Eagle One to Eagle Two. Target on course.
There was a pause and then a crackle. Eagle Two message received. Come home.
Keogh put the radio away, gunned his engine, and went after the truck fast. For a few seconds he trailed it, then pulled out to overtake, one arm raised in salutation, went round a bend ahead, and disappeared.
Crazy bastard, the transporter driver said to the two security guards sitting in the cabin behind him. They wore blue serge suits, for uniforms would have given the game away, but each man carried a Browning in a shoulder holster.
Probably kill himself one of these days, one of them said. Guys like that usually do.
Well, thats his business, his friend told him, so lets have a cup of coffee. He opened a Thermos and somewhere up ahead there was the muffled sound of an explosion and smoke lifted into the air.
Jesus, whats that? the driver demanded and they went round the corner leading to the junction.
KEOGH SWERVED INTO an open field gate, got off the motorcycle, and pushed it up on its stand. The suitcase containing the weaponry was on the ground by the wall and he saw Kathleen at the side of the road smearing the false blood on her face as Ryan ran to the back of the Ford. A moment later there was a muffled explosion and flames flickered around the vehicle. A larger explosion followed as he ran, and black smoke lifted into the sky.
The transporter came round the corner and skidded to a halt at the horrific scene. Keogh pulled out his AK and unfolded the stock, but it wasnt necessary. Ryan switched on the Howler and punched the buttons.
The door, he cried to Keogh. The door.
Keogh ran to the off-side door, pulled on the handle, and it opened to his touch. He was aware of the driver, the two behind, one already with a gun in his hand. Ryan lobbed in a stun grenade. It was enough. A moment later, he had the driver from behind the wheel, dazed and bewildered. Keogh pulled out the two security guards. They dragged them behind the field wall and secured them with the plastic handcuffs.
Kathleen was on her feet, wiping the blood away. Ryan said, Good, you got your Oscar. He ran to the back of the truck and opened the doors, revealing the containers inside.
Would you look at that now? Keogh said.
Would you, indeed. Ryan picked up the suitcase with the weaponry and shoved it up into the cabin of the transporter. Go on, Martin, get the hell out of it.
Keogh folded the AK and put it back inside his bikers jacket. Come on, girl, he said to Kathleen.
He flung a leg across the motorcycle. She jumped onto the pillion behind him and put her arms around him. As they drove away, Ryan switched on the engine of the transporter and followed leaving only the burning van hissing in the rain and the three men slowly regaining their senses behind the wall. It was almost half an hour later that a local farmer in his station wagon came upon the scene of carnage.
WHEN KEOGH AND Kathleen on the Montesa reached Marsh End and turned along the track to the jetty, the Irish Rose already had the ramp down. Tully was waiting on deck with Dolan and Fox, and Keogh ran the Montesa straight on board and braked to one side. Kathleen slid from the pillion and Keogh dismounted. He had the AK out in seconds and unfolded the stock.
Theres no need for that, Tully said. Did it work?
Like a dream.
Then where is it? Weve got to get out of here. Ive got the engines turning over and a man on the wheel.
Take it easy, Keogh said. Hell be here. Go and make sure everythings ready.
Tully turned away reluctantly and Keogh smiled at Kathleen and took out a cigarette. We did it, Kate, we did it.
She was incredibly excited. I know, I know, Martin, but where is Uncle Michael?
Hes coming, girl dear. That transporter isnt as nippy as the Montesa.
But it was another agonizing twenty minutes before the green and white transporter appeared from the mist, came along the jetty, and bounced on board. It rolled to a halt and braked and Ryan got out.
I thought Id had it. The damned engine died on me.
Already Dolan and Bert Fox were hurriedly clamping the huge wheels to the deck.
Kathleen said, What happened?
Theres an automatic choke system. It was jammed full on. Must have been the blast from the stun grenade. Once Id got it in I managed to get going again.
Tully called from the bridge, Can we go for Christs sake?
Ryan waved. As soon as you like.
The Irish Rose slipped out into the estuary and fled into the mist leaving the land behind.
We did it, Ryan said.
We certainly did. Keogh offered him a cigarette. Only one matter of interest still to be resolved.
And whats that? Ryan asked, accepting a light.
Oh, exactly at what point on the way to Kilalla they intend to hit us.
Well, the best way of handling that is to impress them, Ryan said. Get your AK out and Ill do the same. Conspicuous display at all times.
And Im carrying, too, Kathleen said. Ive got my Colt in my inside pocket.
For Gods sake, stay out of it, girl, and leave it to Martin and me.
He got back in the cab, opened the case, and took out the other AK. He got down again, held it against his thigh, and moved to the rail. There were a couple of ships boats on either side at the stern suspended in davits and an inflatable in yellow plastic with an outboard motor.
Handy for his illicit runs ashore, Ryan observed.
The outboard looks pretty good to me, Keogh said. Close to brand new.
Probably stolen if I know Tully.
So what do we do now? Keogh asked.
Give him time. Hes got to work the ship. Well wait till were a few miles out to sea, then well have words.
He looked up at the wheelhouse and saw Tully looking down at them from the stern window. Ryan waved, grinning.
IN THE WHEELHOUSE, Muller was again at the wheel. Tully sat at the chart table, Dolan standing beside him. Grant and Fox were below in the engine room.
You see what theyre carrying? Dolan demanded.
Yes, AKs.
Those things could cut us to pieces.
I know. Weve got to box clever. Hide your gun in the chart drawer, Mullers too, then go below and tell Fox and Grant to stow theirs somewhere in the engine room. Ill keep mine in my pocket.
But I dont understand.
Look, its obvious hes leaving us to make our way out to sea. After a while, hell be coming to see me, and armed like that theres nothing we can do. Theyll search the lot of us at gun point and wont find anything.
Except yours.
Which might make Ryan think thats all there is. Dolan looked dubious and Tully pushed him. Go on, get moving. Ive got a course to lay.
Dolan went out and Muller said in his heavily accented English, So, we still go to Kilalla?
Well, we cant exactly turn due south. Ryans no fool. For the time being well simply make for the coast of County Down in a general way until we see what happens.
With guns such as they have it could be difficult.
You worry too much, Tully said. Its going to work, and Im going to take that truck from them one way or another, I promise you.
RYAN WAITED FOR an hour before making his move. Right, he said, you stay up in the cab, Kathleen, nice and comfortable, while Martin and I go and sort out the bad guys.
I could die for a cup of tea.
Well, if you look in the case beside the weapons youll find a damn great Thermos flask, courtesy of Mary Power. Theres an old cake tin in there, too. No cake, just ham and cheese sandwiches.
Uncle Michael, youre the wonder of the world. You think of everything.
Not this time. Thank Mary Power. He turned to Keogh. Here we go, Martin, moment of truth.
TULLY WATCHED THEM coming, Ryan in the lead, and debated for a wild moment trying to shoot him as he mounted the steel ladder to the bridge, but hastily abandoned the idea as Keogh stood back, AK raised to cover Ryan. Ryan reached the bridge safely and stood outside the open door covering Tully, Muller at the wheel, and Dolan.
Top of the morning, Ryan said and raised his voice. Come away up, Martin.
Keogh joined him a moment later. There you are, Tully, hows the ear?
Tully glowered at him. Its been better.
Im sorry to hear that.
Search them, Ryan told him.
Keogh quickly ran a hand over Muller, then Dolan. He found the Smith amp; Wesson revolver Tully had in his pocket.
Very naughty, Ryan said. Im surprised at you.
Im the captain, Tully protested. What do you expect?
Oh, almost anything from you. Where are the other two?
Grant and Fox are in the engine room.
Well pay them a visit and take another look at this pig boat on the way.
As you like. Tully shrugged and went to the voice pipe and whistled. Fox replied and Tully said, Mr. Ryan wants a look at the engine room. Were on our way down.
Good, Ryan said. Lets get moving. He nodded to Dolan. You too.
FROM THE DECK below the wheelhouse a companionway led to a narrow passage, door on either side. One of the doors had Toilet painted on it. Keogh opened it and found a stall lavatory, a wash basin, and a shower.
Is this for the whole boat?
No, I have a separate one, Tully said. It goes with my cabin. Thats under the wheelhouse.
And these other doors?
Crew quarters.
Keogh opened the doors and had a glimpse of untidy bunks and general disorder. What a stink. Doesnt anybody wash on this boat?
Tully was enraged but kept his mouth shut. Ryan said, So wheres the engine room?
End of the passage.
Right, lead the way the both of you.
Tully opened a door at the end and the throbbing of the engines became very pronounced. They went down a companionway and found themselves in the engine room itself, Grant and Fox oiling the pistons and other moving parts.
They paused in their work and Tully said, Is everything okay?
As much as it ever will be with this old bag of bones, Grant told him.
Keogh said, Hands high, boys.
Ryan raised his rifle and, sullenly, they did as they were told. Keogh retired, satisfied. Clean as a whistle.
Fine, Ryan said. Well go back, then.
SIX
THE SEA WAS building up as they went out on deck, and the Irish Rose was already beginning to roll from side to side. Rain swept in clearing the mist a little. They went back up to the wheelhouse climbing the ladder one by one.
Tully sat down at the chart table. So what now?
Ive done a boat crossing from the Lake District coast to Ulster twice over the years, Ryan told him.
Is that a fact?
Yes, so I know where the Isle of Man is halfway between the two and we pass south, skirting what they call the Calf of Man?