His mother got up and went over to the oven, Joe cut the bread in half and stuck the two pieces together to make a sandwich.

‘Who?’ asked Mam.

‘You know well who. The soldiers. Have they been here?’

She put his plate on the table.

‘Of course they’ve been here. They’ve been everywhere. Sit down and take your tea.’

‘I don’t want any tea.’

The glue sandwich could have been worse. He stared at Brendan as he chewed, passing information with his eyes. They said you could do it. Concentration was what they said you needed. They were wrong.

‘I cooked it for you.’

‘I’m sorry, Mam.’ He didn’t move.

She shrugged.

‘What did they do?’ His eyes wandered round the room, searching for signs of violation.

‘What do you think they did? They turned the place upside down, so they did. I spent all night and all day cleaning up after them. And Mrs O’Toole’s place. She’s old. She was upset. I had to give her a hand.’

‘Bastards.’

‘They’re no worse than the next man. They only do what they do because of people like you and your father. You and your …’ she searched for a word ‘… tripe. Tripe.’

He ignored her. ‘Did they find much?’

‘A good bit, they say, and three lads lifted.’

‘Did they …? What are you gawping at me like that for?’

Joe shook his head.

‘I’m not gawping.’ So much for concentration and thought waves.

‘Gawping is what I’d call it.’

Joe took another piece of bread and went through the glueing process again.

‘Is Dad above?’

‘I don’t know where your father is. If you’re not going to eat your food, I’ll give it to the child.’

‘I don’t want it,’ said Joe.

‘You wanted it ten minutes ago.’

‘Well, I don’t want it now.’

She looked exasperated.

‘You cleaned up everything?’

‘Of course I did. Who else did you think did it?’

She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea.

‘Were they upstairs?’

‘They were upstairs and downstairs and in my lady’s chamber. They were in the dustbins and Mrs O’Toole’s hens.’

‘They threw the beds all over the floor,’ said Joe with malice.

‘Would you not eat a couple of mouthfuls?’

‘For God’s sake … all women want to do is stuff you full of food. I’ve eaten if it makes you feel better.’

‘Oh.’ She didn’t believe him.

Joe licked the jam from round the edges of his mouth. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up.

‘Where are you off to?’

‘To get my books. I left them upstairs.’

He turned his back on his mother and walked towards the door. He stared straight into his brother’s face. Damn you, thicko, damn you, understand.