1892

Lucan hung his head and made his way toward the lamp house. The morning was unusually bright and the sun hurt his eyes.

"You're late, Luc. You sleep in?" Jas smiled and handed him his lantern. "I signed it out for ya, said you was havin' a shite."

"Thanks, Jas. I ain't sleepin' so well."

Jas nodded and patted Lucan on the back. They walked to the shaft in silence. As they entered the cage they lit their lamps in readiness for the darkness below.

*

At the end of the day as Lucan and Jas stepped onto the bank one of the young boys ran towards them.

"Mista Hayes!" he shouted. "Mista Hanson's wanting to see you in 'is office. Says you gotta go there now."

Lucan nodded and watched the lad run off before saying, "Would you return me lamp, Jas, so I can go see what he wants."

"Aye. I'll meet ya at the gate."

A poof of coal dust came alive as Lucan stepped onto the verandah. He had only been into Mister Hanson's office twice before. The first time when he came for the job as a faceman and the second four months earlier, the morning after his brawl with Scarper in the tunnel. Hanson had inquired if Lucan had done as he was told. Lucan answered his question with a steely stare and an abrupt nod. Hanson returned the acknowledgement and sent Lucan back into the pit. The event was never mentioned again.

George Hanson looked up as the door swung open. "Ah... Hayes!" He shuffled a pile of papers on his desk then finding what he was looking for he held out a letter.

Lucan stared blankly at the piece of paper, and then frowned as he cocked his head.

"Well take it now." Hanson waved it up and down. "Tis a letter."" He glanced at the envelope. "From Australia, lad."

Bewildered, Lucan had only ever received one letter before in his life. It had not brought good news, but had revealed the death of his mother. He took the letter with care and nodded. "Thank ya, sir."

Hanson seeing the confusion on Lucan's face said, "Can you not read, Hayes?"

Lucan shook his head. "Nae, sir."

"Aye, I didnae think so." Hanson paused, and then added, "If you need help with it come back the morrow."

Jas was at the gates waiting for him. "Nae trouble I hope, Lucan?" He wiped the corner of his mouth on his sleeve as he stared at Lucan with curiosity.

"A letter, Jas. From Australia Mister Hanson says."

"Naw..! Australia, Luc!" Jas's eyes widened like saucers as he gasped in dismay. "Why would ya be gettin' one of them from Australia?"

"Me mother's brother went to Australia after she died." Lucan sighed. "Grand man is me uncle. Took care of us he did. Younger than me mam. I never 'ad no father, Jas." Lucan scratched his head. "I'm thinkin' he's dead now too, perhaps the letters to tell me."

"What'll you do, Luc?"

Lucan scrunched up the corners of his mouth. "I'll go along to Father O'Donnell and have him read it to me."

*

Three days later Lucan walked to the rectory and asked the curate if he could speak to the priest.

Father O'Donnell held his hand out. "Tis good tae see you, Lucan. Sit, please. Can I give you something to drink?"

"No thank ya, Father."

"How are you, Lucan?" Father O'Donnell sat on the chair opposite. "Missus Hare has told me of your arrangement." He paused and rubbed his chin. "I dinnae see you in church anymore."

Diverting his eyes, Lucan murmured, "Yea, I'm sorry bout that, Father. Can't bring me self to it somehow."

The priest nodded his understanding and smiled. "Well what can I do for you the day?"

Lucan reached into his pocket and pulled the letter from it. "Will you read this to me, Father? Mister Hanson down at the pit says it's from Australia. I've got an uncle out there and well..." He paused. "I'm thinkin' it's ta tell me he's dead."

The priest took the now grubby wrinkled letter in his hand and studied the stamp. "Aye, Lucan, tis from Australia." Father O'Donnell tore open the envelope. Two English five-pound notes fell onto the floor. Lucan's eyes widened. Father O'Donnell scooped them up and handed them to him. "Perhaps he's left you these."

Father O'Donnell watched Lucan stare at the notes and saw his face change. At first a slight smile replaced shock. The Priest knew this man would never have seen, nor expected to see so much money in his life. The smile became sadness.

"Well, I reckon he'll be dead then, Father, if he's left me this," Lucan said as he looked up at the priest.

Nodding, Father O'Donnell said, "Perhaps, but let's read what the letter says eh?" He pulled a small piece of paper from the envelope and perused the scrawled writing. He read.

Lucan,

I got me another to write the letters.

Here's ten pound for you to come

to Australia. Sail to Cairns.

I'll have work for you.

Send word to a place called Irvinebank.

I'll meet you.

X

The mark of Thaiter.

Lucan's eyes widened, he swung back on his chair and roared with laughter. "Well I never? Thaiter wants me ta come to Australia." He shook his head in disbelief. "What do you think of that, Father? Me uncle wants me ta come to Australia. I haven't seen him since I left Ireland years ago. He wouldn't even know about Kat and the lads." Lucan chuckled again and kissed the money. "God must surely be lookin' after me now, Father!" he cried as he kissed the money once more.

She has gone like a flower cut down in its bloom,

From the sunshine of life to the shade of the tomb,

But death cannot sever the depth of our love,

Nor steal the fond hope we shall meet her above.

Anon

Lucan sat with his arms resting on his knees at the end of Kat's grave. Though he couldn't read the words he knew what they said. He leaned forward, placed his chin in the cup of his clenched fist and sighed. There was so much he wanted to tell her but the words would not come. He shifted his eyes to the shade of the tree where Riley rocked backwards and forwards on his knees. Lucan watched as Covey attempted to help his brother to his feet. He smiled as Riley wobbled dangerously, his small hands clinging tightly to Covey's slightly bigger ones.

"Covey! Sit him down, laddie. He ain't strong enough yet."

Riley turned his head at the sound of his father's voice. His lips pursed and bubbles of spittle dribbled down his chin. Covey sat him down. Riley protested until a leaf tumbling in the gentle breeze caught his attention.

Nodding his approval, Lucan said, "Good on you, lad. Best to let him make his own way." Turning back to Kat's grave, he focused on the head stone. He had worked for weeks on it. Grinding until the surface was smooth and shiny. Father O'Donnell had asked the stonemason to chisel the inscription and as repayment Lucan had cleared the cemetery of long grass and weeds.

He bit down on his lip and closed his eyes against the knot of loneliness in his heart. "Well I's doin' it, Kat... leavin'... and taken the lads with me. Thaiter me uncle has sent me some money... said to come to Australia... that he'd have work for me."

Lucan sighed, looked to the tree once more, and then back at the head stone. "I'm doin' much better with the young bairn... forgiven him... you could say." He breathed in and hung his head. "I can't see us ever comin' back.... but you'll always be in here, Kat." Lucan beat his fist on his chest. "You'll never leave me. I hope you can forgive me for how I've treated Riley but... like I say things is better now... I'll be a good father... to both of 'em... make a life for 'em."

Feeling the knot tighten in his chest, Lucan straightened his back, wiped the moisture from his eyes and breathed out once more. "I've come to say good-bye... brought the lads. Covey misses you somethin' terrible..." Lucan shuddered. "I miss ya somethin' terrible..."

He stood up, lifted a clump of dirt and threw it at the head stone. Lucan gasped back his grief. "Why'd ya do it, Kat? Why'd go an leave me?" He covered his face with his large callused hand and squeezed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "I miss ya so, so much."

Well, well, well, it looks like a bit of luck might have come Lucan's way.

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