Chapter 5 - Back From The Dead

Back From The Dead

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 5

 

The Grave Digger

 

There was trouble on the street , a crowd had gathered for the second night in a row. Some stones were thrown then fight broke out  .

Curious patrons from the local pub came out to see what was happening and a few of the lads stood there on the pavement sipping beer from their glasses .

The publican turned up the volume on the jukebox to block out the noise on the street . Suddenly a lone figure walked in through the front door . of the pub carrying a shovel over his shoulder ...

The publican shouted over .

“There are no shovels allowed in the bar so you better leave it leave it outside if you would . “

The tall stranger walked over to the jukebox and smashed it into pieces then he slammed his fist on top of a table breaking it in half . 

The whole place went silent as the stranger with the shovel said .

“Is there nobody going to sing us a song then ?”

There’s always one in the crowd . Up stood George O’Dowd with a drink in his hand and he began to sing an old song but a good one . He sang Whiskey in The Jar by the bar and a few more joined in .

The man with the shovel in his hand shouted aloud,

““A little bit of order.”

As he smashed the windows of the pub with his shovel.

The place went quiet and the stranger encouraged the singers to keep singing.

“Who is your ad what do you want?”

The publican asked.

 

“I’m the grave digger and tonight I have a list of the dead and some of those names are here in this place. The publican fled out the door but was brought to the floor by the right hand of the grave who said.

“You’re the first on the list.  Keep singing O’Dowd. “

The grave digger was as big as a bull, and nobody was foolish enough to tackle him. Everyone kept on singing.

“Sure, ring dee me doo dar, whack for me Daddio, there’s whiskey in the jar.”

The grave digger walked around picking people at random as one after one man fell to the ground with a blow from the man with the shovel. No one dared to say a word and the singer kept singing..

“Three cheers for Mr. O’Dowd. “

Said the grave digger.

Everyone cheered.

Nobody dared to disturb the stranger who kept walking around the bar looking into the faces of all who were there.

He called out the names of those on his list and with his fist he collected their attention before slamming his shovel down upon their heads.

A dozen or more lay on the floor motionless as the grave digger sat down at the bar and fixed his gaze at those who were left and shouted out with a loud deep voice.  

“Stand at ease and stay away from me . I have work to be done “

He dragged the dead men out of the pub and into the street .

The fighting on the street had finished now and there’s was no one around . A few moments later a large truck came along the road outside the pub .

The grave digger got out of the truck put each and every one who lay on the floor . They were all placed in the back of the truck .

An old woman with a walking stick in her hand walked into the pub .

“My name is Granny Grey , don’t get in my way . I’ve come to tell you all a story .”

As she took a seat she started to speak and her voice put them all in a trance . When she had finished her story not one of them remembered what had happened in the pub that day .

The grave digger and the truck had gone and all that was left was the broken glass and bits and pieces of furniture on the floor .

As far as everyone in the pub knew , it was the aftermath of the fight that had broken out earlier on when the two rival gangs clashed .

 

End Of Chapter 5

Link to chapter 6

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/chapter-6-back-dead

 

Back From The Dead

A Novel

By Paul McCann