𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰? , ᵐⁱᶜʰᵉᵃˡ ᵍʳᵃʸ

22. Funerals

LIZZIE AND LINDA WALKED TO WHERE Johns body lay, placing roses beside it. "We're like sitting ducks here if the wops come" Finn told Charlie.

"Yeah well Tommy said we should do it out in the open."

"This is how John wanted to go. On the smoke, and the truth is, we died together once before. Arthur, me, Danny Whiz-Bang, Freddie Thorne, Jeremiah. And John" he spoke.

"We were cut off from the retreat, no billets left, waiting for the Prussian cavalry to come finish us off. And while we waited, Jeremiah said we should sing in the bleak midwinter" he nodded. "But we were spared, the enemy never came. And we all agreed, that everything after that was extra. And when our time came we would all remember"

"You'd remember that God spared you" Polly's lip trembled. "But what did you do with that extra time that he gave you, eh, Thomas?"

He ignored her and helped Arthur light the wood on fire.

Through the smoke, men stood in the trees, staring at them. Suddenly a shot fired, everyone dropped to the floor.

"At ease, at ease" Tommy shouted. "Do not return fire" he said. "I repeat, do not return fire. Stand down"

Polly looked around.

"The men doing the firing, are on our side. I took the trouble of getting an invitation to Aberama Gold"

"Ah fuck, now it's begun" Johnny whispered.

"You put us out in the open on purpose" Polly said. "You bastard, you used Johns funeral as a fucking beacon" She raised her voice.

"We were never in any danger, Pol" Arthur said. "You set a trap" Polly shouted.

"Finn. Go to the yard and light the fires" Tommy said.

"You set a trap with us as fucking bait" Polly shouted. "Who is dead?" she asked. "Our enemies, Pol"

"Who's dead?" she asked again. "You wanna know Pol? Two fucking Italians who heard about the vendetta, trying to make a fucking name for themselves, that's who"

"We got word to them, about the funeral" Arthur nodded, "the where, the when..told em where to stand for the best shot"

"And Aberama Gold will do the rest" Tommy nodded toward the two people on horses, approaching. "That's the language of Vendetta"

"They take one of ours, we take two of theirs"

"You used your own brothers funeral" she spat. "When did we vote on this, Tommy?" she asked.

"Curly get the boat ready to take the bodies to the city. And another for anyone who wants no more part of this" he shouted. "Cause this is how it's gonna be"

-

Cassidy sat on the chair at the table beside Michael's bed as tiredness washed over her. A door opened and she jumped, waking. "Isiah, you scared the shit out of me," she whispered.

"Sorry," he apologised, taking a quick look at his best friend. "Will he be okay?"

"The doctors think so." She said, wiping her eyes as they adjusted to the light. 

"How long have you been here?"

"All day. Haven't slept since yesterday." She admitted, leaning back.

"It won't kill him if you're not here, you know." He said, trying to lighten her mood but it only made her tense up, staring at him with a cold look.

"Right..not the time. Sorry." He said awkwardly.