This is the writer's voice, new fiction from the New Yorker. I'm Deborah Treisman,

fiction at the New Yorker. On this episode of the writer's voice,

we'll hear Roddy Doyle read his story The Curfew

from the December 2nd 2019 issue of the magazine.

Doyle is the author of 12 novels,

including the man-booker prize winning Patty Clark,

ha ha ha, and the Dead Republic.

His most recent novel, Charlie Savage, came out earlier this year.

Now here's Roddy Doyle.

The Curfew. This year. Now here's Roddy Doyle.

The curfew.

He was walking back up the street from the sea front when he looked up and saw the woman coming at him.

He'd been watching the leaves. Ex- Hurricane Ophelia was heading

towards Dublin and the leaves were blowing the wrong way. They were passing him, dashing by him,

rolling up the hill.

The curfew would be starting in half an hour.

He'd been giving out about it earlier before his wife left for work.

Did I think there's a civil war?

It's only a bit of weather.

But actually he liked the drama of it.

Even now, walking home, striding, he was striding, a man on a mission.

He felt involved, ready, ahead of the coming catastrophe.

...