Here Lies Deirdre Rachel Eames (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798396818347)

The days of sun and nights of stars continued, the weeks became seasons, the seasons grew to years and then his father rang.

"Deirdre's back home - She's dying, some terrible wasting disease. Are you coming down to visit her? They don't want visitors but maybe they'll let you in."

He went on breathless, eager to explain. He had practised this, said it aloud to himself, listening to the words he already knew: to refine the inflection.

"Her sister brings her for a drive, that's where I found her sitting in the car near the wood. It's all changed. People walk there now on Sundays.

She's going blind now too.

What kind of sickness takes your faculties like that?

She asked for you.

Her sister said she sometimes cries in her sleep and mentions the old times. I think she wants to make peace between the two of you. You better come down while there's still time."