Dead Village Read Online Free PDF Page B

pain, almost sent him reeling to the floor, and as he staggered across the room, he clutched at his head.
    This was the worst so far, he believed.
    â€œIf they can’t find anything wrong with me at the hospital, then why is this happening?” Dan mumbled.
    He rushed to the bathroom and quickly but clumsily knocked over a bottle of Old Spice after shave and a small container of band aids.
    Then he swallowed two painkillers from a little box he had concealed away behind his shaving kit.
    The less Lynn knew about his worsening headaches the better, he felt. He leaned across the sink and sighed.
    He heard Lynn downstairs in the hallway, asking to speak to his boss, and he immediately guessed what she was doing.
    â€œNo!” Dan shouted from the top of the stairs. I’m coming down now honey, I just overslept a little, that’s all. I just have to shave. Um-I’m going in to work today.”
    â€œSorry, wrong number,” Lynn said, as Alf Reynolds answered the call.
    She slowly placed the phone back on the cradle with two fingers, as though it was contaminated, and shook her head.
    Then she shouted upstairs.
    â€œWhy don’t you take the day off Dan? You know you could do with the rest. I mean, let someone else take care of it for a change.” When Dan didn’t answer she stormed into the living room. Sometimes she wondered why Dan was so bloody stubborn, but then she supposed this was one of the things she found appealing about him when they had first met. Maybe this was his way of fighting it though. A sort of don’t think about it and it will go away on its own accord, sort of thing. Ignore the bad, cherish the good. And maybe Dan was right, she felt. Who was she to question how anyone handles their problems?
    She picked up a photo from the table and smiled at the man she loved; as he grinned childishly back out from the frame.
    Suddenly Dan appeared beside her, briefcase in hand, and she clumsily pretended to polish the glass in the photo-frame with her sleeve.
    He had seen her look affectionately at it, but he hid the fact.
    â€œI’m okay, so stop worrying. Catch ya later,” he said. A quick peck on the cheek and he was gone.

CHAPTER 3
    IRELAND
    â€œI’m so happy with you my love,” Francis whispered, as she buried her fingers deep into Tully’s hair.
    â€œWell, I feel the same way about you Fra, and I hope it lasts forever,” he answered with a smile.
    â€œHow long has it been now?” Tully asked, pretending he didn’t remember.
    â€œFive years, two months, two weeks and three days,” Francis answered, and Tully was amazed at the fact she had actually counted their time together right down to the actual day.
    â€œAnd four minutes forty two seconds,” he added, laughing.
    As she approached the bed, she paused for a moment, and Tully knew she had something on her mind. He had learnt to anticipate her body language, and her mannerisms.
    â€œWhat’s up?” Tully asked.
    â€œI saw Madge today,” Francis informed him. “Down at the market. She was with her friend, Erin.”
    â€œIgnore her Fra!”
    â€œHow could I ignore her? She was staring across at me; her face all contorted with rage. I asked who she thought she was staring at and returned her hateful looks, until her friend finally pulled her away.”
    â€œI’m not really interested in Madge anymore. You are all I care about now Fra,” he half lied. “Anyway, these past four years have felt more like one to me.”
    â€œI don’t know if that’s a compliment or not?” Francis complained.
    â€œIt is my love. I mean the time with you is going by much too quickly. In fact, at this rate we’ll be old and grey before we know it.”
    â€œWell, I’m aware that Madge still pines for you Tully. That is if you listen to what old Mrs Rafferty has to say about it. I hear she wants you back into her life, very badly. Are