“Yeah.”
“Is there any other way out of here?” Olivia asked.
“I don’t know. There used to be a big hole in the roof where you could see out, but they fixed that.”
“The roof is too high anyway.”
“One of the ewes butted her way out last winter,” Niamh said.
“Where?”
“Do you see where the wall’s a different color?”
“No, it’s too dark in here to see anything.”
“Next to me, where I am. Jacko repaired it. He used driftwood. I don’t think it’s very strong. And it’s not painted or anything. Ivan is a better carp…someone coming,” Niamh said and slipped off into the shadows.
Olivia heard the key turn in the padlock. The door opened. Owen peeked out from his hood.
“All right, you’re coming with me,” a man said. He was a giant of a man with a mustache and jet-black hair. He stank of sweat and alcohol. He squatted in front of Olivia and untied the rope that ran from her throat to the hook above her head. He untied the other rope attaching her to the wall. He pulled her to her feet by the back of her shirt.
“Where are you taking her?” Owen said.
“You shut up, little fella, if you know what’s good for you,” the man said.
He led Olivia outside and locked the shearing-shed door.
“What’s happening?” Olivia asked.
“You’ll see soon enough,” the man said.
He walked her to the farmyard, where a large number of people had gathered. There was a fire burning. Music.
“Wait a minute,” the man said. He fumbled at something tied to his belt. It was a clay bottle. He uncorked it and gave it to Olivia. She took it in her tied hands. It smelled bad.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It’s grog. You’re going to need it.”
“I—I don’t want it.”
“Let me help get it down your throat,” the man said. He opened her mouth by squeezing her face, then tilted the liquor in. She had no choice but to swallow as it burned. Her eyes were watering and her throat was on fire.
She stumbled and the man lifted her by the waist and carried her into the center of the circle. Another man was holding Heather by the neck and shoving a big pair of pliers into her mouth.
Olivia screamed, broke free of the man dragging her, and ran to Heather. She kicked the man with the pliers, and he was so surprised he let Heather go. Olivia fell into Heather’s arms.
“They killed Dad! They killed him, didn’t they?” Olivia said, sobbing.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, baby girl,” Heather said, pulling Olivia close, wrapping her tied hands around her, and hugging her as hard as she could.
Olivia buried herself in Heather’s chest. She’d never really hugged her before except that one time at the wedding, before Christmas. And that was only out of politeness.
Heather rocked her back and forth and began crying too.
“What do I do now?” the blacksmith asked.
“Leave it be,” Matt said.
“Is he really dead?” Olivia whispered.
“I’m so sorry, honey. I am so, so sorry,” Heather whispered back.
“There’s the girl! I want a look at her,” Danny said.
“Let him look at her,” Jacko said.
Olivia felt an arm wrap around her and pull her away from Heather. Heather tried to reach for her but the man in the leather apron pushed her down.
“What do you think, Danny?” Jacko said.
The one called Danny was staring at her. He was skinny and red and repulsive. His tongue was lolling, and spittle was dropping from his lips. He seemed very drunk. He reached out and touched her hair. Olivia flinched.
Some of the men started to laugh and someone shouted, “Go on, Danny, son!”
“How old are you?” Danny asked. His breath reeked of that same grog the other man had given her.
“Fourteen,” she said.
The old woman with the cane was coming over now, the one they called Ma. She tilted Olivia’s head back and looked at her. Her hands were cold and clammy.
“Well, Danny?” she asked.
“No one will ever replace Ellen, but it’s better than nothing,” he said.
“Life’s a balance. Nature treated you harshly today. This restores the balance. You can take her,” Ma said.
There were a few laughs from the assembled men.
Olivia saw that Heather was on her feet now. The man with the pliers moved in front of her. She went around him and took a step toward Ma. “You’ve done nothing wrong so far,” Heather said.