The Mongrel Read online

  “Will the car make it?” she asked, deflecting his attention.

  “Course it will. Come on, it’ll be grand.”

  She stopped as they headed for the door. “Do we need to take anything with us?”

  “Nah, sure it’s roasting out. Snow’s not due ‘til tonight. Here, grab my coat there and we’ll get going.” He pulled a black, woollen jumper over his head and slung a rucksack over his shoulder, its contents clinking from the swing.

  Erin removed the coat from the hook by the door and tucked it under her arm with her handbag.

  “That’s grand. And don’t be worrying, we’ll be back well before the weather turns bad.”

  “I don’t know, Phil. Are you sure?”

  He followed her out into the hallway. “Sure, they’re always getting their forecasts wrong in this bleedin’ country. It’s a smashing day, so let’s not waste it hanging around this hole.”

  She laughed and shrugged at the same time, but a voice in the back of her head told her she wasn’t as sure as he was. “How are we for petrol?”

  “Plenty. I only filled it up the other day.”

  “Are you sure? You know how much of a guzzler that yoke is.”

  “Ah, will you stop moaning and groaning. We’re having some family time, out in the fresh air. Let’s enjoy it. It’s no wonder my head is the way it is being stuck in this kip so much.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and guided her down the stairs as they headed for the car. Outside, the twin round towers of St Macuillin’s Church dominated the horizon at the end of the street.

  “Hey,” Erin said, “did you know that Cuchulain’s wife, Emer, was born in Lusk?”

  “Yeah? I’ve a vague memory of being told in school that she was really jealous and wanted to kill anyone sniffing around her fella, or something like that.”

  “So legend has it. If this baby is a girl, maybe we can call her Emer. Wouldn’t that be cool?”

  He frowned, but only for a split-second. “I suppose. Not sure if I want to be associated with this village any more than I have to be. Anyway, didn’t they drink a potion to make them forget about some sort of affair?”

  “Erm…not sure.”

  He opened the car door for her and she ducked her head and got in.

  “Might be nice to have something like that so we could forget our fights.”

  She nodded in silent agreement, then pulled her hand away when she realised she was touching her throat.

  TWO

  It was hardly a holiday, but aside from the obvious tension, it was still better than being cooped up indoors surrounded by bad vibes. The gammy old radio struggled to get a clear reception, but still managed to blast out Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way as Phil drove along the M50 motorway towards the mountains to the south of the city. With it being a Sunday afternoon, the roads were relatively clear and the drive was pleasant enough, with the two of them sitting silent, listening to the music.

  Erin couldn’t help but think Buckingham’s lyrics were aimed at their relationship. She threw Phil a glace and wondered if he was thinking about going his own way, maybe after Geoff Baron. She hoped not. Geoff was a bad influence and she was glad to see the back of him. They’d never got on, anyway. It was as if he held it against her for taking his best friend away from him.

  After driving around the hills for a couple of hours, stopping here and there to take in the beautiful scenery, they arrived at View Point—the sun struggling against a bank of dark clouds creeping across the horizon. To Erin, it looked more like rain was coming, not snow, though you’d never know in Ireland, with four seasons in one day being nothing out of the ordinary.

  View Point was a small, forest car park that overlooked the city from near the top of the hills. Two other cars occupied spaces near them, but far enough away not to be overlooked. In the surrounding woodland, most of the broadleaf trees were turning, but still full of life and colour, and in the valley below, the first signs of winter were nowhere to be seen.

  As they sat there, taking in the panoramic splendour before them, a pale white moon hung low in the east, beginning its journey into the night. Erin loved the gentle glow it provided as a counter to the setting sun—a beacon of security, like a nightlight in a child’s room. She rubbed her bump at the thought of her baby sleeping without any worries under such a light.

  The strong forest scent filled the car as they watched nature’s evening show. She touched the back of Phil’s hand, filling her lungs with mountain air, and in that moment, in spite of everything, they were at peace.

  She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Six-thirty. It was still about an hour before darkness would blanket the mountains. They’d missed dinner and, without noticing, were the only ones left in the car park.

  She groaned. “I’m hungry.”

  Phil reached in behind her seat and rustled about in his rucksack. “I figured we wouldn’t be back in time. Here, have some of this.” He handed her a homemade smoothie. “I made it earlier for you. It’s your favourite.”

  Apple and banana flavour in a keep-cup—a staple in her diet over the last eight months. She thought about the fight earlier, if something as one-sided could be called a fight. It was so intense, but a million miles from the peace and serenity they were sharing now—a young couple experiencing a romantic moment on a mountain—almost worth going through to be able to enjoy it. Anyway, they were just going through a phase—a tough time. He loved her, and she loved him. Most couples their age were the same, right? Their struggles weren’t unique to them. Things would get better and they would become a complete family soon enough. She was sure their bundle of joy would bring them closer.

  She sipped on her smoothie and savoured the ever-changing visual before them. “This is fantastic.” She smiled at him. “Can I ask you a question, babe?”

  “Sure.”

  “What do you really want in life?”

  He didn’t answer straight away, taking time to ponder, as she expected. Then he looked away and sighed, “To be happy and free, I suppose.”

  Her stomach rumbled. “Time for food. Let’s head home, babe. It’s been a long day.”

  The last of the sun’s rays penetrated the windscreen with an intense orange hue that lit up Phil’s face. He didn’t reply, raising his hand instead to shield his eyes as he stared at her. She sensed unease in him, and his shoulders jerked as he released another, deeper, sigh. So much for coming here to relax. He was on the edge. She knew it, seeing from his almost glazed-over eyes that his mind was racing with a million different thoughts. But she didn’t want to say something that might set him off again. His unhappiness couldn’t be masked, and he was too easily triggered when in such a state.

  Instead, she attacked her nail again, this time succeeding in tearing the offending sliver off. A trickle of blood seeped from the exposed flesh. She winced and tucked her hand in under her arm, relishing the deep throb.

  Phil turned the key in the ignition while he stared off into the distance. It took three attempts before the Mondeo spluttered and coughed into life. Music filled the interior again and the handbrake creaked as he released it. He reversed out of their spot, then shifted forward, the tyres scraping over compacted gravel, with chippings pinging off the underbody of the beat-up car.

  As they turned onto the hill, he removed his foot from the brake and gravity took hold of the vehicle on its journey down into the valley. Erin closed her eyes. The smoothie had settled her stomach, allowing the car’s gentle motion ease her into a quiet place.

  THREE

  She awoke from her slumber when the car shunted. They were in the basin of a valley, and Phil had obviously engaged the gears now that the road had levelled off. She rubbed her tired eyes and sat up. On either side, steep hills full of tall pine trees rose into the evening sky, blocking any remaining light from the ebbing sun. She rubbed her upper arm
s and shoulders, and noticed the tarmac ahead glistening, signalling the expected fall in temperature as the evening crept into night.

  “Where are we? How long was I out?”

  “A while, so I decided to take the scenic route. But its fine, we’ll stop for a coffee at the next garage.”

  As he drove along the valley road, it was hard to ignore his struggle to keep the car beyond a certain speed. Erin admired his determination to keep it moving along, constantly shifting gears and coaxing it with swear words and a few frustrated growls. She also noticed that he was losing the battle.

  Then it ground to a halt.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know, babe. I’m giving it everything here, but we aren’t moving.” He slapped the steering wheel and groaned deep in his throat, a sound she’d learned to take heed off.

  Time after time, he turned the key, but all he got was a screeching and stuttering response from the motor. Then the engine kicked into life, as it always did, and he whooped with joy, shifted into first, moved forward for a few metres, until the car shuddered and groaned and, within a few seconds, died with an audible whimper.

  “Phil, what the hell is happening?” Her voice was edged with tension as a rumbling panic crept through her.

  “I don’t know. Don’t be alarmed, but I think we may be out of juice.” He shrugged, a gesture she knew well—one that said it wasn’t his fault.

  “What? Are you serious?” she screamed. “I’m eight months pregnant here. I…” She looked around as a blanket of shadow spread through the woodland on both sides. Night was falling fast. “We need to get home.”

  “Okay, relax. Just chill out for a second. I could be wrong. I’m sure I put enough in it, so it might be something simple.”

  “In the engine?”

  “Probably.”

  “Well, go check it out, will you? It’s nearly pitch-black.” She rubbed her shoulders again.

  “Don’t be so dramatic. I’m sure it’s nothing major.” He got out and grabbed his coat. “I’ll, eh…take a look.” He went around and opened up the bonnet.

  While she waited, she looked back along the road. Everything around lay silent, with not even a bird singing now the light was gone from this part of the forest.

  The silence was broken by a series of clicks, probably Phil tinkering with the engine. She hadn’t a clue about such things. But then a light flashed under the hood and she realised it was his cigarette lighter. God, she’d love a smoke now, but it wasn’t going to happen—she’d given them up as soon as she fell pregnant. Still…

  Phil walked around the car, his coat on, blowing a plume of smoke out. Erin shuddered. There was a definite chill in the air. And it was so quiet. She rubbed her bump. Baby was asleep, which was one good thing, though her earlier unease hadn’t dissipated.

  With the engine off, she couldn’t buzz the window down, so she opened the door, the frigid air catching her breath. “Well? Any luck?”

  He gave her a thumbs-up, then took a last drag from his fag before stamping it out, the sparks fluttering like fireflies in the gloom.

  She slammed the door shut and let out a long-drawn sigh. Her stomach gurgled again, and she pushed visions of a hot Sunday dinner out of her head.

  Phil climbed back in and tried the ignition again, but the engine didn’t even jolt this time, and she knew it had given up the fight. The fumes in the engine weren’t sufficient to spark it into life.

  “Did you check the gauge before we left?” she asked.

  “Yeah, of course I did.”

  “How much was in it then?”

  “I don’t know. Half a tank, or thereabouts.”

  “Jesus, Phil, I can’t believe we’re stuck out here in the middle of fucking nowhere.” She puffed out another frustrated sigh and dug her fingers into her scalp, kneading away at the building tension. “I mean, you’re the one who suggested coming all the way up here, and then didn’t even check the gauge? We’re miles from the nearest station.”

  “Shut up,” he barked. “I said I checked it.” She stared at him and he put his hands up in apology. “I’m sorry, babe. I was just so happy to get out of the apartment, it slipped my mind, or I thought I’d checked it.” He produced another one of his shrugs. “I’m not sure.”

  They sat in a heavy silence for a while. Erin shook her head and just stared out the passenger window, the hunger kicking in and her tummy groaning in protest rather than just gurgling.

  “Okay, I think I know what happened.”

  She rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything. There was no point when Phil had an idea in his head.

  “Babe?”

  “Well, go on then,” she snapped.

  “I think the gauge is broken.”

  She turned and looked at him. “Broken?”

  “Yeah. Watch. Check this out.” He turned the key in the ignition. The engine didn’t engage, but the meters on the dashboard lit up—the oil bar raising, followed by the temperature indicator, but the fuel gauge didn’t move. Nothing.

  He repeated the process twice more, looking at her and nodding each time. “See, I couldn’t have known. It wasn’t my fault.”

  She closed her eyes and groaned. What was the point? They were out of petrol and there was nothing to be done about it. The night was upon them, and here they were, somewhere deep in the Wicklow Mountains, stranded.

  PART TWO

  FOUR

  With the sun set and darkness upon them, most families around the country were probably preparing to sit down to their evening tea. But this wasn’t on the cards for Erin and Philip as they sat in their car, marooned deep in the Wicklow Mountains.

  “Well, genius,” she snapped, “how are we going to get out of this one?”

  Phil snorted as he shrugged. “Well, babe, to be honest, there’s not a whole lot we can do with a car with no petrol.”

  She glared at him, fighting back the urge to just scream out all her fears and frustrations. How in the hell could he be taking this so lightly? She gnawed on another nail.

  “I supposed we’ll have to walk to the nearest village.”

  She closed her eyes and bit harder.

  “Don’t worry, babe. If I remember right, it’s only about forty minutes away.”

  She stared at him again, then sighed and shook her head.

  “What?” he asked, his shoulders up around his ears. “We can be there before the garage shuts, get petrol, come back, and be home by midnight at the latest.”

  “I’m eight-months pregnant, Philip. I barely walk to the toilet at home, let alone forty fucking minutes up the road. Which is now covered in ice, by the way. Or haven’t you bothered to look?” Tears ran down her cheeks and she cradled her head in her hands.

  “There’s always something with us,” she said. “Isn’t there? We can never just have a nice evening without something happening to ruin it.” She looked at him, her vision blurred. “Do you even know where we are?”

  He just stared back at her, his mouth open. “Eh…of course I do. I drove south over the hills towards Glendalough. We’re not too far from the motorway.”

  Glendalough. Christ. She couldn’t bring herself to get involved in another argument with him. Her energy was sapped and her limbs felt so lethargic she could hardly raise her arms.

  “Okay, look, babe, I’ll go on. I’ll jog on up in that direction.” He gestured up the road with his thumb. “I’m pretty sure I know where the garage is and I’ll be back here within an hour. Tops.”

  She let out a long sigh. “Let’s just ring my dad. He’ll come get us.”

  Like a red rag to a bull, Phil went from zero to vex in less than a microsecond. “For fuck’s sake, Erin, why does everything have to go back to your father? We ran out of petrol. Big deal. Shit happens. Just stay here and relax. I’ll sort this out.
Haven’t I always taken care of you?”

  She leaned back, too aware of that look. His temper was close to going through the roof.

  “I’m sick of good ol’ Joseph being your solution to every little hiccup we have. Joseph fucking Green, who, by the way, hasn’t even spoken to you since you moved out.” He huffed, looked around him, then punched the steering wheel.

  “Hey!” she screamed, unable to hold it back. “Go on then. Go get the fucking petrol. Hard man Monti punching steering wheels. Grow up, will you? Go on, get away from us.”

  The ensuing silence was deafening. He stared at her through surprised eyes, then shrugged and got out, slamming the door after him. She watched him walk to the front of the car, where he stopped and took a deep breath. He stroked his beard, a habit of his when working things through, and then walked around to the passenger window, where he tapped on the glass with a pale-white knuckle.

  “Babe?”

  She blinked tears out of weary eyes but said nothing.

  “I’ve left the keys with you.” His voice was muffled through the glass. “Lock yourself in, okay? I promise I won’t be long.”

  She didn’t reply, and he shrugged again and moved away from the car, shaking his head. As his figure blurred with the gloom, she opened the door and pulled herself out. “Try and bring back something nice to eat. Please?”

  He turned and laughed, then ran back and took her into a gentle hug, his beard ruffling off her tender neck. Even in a shit situation, he still managed to amuse her. It was why she loved him, and ultimately why she couldn’t live without him. Despite his awful tempers, he had a quirky manner about him that never failed to endear him to her. She was well aware that he resented how aspects of their lives had turned out, and hated her father being in the mix, but she loved him so much that his jealousy and category-five flare-ups could almost always be shrugged off.

  “I’ll do my best. Look, I promise I won’t be long. I know where I’m going. I’ll be back before you know it. I love you.”