The Blackwater Lightship Read Online Free PDF

way he spoke that he considered her an outsider, a remote figure who had to be brought into the picture. Declan, she thought, had replaced his family with his friends. She wished he had thought of her as a friend.
    They said nothing as they drove along Thomas Street. She still could not figure Paul out — the mixture of the dry, factual tone and the something else, which was softer, more sympathetic. They passed the brewery and then turned left into the hospital grounds. He drove into a car park at the side.
    'Does Declan have a doctor he sees all the time, or a consultant?' she asked as they walked towards one of the hospital buildings.
    'Yeah, but I don't think she's here today.'
    'She?'
    'Yeah, Louise. She's the consultant.'
    'Does Declan like her?'
    'He likes her, she's a good person, but "like" isn't really the word.'
    As they "walked into the reception hall she asked him what he did for a living.
    'I work for the European Commission,' he said. 'I'm taking time off at the moment.'
    This wing of the hospital was old, with high ceilings, shiny walls and echoing corridors. Paul led the "way without indicating how far they were from Declan's room. She did not know at what point he would turn and open a door and she would find Declan. It astonished her that less than an hour ago she was in her own house, undisturbed.
    'Sorry, Paul.' She stopped him in the corridor. 'I have to ask you — are we talking about days, or weeks, or months? What are we talking about?'
    'I don't know. It's hard to say.'
    As they spoke, a young doctor in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck came up to them.
    'This is his sister,' Paul said. The doctor nodded into the distance.
    'Don't go in for a while,' he said. He seemed distracted.
    Helen looked at her watch; it was two o'clock.
    'She has to go at half-three,' Paul said.
    'I can always cancel the meeting,' she said.
    'Hold on here,' the doctor said. 'I'll go in and look.' He walked down the corridor and quietly opened a door on the right.
    'I have a name, you know,' she said to Paul.
    'I'm sorry, I should have introduced you properly.'
    'What does Declan want to do about my mother?' she asked.
    'He wants you to tell her.'
    Helen smiled sourly.
    'I speak to her on the telephone sometimes, but I don't know exactly where she lives. I mean, I have her address, but I haven't been there. We don't get on.'
    'I know all that,' Paul said impatiently. He sounded like someone chairing a meeting.
    'And?' she asked.
    'He wants you to go and tell her. You can have his car. It's in the car park. I have the keys.'
    The doctor came back and beckoned them to come with him. 'He wants you both to go in at the same time,' he said.
    The room was darkened but Helen could make out Declan in the bed. His eyes followed her; he smiled. He was thinner than when she had last seen him three or four months before, but he did not look sick.
    'Paul,' he said in a hoarse whisper, 'could you open the window and pull the curtains a bit.' He tried to sit up.
    A nurse came in and took his temperature and wrote it on a chart and then left. Helen noticed a dark, ugly bruise on the side of Declan's nose. He began to speak to Paul as though she was not there.
    'So what do you think of her?'
    'Your sister? She would have made a great reverend mother,' Paul laughed.
    Helen remained motionless and silent. She tried to smile and forced herself to remember how hard this must be for Declan. She wanted to strangle Paul.
    'She's nice, though,' Paul added.
    'Hellie,' Declan said. 'Will you deal with the old lady?'
    'Do you want to see her?'
    'Yes.'
    'When?'
    'As soon as she can. And will you tell Granny as well?' He closed his eyes.
    'You should meet my granny, Paul,' he said. 'She's the one would put manners on you. She's a real paint remover.'
    'It won't be a problem, I'll drive out to Granny's as well,' Helen said. 'I'll make sure it's not a problem. Hugh and the boys are in Donegal.'
    'I know,' Declan said.
    'How do you know?'
    'A