The Field Read Online Free PDF

nice woman.
    Bird: You needn’t say this to anyone … but she’s a regular flier, that one. Thirty, thirty.
    William: [Somewhat coldly] She struck me as being a nice friendly woman.
    Bird: Ah, I was only having a bit of a joke. You’re right about her, though. She’s lovely.
    [Mick appears at stairway]
    Mick: Good morning, gentlemen! [To William] The wife tells me you were wanting to see me.
    William: I’m sorry if I disturbed you. There’s no particular hurry.
    Mick: That’s all right. I was only listening to the late news … What can I do for you?
    William: Well, first of all, let me introduce myself. My name is William Dee.
    Mick: I’m Mick Flanagan. [He shakes hands with William] How do you do?
    William: I have a letter here from Mr Nesbitt, the solicitor, about the sale of a field. [Looks at watch] The auction was supposed to take place at eleven o’clock today. Maybe, there’s been a mistake …
    Mick: No, there’s no mistake. This is the day of the auction, all right. But who told you? How did you get in touch with oul’ Nesbitt?
    William: It’s the wife, you see. Since our last baby her nerves haven’t been too good and she wants to come back to Ireland. Mr Nesbitt was one of the many solicitors I wrote to, to be on the lookout for just such a field. Last week I had a letter from him so I took a chance and came over. Sláinte!
    [Mick picks up William’s empty glass and goes and fills half-pint]
    Mick: You may have come on a fool’s errand.
    [Mick gives the beck to the Bird who finishes his drink and exits quickly]
    William: I don’t understand.
    Mick: There’s only four acres … you couldn’t possibly make a living there.
    William: I’m not worried about that. My site in England is much less.
    Mick: Don’t get me wrong now, my friend. I’m only advising you for your own good.
    William: I’ve a business of my own in England and I do fairly well. I supply concrete blocks to builders. This field is the right size for me. It’s on a river with first-class gravel.
    Mick: Who told you? About the gravel, I mean?
    William: I had an engineer from the town look it over.
    Mick: An engineer! That must have been the fellow with the wooden box. Said he was catching eel fry … You’d want a fortune to start a business like that!
    William: It’s not as difficult as it sounds. I cover an acre or so with concrete, move in my machinery and I’m in business.
    Mick: [Putting free drink before William] It’s only fair to tell you there’s a boycott on outside bidders.
    William: Nesbitt said nothing about a boycott.
    Mick: Well, that’s the way it is. There’s a boycott all right and there could be trouble … serious trouble.
    William: What sort of boycott?
    Mick: I wouldn’t want to lead you astray but for the past five years now a farmer whose land is right next to the field has rented the grazing. He believes he has first claim …
    William: It’s a public auction, isn’t it?
    Mick: Yes … yes … but I thought I’d warn you. The village would hold it against you.
    William: I wouldn’t be selling blocks to the village.
    Mick: You wouldn’t get men to work for you.
    William: A few of my men in England would give their right hands to get back to Ireland.
    Mick: You don’t know about land. You’re a stranger … you wouldn’t understand. There will be trouble.
    William: All I know is that my wife isn’t well. If I don’t get her back here quick, she’ll crack up. Now, if that isn’t trouble, tell me, what is?
    Mick: Look! I’ll tell you what … you go back to your wife and I’ll find a suitable field for you. I won’t let you down. I’ll search high and low. You won’t have long to wait.
    William: You’re an auctioneer?
    Mick: Yes.
    William: And this is a public auction?
    Mick: Yes.
    William: Well,