Page 196 of The Missing Sister

After requests for the anti-Treaty men to surrender their position at the Four Courts, the order was given to attack. ProTreaty forces bombarded the building with heavy artillery.

Rather than slamming her fists on the newspaper, Nuala took it in her hands and began to rip it to shreds. Finn walked in from his day in the schoolroom to his wife tearing paper and a screaming child.

‘Have you heard? Collins has attacked the Four Courts! The fighting’s still going on, but the paper says Collins has got help from the British, with them supplying cannons and artillery and... Oh Finn, please tell me I’m dreaming,’ she said as she walked into the comfort of his arms.

‘Nuala, we triumphed before and we can do it again. Christy just told me there’s a meeting for our brigade tonight. Now’s the time to show whether a man is with us, or with the pro-Treaty government. Darlin’, we’d not be wanting Maggie upset, would we?’

Nuala shook her head and went to calm her crying babe.

‘You’re to concentrate on being a mammy, Nuala, and leave the rest to your husband, all right?’

‘But if things get difficult, sure I’ll have to work with Cumann na mBan again, and—’

‘No, Nuala. ’Tis one thing risking your life when you’ve no one depending on you, another when you’ve a family. This time, you’re to leave this to the men. I’ll not have us leaving Maggie an orphan. D’you hear me?’

‘Please don’t say that! I’d rather me die than you.’

‘And leave me to change Maggie’s napkins?’ Finn chuckled. ‘Now, is there a bite to eat in this house of ours before I go out?’

Finn came in late that evening, but Nuala was still awake. ‘What happened at the meeting?’

‘’Tis looking good, Nuala,’ Finn said as he undressed and climbed into bed next to her. ‘We’ve almost everyone with us, so it’s the pro-Treaty lot who should be watching their backs in these parts. I’ve heard that Rory O’Connor himself is coming down from Dublin to Cork to take control of our anti-Treaty forces. We have to defend ourselves against this new Irish National Army that Mick Collins has recruited. I hear him and his government are callingusthe republicans these days!’ Finn shook his head and grimaced. ‘It has to be faced, and we will face it; we’ve experience on our side, and men like Tom Hales with us.’

‘With Sean Hales in charge of this new army?’

‘Yes. Ah, Nuala, it looks like we’re headed for more difficult times. Let’s get some sleep while we can.’

As Finn disappeared off again to volunteers’ meetings and drills, Nuala read that the Irish National Army, headed by Sean Hales – who’d fought side by side with Finn and been responsible for burning down Castle Bernard, which had brought about the truce – was travelling by boats supplied by the British to make landings on the southern coast. Aware of the way that the volunteers had blown up bridges and railways when Sean was fighting with them in the last war, landing the National Army by sea was a clever ploy.

She was only thankful for Maggie, who kept her busy. She was on tenterhooks every moment Finn was away. It felt like the nightmare was happening all over again. With Maggie strapped to her chest, she drove the pony and cart into Timoleague. In the shops, there was nothing but talk of what was happening, most of the residents horrified by the new turn of events. There was a palpable air of uncertainty and fear.

‘’Tis civil war now and there’s no denying it,’ said Mrs McFarlane in the butcher’s. ‘I’ve heard that Sean Hales landed the army in Bantry yesterday and they’re marching towards Skibbereen. What will it all come to?’ she said as she handed over the stewing steak and some bacon to Nuala.

Walking down the high street, Nuala saw that the pubs, which had been full since the truce had been agreed and the British had withdrawn from the area, were now empty, apart from old men drowning their sorrows. On the way to collect her pony and cart, Nuala saw Hannah come out of a shop right in front of her.

‘Hello there, Nuala, how are you? And the little one?’ her sister asked.

‘We’re grand altogether. How’s your small one?’ Nuala replied, as if she was addressing a stranger.

‘Sure, John’s coming on well, thank you.’

‘Well, ’tis a while since we’ve seen you up at the farm for Sunday lunch. Will you and Ryan be joining us?’ Nuala asked.

‘Ah now, with feelings running so high, Ryan says ’tis best if we stay back till the whole thing’s sorted. He knows too well how my family feels about the Treaty.’

‘And how do you feel, Hannah?’

‘I just want peace, like Ryan. Now, I need to get back home to my babe. Goodbye, Nuala.’

Nuala watched her sister turn away from her and walk down the street towards the little house she and Ryan had moved into just after John had been born. There was no more watching their babes grow up together; all that had stopped since the fighting had begun.

‘All because of Uncle Ryan,’ Nuala said to the sleeping Maggie, cradled peacefully against her chest. As hard as she tried, she could not forgive her sister for what she saw as nothing less than treachery.

Luckily, the school holidays had just begun and Finn was free to join the other anti-Treaty volunteers in the fight. He had said the National Army were now heading towards Clonakilty.

‘The home of Michael Collins himself,’ Nuala said to Christy when he popped over for a chat.

‘Is Finn going there? I’d be worried if he was, for even if they’re anti-Treaty, there’s many in Clonakilty that’ll come out in support of the Big Fellow. He’s one of their own.’