Jack Higgins – The Violent Enemy

‘What kind of stuff do they carry?’

‘The usual weekend cash surplus, mainly old notes for re-pulping. You know what the banks are like. They don’t like it lying around these country branches. Usually around a quarter of a million.’

‘A useful sum.’

‘It would be to the Organization.’

Rogan laughed harshly. ‘God save us all, but here’s madness for you!’ He paced across to the window, then swung round angrily. ‘Was it for this you helped me out after seven years, Colum O’More?’

‘You’re the best brain we ever had,’ O’More said calmly, ‘the best organizer. We needed you.’

‘And if you hadn’t, where would I be now, Colum O’More?’

‘It took a lot to get you out, lad, and not only in hard cash. I’m depending on you.’

‘Then you’ll be disappointed.’ Rogan shook his head and moved back to the fireside. Tve had it up to here, Colum, can’t you see that? Forty years old and I’ve spent twelve of them in gaol. As far as I’m concerned, the game’s played out. The Organization must find another way to get what it wants. I’ve had my bellyful.’

The old man nodded. ‘And what will you be doing?’

‘There’s a farm in Kerry waiting for me now, you know that as well as I do. My father’s been running it since he retired from the political service ten years ago. He’s getting old, Colum, and so am I.’

‘Aren’t we all?’ The old man sighed. ‘So be it. North of here there’s a place on the coast called Ravenglass. I’ll give you the name of a man I know. He’ll see you across the water for a hundred pounds.’ He opened the drawer again, took out a packet of banknotes and tossed them on the table. ‘Good luck to ye, Sean Rogan.’

Rogan picked up the notes, weighing them in his hand, a frown on his face. ‘And you?’

‘God save us, lad, I’ve a job to do and men waiting ready for it back there in those mountains. I’ll see this thing through on my own.’

Rogan stood staring at him for a moment, then he turned without a word, flung open the door and moved outside.

CHAPTER SIX

THE tide was drifting in, gurgling in crab holes, stippled water covering the mud-flats with an expanse of shining silver that moved among sea asters, and somewhere a curlew cried, lonely in a sombre world.

Rogan crossed a narrow stone causeway and followed a path through rough marsh grass and reeds that were head high. On impulse he took an even narrower path to the right and, pushing his way through the undergrowth, emerged at the side of a narrow creek and found a motor launch moored to the bank.

There was no sign of life and he jumped down on to the deck and moved into the wheelhouse. Although the boat was obviously old, it was in good condition and the interior had recently been swept. The brass compass mounting and engine controls were brightly polished. There was a movement out on the deck behind him and he turned to see Hannah Costello standing watching him.

He moved out to join her and she tossed his trenchcoat across. T thought you might need this.’

He pulled it on, turning up the collar against the rain, and lit another cigarette. ‘Is this Colum’s?’

She nodded. ‘He sailed it down from Ravenglass himself.’

‘His quick exit when the job’s done?’ She nodded and he shook his head. ‘Well not me, I’m moving out now.’

‘No one’s stopping you.’

With a sudden rush the rain increased into a solid downpour and he stared out across the marsh. ‘A strange place this, like nowhere I’ve ever been. You’d swear there were eyes watching you from every thicket.’

‘Spirits of the dead,’ she said. ‘This is an ancient place. Ravenglass was a port even in Roman times. They called it Glannaventa. Not much more than a hundred years ago they found a longboat aground on the mud-flats at dawn half-filled with blood and a dozen revenuers with their throats cut. The free-traders used the farmhouse as their headquarters.’

‘Nothing changes,” he said.

She nodded. ‘The hardest lesson to learn. All my life I’ve been trying to change things, change me even. I always end up back at base.’

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