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[119]

A NAOI DEUG

STAD Calum Iain MacAsgaill aig àireamh a ceithir Park Circus is choimhead e gu mionaideach air na h-ainmean a bha air an gràbhaladh air pleitichean pràise air a’ bhalla. Nuair a chunnaic e na litricheanITR, chuir e a chorrag air putan rin taobh. Chuala e brag is thàinig guth boireann a-mach às sgàil mheatailteach a bha làimh ris na h-ainmean.
”Hello? ”thuirt an guth.
“Hello, ”thuirt MacAsgaill.
”State your business, ”thuirt an guth.
Chrùb MacAsgaill sìos agus chuir e a bheul faisg air an sgàil. “I’ d like to make a complaint. I’m here to see – to make a complaint about, to register a complaint with regard to. .. to low wages in television.”
“What’s the name? ”thuirt an guth.
“I don’t know, ”thuirt MacAsgaill. “Anybody would.”
“Sir, ”thuirt an guth boireann gu searbh, “what is your name?”
“Malcolm John MacAskill, ”thuirt an guth, “it’s half past four, Friday. Why don’t you come back Monday morning?”
“No, ”thuirt MacAsgaill. “You listen to me. I’m going to Harris tomorrow and I can’t make it on Monday. Or any other day. ”Dh’èirich fearg air agus theann e air èigheach. “It’ll be a cold day in hell, ”thuirt e, “before I ever come back to this toilet of a town.”
“Sir, ”thuirt an guth gu fiadhaich. “Get away from that door this minute. If you don’t clear off, I’m sending for security. ”
Bha an cuthach tioram air MacAsgaill. Bha e mì-chomhartail na ghurraban a’ cagarsaich ri pleit mheatailteach is an latha geal ann. “That’s great, ”thuirt e. “That’s really great. Security’ll back up my story. The one

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[120] I ’m going to the newspapers with.” Bho oir a shùla chunnaic e rudeigin no cuideigin a’ gluasad air cabhsair na sràide shìos fodha. Bha nighean òg mu aois naoi bliadhna a’ dol na gadan a’ gàireachdaich is i a’ sealltainn suas ris. Chuir MacAsgaill a thòn rithe agus thòisich e air burralaich. “Look, lady, ”thuirt e, “I’ ve told you who I am – Malcolm John MacAskill, Seventeen Nua Ard, Isle of Harris. I’ve got official business with the Independant Television Registry. I’m making a legitimate complaint against the franchise holder for southern Scotland. I’ve got a real grievance against Albion Television. You know how much they paid me for last Friday? For three television programmes I recorded for them in Fort William? Never mind. The press boys’ll be interested. And I’m going to tell them that the ITR wouldn’t even let me past the door. ”And I’m going to tell them that the ITR wouldn’t even let me past the door. ”Thug e sglais dhan sgàil le bhois agus chaith e smugaid air leac an dorais. Thionndaidh e gu falbh.
Aig a’ cheart àm thàinig sgreuch a-mach à bogsa an fhuaim. Chrom e sìos agus chuir e a chluas ris na tuill a bha anns a’ mheatailt.
“Mr MacAskill? ”thuirt guth, agus ’s e fireannach a bha a’ bruidhinn an turas seo.
“Yes? ”thuirt MacAsgaill.
“Mr Traynor will see you, ”thuirt an guth. “Wait one moment, please.”
Rinn teanga na glaise glag ìseal. Choimhead MacAsgaill suas dha na speuran, a bha a-nis a’ fàs dorcha, sheas e an àird agus tharraing e anail. “Bha an t-àm agaibh, a chlann an Diabhail,” thuirt e ann an guth ìseal. Le aon chorrag phut e doras anITRfosgailte agus choisich e a-steach.