The Ghosts of Galway (Jack Taylor)(34)
I moved away from the area fast and was just crossing the road at Nile Lodge when a car came out of nowhere and bounced me to the far curb.
As I tumbled in the dirt, I managed to catch a glimpse of the car.
The color!
Emerald.
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A combination of concussion,
Shock,
Trauma
Left me in a semi-coma
For weeks.
I missed
Brexit,
Ireland’s superb performance in the Euros, even beating Italy and giving us a new football hero Robbie Brady,
And the unique sight of Roy Keane with a smile.
Wales nearly made it to the semis.
England crashed out of both Europe in football and membership in one week.
The instigators of Brexit,
The nasty duo of Johnson and Farage, did the unthinkable:
Fucked off.
Yup, resigned.
My unconscious reeled in the maelstrom of madness.
… dark hounds of heaven snarling at my limping feet, to David Bowie ascending to heaven through Ridge being shot in slow motion and the faceless Woody crooning “Send in the Ghosts,” to water charges in red dripping neon leading to me screaming out the names of Cass
And
Tyrone,
The Fenian leaders.
Finally roaring out of it all with a gasp and a whimper.
Em was sitting by the bed, humming.
Was it
“Stairway to Heaven”?
Never no fucking mind.
She was dressed all in black.
Mourning?
Not if leather trousers,
Black Harley T-shirt,
And black Doc Martens
Are a new trend for grief.
She said,
“You had us a wee bit worried my bairn.”
Scottish accent?
Then, in down-home Louisiana,
“Chet, you done gone cause us all a whole heap of worrying.”
Fuck.
I asked,
“Why am I in a private room?”
Odd question?
Not in Ireland where lying on a trolley for three days is considered fortunate.
She said,
“Last time you were here I had to blow a doctor, remember?”
My head hurt.
I tried,
“This time?”
She displayed a huge ring on her finger, big diamond so authentic it had to be fake, said, “Me and Dr. Ray Crosby are engaged.”
She managed to inject engaged with a lurid overtone.
I asked,
“You drive an emerald-colored car?”
Giggles.
And fuck again.
She said,
“I figured you’d come after me because of the dyke cop.”
I snapped,
“Sergeant Ridge was her name.”
She shrugged and, I have to admit, despite my very precarious state, I couldn’t help but admire the radiance, however blighted, that emanated from her. Said, “That cunt, yeah, so I felt, despite my love for you, that I might have to, um retaliate first.”
I sank back in the bed.
And she was over, brushed my cheek with her hand, cooed,
“Ah, heart mine, I didn’t drive the car. Does that help at all?”
I snarled,
“Give me a cigarette.”
I knew she’d have some. She always had the things that hurt. She lit me up.
I blew smoke at her.
She continued.
“Me and Hayden … you remember the kid who brought you The Red Book?
Stopped.
Mimed a flashbulb over her head, said,
“Don’t recall a whole lot of gratitude for that hombre!”
And punched me on the arm.
“We asked the dice, Kill the Jackster or no?”
I looked for a place to extinguish the cig, dropped it in a glass of water, the sort of thing that annoys the shit out of me in truth.
I said,
“Lemme guess? The dice said yes.”
She made a sad face, said,
“Hayden insisted he do the deed but, you know, fucked it up.”
I sneered,
“Because I lived?”
She looked like she would play punch me again and I moved away from her, not easy when an IV is trailing you like bad news. She said, “Silly you! Because the car was dented. Don’t you just hate that?”
I said,
“Go away, just fuck off and disappear.”
She was about to reply when a nurse came bustling in.
All starched uniform and biz, immediately began fluffing the pillows. They do that as a mere act of irritation, especially when you just got them nice and comfy. Em said, “I want to be you when I’m old enough.”
The nurse looked at her with a mix of incredulity and scorn, said,
“Ah, you’re already too old and aren’t you a teensy bit past it?”
Pause.
“For trying to rock that whole biker chick gig?”
Emily was silent as she considered her position, then asked,
“Is it difficult being gay and a nurse or do people not give a shit anymore?”
The nurse smiled, then looked at her watch, said,