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Kevin look up at the man.
"I think I should take you now, don't you?"
Kevin nodded, tried to rise, collapsed at the knees. The man
put his armshands under his armpits and helped him on to his feet.
"Now lean on me and take it easy, and you'll be all right."
They moved slowly along the path. Kevin's legs felt like candles
beneath him.
"Where do you live, boy?"
Kevin hesitated. He knew the man was a Protestant: one could always
tell How? Really? Unexplainable when you had been brought up to tellknow the difference at a distance
of fifty yards. The man might not want to bring his car into Kevin's
street, past barricades and army patrols.
"I'm a Catholic," he said.
"And I'm not," said the man. "But if you think that means I'm
going to drop you by the side of the river you've another think coming'
"But I live in a troubled area. You don't have to take me right
into it."
"Well, we'll see about that when we get there," said the man
cheerfully. He looked back at his dog and whistled to him. "What's
your name, boy?"
"Kevin."
"Pight, Kevin, a few more yards, and we'll be there."
"Kevin! Kevin!" Sadie's voice reached Kevin; it was, loud, almost frantic.
Kevin stopped. She had come!
"She's come," he said
