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 wasn’t 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 touchl He was aware of the driver, the two behifi, one already with a gun in his hand. Ryan lobbed in a stUngrenade. It was enough.
A moment later, he had the “driver from behind the wheel, dazed and bewildered. Keogh pulled out tho two security guards. They dragged them behind the field wall and ecured 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 waponry 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 biker’s 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 1End 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 pillioniind Keogh dismounted.
He had the AK out in sex:6fids and unfolded the stock.
“There’s no need for that,” Tully said. “Did it work?”
“Like a dream.”
“Then where is it? We’ve got to get out of here.
I’ve got the engines turning over and a n]an on the wheel.”
“Take it easy,” Keogh said. “He’ll be here. Go and make sure everything’s 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. “[ know, I know, Mat-tin, but where is Uncle Michael?”
“He’s coming, girl dear. That transporter isn’t as nippy-as the ‘ lesa”‘
But it was another agonizing twen 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 I’d 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?”
“There’s an automatic choke system. It was jammed full on. Must have been the. blast from the stun grenade. Once I’d got it in i managed to get going again.’….
Tully called from the bridge, “Can we go for Christ’s 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 what’s 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 I’ll do the same. Conspicuous display at all times.” “And I’m carrying, too,” Kathleen said. “I’ve got my Colt in my inside pocket.” “For God’s 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. Ie got down again, held it against his thigh, and moved to the rail. There were a couple of ship’s boats on either side at the stem suspended in davits and an inflatable in yellow plastic with an outboard motor.