Chapter 6 All That Evil Needs…

 

Chapter 6 All That Evil Needs…

In which Maedhbh has Alex and his gang threaten Aoibheann and we meet Lee Ward.


Alex came out of the apartment building where he and his mother Natalia lived and stopped dead. There, across the street, dressed formally in her dark St. Catherine’s uniform was a local beauty Maeve ‘Megabucks’ Naughten whom he thought of as being a stuck up snob. Her uniform was neat and pressed to within an inch of its life. With a genuine leather courier’s satchel thrown over her shoulder and the sun shining upon her golden ringlets a glistening invisible crown seemed to glisten on her brow.


She crossed the road upon seeing him and marched up to him. “I want you Alex.” “Hey get in line Babe.” A stinging slap seemed to come out of nowhere and landed right on his lip cutting it with the green manicured nail and really really hurting him. He grabbed her hand and growled “ Right you Bitch now you’re going to get what’s coming to you. A red mist of anger surged over him but instead of becoming afraid Maeve reached up with her other hand clasped him behind the neck and pulled herself up pressing her lips hungrily to his and sucking where his bloody lip was bleeding most profusely. Then she released him and leaned back saying “I have you now.” Then her voice changed as she began to chant in a low guttural voice some sort of spell in Gaelic.

“Cumhact na fola , glacaim glan. Tabhair a aigne dom iomlán.

Bain an Saoirse as an sclábh Bronn a anam imo lámh."

To Alex it was as if he had been frozen in something cold and hard like ice. He could still receive sensory information from his five senses: sight , sound, touch, taste and smell but all voluntary control over his body was gone. He was sealed in a dark cell within his own body trapped alone within his own mind. It was like being chained to a wall within a dark cave looking out from behind his eyes but unable to speak or reach out, unable to express the horror of what he was feeling to anyone relegated to being a silent witness to an unspeakable violation of his essence and identity.


Maeve smiled and for a moment he saw a cool blue aura moving from her forehead down along her arm and onto his shoulder. A noticeable drop in body temperature accompanied the ethereal substance and his head felt as if it had been immersed in a cold mountain stream. Goosebumps arose all over his skin.


“Thogaimse tú Spiorad Fergus Mac Róich , Gallóglach Ulaidh,

Mo ghrá agus mo chéile, Fill orm anseo in Eriú san Tír Fán Grian,

Lionnaigh tú féin san fuil, feoil agus cnámha a ghlac mè duit.”

(“I summon the Spirit of Fergus Mac Roich” cried Maeve brandishing a narrow druidical willow wand, “ warrior of Ulster, once my mate and companion to this land of Eriú san Tír fá Grian. Occupy this flesh and bone and blood which I have claimed for you.”)


As Alex watched a dark green bitter consciousness seeped up from the ground like an insubstantial parasite, which began to inhabit his body and then to master muscles and joints in order to turn its gaze back to Maeve. Then his voice spoke but with a deeper and huskier timbre “ Aah so young and so strong...acceptable!”


“Your desires are as my own, my Lord” replied Maeve, “to sweet love-making by way of welcoming you back I would share the sweetness of my thighs with you again. Afterwards there will be time for planning our revenge. We can now work to rebuild the Kingdom I have lost. We shall need another to do our bidding, one ready to do our darkest will without hesitation.” Although Maeve’s words were pragmatic, Alex noticed she was flushed and dewy eyed with desire. “This one has a father, a convicted murderer imprisoned not far from here. By his nature he is a strong and violent man capable of striking fear and of great evil and ..” here Alex’s voice hesitated , “He is a craftsman at the taking of any swift chariot he sees.” Maeve clutched at him hard and said,“We will release him then, but enough, let us to the woods for I fain would lie with you now in this new flesh.” Inwardly Alex shuddered and he watched helplessly as Maeve led the not unwilling Fergus towards the woodlands set behind his apartment block to fulfil her carnal desires.






All through the lunchtime break Aoibheann kept a watchful eye on Maeve Naughten across the schoolyard. Maeve never seemed more popular then when word went around about the tragic loss of her horse. Many of her fellow 6th year students want to commiserate with her upon the loss of her stallion. Aoibheann in particular couldn’t understand how such a loss didn’t in the least diminish the girl’s false smiles which she bestowed left and right upon everyone who came near her. She was fooling no one as she simpered and simulated her tragic sorrow. Once or twice Aoibheann caught Maeve glancing over at her slyly with an enigmatic smirk which Aoibheann interpreted as some malice in waiting Maeve planned to unleash on her for her refusal to sell Leah.


“Who’s yon lass then?” said a strange girl perching down on the school bench beside her.

Aoibheann looked her over. She was of average height with blonde hair and almond shaped hazel coloured eyes. “That’s Maeve Naughten,” Aoibheann replied quietly, “She’s a Sixth year girl like me. Her horse had to be put down at an eventing competition yesterday. I was there and it was horrible. I’m sorry ,do I know you?”

“I’d be Aoife Grey … just in sixth year today from Scotland. I think we share classes in Irish, English, History, Geography and something called Wellbeing.”

“Welcome, but you are very late in the year to be joining. I’m Aoibheann Cullen.. I think it means ..” “Och it means contented berry,” laughed Aoife “at least when I was studying Scots Gaelic that’s what it would have been.” “I was going to say it means ‘happy bitch’.” Both girls burst out laughing at the thought.


“ I love all languages, especially Irish,” offered Aoibheann and thought how nice and easygoing Aoife seemed. Outwardly she took out her phone and opened up the contacts “it’s official you are definitely going into my contacts list. What’s your number?” “I don’t have a number, “ responded Aoife. “What, no phone number, Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter?” gasped Aoibheann in a shocked voice. “No, No , No and hell no!” grinned Aoife, “I guess you will just have to chat to me in the real world , like right here and right now. You will find I’m kind of old school.” “ Exactly how old school?” asked Aoibheann. “Think stone carving and smoke signals.”giggled Aoife. Aoibheann laughed too but looking into Aoife’s eyes there was a certain truth that made Aoibheann think that Aoife meant exactly what she said.

***

Cúan came out into the schoolyard for his lunchtime cautiously looking around him. There was no sign of Alex bloody Leary or the five lamps dim-wits in his gang. Ferdy was strolling along beside him waving his left arm up and down frantically while watching his mobile screen in his other hand. “ What are you doing, Ferdy?” wondered Cúan. “I’m building up my steps on the app there your honour.” Was the reply. ‘Oh no, ‘thought Cúan ‘not the american cop shows lingo again’. “Why’s that?” Asked Cúan already dreading the answer. “ May it please the court, so that I will be able to present as evidence to my mother that exercise was taken , to wit , in the P.E. class as there is no doubt in this attorney’s mind that she will seek prima facie verification of the same.” countered Ferdy. “ But you said you didn’t have to go to P.E. and you missed the bleep tests!” spluttered Cúan, “How did you get out of it?”

“Pursuant to your last enquiry, and separate from fitbit evidence to the contrary, I received a request from our esteemed leader Tyson to investigate the appearance of a malicious meme in his letterbox and to investigate its origin through analysis of the metadata of the same meme in order to establish the account it originated on and the device and login used in its creation”,smirked Ferdy “ my reputation as Ferdy the Nerdy is immense!” “But you were the one who created the meme!” yelled Cúan. “Oh I think you’ll find I didn’t,” laughed Ferdy, “I mean I think I’ll find I didn’t.” “So who are you going to blame for it?” wondered Cúan “Noone” replied Ferdy “I’ll find that the metadata has been corrupted.” “But it’s not.” Said Cúan hotly. “Not yet,” agreed Ferdy , “but it definitely will be by the time I hand it back!”

Cúan looked across the road as he came out of the yard and beheld an odd sight.


There in the centre of Dublin’s Northside was a small blond traveller boy of no more than twelve years of age. He was dressed in a plain grey tracksuit and hoodie with the zip open. Underneath the hoodie he was sporting a green leprechaun t-shirt which stated ‘Kiss me I’ m Lucky’ . He had a green tweed cap pushed far back on his forehead and big outsized top brand sneakers on his feet. He was seated casually on a red tubular steel framed sulky with a plank bolted across the frame for a seat. The whole rig rode upon a gleaming axle with large shining spoked rubber wheels on both sides. The kid held a large leather whip in his right hand and was smoking a cigarette with his other hand. Between the shafts harnessed to the sulky was the largest shaggiest black dray horse with hooves as wide as plates , standing blinkered and apparently unconcerned at the mound of horse manure descending from beneath its upraised brush of a tail. Because of the hot day a pungent steam and odour of dung arose.


“Howya Cúan boy?” said the little chap. Cúan could not have been more stunned if the pony had spoken. Ferdy’s mouth opened and closed a number of times like a goldfish. “ How is it goin’ Ferdy?”, rejoined the cheeky imp, “yiz ‘re lavin’ it very late so yiz are.” Cúan looked around. Some of his other schoolmates were already pointing at him and laughing up their sleeves. “ “What are you talking about, what am I leaving late?” coughed Cúan. “Yizzer sister is goin’ to be bet up be dat Alex yoke an his gang beyant at de school. Aoife axed me to drop ye da woord. She said to be sure an bring da big shtick.” was the boy’s attempt at an explanation. Cúan began to run up the road towards his sister’s school. Ferdy began to run as well. “Hault on” called the lad on the seat,” my name’s Lee. Why run when ye have the horse? Hop on. Tell me were y’ever on a racing sulky afore? “ “ I wasn’t,” answered Cúan climbing up beside Lee. Ferdy boarded on the opposite side shaking his head doubtfully and looking a bit terrified. “Yiz ‘re boat in for a treat then! “ grinned Lee and standing up he cracked an enormous crack on his whip slapped the reins on the unfortunate horses flanks and shouted “hup!”


The horse rose on its hind legs, pawed the air like a boxer, and then they just flew. What started at a trot,sped through a canter and soon was a full gallop. Lee steered expertly with his reins between the lines of traffic, over idle curbs around terrible corners through pointless traffic lights as if they were floral baskets for decoration and tourists. He drove standing up , like a roman charioteer in Ben Hur or some Celtic War Lord ,flying across intersections ignoring the beeps and blaring of car horns or the sudden screech of brakes. He ignored the curses and fists of motorists and the yells of alarmed pedestrians scattering from their path.


“Dove will get us there in time no bother and sure you have your hurl.” yelled Lee over the rattle of the wheels. “Why is he called Dove ?”asked Ferdy “Is it because he’s almost able to fly?” “ Nah,” responded Lee” ‘ tis ‘cause he’s black!”


Cúan looked ahead to where a row of shops appeared near his sister’s school gate. He could make out tall blonde Alex Leary in the distance. He and his gang were converging on two girls in the distance. One of them looked like Aoibheann and the other looked impossibly like Aoife. They were too late!

- -

As Aoibheann and Aoife chatted walking down the street from their school a gang of five thugs dressed in St. Daniel’s uniforms cornered them against the railings below the gate. They all had hurleys in their hands and looked mean and menacing. It was clear they had been lying in wait for them. Aoife whispered to her “don’t show any fear and keep close to me.” The tallest one stepped into Aoibheann’s path and grabbed the strap of her handbag. There was a burning enmity smouldering in his eyes like a hooded madness.


“So you’re the Cuckoo’s sister,” he sneered, “I suppose you thought you were safe from Maeve at school.” He winked and nodded across the road. Standing on the pavement opposite was Maeve Naughten but instead of coming to their aid, she took out her camera phone and started recording the incident grinning at their discomfort. No doubt she would play it over again to herself for her own thrills. Aoibheann shouted “Let go my bag, get away from me!” And tried to pull away. As she stared in Alex’s eyes she saw that his pupils were dilated as if he was on something but there was no mistaking when his big hand and swung around and slapped her in the face.


“Are you ready to sell that horse?” he jeered and then slapped her again with a lazy backhand. “Why not pick on someone your own size?” shouted Aoife. Noddy Grundy swung his hurl at Aoife’s shoulder but Aoife easily ducked below it and punched him hard in the solar plexus. He gave one big wheeze and folded over like a pancake. The two Lawlor twins then turned towards her slapping their hurls off the ground to intimidate her. “It’s not really fair two big hulking guys against me ” teased Aoife. Tim and Tom looked at Noddy wheezing on the ground and then back at Aoife. “Who cares about us being fair to you?” answered Tim looking to Tom for a cue.


“Oh sorry ,I meant it wasn‘t very fair of me.” responded Aoife seemingly brushing her luxuriant hair behind both ears. Then she darted between the two of them and jabbed both hands sideways into their lower arms. Both Lawless’ howled in unison dropping their hurls as her fists swung back inwards revealing two very sharp hatpins she had hidden in her long tresses. Spitzy Spillane glanced over at Alex nervously. Alex flung his arm around Aobheann’s neck and his knife glittered evilly in his hand pressing its point against her throat. “Hi Aoife.Did Scátha send you? You remember this little move? Even you’re not fast enough to save her.”


“ See the great warrior Fergus Mac Róich reduced to terrorising girl’s for his warrior queen Maedhbh. Do you really think it better to serve her is so shameful a manner?” rejoined Aoife.

“ Do you really want to risk Maedhbh’s anger by taking a Cullen’s life, and that of a girl too for shame!” “Oh but I do want to kill a Cullen ” mocked Alex. “Yes but not that Cullen” ws Aoife’s riposte. “She will have to do for now,” growled Alex.


Suddenly a clattering sound was heard behind him as he turned to look a hurley came out of nowhere and spun him to the ground with a blow to the head. His knife flew into the air.

Aoibheann gave a screech and hopped quickly out of the way behind Cúan who was bellowing in anger “O’Leary you coward get up and fight.” Aoife stood beside him saying “Cúan that’s not Alex anymore !”

Spitsy pulled Alex back up to his feet. The two Lawlors retrieved their fallen hurls. Noddy looked as if he had gotten his wind back and they were shaping up to fight. Only now they were faced not by two lone schoolgirls but by Cúan with his hurl, Aoife like some female Ninja with two steel pins, Ferdy and Aoibheann with determined faces and most unnerving of all, a chirpy traveller lad astride a chariot holding some huge shaggy beast with hooves like soup plates and cracking a long vicious whip. “ Are we on Bhoys?” he called grinning at the prospect. Alex spat on the ground and looked around. There was no sight nor sound of Maeve on the empty pavement beyond. “Let’s get out of here,” he said then called “ I’ll get you later Cullen!” wit that the gang turned tail and set off across the street and disappeared fast around a corner.


Aoibheann looked at Aoife suspiciously. “How do you know Cúan?” Aoibheann looked at Aoife and then at Cúan. Aoife sighed and said “I can’t tell you everything but I won’t lie to you either. I only met Cúan yesterday and learned about the trouble with Alex and his gang. We felt someone should be keeping an eye on you what with Maeve Naughten hating you and threatening to take Leah.” Then Lee piped up, “ye must never let her have yer capall or else you won’t know who y’are. ‘Tis ‘the one way ye can keep her safe. Yon Maeve lackeen only wants her to hurt ye. She will starve, strike an’ beat her to spite, grieve and thwart ye. Keep her for ‘tis the one way to keep her safe.” He was standing on the sulky his little brown face torn by a profound passion and his fists balled in anger. “She knows nothing of life, she has never known no need, she has never felt no love.” With that he sat down silently and gave a great sob. Aoife went over and put an arm around him. “Hey, Lee it’s over now.” was her sympathetic offering. “Sorry, sad - Lee!” he said rubbing his fists to wipe away tears from his eyes.

“ Thank you for being so brave and rescuing us . Who are you ?” asked Aoibheann. Lee brightened up and gave his cheeky grin. “I’m Lee Ward, cattle drover and sulky driver. I’m friend-lee , brave-lee and funny-lee. That’s me Lee!” All this was said with a great beating of his chest with his right fist , punctuating the Lee words in time with his name. In the distance a garda car hove into view.“ Now,“ he said “I’m on my travels again, quick-lee,” then he lifted the reins winked at them clipped Dove on the flanks with the reins , shouted “hup” and off the pair of them went up the street and around the nearest corner.

“Lee is a friend of mine,” grinned Aoife but he can be fore-ward, awk-Ward and way-Ward and but he’s no cow-Ward. He is afraid of nothing and no-one so there was no one better to keep an eye on you Cúan. However I couldn’t get him to go into St.Daniel’s because Mr. Furey has been looking for him for a month now.”

Aoife looked at Ferdy and asked “ Who are you?” Before he could answer Aoibheann laughed “Oh that’s just Ferdy…he’s like Cúan’s best friend since they were both in nappies. He’s just a nerd.” “Ehhh, I also play hurling ,Aoibheann!” burst in Ferdy. “Look I don’t know all of what’s going on but if my bestie Cúan is in some aggro I’ve got his back. After all, all that evil needs to thrive is that good men do nothing.” Everyone just turned and stared at Ferdy with open mouths. He just pushed his glasses up his nose and looked smug. Just then the Dearg Doom blared out of Ferdy’s phone. ” Speaking of evil, aren’t we supposed to be playing that club match now, Ballygun Kickhams against the Fenians...remember Cúan?” “Ach, I forgot,” yelped Cúan “ C’mon!” So he and Ferdy set off at a run up the hill towards their club.

Aoibheann looked at the shops. “No time for chips, now it will have to be protein bars and sparkling water for me.” “Same for me,” said Aoife “Sparkling means the way it glitters in the sun right?” Then the two girls linked arms and set off to the shops better friends than ever.