Читать книгу Draca - Geoffrey Gudgion - Страница 33

Twenty minutes later George was like, ‘ was that it? ’ A whole life, nearly eighty years, reduced to one reading, two hymns, a three- minute drone from Rent-a-Priest and a poem?

Jack ’ s father gave the reading, bellowing it out like a fire-and-brimstone preacher. Isaiah 61, the order of service said.

‘ The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the poor . ’ He stared at a young woman in the front row, with two young children beside her. Another Ahlquist by the look of her, and the kind of blonde who ’ s gone way too plump with motherhood. ‘ He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted … ’ She didn ’ t look very broken hearted. She had big, dark eyes, a snub nose and puffy cheeks, like a seal pup with tits. Jack ’ s father didn ’ t strike George as a preacher, either, but he turned that stare towards Jack as he finished, and thundered , ‘ To proclaim the year of the Lord ’ s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. ’

Rent-a-Priest did his job. He ’ d probably never met the man he was about to incinerate, even though he ’ d been fed the key facts and wrapped them up in lofty, churchy tones. Edvard Ahlquist, born into hardship as the son of a Danish sailor. Forty years a shipwright. Had his share of tragedy. Liked sailing and Nordic folklore. Let us pray.

Jack read a poem that was George ’ s favourite. She didn ’ t know many poems, but this one about the lonely sea and the sky had stuck, ever since she was a kid. Something in those words about steering a tall ship by a star had struck a chord. Other kids escaped into video games or petty crime but she was the loner who dreamed of sailing away. She couldn ’ t even remember which school she had been in when she had learned it, but it had told her about a world beyond a dirty playground and the waiting gangs. She ’ d been in her late teens before she felt a tiller ’ s kick for the first time, or heard Masefield ’ s wind song, and then it had been like coming home. She still knew it well enough to shut her eyes and mouth the words with Jack.

Jack spoke with passion, as if he ’ d chosen that bit of the service. It was the only time some feeling for Mad Eddie came over. His voice caught, just a little, as he spoke those final words about a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick ’ s over, and George opened her eyes.

He was watching her. Again. She blushed and looked away, angry with herself, but not before she ’ d seen that he was a bit full. He paused like he was collecting himself, then said, ‘ Sweet dreams, Grandpa, ’ as if he really meant it, but Rent-a-Priest was already standing to announce the final hymn. The next lot were waiting.

‘ …Oh hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea. ’

The priest looked bored as he pressed the button.