Part Four
By Céindreadh
ceindreadh@eircom.net
DISCLAMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Brothers Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is making no profit.
Previously on ER:
A grateful (and rich) patient invited some of the ER doctors on an all-expenses paid trip to Ireland to attend a conference in Galway.
Arriving in Dublin they discovered that they had to drive themselves to Galway. Dave met some Irish girls who told him that 'Pogue mo thoin' was a traditional Irish greeting. (It isn't <g>)
When last we left our intrepid explorers, they had arrived in Birr (a small town in the middle of Ireland) during the annual Vintage Week festival. A flat tire forced them to seek accommodation in Birr for the night. Kerry was disappointed to find out that although accommodation was limited, she still didn't have the opportunity to share with Luka. Luka, Dave and Carter tried to sort out who would share the double bed, in their room, and who would be relegated to a small folding bed. Dave lost, but contented himself by thinking up various plots involving cameras and two soundly sleeping roommates.
Kerry plotted in her room on the best way to ensure that she and Luka spent the evening together. "Ah-ha," she thought triumphantly. A Millennium Flower Festival Concert given by the 'Dublin Millennium Quartet and the Birr Choral Society'. That would be perfect. She was sure that Dave would have little or no interest in either flower arrangements or classical music. Carter might be interested, but she was equally sure that Dave could be 'persuaded' to take Carter out for a few drinks, leaving her and Luka to attend the concert.
A trip round the castle grounds should keep them occupied until then, she thought. Looking at her watch, she realized it was almost time to meet in the coffee shop as arranged. Smoothing down her clothes, she grabbed the tourist guides and left the room.
Dave was sitting in the coffee shop, when Kerry crutched in.
"Yo chief, over here," he called. Kerry quickly sat down beside him, slightly embarrassed at the attention she was attracting.
"I was talking to the receptionist," Dave said, grinning. "She said there's about forty pubs in the town. I thought I might check a few of them out tonight. What do you think? Want to come along?"
"I think I'll pass on that," said Kerry smiling. "But you might like to ask Carter to join you."
"I dunno. D'you think he'd be interested?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it. In fact you should definitely make sure he comes along with you."
"But that would leave you alone with Luka. You be okay with that?" Dave had an innocent look on his face as he said that. He was well aware that Kerry wanted him and Carter out of the way. Well, he had no objections.
"Oh I'm sure we'll find some way of 'amusing' ourselves," replied Kerry with an equally innocent look.
After a few coffees, they decided to visit the castle grounds. The man at the desk handed Kerry the tickets and maps to the grounds. Noticing her crutch he said, "You might want to avoid some of the paths near the fernery. It's after raining not so long ago, and they could be a bit slippery, plus some of the bridges might be a bit tricky for you."
"Thanks for the warning, but I'm sure I'll be fine. After all, I have three strong men to carry me if necessary."
Dave sniggered as he heard this. He knew exactly which of them would be called upon to 'volunteer' if it proved necessary to carry the chief anywhere.
They decided to start with the Historic Science Centre exhibition.
"Wow," said Dave, in awe as they passed through the semi-lit rooms. "This is so cool."
They moved into another room. Luka started quoting some poetry. "...I would spread the cloths under your feet. But I being poor have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread lightly for you tread upon my dreams."
"That's beautiful," said Kerry. "And so romantic. I didn't know you were so poetic."
Dave stifled a guffaw. "Dude, it's written up on the walls."
Kerry glared at him. "Thank you for spoiling the mood," she hissed angrily as soon as Luka was out of earshot. "Just remember, you and Carter are not accompanying us to the concert tonight."
"Hey, a couple of hours sitting on hard pews, listening to music that's a couple of hundred years old? I think I can live without the pleasure."
"Just make sure you don't get back to the hotel too early."
"No worries chief. And when we get back to County, no night duty for a month, right?"
"Right."
An hour later, Kerry stood in the shower in her hotel room and let the warm water wash the last of the mud from her aching body. The trip around the gardens had not gone quite as planned. Things had started out all right. They had all agreed that the telescope was a marvel of engineering, considering that it had originally been built in the 1840's, and had only recently been restored. They had been lucky enough to see the movement of it being demonstrated. Although Dave had been quite amused by the sight of the long barrel being raised and lowered between the two stone walls. He had said something to Carter, about it reminding him of something. Kerry hadn't heard exactly what it had reminded him of, but she had heard Carter telling him to "Grow up Malucci."
Then, as they had headed towards the Fernery, it had started to rain. Only a little at first, but by the time they had reached the far corner of the demesne, it had become a heavy downpour. As they had been warned, the paths were starting to become slippery.
"Kerry, I do not think we should take this path," said Luka. "Remember, this is the one we were warned about."
"Don't be so fussy," snapped Kerry. The rain, which had been quite pleasant at first, was starting to irritate her. "I'll be fine."
Luka shrugged and followed her as she crutched her way down the path. She had barely got a couple of meters when she slipped and fell. Luka had tried to help her up, but had lost his balance and landed on top of her. If the rain hadn't been so heavy, she would have quite enjoyed the experience. Luckily, or so she thought, Dave and Carter hadn't been too far ahead of them, and hearing their yells had come back to help.
"You guys want us to leave you alone," said Dave smirking at the sight.
"Just help us up," ordered Kerry, looking around for her crutch, and cursing when she saw it was just out of reach. By the time they had all regained their feet, everyone was thoroughly soaked and covered with mud. It was decided to cut the visit short, to allow everyone to shower and change before the evenings events. Of course as soon as they had left the grounds, the rain stopped and the sun started shining again.
"Oh well," she thought, stepping out of the shower and toweling herself dry. "Maybe I'll have better luck tonight."
So, later that night, Kerry and Luka went to the 'Millennium Flower Festival Concert', while Dave and Carter went in search of a pub.
Kerry sat on the hard pew near the doors and listened to the Archdeacon fill in the congregation on the background to the Festival, and the organizers. She was still amazed by the beautiful arrangements and tableaux that she had seen before taking her seat. And to make things even better, there were so many people attending, that everyone had to squeeze in as close as possible to make room.
As the musicians started playing a piece by Handel, Kerry heard the doors open and looked to see who was arriving late. "Wow," she thought, as a man, who looked to be in his early fifties walked in, brushing a few spots of rain off his suit. He looked a bit like Alex Trebeck, only with a bit more silver in his hair. "Damm, he's good-looking," she thought to herself. It was just a pity that he was so obviously 'with' the woman who had entered at the same time. "Oh well," thought Kerry, turning her attention back to Luka, and wondering could she possibly squeeze a bit closer to him.
Later that night Carter sat on the bed with a towel wrapped around him and surveyed the contents of his suitcase. "Let's see," he thought, "One suit has oil and grease on it, from helping to change the tire, one is covered with mud from the castle grounds, and one got ruined in the pub." He sniffed curiously at his last suit. He remembered the pint of Guinness being thrown over him, but what were the other stains. Probably best not to know, he decided as he folded the jacket neatly, and wondered what he was going to wear now. "This is all your fault Malucci," he called towards the bathroom.
"What?" asked Dave as he emerged toweling dry his hair. "I'm not the one who threw the drink at you."
"No, but they were aiming it at you only you moved."
"I don't get it," said Dave with a bemused expression on his face. "I thought Irish people were supposed to be friendly. I mean all I said was, 'Pogue mo thoin' and asked were there any 'BIFFO's' around."
Carter looked at him suspiciously. They had been having a good time in the pub, listening to the traditional Irish music, and enjoying a few pints of Guinness. But the atmosphere had changed dramatically once Dave had started trying out the few words of Irish he had been taught by the girls in the airport. "Dave, do you even know what a 'BIFFO' is?"
Dave shrugged, causing the towel round his waist to fall. Bending down to pick it up he said, "Not really. They just said that if I stopped in the center of Ireland I might see one."
Carter sighed. "Well I don't think it's a compliment. Look at this, it's ruined." He held out the trousers for Dave's inspection.
"Don't get so agitated. It'll clean up fine. Beer washes out no problem. Trust me, I know."
"This is not a pair of jeans we're talking about here, Malucci. This is quality material. Look at it."
"Oh, give it a rest Carter. C'mon we had some fun, well before they chased us out of 'The Muddy Duck'."
"Yeah, well I just hope Kerry and Luka had more fun than we did. Having to run for our lives from a drunken mob is not my idea of a good time."
Luka accompanied Kerry to her room after the concert. Both had found the music and singing to be most enjoyable. Kerry had been so entertained that she had almost forgotten the real reason she was there.
"So, this is good-night," said Luka, as they stopped outside her room. "I have had a most pleasant evening Kerry."
"Oh the evening doesn't have to end here," said Kerry with a demure smile, as she leaned against the door.
Luka took her hand and kissed it gently. "It is late, and we have an early start tomorrow. Pleasant dreams Kerry," he said, and then walked away.
Kerry watched his retreating form and sighed heavily. "Man, he had a cute ass," she thought, "and he's so sweet natured as well. But why the hell couldn't he be a little less of a gentleman, and come in for a nightcap." Shrugging she went into her room. "Oh well, there's always Galway."
To be continued...
Next week on 'Road Trip'
Kerry has pleasant dreams, Luka and Carter don't.
Dave gets his turn behind the wheel and they finally leave Birr.
Authors note
The lines that Luka quotes are from a poem by W.B.Yeats.
(I don't know which one, but they are written on the wall in the Centre)
The 'Alex Trebeck' look-alike is a real person. He likes ER, but doesn't like Kerry, which is why I had her drooling all over him. <G>
'Pogue mo thoin' is not a greeting :-) (unless you want a fist in the mouth <g>) actual translation is 'kiss my ass'
BIFFO - if you ask a person from Offaly, what this means they'll say Bright Intelligent Fellow From Offaly
Anyone else will say Big Ignorant F****r From Offaly (Birr is in Offaly <g>)
Don't worry, I will get them to Galway eventually :-)
'The Mucky Duck' doesn't really exist. I just couldn't resist using the name. If you want to know more about Birr Castle and telescope, check out http://www.birrcastle.com/birr/astronomy/asttext.html
ceindreadh
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'Ford Prefect weaved his way around the hall. There was no one there, but he weaved his way anyway'
- Douglas Adams
'Three marriages and an adventurous girlhood, had left Nanny Ogg with thigh muscles that could crack coconuts'
- Terry Prachett
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