Page 36 of Four of Hearts

‘Please tell me you didn’t waterboard them.’

‘Couldn’t,’ said Smithy. ‘No water.’

Not the most reassuring response.

‘Then what?’ Harry asked.

‘Threw them in the truck, drove them about a bit more, then dumped them back at their car a few hours after you’d gone. Can’t say they looked very happy about it all.’

‘They didn’t try and chase after you?’

‘Couldn’t. We’d flattened the tyres. I was hoping they’d still be there next morning when we started tank manoeuvres.’

Smithy finished his water, stood up.

‘Well, I’d best be going. Nice to meet you at last, Harry. Let me know if you need any more help. Always happy to lend a hand.’

Dave stood up, embraced Smithy. They both watched the soldier leave.

‘He’s got a few tales to tell, hasn’t he?’ said Harry, leaning back in his chair.

‘Just a bit,’ agreed Dave. ‘You’ve not heard from this cousin of yours then?’

Harry shook his head.

‘Not a dicky bird.’

He would though, he knew that for sure. Whether the man was staying away because he had made a promise to, because he was just a little bit afraid now of the kind of friends Harry could call on to help, or a bit of both, he wasn’t sure. Neither did he care. He was just happy that the last two weeks had been calm, and that tomorrow, once it got going, there was nothing he could do to stop it. He and Grace, and Ben and Liz, they were just passengers. From here on in, the way the day went rested on the shoulders of others.

Dave, at long last, finished his half pint.

‘How did you make that last so long?’ Harry asked, as Dave stood up.

‘Just savoured the taste,’ Dave replied. ‘Anyway, best I get off now, Harry, if that’s okay? You’ll be away to bed yourself soon enough I should think. Big day tomorrow and all that. Room comfy?’

‘It’s grand,’ Harry said. ‘Weird to not be with Grace, but I get where Mandy’s coming from.’

Dave laughed.

‘Wouldn’t matter if you didn’t, you’d have still ended up doing as she’d said.’

‘True.’

Dave moved away from the table, and walked over to the door.

‘See you tomorrow, Harry,’ he said. ‘You’re a lucky man, you know that, right?’

Harry raised his glass.

‘Just a bit,’ he said.

FIFTEEN

When morning came round, Harry was happy to discover that he’d not been a complete idiot and stayed up till closing time and beyond drinking beer. The temptation had been there, and strong, but sense had won out. That, and the fact that Mandy had come over to make sure he was going to bed at a sensible time, so he’d be fresh for the day ahead.

Though he could still taste the beer from the night before, he wasn’t hungover, and so good was that feeling, that he pulled on his clothes from the day before, and headed down for breakfast. He was met by Angus, Mandy’s husband, in an otherwise empty breakfast room.

‘Sleep well then, Harry?’ Angus asked, having brought out some orange juice and toast.