Fallon grinned and sat down. Im sorry I lost my temper, he said, but you touched me on a raw spot.
Its a thing I wouldnt advise any man to do, Doolan said feelingly.
OHara coughed and spat into the fire. We wouldnt have come to you if there was anyone else, Martin. Its desperate work and youre the only man for it, and thats a fact.
Youre wasting your time, Fallon told him.
Doolan moved uneasily and there was puzzlement in his voice. Do you mean to tell me you wont help us, Mr Fallon?
Fallon took out a cigarette and lit it. Thats about the size of it. Doolan turned helplessly to OHara and Fallon went on. That old spider there knew damned well that I wouldnt stir a finger. Hed no right to bring you here.
OHara raised his eyes piously to the ceiling and Doolan said, But why now? You were the greatest of them all. You were worshipped throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.
Fallon nodded and said lightly, If only Id got myself killed. It would have been even better. Another martyr to the cause. Doolan made a sudden exclamation of disgust and turned away and Fallon said seriously, How old are you, lad? How many times have you been over the border? Ive spent more than a lifetime over there. Ive spent eternity many times over. Ive been chased throughout the length and breadth of Ulster, and England, too. Five years ago I escaped from Dartmoor Prison. For three weeks I was hunted like an animal before I reached this country again. Oh, I was the great hero until I told them at Headquarters that I was through. OHara was there. He knows what happened.
You were a sick man, Martin, OHara said smoothly. You werent in your right mind.
Fallon laughed grimly. I was right in my mind for the first time in my life, he said. Id had plenty of time to think it over.
But you cant leave the Organization, Doolan said. Once youre a member, its for life. Theres only one way out.
I know, Fallon said. Feet first, but thats where I had them, you see. You cant court-martial and shoot the greatest living hero youve got. That wouldnt do at all because the rot might set in. People might begin to think there was something wrong. No, you just put up with him and heave a sigh of relief when he buries himself in the wilds. And who knows if youre really lucky he might even drink himself into the grave.
Doolan stared helplessly at him and OHara said, calmly, What a one for the words you always were, Martin. What a one. But we still havent got down to business.
Fallon shook his head and, despite himself, a reluctant smile came to his lips. Youre wasting your time, OHara, he said. Im safe here. Four strong walls and a roof to keep out the rain, my typewriter to pay the bills and plenty of booze.
Just so, the old man replied. The whisky to try and fill the emptiness in you. He cackled suddenly. Why man, the Irish Sea itself couldnt fill that hole inside you.
For a brief moment Fallons face slipped and a terrible expression came into his eyes and then he regained control and smiled lightly.
Its you that should be writing the books and not me, he said.
OHara leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. Are you ready to hear why weve come, then?
For a moment Fallon hesitated and then curiosity got the better of him. He shrugged. All right. Im listening. It cant do any harm.
OHara nodded and Doolan leaned forward and lowered his voice. Have you heard of Patrick Rogan, Mr Fallon?
Fallon frowned. I knew him well. A mad, hair-brained fanatic. He was shot dead in a running fight with the police on the Belfast Docks.
He had a son, OHara said, quietly.
Yes, he had a son, Fallon said. Shamus they called him. He was killed in nineteen-forty-five in a raid on a police barracks in County Down. Ive forgotten the name of the place.
There was another son, Doolan said. Did you know that? Only a nipper when his father was killed. Dont you read the papers here, Mr Fallon?
Im careful not to, Fallon said.
Doolan smiled briefly and went on. Two years ago there was a clean sweep made in Belfast and the polis lifted most of the leaders. Patrick Rogan was only twenty and he hadnt been over there long but he rose to the occasion and proved himself his fathers son. He took over leadership of the Organization and was so successful we left him in charge.
Fallon raised his eyebrows. He must be quite a boy.
He is indeed, Mr Fallon, Doolan said, and one we cant do without. Hes walked the path of danger these two years, a hero and a legend to his people. He paused and the only sound in the room was the crackling of the logs in the fire and the drumming of the rain against the window. OHara coughed asthmatically and Doolan said, heavily, He was taken the day before yesterday.
There was another short silence and then Fallon said, Well, it comes to us all in the end. He lost, thats all.
We must have him out, OHara said suddenly. He must never stand trial.
Fallons eyes narrowed and he looked first at Doolan, who dropped his gaze, and then at OHara. He laughed briefly. What kind of a line are you trying to give me? Why shouldnt he stand trial? I stood trial. What makes Rogan so different?
Doolan sighed and said to OHara, Well have to tell him the truth. Its no good.
OHara nodded. I knew we would. I didnt think hed be fooled for a minute.
Doolan turned to Fallon. He seemed to search for words and then he said, You see, Mr Fallon, Rogan is everything I said he was. Hes served his country well. Hes done good work in Ulster, but
Hes not to be trusted, OHara said. It could be the end of the Organization in Ulster if he ever stands trial.
Fallon poured himself another drink and said coolly, The work of years going up in smoke, eh? That wouldnt be so good. How can he do it?
Doolan sighed wearily and leaned back in his chair. The polis are holding him at Castlemore. He managed to get a message smuggled out to us yesterday. He says we must get him out before they move him to Belfast. If we leave him to stand trial he swears hell make a deal with the polis. Hell tell them everything they want to know about the Organization in Ulster if they promise to go easy on him.
Fallon frowned. He must be mad. He knows the first thing hed get from the Organization, even if he was freed, would be a bullet. Hed do better to take his sentence and bide his time.
OHara shook his head. Therell be no biding his time, Martin, if he is sentenced. He shot a peeler dead and crippled another. Theyll hang him so high the crows wont be able to get at him.
Fallon whistled softly. God help him then. Theyre hard men to deal with at the best of times. Devils, when one of their own has been killed.
You can see why we came to you, Mr Fallon, Doolan said. Theres nobody else left up there. Nobody thats good enough to handle a job like this.
Fallon laughed coldly. And you think Im going to stick my head into that hornets nest? You must be mad.
You mean you refuse to help us? Doolan said.
I wouldnt raise a finger, Fallon told him. Rogan shot a peeler. He knew what he was doing. Now he can take the consequences. There was a hard finality in his tone.
Fallon laughed coldly. And you think Im going to stick my head into that hornets nest? You must be mad.
You mean you refuse to help us? Doolan said.
I wouldnt raise a finger, Fallon told him. Rogan shot a peeler. He knew what he was doing. Now he can take the consequences. There was a hard finality in his tone.
Doolan turned to OHara, but the old man didnt seem to be attending. He sat erect, his head slightly on one side as if he was listening for something. Suddenly he pulled himself to his feet and went across to the window. He peered out and when he turned there was a slight smile on his face. Dont worry, Jimmy, he said. Its going to be all right. The trouble with you is you dont understand the Irish temperament. He chuckled to himself and shuffled back to his chair by the fire.
At that moment Fallon became aware of the sound of a car engine muffled by the rain. He turned and said, What dirty trick have you got up your sleeve now, OHara?
The old man smiled genially and took out his pipe. No tricks, Martin. Psychology. Its a grand thing, and after all we must move with the times.
As the car stopped outside Fallon filled his glass with a steady hand and poured the whisky down his throat in one easy swallow. He said, Youre wasting your time, old spider.
A knock sounded on the door and Doolan stood up, a frown on his face, and said to OHara, Whats going on? You told me nothing of this?
OHara smiled. A small plan of my own. He nodded reassuringly. Answer the door, Jimmy.
Doolan walked slowly to the door and opened it. At first Fallon saw only the man and then he realized that a woman was leaning on his arm. For a moment he thought that she was wearing a cloak and then, as she moved forward into the light, he saw that she had an old, yellowing trenchcoat thrown lightly over her shoulders. In one hand she held a cane with which she tentatively felt her way. Her hair was snow-white and shone like a halo in the lamplight.
A terrible unease touched Fallons heart and his hand tightened around his glass. The woman halted in the centre of the room and her escort moved back to the door. OHara got to his feet and said, Im glad you could come, Maureen. He moved forward and took her hand. This must seem like a strange meeting to you, but I knew you would want to speak with him before he goes to save Patrick.
The woman turned her face into the light and stared across the room with opaque, sightless eyes. Where are you, Martin Fallon? she said.
OHara turned to Fallon, his face expressionless. Martin, this is Patrick Rogans mother come to see you.
Fallon placed his glass carefully on the floor and got to his feet. When he looked at OHara there was contempt on his face and the old man dropped his eyes. He moved forward and said, Im here, Mrs Rogan.
She raised her hand and gently touched his face with the tips of her fingers. The skin was drawn tightly over her bones and it was parchment yellow. She looked incredibly ancient and timeless and there was the mark of great suffering upon her face. She said, Ive given a husband and a son to the cause, Martin Fallon. Ive given enough.
He took her hand gently in his. Enough and to spare, Mrs Rogan.
You will save Patrick for me, she said. You will bring him home safely. It was a statement of fact that admitted no denial.
Fallon looked into the vacant, useless eyes and tried to find words to answer her. Bitterness welled up inside him and a deep hatred for OHara who had placed him in such an impossible situation. How could he say no and continue to look upon the suffering in the face before him? He tried to speak and then, as if she sensed the turmoil within him, an expression of panic crossed her face and her hand tightened on his. It was as if she could see into the very depths of his soul. She swayed suddenly and he reached forward to steady her. You will save him? she said in anguish. You must!
There was a great silence as she waited for his answer and Fallon smiled and gently squeezed her hand. Ill bring him safe home to you, Mrs Rogan, he said. In his heart he knew that from the moment she entered the room, fate had taken control.
She sighed as though from a great distance, and swayed again and he steadied her and said, Youd better come and lie down for a while.
She nodded several times and leaned heavily on his arm. Doolan moved quickly to open the door for them and they went out into the passage and passed through into the bedroom.
When Fallon returned OHara and Doolan were in the middle of a heated argument. Doolan said, I still think it was a shameful trick, using the woman.
OHara raised a hand. Dont talk to me of tricks, he said. In this game anything goes. Ask that man there, he added, pointing to Fallon as he joined them. Hes used a few in his time.
Fallon threw himself down into his chair. Oh, hes right enough, he said to Doolan. Anything goes. Its the only way to get things done, but the old spiders over-reached himself this time.
And how do you make that out? OHara demanded.
Simple the whole things doomed to failure from the very beginning. Do you think for a moment that the police have the slightest intention of letting anyone even get near to Rogan? There are three thousand peelers over there who want one thing very badly at the moment. They want to see Patrick Rogan hang and theyll make damned sure nobody interferes.
OHara nodded and said calmly, I know that. I told you it was a desperate business, but if anyone can do it, you can. Fallon gave an exclamation of disgust and the old man went on. No, Martin, I mean it. The trouble with most of the boys when they get over the border is that they begin to crack right way. They take the whole business too damned seriously. Now, you never did.
Are you mad? Doolan said indignantly. Ive never heard such nonsense in my life.
Fallon threw back his head and laughed. Hes right though, he said. I never did. He glanced at Doolans outraged face and sobered up. The only way to survive over there is to treat the whole thing like a game, he said. Its like war it is war. But it isnt like the books or the ballads at all. Its dirty and dangerous and incredibly stupid.
And thats the only philosophy that can ever achieve the impossible, OHara said.
Fallon leaned forward. Youd better give me what information youve got, he said. Where are they holding him?
Doolan nodded and smiled. Thats about the only bright spot, he said. We do have some secret information. Theyre still holding him in Castlemore, but a friend on the inside gave us a tip this morning. Theyre going to move him to Belfast tomorrow night on the nine oclock mail train. The whole things being done very quietly.
Fallon nodded. Because they expect the glory boys to try something foolish.
Youll want the address of our local headquarters in Castlemore, Doolan said.
Fallon shook his head. No thanks, he said. In the first place, I wouldnt feel safe working with a local group. Theres still a reward of two thousand quid on my head. No Ive got to do it on my own. Its the only way.
OHara nodded in approval. Youre right, Martin. Its the only way, but youll be needing a hidey hole of some sort.