dropped the masquerade. “What makes you think it’s only going to be a couple of bombs? This isn’t a sodding poncey boys’ club we’re talking about, Bri. We’re frigging serious. Look at it like an incendiary. Not so powerful in itself, but when it spreads – watch out. One bomb can set a whole bloody city ablaze, and after that, the country.”
Brian guffawed. “My God, Donny, you should hear yourself. That’s the worst kind of shite I’ve heard in a while. Who’s your ventriloquist? You couldn’t come up with rubbish like that on your own, that’s for sure.”
Donny’s façade cracked, and briefly raw, primitive anger showed through. Brian had scored a hit. He tried to balance his weight so he could be ready for an attack if it came. His heart was pounding and he was giddy.
“No need to insult a pal,” said Donny. “Anyways, whether you believe me or not don’t matter a piss. I know it’s true. So whaddya think? All I want from you is to make the timers.”
“People will be killed.”
“No, they won’t. They might get some plaster dust in their golden tresses, but it won’t be serious unless you’re the kindof silly bint who considers that the end of the world.” Again he gave his funny grin, his scar showing white on his lip.
“Where am I going to get the materials?”
“We’ll bring them to you. Jackie, your cheeky little brother, is being most helpful. He can be our go-between.”
“And if I say no?”
Donny shrugged. “That’s your bloody choice, of course, but that don’t make no sense. Here I am offering you freedom: papers that can get you into Ireland. You’ll be able to walk about, come and go, just like anybody else. You won’t be shut up in a bleedin’ house, hiding under the bleedin’ bed with the po. But on the other hand, if the frogs did receive a little tip, quietly over the phone, that’s it – off you go. They’ll throw away the bleedin’ key to the glasshouse. That is, if they don’t hang you first.”
Brian stared at him. He could feel a sour taste in his mouth.
“Ooh, you do have a mad face on, Bri.”
“I could turn myself in and blow the whole story.”
Donny nodded as sagely as any judge. “You could, Bri, you could. But I know you won’t do that.”
“How the fuck can you be so sure of that?”
“Her name’s Vanessa.”
“What d’you mean?”
“I’m sure you’d like to see your wife. What man wouldn’t? She’s a smasher, that one. You do what I ask and you’ll see her soon. You don’t and …”
Brian sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. His head was throbbing.
Finally he said. “I’ll do it.”
“Jolly good, old top.” Donny stood up and stubbed out his cigarette on the floor. “Like I said, Jackie will be our messenger boy. He’ll bring you the stuff you need. No need to wait. Get ’em done right away and Bob’s your uncle, off you go toPaddy land. And Bri … don’t try to be a bloody hero. It’s too late for that. I’ve told Jackie to get in touch with your Vanessa. He’s going to bring her to you tonight. That’s nice of me, wouldn’t you say?”
“What if she can’t come tonight?” Brian blurted out.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s as keen to see you as you are to see her.” Donny actually licked his lips – “From what I’ve heard, she likes a bit of dock, does your wife.”
Brian couldn’t hold back. He grabbed Donny by the lapels, almost spitting into his face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He could see that his outburst pleased Donny. He let him go immediately, but it was too late. Donny had evened the score. He’d hit the Achilles heel.
“Doesn’t mean bloody anything other than what you want it to bloody well mean. She’s a tasty bit of crumpet and you’re still newlyweds, aren’t you. She’ll have missed getting it. That’s all. Now come and see me out before the old lady gets back.”
Brian followed him into the hallway. Jack was sitting on the
Brian guffawed. “My God, Donny, you should hear yourself. That’s the worst kind of shite I’ve heard in a while. Who’s your ventriloquist? You couldn’t come up with rubbish like that on your own, that’s for sure.”
Donny’s façade cracked, and briefly raw, primitive anger showed through. Brian had scored a hit. He tried to balance his weight so he could be ready for an attack if it came. His heart was pounding and he was giddy.
“No need to insult a pal,” said Donny. “Anyways, whether you believe me or not don’t matter a piss. I know it’s true. So whaddya think? All I want from you is to make the timers.”
“People will be killed.”
“No, they won’t. They might get some plaster dust in their golden tresses, but it won’t be serious unless you’re the kindof silly bint who considers that the end of the world.” Again he gave his funny grin, his scar showing white on his lip.
“Where am I going to get the materials?”
“We’ll bring them to you. Jackie, your cheeky little brother, is being most helpful. He can be our go-between.”
“And if I say no?”
Donny shrugged. “That’s your bloody choice, of course, but that don’t make no sense. Here I am offering you freedom: papers that can get you into Ireland. You’ll be able to walk about, come and go, just like anybody else. You won’t be shut up in a bleedin’ house, hiding under the bleedin’ bed with the po. But on the other hand, if the frogs did receive a little tip, quietly over the phone, that’s it – off you go. They’ll throw away the bleedin’ key to the glasshouse. That is, if they don’t hang you first.”
Brian stared at him. He could feel a sour taste in his mouth.
“Ooh, you do have a mad face on, Bri.”
“I could turn myself in and blow the whole story.”
Donny nodded as sagely as any judge. “You could, Bri, you could. But I know you won’t do that.”
“How the fuck can you be so sure of that?”
“Her name’s Vanessa.”
“What d’you mean?”
“I’m sure you’d like to see your wife. What man wouldn’t? She’s a smasher, that one. You do what I ask and you’ll see her soon. You don’t and …”
Brian sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. His head was throbbing.
Finally he said. “I’ll do it.”
“Jolly good, old top.” Donny stood up and stubbed out his cigarette on the floor. “Like I said, Jackie will be our messenger boy. He’ll bring you the stuff you need. No need to wait. Get ’em done right away and Bob’s your uncle, off you go toPaddy land. And Bri … don’t try to be a bloody hero. It’s too late for that. I’ve told Jackie to get in touch with your Vanessa. He’s going to bring her to you tonight. That’s nice of me, wouldn’t you say?”
“What if she can’t come tonight?” Brian blurted out.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s as keen to see you as you are to see her.” Donny actually licked his lips – “From what I’ve heard, she likes a bit of dock, does your wife.”
Brian couldn’t hold back. He grabbed Donny by the lapels, almost spitting into his face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He could see that his outburst pleased Donny. He let him go immediately, but it was too late. Donny had evened the score. He’d hit the Achilles heel.
“Doesn’t mean bloody anything other than what you want it to bloody well mean. She’s a tasty bit of crumpet and you’re still newlyweds, aren’t you. She’ll have missed getting it. That’s all. Now come and see me out before the old lady gets back.”
Brian followed him into the hallway. Jack was sitting on the
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