He got himself up straight on his feet, and I saw his clothes was all covered in blood, and I knew it was Mummy Joy’s blood as much as his, and my mouth filled with sick and I swallowed it.

You were always a weakling, says he to Daddy George. A weakling and a fool. You see what that got you? A bloody idiot, that’s what you—

He took a step towards Daddy George, and I felt that air move again as Daddy George pulled the trigger, and that ringing in my ears, and it punched a hole in Daddy Tam’s belly. I mind the shock on his face when he looked down and saw the hole in him. Then he staggered back agin the wall, into the spattering of his own blood there.

Says Daddy Ivan, Oh, no, no. And he got himself up on his feet, but not quick enough to stop Daddy George pulling that bolt back and pushing it forward and pulling the trigger again. This time, it was Daddy Tam’s chest that opened and he let out this long sigh and then he fell to the floor and he didn’t move again until Daddy George put another bullet into him, and one more, and then there was no more bullets left.

Quiet now. Mummy Noreen’s screaming had died away to nothing and all I heard was that terrible ringing and whistling in my ears. Daddy George stood over Daddy Tam and the kitchen was filled with smoke and I could smell it, the blood, and the dirty stinking things that came away from Daddy Tam as he lay dying.

Says Daddy Ivan, What did you do? Oh, Jesus, son, what did you do?

Daddy George’s face went loose like his soul had left him. Then he lifted thon rifle by the thin end and swung the thick end at Daddy Ivan’s head. It sounded near as loud as the rifle shot, and Daddy Ivan’s head fell to the side like his neck had come loose. Daddy George swung the rifle again, and Daddy Ivan’s head swung the other way and he stood there for a moment before he fell into a heap on the floor.

I mind his eyes looking right at me as he lay there, blood pumping from the rip in his scalp, and I could see the yellowy white of his skull. I don’t know if he could see me or if his mind had left him already. Then Daddy George swung the rifle down on his head like he was hammering a nail into the floor and I had to close my eyes, but I heard it, that hard sound getting softer every time he swung the gun down, Daddy George grunting and crying as he did it over and over.