I can’t find it, she said.

He pulled into the hard shoulder and retrieved it, handing it to her before setting off again. The dust jacket was missing, its green leather cover split and furred at the corners. Betsy Gray, she read aloud. The edition had been published in the sixties, but it looked old.

It’s well read, she said.

It’s about the ’98 rebellion. I read it often. To remind myself that I come from a great liberal tradition, he said.

The shipyard cranes were on their left, colossal yellow angles in the sky. Gina’s brother worked two shifts there before his workmates realised he was a Catholic and mangled his hand. Afterwards he held his cigarette between his thumb and the stub of his middle finger, all they had left of his digits. Quite the liberal tradition, thought Cushla, putting the book in her basket. She couldn’t think of anything more inspired to say than thanks.

The trouble started with industrialisation. They used sectarianism to divide the workers, he said. Cushla wondered who he meant by ‘they’.

Are you a socialist or something? she said.

Is that very surprising?

Well, yeah. It is.

Why?

Because you’re not a wee man in an anorak. Or a hairy student.

A strong labour movement would sort this all out, he said.

Like last year, during the strike? she said.

Of course not. It would have to include Catholics.

They could start by giving us jobs. I can’t see that happening, can you?

One has to be hopeful.

They were outside her house. He asked her if she would come with him next time. She said she would.

How do you say that in Irish? he said.

Tiocfaidh mé. I will come.

He took her hand and put his thumb on her wrist. The blister had swollen into a plump cushion of water. You were embarrassed when I ran the tap over your burn, he said.

I felt stupid. Your friends must think I’m pathetic.

She knew the kiss was coming but was surprised by its clumsiness, the chink of his teeth against hers, the scrape of his chin. It made her feel tender towards him and she found herself kissing him back gently to soothe him. He withdrew his hand and rubbed it across his face. My circumstances are complicated, he said. I realise how hackneyed that must sound. I won’t always be able to get away.

But sometimes you will?

Yes.

OK, she said, because it was all he was offering.

DÚIL

7

Two men have been arrested in south Down in connection with an arms cache that was found near the border.

A lion escaped from the zoo. Jumped over back gardens all the way to the Shore Road where it was apprehended by security forces.

The body of a man was found on waste ground in East Belfast in the early hours of the morning. He has not yet been identified.

We’ll miss Davy today, said Cushla, taking in the empty chair beside Jonathan.