A new edition of an acclaimed novel set in Northern Ireland at the height of the "troubles". Disabled since infancy by the IRA bomb that killed his parents, Brian Hanna has more excuse than most - at least in the eyes of the Loyalist community - to hate the Catholics. And yet he doesn't. What he hates is the demented drumming of organizations like the Young Defenders, as they march up and down the streets to scare their Catholic neighbours. And the mindless bigotry that justifies the violence and bloodshed on both sides. But most of all he hates the way that men like paramilitary leader Stan Leadbetter use people - small, easily manipulated people like Uncle Billy or the hapless Hicky, Brian's childhood friend. Which is why Brian is going to leave. But can he ever still the drum that beats inside him?