U700 by James Follett

Author:James Follett [Follett, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2012-03-04T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 50.

THAT NIGHT, SOME 400 MILES TO THE SOUTH-west in Southern Ireland, Patrick Gallagher was sitting in Toomley's drinking his third pint of the evening. He was careful with his money - to be seen out drinking every night would start gossip and speculation, and that would never do. On the other hand, he could buy the lads the occasional round because he was unmarried and his official job as a telegrapher was well-paid. It was all a matter of balance.

A man who was not a regular entered the bar and hoisted himself onto one of the two stools that Toomley provided for those customers who didn't understand that bars should be leaned on and not sat at. Gallagher watched him out of the corner of his eye. He was about forty, short, and a little overweight. He was wearing a light blue suit. He ordered a whiskey and asked Toomley if he had any cigars. Toomley sold him the ancient Havana that had been in the sweet jar behind the bar for as long as Gallagher could remember.

The stranger lit the cigar, inhaled deeply, then looked suspiciously at the glowing tip. He caught Gallagher's eye, smiled, and raised his glass.

`Nice evening for fishing,' he said.

Gallagher was about to point out that it was pouring with rain when a warning bell jangled at the back of his mind. He lowered his tankard and stared at the stranger in the etched mirror at the back of the bar.

`Of course,' the stranger continued, `I once tried freshwater fishing, but I didn't like the taste of anything I caught. Now I stick to sea fishing.'

Gallagher turned. The stranger had been word-perfect. With a sinking heart Gallagher realized he was going to start earning all the money that had been paid into his Dublin account.

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