“That’s just your hard luck, Dillon,” she told him, went to the Renault, got in, and drove away. IN THE BACK PARLOUR OF THE LOYALIST, KEVIN Stringer embraced Barry. “Jack, I can’t tell you how great it is to see you again.”
“And you, Kevin. This is my associate, Mr. Sol-lazo from New York. You’ve found a boat?”
“Indeed I have. Avenger, a motor launch a friend of mine up the coast bought for the shark fishing only the sharks went away.”
Sollazo laughed out loud. “That I like.”
“How far would you be going?” Stringer asked.
“Rathlin Island,” Barry said. “Does anyone live
there’these days?” “Not in years.” “How far?”
“Only three or four miles.”
“Good, we can take a look.”
“Fine,” Stringer said. “But come and have a drink and something to eat.”
“So you’re doing food these days?” Barry said.
“We all need to make a living, Jack, and times are changing with the peace process. Tourists flooding back, Americans like Mr. Sollazo. I have seven rooms here. In the summer I was full most weeks. But come and eat. Best Irish stew in the country.” THERE WERE A FEW REGULARS IN THE BAR having a drink. Barry and Sollazo sat’at the table in the bow window, ate rabbit pie and drank Guinness.
On the other side of the bar, Hannah Bernstein did a good nervous act to the barman.
“Could I just have sandwiches?”
Kevin Stringer moved in fast and smiled, at his
most expansive. “Anything you’d like.”
-“Well, salad would be fine,” she said.
“No problem. Touting, are you?” “That’s fight.” “And to drink?”
“A vodka and tonic would be nice.”
“Coming up. Just you sit yourself down.”
There were some newspapers on a stand by the
door. She took one and sat at a table at the far end of the room from the window. Barry had his back to her so it was Sollazo who noticed. Very nice, he thought. It was a strange quirk, but he’d always liked wonen who wore glasses. AN HOUR LATER, SOLLAZO, BARRY, AND STRINGER went down to the harbor: Stringer led the way to the slipway and agreen inflatable with an outboard motor.
“Here we go,” he s.aid.
Sollazo and Barry climbed in, Stringer followed
and cast off. He started the outboard and they moved away. Hannah,.wandering down from the pub, watched them go. FROM THE HILL DEVLIN FOLLOWED, THEIR PROGress through the binoculars. “I was right,” he said with some satisfaction. “They’re closing on the boat that looked promising.” He nodded. “Now they’re boarding. Have a look.”
Dillon did, watching them board, then swung to
the jetty and focused on Hannah Bernstein. “Take care, girl dear, take care,” he said softly. ON BOARD AVENGER, BARRY AND SOLLAZO FOLlowed Stringer as he showed them around. “One cabin, two bunks, the saloon with benches that allow for another two bunks, galley, toilet, and that’s it.” They ended up in the wheelhouse.
Sollazo said, “It seems as if it’s seen better days.” “Top show isn’t everything. It looks shabby, but the hull is steel and by Akerboon. Penta. petrol engine, twin screws. Good for twenty-five knots. She’s got a depth sounder, radar, automatic steering. Everything you need.”
Barry turned to Sollazo. “Are you happy?” “Sounds good to me.”
Barry nodded and said to Stringer, “Fine, Kevin.
We’ll unload the station wagon in your garage. You put the stuff on board later. We’ll return to Dublin.
We’ll be back before noon tomorrow to put to sea.” “That’s fine, Jack.”
They went to the rail and Sollazo dropped into the inflatable. Stringer said eagerly, “It’s important, is it, Jack? I mean for the movement? The great days back?”
“I know what you mean, Kevin,” Barry said. “To hell with peace.” ‘ HANNAH PULLED IN BESIDE THE TOYOTA AT THE top of the hill and got out. “They came back from the boat and went to the pub.” z67
Dillon had the binoculars raised. “The station wagon’s just leaving. No matter, only one road they can go. We’ll catch them.”
“So, if they’re leaving they’ll be coming back,”
Devlin said.
“And I think I should be here to receive them,” Hannah sai& “Have you got a bag of any description in your car, Liam?”