David Peace - Red or Dead

Lou Macari looked down at the pen on top of the contract on the desk. And then Lou Macari looked up at Bill Shankly –

It’s a very big move for me, Mr Shankly. And so I would be very grateful if you’d give me a little bit more time to think about it and to talk it over with my family, sir.

Bill nodded. And Bill said, Of course, son. Of course. You should always talk things over with your family. But you tell them from me. You tell them from Bill Shankly, that we will look after you, son. And so I’ll see you tomorrow. First thing tomorrow, son. Bright and early. After you’ve had a good chat with your family, son. And after you’ve had a good night’s sleep. I’ll see you with a pen and I’ll see you with your boots, son …

In the office, at his desk. Bright and early. Bill waited for Lou Macari. And Bill waited and Bill waited. But Lou Macari did not come back to Anfield, Liverpool. Not with his pen and not with his boots. Lou Macari went to Old Trafford, Manchester. With his pen and with his boots. Lou Macari signed for Manchester United. Manchester United and Tommy Docherty. And in the office, at his desk. Bill cursed. And Bill cursed. Bill picked up the telephone. Bill phoned Jock Stein. And Bill said, What the hell happened with Macari, John?

Manchester gold, said Jock Stein. That’s what happened, Bill.

So how much have they offered you for him, John?

The same as you, said Jock Stein. But apparently they have offered the boy double the wages you were offering him …

Double the wages? They must be desperate.

I am sorry, said Jock Stein. I’m very sorry for all the trouble he’s caused you, Bill. And I’m sorry for any embarrassment the greedy little bastard might have caused you, too …

Bill laughed. And Bill said, You’ve nothing to apologise to me for, John. To be honest, the boy has probably made the right choice. After all, United can give him something I could never have given him. Something more than bloody money …

You what, said Jock Stein. What on earth can Manchester United give him that Liverpool could not have given him, Bill?

First-team fucking football, John. That’s what.

…

On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and forty-five thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Derby County. In the twenty-third minute, they watched John Toshack score. But they also watched Davies score for Derby County. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Derby County. At home, at Anfield. Another draw. But the first draw at home this season, the first point dropped at Anfield this season. The only point dropped at home, the only point lost at Anfield. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division –

Still first, by two points.

On the bench, the bench at Molineux. Bill watched Emlyn Hughes score an own goal. And in the seventeenth minute, Bill watched Kevin Keegan equalise. But then Bill watched Richards score for Wolverhampton Wanderers. And Liverpool Football Club lost two — one to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. But by just one point –

Just one point.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and ninety-six folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Manchester City in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. But that afternoon, they did not see Liverpool Football Club score. And they did not see Manchester City score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Manchester City in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. Yet another draw. Yet another

replay. Yet another

game –

On the bench, the bench at Maine Road. Bill was watching the forty-sixth game Liverpool Football Club had played this season, their eighteenth cup tie of the season. And on a night of sweeping rain, on a sodden field, Bill watched Towers pass to Donachie. Donachie passed to Lee. Lee shot. And Ray Clemence pushed the shot away. But the ball fell to Bell. Bell shot. And Bell scored. And then on this night of sweeping rain, on this sodden field, Bill watched Summerbee float a free kick over the Liverpool defence. Bell touched the free kick on to Booth. Booth shot. And Booth scored. And on this night of sweeping rain, on this sodden pitch, Liverpool Football Club lost two — nil to Manchester City in the replay of the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. In their forty-sixth game of the season, their eighteenth cup tie of the season. Liverpool Football Club had been drenched again, Liverpool Football Club soaked again. Liverpool Football Club drained –

Drained and exhausted. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and forty-nine thousand, eight hundred and ninety-eight folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Arsenal Football Club. Arsenal Football Club were second in the First Division. Arsenal Football Club just one point behind Liverpool Football Club. Just one point. That was all there was between first and second. Between Liverpool Football Club and Arsenal Football Club. And in the first half, Bill and the forty-nine thousand, eight hundred and ninety-eight folk watched Liverpool Football Club attack and attack. And Kevin Keegan shot. And Keegan missed by inches. And now they watched Arsenal Football Club attack and attack. And Ray Clemence saved from Radford. And at half-time, there was nothing to choose between Liverpool Football Club and Arsenal Football Club. Nothing to choose but one point. And in the second half, Bill and forty-nine thousand, eight hundred and ninety-eight folk watched Liverpool Football Club attack and attack again. And Ian Callaghan shot. And Callaghan missed by inches. And Wilson saved from Brian Hall. And now they watched Arsenal Football Club attack and attack again. And Armstrong charged into the penalty area. Alec Lindsay hooked up Armstrong. The referee blew his whistle. The referee awarded a penalty to Arsenal Football Club. Ball took the penalty. And Ball scored the penalty. And seven minutes later, Radford charged towards the penalty area. Radford skipped past Clemence. Clemence out of his area. And Radford shot. Into the net, the empty net. And into a goal. And Liverpool Football Club lost two — nil to Arsenal Football Club. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Arsenal Football Club had forty-two points. And Liverpool Football Club had forty-one points. That evening, Arsenal Football Club were first in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were second in the First Division –

Second again. Second best again,

the bridesmaid again. Always

the bridesmaid, never

the bride.

…

In the house, in their hallway. In the night and in the silence. Bill took off his coat, Bill took off his hat. Bill hung up his coat and Bill hung up his hat. And in the dark and in the silence. Bill heard Ness cough. Not upstairs, downstairs. In the dark and in the silence. Bill went into the front room. Bill switched on the light. And Bill saw Ness. In her chair. And Bill said, What are you doing down here, love? Sat in the dark, love? Are you OK, love? Why are you not upstairs, love? Why are you not in your bed, love? Are you OK, love?

I’m sorry, said Ness. I must have nodded off, love. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m very sorry, love …

In the front room, in her chair. Ness tried to stand. To get to her feet. But Ness sat back down. Back down in her chair –

I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry …

Bill put his hand on Ness. Bill felt her forehead. And Bill said, Christ, love. You’re burning up, love. I’m calling the doctor, love. Stay still, love. Stay there, love …

Bill ran out into the hall. Bill picked up the telephone. Bill rang the doctor. Bill called the doctor out. And then Bill went back into the front room. Bill sat down beside Ness. Bill held her hand. And Bill waited for the doctor to come. The doctor came. The doctor looked at Ness. The doctor listened to her chest. The doctor took her temperature. And then the doctor went out into the hall. The doctor picked up the telephone. The doctor rang the hospital. The doctor asked for an ambulance. Bill stayed sat beside Ness. Bill held her hand. And Bill waited for the ambulance to come. The ambulance came. The ambulance staff looked at Ness. The ambulance staff carried Ness out to the ambulance. The ambulance staff put Ness into the back of the ambulance. Bill got into the back of the ambulance. Bill sat beside Ness in the back of the ambulance. Bill held her hand. Bill squeezed her hand. And the ambulance took Ness to the hospital. The ambulance staff carried Ness out of the ambulance. The ambulance staff took Ness into the hospital. The nurses helped Ness into a wheelchair. The nurses wheeled Ness upstairs into a ward. The nurses lifted Ness onto a bed. The nurses helped Ness undress. The nurses helped Ness settle into her bed. Her hospital bed. Ness lay in her bed. Her hospital bed. And Ness looked at Bill sat beside her bed. Her hospital bed –