But if he doesnt know about Kilalla, he isnt a threat, Keogh said.
Not when we land, but later. Ryan shrugged. Who knows? Anyway, lets go back to the farm. Ive got the Land Rover at the cottage.
MARY POWER PROVIDED a simple meal at one oclock, vegetable soup, a cheese salad, and the inevitable tea. Afterwards, as she cleared the table, she said to Benny, Mind your chores now. The sheep in the north meadow need seeing to.
He nodded eagerly, got his cap, and went out. A moment later Keogh, standing at the window, saw him cross the yard, a sack across his shoulders against the rain, the dog at his heels.
Hes a worker, that lad, Ill say that for him.
And in the mind still a child, she said. He has to be told everything.
Ryan finished his tea and stood up. I want to look at the ambush site again. Well go in the Ford van, me and Kathleen. You follow on the Montesa. Ill give you one of the radios. When we get there, you carry on up the road a mile or two, then contact me. Use the call sign Eagle One, like I said. Ill be Eagle Two.
Fine by me, Keogh told him.
AS THE FORD turned into the track toward the road leading down Eskdale, the girl was at the wheel. She glanced at her uncle.
You know Im not even licensed to do this. Im under age.
And you handling a wheel to the manner born since you were fourteen. I mind that night when I took a bullet and crashed my car near Kilkelly.
And you handling a wheel to the manner born since you were fourteen. I mind that night when I took a bullet and crashed my car near Kilkelly.
And you phoned me from a roadside phone box and told me to get the boys to come and get you.
And came yourself, you little devil, and in a stolen car.
Well, who showed me how to hot-wire a stolen car?
I know, and to my shame. He laughed. The state I was in when you got there. Soaked to the skin in a stinking ditch, a bullet in the shoulder, and then you crashed through that RUC roadblock.
Great days, Uncle Michael.
Were they? He lit a cigarette and opened the window. Sometimes Im not so certain anymore. I must be getting old. He smiled suddenly. One thing I am sure of. Youre a remarkable girl, Kathleen, and you deserve better. Dammit, you could be an early entrant for the University.
Oh, hold your tongue, she told him. Ive more important things to do with my life.
He sat there thinking about it, and a moment later they reached the junction and pulled in.
KEOGH FOLLOWED TWO hundred yards behind. He was wearing the bikers black leather jacket and the helmet. In spite of the rain, he was enjoying himself, and the Montesa responded well.
The Ford van turned into a lay-by a few yards from the junction. Keogh raised a clenched fist in greeting and carried on.
RYAN SAT IN the van, the two-way radio in his hand, opened the door, and looked out at the lay-by. This will do fine. After all, we dont want to block the road so effectively and this thing burning so that I cant get by in the transporter.
At that moment Keoghs voice crackled over the radio, Eagle Two, this is Eagle One. Are you receiving me?
Loud and clear, Ryan said. Anything to report?
Nothing but birds, the sea, and this bloody rain. Can I go now?
Ill see you back at the farm. Over and out.
Ryan switched off the radio and smiled at Kathleen. Ive seen enough, girl, so back to Follys End it is.
MARY POWER SERVED the evening meal at seven oclock, roast lamb, potatoes, carrots, cabbage. What fascinated Keogh was the vast amount of food Benny managed to put away.
Jesus, but youd think it was going to be his last meal on top of earth, Keogh said.
Well if he does the work of three men, hes entitled to eat three mens food, Kathleen put in.
But not to forget his manners, Mary Power said and she reached over and hit Benny over the knuckles with a wooden spoon. Now be a good boy and go and do the milking.
He pulled on his cap, bread and cheese in one hand. Yes, Aunty, he mumbled and went out.
Away into the parlour with you and Ill serve tea in there, she told them.
Kathleen Ryan started to clear the plates and Keogh said firmly, My turn. Off you go with your uncle, theres a good girl.
Good girl yourself, she said, but went anyway, following Ryan out.
No Irishman I ever knew would volunteer to do the work of a woman, so I take it you wanted to speak to me, Mary Power said.
Something like that. Keogh stacked the plates for her. Are you happy with everything so far?
Happy? She filled the sink with hot water and slid the plates in. Ive forgotten what that word means. My husband and I came here full of hope, but this is only a place to die in. Subsistence farming of the worst kind. The land is a cruel master here.
I can see that.
So when Michael came to me with word of this ploy he wanted to organize, it was like a line thrown to a drowning man. If it comes off, Benny and I can go back to Ulster.
And if it doesnt?
Well be trapped here forever. Michael made it clear there would be no police trouble whatever happens. Nothing to connect us with you lot.
And with luck thats the way it should stay.
Lets hope so. Politics mean nothing to me, but Michael is a good man and I trust him.
Keogh left her there and went into the parlour. The girl sat in the windowseat with her copy of The Midnight Court. Ryan was filling his pipe by the fire and lit it with a taper.
A good woman, that, Keogh said. Shes had a bad time.
The worst, Ryan told him. But better times coming, God willing. Wed better check the weaponry in the barn after weve had our tea.
That suits me fine, Keogh said.
And me, Kathleen put in. Id like to try out that Colt pistol Mr. Bell gave me.
Well, well see, Ryan told her and at that moment Mary Power brought in a tray with the tea things.
LATER, IN THE dimly lit barn, Keogh and Ryan laid out the weaponry from Ryans big case. There were the two AK assault rifles, spare clips, the stun and smoke grenades, and the Semtex with its timing pencils. There was even a spare Walther in a leather ankle holster.
Keogh checked it out. Where did that come from?
Oh, I thought it might come in useful. I always liked the idea of an ace in the hole, Ryan said.
Keogh examined each AK separately, running his hands over the various parts expertly. He loaded one and passed it to Ryan. That latest silencer they have is pretty damn good. Try it.
He took a wooden plank to the other end of the barn, propped it against the bales of hay, and came back. Kathleen and Benny stood watching.
Ryan raised the AK and fired three single shots. There was the familiar crack the weapon always made in the silenced mode and three bullet holes appeared in the plank.
Keogh loaded the second AK and passed it across. And that one.
Ryan pressed the trigger again and achieved the same result. He lowered the weapon and placed it on the trestle table. Thats all right, then.
Kathleen came forward holding the Colt.25 automatic. Now me.
Keogh said, Its all yours.
She raised the Colt in both hands, took careful aim, and fired, kicking up straw to one side of the plank.
Try again, Ryan told her.
The anger showed on her face, but she took aim again and achieved the same result.
She was furious now and Keogh said, Look, most people cant hit a barn door with a handgun, so dont take it to heart. Come with me. He stopped six or seven feet away from the plank. I wouldnt try it from any further away than this if I were you. Just point and shoot.
She tried again, clipping the plank with one shot, but her second was on target. Much better, Keogh said. But holding the barrel against the target and pulling the trigger gets an even better result.
He turned and walked back and Ryan was laughing. Even Benny was smiling and she was annoyed. Well, what about you, small man? Lots of advice for others, but little on display from yourself.
Keogh turned, face calm, and it was as if she was only noticing for the first time how cold his eyes were. His hand went under his jacket at the rear, the Walther swung up, he fired six times, double-tapping splinters flew from the plank and it toppled over.
Benny had his hands over his ears in spite of the silencer and Kathleens look of astonishment was something to see. Keogh didnt say a word, simply ejected the clip and refilled it.
It was Ryan who put it into words. Here endeth the lesson. Now lets turn in. Its going to be a hell of a day tomorrow.
ABOUT FOUR MILES south of Marsh End and some five miles off the coast, the Irish Rose was on course, rolling heavily in a troubled sea, winds four to five. In the wheelhouse, the German, Muller, was at the wheel. Tully sat at the chart table, a cardboard box in front of him, and the crew crowded round.
ABOUT FOUR MILES south of Marsh End and some five miles off the coast, the Irish Rose was on course, rolling heavily in a troubled sea, winds four to five. In the wheelhouse, the German, Muller, was at the wheel. Tully sat at the chart table, a cardboard box in front of him, and the crew crowded round.
Seven or eight handguns in there so take your pick. I want every man armed.
Dolan took a Smith amp; Wesson.38. This will do me fine.
The others helped themselves. Jock Grant, the engineer, said, Whats our estimated time of arrival?
About eleven oclock in the morning, but I cant be sure. I mean, I dont know this Marsh End place, so navigating could be awkward and we need to go in on the tide.
So what happens? Dolan asked.
I dont know is the answer. When Bell first spoke to me he said wed to be ready to leave late afternoon. He said the tide would be turning then and the timing was essential. Well go in and wait. I mean, Ryans bound to turn up to finalize things.
But hes bound to expect trouble after what happened, Dolan persisted.
Look, he doesnt have any choice. Once he has that truck, hes got to get it away. Ill tell him it was all a mistake, that I didnt mean any harm, that I was just making sure everything was on the level, thats all. What happens when we get to sea is another matter.
Dolan said, But that little Keogh bastard is red hot. I mean, look what he did to your ear.
Im not forgetting, but just remember, theres five of us and only Ryan and Keogh and the girl, and shes the key. If we can get our hands on her, Ryan will cave in soon enough. Well have to make it up as we go along. We wont hit the Irish coast till dawn. Ill think of something, but to start with, everybody behaves.