if he wanted to. She waited, allowing Liam to decide how to respond. He breathed out and looked at her.

  ‘It’s not good, Nora. The work Ma used to get has dried up. If Da was out of jail he’d look out for us somehow, but he can’t do anything from inside Mountjoy.’

  ‘So how do you manage?’

  ‘Ma had to use the burial money,’ said Liam.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘You know, money for when you die and have to pay to be buried?’

  Liam seemed surprised that Nora had never heard of it.

  ‘Even people much poorer than us try to put away something, maybe only a penny a week, as burial money. That way, if someone in the family dies they won’t have to go in a pauper’s grave.’

  Nora tried to imagine what it would feel like if her father, or anyone in her family, had to be buried by charity, in an unmarked grave with no headstone or flowers. It was a horrible thought, and she knew that the situation must be really bad if the family of a tradesman like Liam’s father was so desperate that they had to use their burial money for food.

  ‘Have you no relations who could help out till your dad is released?’ she asked.

  ‘All my aunts and uncles in Dublin are locked out too. They have to try and feed their own families and my granny as well.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘My ma’s sister, Aunt Molly, lives down the country. She’s going to try and send us up some food.’

  ‘Where does she live?’

  ‘Hazelwood Farm. It’s near Ballinacargy, in County Westmeath.’

  ‘That’s miles away. How will she get food to Dublin?’

  ‘A friend of Da’s is a carter. He’s locked out of work, but he’s going to get a horse and cart and drive down.’

  ‘How far is it?’

  ‘Sixty or seventy miles, I think. It’ll take him a few days.’

  Nora looked at Liam and she felt a swell of mixed emotions. Part of her felt really sorry for him, and the awful situation his family faced. And part of her really admired him, and the way he just got on with things without moaning. This was the first time that he had revealed his home situation in this kind of detail however, and Nora felt flattered that he had confided in her.

  ‘It’s all so unfair, Liam, I wish I could help,’ she said.

  ‘Thanks. But sure there’s nothing you can do.’

&n
bsp; ‘Maybe there is,’ said Nora, then, before she lost her nerve, she took from her pocket the shilling that the best man had paid her and placed it on the table. ‘Take this, please. I don’t need it and it will help till the food arrives from Westmeath.’

  Liam looked at her without speaking, and Nora pushed the coin closer to him.

  ‘Please, Liam, don’t be annoyed. Friends help each other out. You’d help me if I needed it – that’s how we met in the first place, remember?’

  ‘That was different.’

  ‘It wasn’t, really. I was in trouble and you helped me. Now you’re in trouble – let me help you.’

  Liam hesitated, and Nora decided to press her case.

  ‘Make it a loan if you don’t want to take money. A loan till your dad is out of jail and back working. OK?’

  To Nora’s surprise she saw Liam’s eyes moistening, then he looked away.

  ‘I won’t forget this, Nora,’ he said after a moment. ‘I’ll never forget this.’ Then he picked up the coin and put it in his pocket, and to her further surprise, Nora felt the tears welling up in her own eyes.

  Chapter 18

  ‘Go to your choir practice, Liam. Go on, I’m all right.’

  ‘But what are we going to do, Ma?’

  ‘We’ll manage somehow,’ answered his mother, although Liam could see that she was struggling to sound convincing. ‘It will be all right, pet, really.’

  But as Liam looked away from his mother, who was wrapped up in her overcoat to save lighting the fire, he knew that things wouldn’t be all right. Sean, the carter friend of Da’s who had volunteered to get the supplies from Ballinacargy, had been involved in a clash between locked-out workers and scabs, and had had his arm broken by a blow from a police baton.

  They had been counting on the food that Aunt Molly had organised. Liam had seen how his mother denied herself food so that there would be more for him and his sisters. He looked back at her now, her normally happy face pale and drawn in the flickering glow from the single gas lamp that lit the front room.

  ‘There must be something we can do, Ma. Is there no other carter who could go down for us?’

  ‘It’s a very long journey, Liam. It’s not easy to get someone to go all that way, though Sean said that he’d ask around.’

  ‘We can’t just hope for the best, Ma.’

  ‘We’ll pray to Our Lady. She’s never let us down yet.’

  Liam was about to protest further, but Ma raised her hand ‘Go on with you now. I won’t have you late for your rehearsal. Go on.’

  Liam knew better than to argue further, and he kissed his mother goodbye, then set off for rehearsals. The weather had turned bitterly cold, but he barely noticed as he moved briskly along the cobbled streets, his mind racing. By the time he turned into Sackville Place and approached the rehearsal room he had decided on a course of action.

  He paused at the foot of the stairs, getting his nerve up for what he had to do next. He dreaded confronting Brother Raymond, but he knew what was required and, steeling himself, he climbed the stairs and walked into the rehearsal room. It was pleasantly warm after the icy air outside and there was an enticing smell from the stew that was being served. Normally Liam’s mouth would have been watering, but right now he was too nervous to think about food, and before he could falter, he crossed to Brother Raymond.

  ‘Excuse me, Brother.’

  ‘Liam.’

  ‘Could I…could I talk to you for a minute?’

  ‘Of course.’ The choir master turned to the nearby Maurice Fitzsimons and indicated the soup bowls. ‘Maurice, would you look after distributing the stew?’

  ‘Yes, Brother,’ Maurice answered, taking the ladle from him.

  Brother Raymond put his hand on Liam’s shoulder and gently ushered him to the far end of the room where they couldn’t be heard, although Liam was aware that the other choir members were all watching them.

  ‘So, Liam, what’s wrong?’

  Liam hesitated.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m really, really sorry, Brother, but I’m not going to be able to sing at the Mansion House on Saturday.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I know it’s only two days away, and we’ve put in loads of work, and I’m really sorry, Brother, but I’ve only just found out.’

  ‘Found out what?’

  Liam had already decided that he couldn’t tell anyone what he had planned, but he hated lying to the Brother. ‘I, eh … it’s my family, Brother. There’s something … something we have to do next Saturday. I’m sorry, Brother, but we’ve just no choice.’

  Liam bit his lip, nervously waiting for the backlash. Brother Raymond tended to get very angry if anyone pulled out of important performances at short notice, and he looked searchingly at Liam now. Liam was about to try and expand on his explanations when, to his surprise, Brother Raymond spoke gently.

  ‘Is it anything I can help with, Liam?’

  ‘Eh, no…no, not really, Brother.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Liam couldn’t believe that he wasn’t in trouble, and in his relief he found himself blabbing. ‘Yes, I’m sure but…but thanks very much all the same, Brother, thank you.’

  ‘I won’t press you, Liam. I know you wouldn’t miss singing for the Lord Mayor if you could possibly avoid it.’

  ‘No, Brother, definitely not.’

  ‘But if there’s something I can help your family with, don’t be afraid to ask. All right?’

  ‘Yes, Brother. Thanks.’

  Brother Raymond nodded, then he patted Liam on the shoulder. ‘Make sure to have some stew before we start. It’ll warm you up.’

  ‘I will, Brother,’ answered Liam, then he breathed out, relieved and still a little in shock at the response.

  Nora watched curiously as Brother Raymond left Liam and returned to supervising the distribution of the stew. She knew from their conversation that something must be up, and she quickly crossed the room to be at Liam’s side.

  ‘Are you OK?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m kind of surprised. I thought Raymond was going to take my head off.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I can’t sing in the Mansion House on Saturday.’

  Nora was shocked. This was a big occasion for the choir, and Liam had been so excited at singing for the Lord Mayor.

  ‘Why not?’ she asked.

  ‘That carter friend of my da’s was injured. He can’t go to Ballinacargy.’

  ‘Oh no.’

  ‘We really need that stuff, Nora. I’m going to go instead.’

  ‘Your mother will never let you.’

  ‘I won’t tell her.’

  ‘But…but you can’t drive a cart to Westmeath, can you?’

  ‘No. But I can jump a train. I have to do something, Nora, my little sister was crying last night because she was hungry.’

  Nora was horrified at the idea of Peg crying, yet she couldn’t help but think of the practicalities.

  ‘But…how would you get the food back to Dublin?’

  ‘I’ll jump another train.’

  Nora’s head was reeling. Other than in story books, she had never heard of anyone jumping a train.

  ‘But how will you carry it?’

  ‘In my pockets, in my arms. Even if I can’t take it all, I’ll take as much as I can.’

  Nora thought of Liam’s little sister crying with hunger, and she knew that she had to act. She took a deep breath, then looked at Liam.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ she said. ‘I’ll help you carry it back.’

  Liam stared at her, and she could see that he was amazed.

  ‘You…you can’t, Nora. You have the concert.’

  ‘I’ll skip it. I’ll … I’ll cover somehow with Mummy; we’ll go to Westmeath together.’

  ‘No! You can’t, Nora.’

  Nora was taken aback by the strength of Liam’s reaction.
/>   ‘Please. You’re a great friend, Nora, you’re really dead sound. But I can’t drag you into this.’

  ‘You’re not dragging me, I want to help.’

  ‘I know, and I’m really grateful. But this is something I have to do. You can’t miss the concert.’

  ‘There’ll be other concerts.’

  Liam looked at her, his face determined. ‘No. I’m not getting you into huge trouble with your parents, and that’s what would happen.’

  Nora was about to argue, but Liam raised his hand to stop her.

  ‘Thanks all the same. But I’m going on my own.’

  He said it with an air of finality, then gestured towards where the food was being served. ‘I’m hungry. I’m going to get some stew.’

  Nora watched him walking away. She felt confused by her own emotions. Partly she was shocked at the offer she had made, partly disappointed that Liam had refused her help. And, if she were honest, part of her was relieved – the idea of defying her parents and taking off to Westmeath was pretty frightening. But mostly she felt dissatisfied. People were starving, battles were being fought, and she was watching – safely and comfortably – and as usual from the sidelines.

  She stood there, unmoving, aware of Liam tucking hungrily into the stew, and she realised that the time for watching was over. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but this time she simply had to do something.

  PART THREE

  ENDGAME

  Chapter 19

  Liam stared out the window of the speeding train, hoping not to be noticed. The carriage was still only about half full, and earlier he had discreetly taken a window seat, facing forward. The morning sunshine was not strong enough yet to melt the heavy frost from the night before, and the countryside through which the train travelled westwards had a frozen, icy beauty about it. But despite admiring the ever-changing winter scene unfolding before his view, Liam couldn’t relax. Any minute now a conductor must surely enter the carriage to check tickets, and that would be a tricky moment.