to struggle, thrashing wildly to regain them.
'Hold the head,' shouted Sean, and blundered sideways until he could
grab its tail and prevent it from attempting to stand.
When the animal was quiet again he began to drag it, moving backwards,
towards the firm ground. Like a bob sleigh the carcass slid easily
over the carpet of mud and flattened reeds until it grounded.
Then Sean jumped clear while she struggled up, stood a moment and then
lumbered unsteadily away into the trees.
Sean and his son stood together, gasping, covered with filth, still
ankle-deep in mud, watching the cow disappear.
'Thanks. I'd never have done it on my own, sir.' The form of address
and the boy's tone touched something deep in Sean.
'It needed two of us,' he agreed. 'What's your name?'
'Courtney, sir. Michael Courtney.' He held out his hand towards
Sean.
'Nice to meet you, Mike.' Sean took the hand.
'I know you, don't I, sir? I am sure I've seen you before-it's been
worrying me.'
'I don't think so.' With an effort Sean kept his feelings from showing
in his voice and face.
'I'd ... I'd count it an honour to know your name.' As Michael spoke a
shyness came upon them both.
What can I tell him? thought Sean. For I must not he-and yet I cannot
tell him the truth.
'My God, what a bloody mess,' he laughed instead. 'We stink like we've
been dead ten days.
Michael seemed to notice their condition for the first time.
'Ma will have a hernia when she sees me,' he laughed also, then, 'Come
up to the house. It's not far from here. Have lunch with us and you
can clean up-the servants will wash your clothes for YOU.
'No. Sean shook his head. 'I must get back to Ladyburg.
'Please. I'd like you to meet my mother. My father's not here-he's at
the war. But, please come home with me.
He really wants me to. As Sean looked into his son's eyes the warm
feeling that he had been struggling to suppress flooded up from his
chest and he felt his face flush with the pleasure of it.
'Mike,' he spoke slowly, groping for the right words.
'Things are a bit difficult right now. I can't take you up on the
invitation. But I'd like to see you again and I'll be through this way
one day. Shall we leave it until then? ' 'Oh! ' Michael made no
attempt to hide his disappointment.
'Anyway, I'll ride with you as far as the bridge.'
'Good. ' Sean picked up his shirt and wiped off the surplus mud, while
Michael unhitched their horses.
They rode slowly, in silence at first with the shyness Still] on them.
Then they started to talk, and quickly the barriers between them
crumbled. With a feeling of pride that was ridiculous in the
circumstances, Sean became aware of the quickness of Michael's brain,
the ease of expression unusual in one so young, and the maturity of his
