BUT THE ANXIOUS DASH through the storm turned out to have been needless. Mickey was perfectly all right, as Rafferty discovered when he had finally fought his way through the wind and rain, risking his own neck in the process. As he squelched his way across the caravan park, getting thoroughly soaked in the process, it was to find Mickey standing in the doorway, one of their Ma’s best blankets around his shoulders, peering out at the weather.
When he saw Rafferty, he shouted, ‘...took your time...been scared witless....’
The wind took away most of his brother’s words, but the ones remaining were sufficient to tell Rafferty that Mickey was in a foul mood. He just hoped he hadn’t managed to persuade one of the family to bring him more anger-stoking booze supplies.
Rafferty reached the van
