The Trojan Boy Read Online Free PDF Page B

years without problem, utilising its extensive cellarage for administration, meetings at top level and, when the circumstances dictated it, for living quarters. Circumstances dictated that O'Neill stay there for the present.
    The doctor was already in the room when O'Neill was helped in by the two men who had brought him. They laid him gently on the table as the doctor continued to scrub his hands and forearms in the sink.
    The thought of someone else poking and prodding at his wound prompted O'Neill to ask, 'Can you give me some thing? The pain's bad.'
    'You'll feel better in a moment,' said the doctor, drying his hands and picking up a syringe.
    The tiny prick of the needle was followed by a warm feeling of well-being and peace which spread inexorably through O'Neill's body, bringing a tranquillity that he had seldom experienced. He did not feel drowsy, more weightless, as if he were floating in a world free from pain and care.
    'How's that?' asked the doctor.
    'What did you give me?' asked O'Neill.
    The doctor told him.
    'I can see the attraction, ’replied O'Neill.
    'You do know that your arm will have to come off?' asked the doctor.
    ‘ The nurse told me.'
    The Bairn says I have to do it here. We can't risk a hospital with what you know.’
    ‘ I’d like to see my sister.’
    ‘ The Bairn says no, not until after.'
    'There might not be an after. That's why I want to see her.'
    ‘ The Bairn says no.' 'Bastard,’ said O'Neill softly.
    'He's taken over from O'Donnell,’ said the doctor. 'He's the new commander.'
    Finbarr Kell, known as The Bairn to everyone within the organisation, but never to his face, scared O'Neill. For years he had been convinced that Kell was a hopeless psychopath but, within the organisation, his credentials were imp eccable and he had risen relentlessly until now he was their new commander. O'Neill had never known anyone so lacking in compassion of any kind.
    Kell seemed to O'Neill to have been born to violence and baptised in hatred. When this was combined with a street cunning that would have made him the envy of a New York street gang and a brain that was devious to the point of genius, Kell inspired fear in all who came to know him.
    Hatred, cunning and the bravery of a lion had made The Bairn a living legend. His exploits were the stuff of folklore, or at least they had been until a bomb that he had been setting had gone off prematurely. The blast had fractured his spine and blown off both legs but he had survived, and survived to rise within the organisation.
    Since the loss of his legs Kell had been transported around in a contraption that resembled a pram, hence the nickname The Bairn. If Kell had ever possessed the tiniest spark of decency it had been totally extinguished by the accident. He was a cold, cruel man, feared, loathed, but always obeyed. The thought that now he would no longer be subject to the moderating influence of Kevin O'Donnell was not one that O'Neill could take any pleasure in. As the anaesthetic took effect he thought of O'Donnell's last order.
    Through a sea of pain O'Neill could hear voices. They were far away, as if he were at the bottom of a well and the voices were at the top, but he could hear what they were saying.
    'Probably won't make it through the night . . .'
    'Surgical shock too much in his condition . . .'
    'Desperately weak . . .'
    'No blood to give him
    ‘ The Bairn's coming down just in case he comes round.'
    'What about his sister?'
    ‘ The Bairn says no.'
    O'Neill tried to open his eyes but found that he could not. He concentrated hard but still to no effect. It was ridiculous. He was conscious but trapped inside a body that refused to respond to any instruction he issued. He could feel nothing except a burning pain coming from his left arm, but that was the thing that was not there any more. Perhaps he was dead? It was a big disappointment if he was for he was still there, damn it! Locked inside a useless hulk of flesh. Good God, he would be