by Rhys Bowen
“It wasn’t for nothing, Cullen. Even if this raid didn’t go as we planned, we’ve rattled them. And the Irish people will read of our boys being gunned down, and they’ll start thinking that maybe they should do something too. You’ll see. Small pebbles that start the landslide.”
He sighed again. “Almost morning, Molly. Look, the moon's going down.”
“Let me put a new dressing on that wound for you.” “And where would we find a new dressing?” “I’ve still got my blouse and my knickers.”
He gave a half cough, half laugh. “This must be the only time in my life that a girl has offered me her knickers and I haven’t taken her up on the offer.”
The laugh turned into a bout of coughing and I noticed the spittlethat ran down his chin was dark. He was coughing up blood. I wiped it away with my sleeve.
“Don’t try to talk any more. Save your strength for the ride. We should get going soon, don’t you think?”
He didn’t answer me.
I looked at him. His eyes were staring up at the ceiling, and I could no longer hear his breathing.
I don’t know how long I sat beside him holding his cold hand in mine. I felt so helpless. I should have done more, I kept on thinking. I could have saved him if only I’d known what to do. Then it became clear to me that Cullen knew he wouldn’t survive a journey like this. He had only done it to get me away to safety. Had he been alone, he could have gone underground and found someone to hide him in the city, I was sure of it. And maybe a doctor could have removed the bullet and stopped the bleeding and he need not have died. A deep and terrible sense of loss and anger engulfed me as tears ran down my cheeks and dropped onto his cold cheek below me.
“I don’t want to leave you, Cullen,” I whispered, but I forced myself to stand up. What good would it be to either of us if I allowed myself to be caught? I wrapped my cape around him, and folded his arms across his chest, then I tiptoed out into the gray dawn.
Thirty-four
Rooks were cawing in the little wood below the hill. I could make out the coastline and the gray expanse of sea beyond. A couple of miles, probably, but I certainly wasn’t going to attempt to ride that horse. At very least I’d draw attention to myself, and at worst he’d bolt for his own stable or I’d fall off, break a bone, and be captured. No, my own two feet would have to serve me again. I looked back at the building. By daylight it was even more grim and formidable and I was half tempted to go back for Cullen and drag him into the open air rather than leave him there.
The horse looked up expectantly as he heard me coming, then followed me with his gaze as I went past. At least someone would be coming for him and would then find Cullen's body. I started down the hill, over springy turf and soon picked up a track that wound ever downward until I caught a whiff of sea tang ahead. The little town was just coming to life with a milkman delivering bottles to doorsteps and the shutters being raised at the bakery. The tantalizing smell of baking bread almost made me relent and buy a roll to keep me going, but I forced myself to walk past like a healthy young woman, out for a morning constitutional.
I came at last to the harbor. Men were working on nets on the harbor wall. A fishing boat was chugging out into the North Sea. I didn’t see the rowing boat at first because it was tied up at the wall, but I heard a voice calling out as I strolled past.
“Like a trip out to the island, miss? Only tuppence.”
I looked down at a sailor with a jaunty green scarf around his neck.
“All right,” I said, and climbed down the ladder into the boat.
That's pretty much all there is to tell. We met the mother ship—a sturdy little steamer, in the lee of the offshore island and soon were sailing full speed ahead for France. On board were four of our lads, including Liam. Joseph had never made it. Liam and I hugged each other and wept. I told them about Cullen, and we all wept some more. I didn’t notice Mr. Fitzpatrick on board and frankly I’d rather not know what happened to him. If I made it safely to New York, then Tommy Burke would hear the whole story.
We landed in Brittany the next day and a passage was booked on the French liner LAquitaine sailing out of Le Havre to the United States. As a precaution the group's forger had some lovely travel documents made for me in the name of Mary Delaney, so once again I’d be arriving in America under an alias.
We sailed out of Le Havre on a still, cold morning with the smoke from the funnels rising straight in the air. As we left the coast of France behind, it came to me that I could never go home again. Probably never see my brothers again. It was a sobering thought until I realized that America was now my home. I had loved ones waiting for me and an exciting life ahead. I couldn’t wait to reach New York.
Historical Note
The attempted break-in at Kilmainham Gaol is fictional, although it represents the kind of skirmishes and actions against English rule that were going on at the time.
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a forerunner of the IRA—a secret organization pledged to drive the English out of Ireland and to establish home rule.
The Daughters of Erin were as described: founded by actress Maude Gonne to promote the dignity and awareness of Irish womanhood.
Various true-life characters make cameo appearances and Grania Hyde-Borne is based on a real-life countess who gave up her position in society to fight for Irish freedom.
Most early battles in the war for independence were just as poorly planned and futile as the attack on Kilmainham Gaol. Even the Easter Uprising of 1916 was by most standards a fiasco. However, when the young men who took part in it were sentenced to death by firing squad, the Irish populace was stirred for the first time. With the whole population of Ireland now working to drive out the English, independence was finally achieved.
Historical Note
The attempted break-in at Kilmainham Gaol is fictional, although it represents the kind of skirmishes and actions against English rule that were going on at the time.
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a forerunner of the IRA—a secret organization pledged to drive the English out of Ireland and to establish home rule.
The Daughters of Erin were as described: founded by actress Maude Gonne to promote the dignity and awareness of Irish womanhood. Various true-life characters make cameo appearances and Grania Hyde-Borne is based on a real-life countess who gave up her position in society to fight for Irish freedom.
Most early battles in the war for independence were just as poorly planned and futile as the attack on Kilmainham Gaol. Even the Easter Uprising of 1916 was by most standards a fiasco. However, when the young men who took part in it were sentenced to death by firing squad, the Irish populace was stirred for the first time. With the whole population of Ireland now working to drive out the English, independence was finally achieved.
