‘“Thou shalt not lie down with the beasts of the field.”’

A big burly docker shouted out, ‘I’ll agree with you there, mate, but what if your old woman looks like the fucking back end of a bullock? What then, eh?’

Everyone laughed. A tiny man with horn-rimmed glasses, carried away with drink and camaraderie, shouted out: ‘Your old woman sounds like the back end of a bullock! She’s got more mouth than a cow’s got...’

The docker stopped laughing immediately and, turning to the man who’d insulted his wife, said: ‘Do you want a bunch of fives or what?’

The little man’s head disappeared into his glass of ale and the docker looked around him for anyone who fancied having another go about his wife.

Padraig O’Connor carried on regardless, his words delivered in a loud voice, his whole demeanour taut and intense. He believed every word he said and couldn’t for the life of him understand how no one else could gain the enjoyment from the bible that he did.

The smoky atmosphere was burning his eyes and throat. He coughed loudly and the barman pushed a pint of beer on to the counter.

‘Go on, man, drink that. It’ll cool you down.’

Padraig shook his head.

‘A glass of water will be sufficient, thank you.’

The barman got him his water, and handing it to him, said, ‘Drink that and go. They’re laughing at you, can’t you see that?’

Tommy Lane and Kevin Carter walked into The Green Man. One look at the man at the bar drinking down a glass of water and they knew they’d struck gold. They stood watching as he started his preaching once more.

‘“Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is abomination!” I see this all the time. Round the docks, men dressed as women, men looking for other men, like painted harlots!’

Tommy looked at Kevin and made a face. ‘Fuck me, he’s as mad as a hatter!’

Kevin laughed.

‘Shall I get him outside so you can talk?’

‘Yeah, I think this lot will probably be grateful to see the back of him.’

Kevin walked over to Padraig. Whispering in his ear, he half dragged and half cajoled the man from the public house. To the amusement of everyone there, the docker shouted: ‘Oh, leaving so soon? And we hadn’t got to the bit about whoredoms yet! Well, don’t hurry back, mate.’

Outside Tommy looked at the man before him with sorrow. In his own way Padraig was a good man, only like most people who were too good, he got on the nerves of lesser mortals like Tommy himself.

‘Hello, Mr O’Connor. I’m Thomas Lane, and I’m looking for your nephew Joshua.’

Padraig stared at Tommy intently, his hard blue eyes seeming to bore into his face.