"Hello you two," I said, striding through the bubbling surf towards them. "A scorcher. Mind if I join you for a swim?"
Cormac stepped away from her a bit when I appeared.
"You hate swimming, Dads," she said, looking puzzled.
"Not on a day like this. And I bet I can still outswim you. Out to the buoy and back, what do you say?"
I touched my fingers to my lips as I took the pager bracelet off my wrist. Then reached out and unclasped Kriket's necklace with the pendant dolphin that disguised her pager. I held them below the surface of the water and swished them around before I spoke.
"Most people don't realize that these things are two-way. I want this conversation to be private."
"Dads, you're being paranoid…"
"Quite the contrary. Everything said in the house is being recorded by security. They think that Cormac is some kind of spy. I might have kept my silence except for the fact that I don't want you hurt."
I didn't think that he could do it, but Cormac managed to blush under his new tan. Kriket laughed.
"How sweet and medieval, Dads. But I can take care of myself."
"I hope so — although two divorces in three years is not much of a track record. Normally I would say it is your life and leave you to it. But Cormac is a foreign national, illegally in this country, suspected of a major crime."
"I don't believe a word of it! Cormac, sweet beast, tell Dads that he's brain-drained, that you're no spy."
"Your father is right, Kriket. According to your laws I'm here illegally, and they'll put me away as soon as it suits their fancy. I'm for a swim."
He dived in and splashed away. I noticed that he hadn't denied the spy charges. "Think about it," I said, then handed her back her necklace and plunged in as well.
The first of the autumn storms blew the heat away in September. We were watching them film the last of the series with a live interviewer. Thunder was rumbling outside but the filter circuits would grab the sound and nullify it.
"An ancient craft, nay verily, 'tis an art that is still practiced by aboriginals at the far ends of the world," the interviewer said. "But you have seen the incredibly ancient done right before your eyes, and I know that you, like me, have thrilled to see these lost skills exhumed from the darkness of history at last and displayed for all to see. That's it, cut and end."
"You're finished, then?" Cormac asked.
"In the can and we pull the set tomorrow."
"You do know that you were talking diabolical rubbish?"
"Of course. And you're being paid for it, Charley, don't forget that. With the average mental age of TV viewers hovering around twelve and a half, no one is going to lose money playing to that audience."
"And the boat?"
"Property of the network, Charley, read your contract. It goes with the rest tomorrow."
Cormac rested his hand on the smooth wood, rubbing it lightly. "Treat her well. You'll enjoy sailing in her."
"Going to sell her for money, Charley. Plenty of offers."
"Well, then." Cormac turned his back on the boat, already forgetting her. "It it suits your pleasure, Bil, I would greatly enjoy some of your bourbon, which, while not Irish whiskey, will do until the next bottle of Jamie comes along."
The rain was still lashing down and we ran the few meters to the house.
Kriket went off to dry her hair, and I poured two large drinks.
"Here's to you," he said, raising his. "May the road rise up before you and may you be in heaven a year before the devil knows you're gone."
"Are you saying goodbye?"
"I am. A wee man with bandy legs and a vile disposition, name of Gregory, talked to me today. Asked a lot of political questions — even more than you have. He's coming for me in a few minutes, but I wanted to say goodbye first."
"So quickly? And about those questions, I'm sorry. I simply did as I was asked."
"A man can do no more. I appreciate your hospitality — and would have done the same myself. I have had the money I earned transferred to your account. I can't use it where I'm going."
"That's not fair—"
"It is, and I'll have it no other way."
He raised his head and I heard it too, the sound of a copter almost drowned out by the rain. He stood.
"I would like to go now, before your daughter returns. Say goodbye for me. She's a fine girl. I'll just get my raincoat. I'm not to take anything else."
Then he was gone, and I felt there were things I should have said that would now remain unsaid. The patio door opened and Gregory came in, dripping onto the carpet. His legs were too short for his body, bowed as well. He was far more impressive on the phone.
"I've come for Byrne."
"He told me. He's getting his coat. Isn't this all rather sudden?"
"No. Just in time. We finally pressured the English police. Sent them Byrne's prints from one of your glasses. He's not what he seems."
"He seems to be a sailor, a fisherman, and a boatwright, or whatever they are called."
"Perhaps." His smile was humorless. "He is also a colonel in the Irish Army."
"So I'm a yeoman in the Coast Guard. Is either a crime?"
"I am not here to talk to you. Get him."
"I dislike being ordered about in my own home."
I weakened my protest by doing as he bid. The door to the bath was open, and Kriket was still drying her hair. "Be with you in a moment,” she called out over the hum of the machine. I went to Cormac's room and looked in. Closed the door and returned to the living room. Sat and sipped some of my drink before I spoke.
"He's not there."
"Where is he?"
"How should I know?"
His chair went over as he rushed from the room. "In quite a hurry, isn't he?" Kriket said as she came in. "Can I have a drink?"
"Bourbon on the rocks, of course."
I reached out and touched her hair, — it was still damp.
"Cormac is gone.” I said as I poured the drink.
"So I heard. But he can't get far."
She smiled as she said this and made a very rude signal in the direction of the door. Then sipped demurely as Gregory came back in, streaming water and bursting with anger.
"He's gone — and his goddamn ship is gone too. You knew about this."
"Everything said here is being recorded, Gregory," I said, cold anger in my voice. "So watch your accusations, or I'll have you in court. I have cooperated with you every millimeter of the way. My daughter and I were right here when Cormac left. If there is any blame — why, you will just have to blame yourself."
"I'll get him!"
"I doubt it. The sea brought him — and now it will take him away. To report all the government secrets that he learned here." I could not help smiling.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Yes. You and your kind. This is a free country, and I would like to see it freer. We survived the crises of the twentieth century that wreaked destruction on the rest of the world. But we paid — are still paying — a very high price for this. It is time now that we opened our borders again and rejoined the rest of mankind."
"I know what Cormac was doing here," Kriket said suddenly, and we both turned to look at her. "He was a spy all right. A spy from Europe come to look us over. And I know his reasons, too. He wants to see if we are acceptable to the rest of the human race."