There was also an old Ford van.
Ryan said, “Now if you were driving along a country road and you saw that van burning and a young girl lying in the road, blood on her face, would you stop?” “I’d have to say I would,” Keogh said.
“And so will they.” Ryan put an arm around Kathleen.
“A chance to earn your Oscar, girl.” “I won’t let you down.” “I know you won’t. Now let’s go in and we’ll take it step-by-step.”
“As I TOLD YOU, THE TRANSPORTER REACHES the junction at approximately four o’clock on Friday.” They were all there in the kitchen. Maryland Kathleen at the table with Ryan, Benny at the door, and Keogh by the fire.
Ryan said, “Kathleen and I will drive to the Scene of the action in the Ford van. You follow on the Montesa.
I’ve got a couple of two-way radios in the case.
You’ll have one with you. You’ll carry on a couple of miles and wait for the transporter. When you see it, you call me. Use’Eagle One as a call Sign, I’ll use Eagle Two.” “What do I do then?” “Overtake the truck and join us. Weql set fire to the Ford and Kathleen lies down in the road and does her thing. I’ve some of that false blood actors use.
She’ll put it on her face.” “Then they stop, or we hope they do, and you use the Howler to screw up the transporter’s whole security system.” “They’ll be cut off from the world.” “And if they fight?” “No problem. I’ve got two AK rifles in my case, stun grenades, and gas grenades. Even Semtex and pencil timers, but the doors will be unlocked anyway thanks to the Howler. Fifteen minutes after we leave the farm, Benny will. drive the replica transporter
down to the coast road where he’ll dump it and clear off back to the farm on foot.” “So, we neutralile the guards. What then?” “You and Kathleen get the hell out of it on the Montesa, all the way to the jetty at Marsh End. I’ll follow in the track.” “But why can’t we all go together in the truck?” Keogh asked.
Ryan put an arm around Kathleen again. “Because the track’s the vulnerable end of things. If anything goes sour, that’s where it will. I want her out of it.
If things do go wrong, then as long as you and Kathleen get to the Irish Rose, there’s always the chance of getting away?
Kathleen said, “What do you think, Martin?” Keogh said, “That it’s ‘going to be one hell of a Friday.”
IN KILBURN, JUST BEFORE EVENING, HUGH BELL was sitting at the desk in his office when th door opened and the barman looked in.
“Some gentlemen to see you, sir.” He was pulled to one side and a very large man in a navy blue raincoat entered, hands in pockets.
“So there you are, you old bastard.” “Scully. What do you want?” and Bell knew fear.
“I’ve brought an old friend to see you.” He stood to one side and a small man entered. His face was thin and wasted, he wore wire spectacles beneath an old trilby hat and a fawn raincoat.
“Mr. Reid,” Bell said, his mouth dry. “Nice to see you, Hugh.” The Belfast accent was very pronounced. “A word would seem to be in order.”
“A word?” Bell said. “I don’t understand.” “You don’t?” Reid took off his hat and sat at the table. “And me all the way from Belfast on behalf of the Army Council.”
“But what would they want with me?”
Reid took out an old silver case and selected a cigarette. Scully lit it for him with his lighter. “Don’t fence with me, Hugh. The other year Michael Ryan put up a hare-brained scheme to knock off some bullion truck up in the northwest of England. Don’t deny it because you were involved. The Army Council turned it down.”
“That’s true,” Bell said lamely. “I do recall something of that.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Hugh. Things get out as things always do, and the whisper is tha-Michael is going ahead with this job on his own initiative, right now.” He smiled thinly. “It would seem obviousthat you would be the man to know the truth of the matter.” He turned. “Wouldn’t you agree, Scully?”