Conna in Crisis & The Marriage of Ulick (21 page)

*

I
n the Russian embassy in London, Premier Petrof Loftrosky, on a special visit to the Court of St James, decided it was time to brief Ambassador, Ylad Zofsdri, but he would tell him only what he needed to know.

‘Ylad, you are aware of the talk in diplomatic circles about the rogue missile that crashed in western Ireland some months ago.’

‘Yes, Premier.’ He paused. ‘Is it worth risking a major conflict with the Americans?’

He nodded soberly. ‘I want to avoid conflict, but we have to have that weapon.’

Ylad wanted to ask about the weapon, but didn’t.

The Premier rose. ‘I’m off to meet UK Premier Jones. Afterwards, I’ll be making a major speech about peace in the world.’

They shook hands and the Premier departed, closely attended by his body guards.

Petrof Loftrosky smiled to himself as he descended in the lift. He hadn’t told his ambassador the full story. He had approved the purchase and would soon have the blueprints of this awesome weapon.

*

T
he Supreme Court in Galway sat in the old nineteenth century stone building beside the salmon weir bridge. Moxy O’Shea, acting for Oko Oil was seeking an order from the court restraining the people of Achill from interfering with his clients’ legal right to fulfil its obligations under the terms and conditions of the Concession granted by the Irish Government.

Ulick would seek to show that the government of Hi-Brazil wasn’t bound to honour a concession granted by another jurisdiction. Ulick maintained his usual bluff exterior; privately, he was beginning to think a visit to Knock might help.

He met and shook hands with Vincent Solan, the elderly, heavily built, affable owner of Achill’s luxury hotel, in the outer chamber. He had left his clients in no doubt; this was a very difficult case, one they could easily lose. Nodie would administer the law without fear or favour.

‘Well Ulick, how long will it take?’

He shook his head. ‘Weeks, probably months. You don’t need to be here every day.’

‘As long as that.’

‘Yes,’ he paused. ‘They’re calling us; we’d better go in.’

Ulick greeted Moxy affably and shook hands with him. In his three years in Brussels, Moxy had put on some weight, but he was still the same old gombeen man.

‘You’re on a loser this time, my friend.’ He smiled confidently.

Ulick merely shrugged. They took their seats and opened their briefcases. When Nodie entered, the court clerk called out “All stand.” Ulick thought she looked stunning. She nodded to the legal teams and sat down.

Moxy rose.

‘Mi Lady, my clients are objecting to your former employer appearing for the defence.’

She smiled. ‘Mr O’Shea, the people of Achill have every right to appoint their own counsel. Your objection is overruled.’

He sat down.

Ulick rose. ‘Mi Lady, I still have a considerable amount of research to finalise; it would greatly facilitate me if you would adjourn this case for two weeks.’

Moxy jumped up.

‘Mi Lady, I object.’

She looked down at Ulick.

‘May I ask why you need an adjournment?’

Ulick rose. ‘Mi Lady, may I crave your indulgence; this is a very complicated case that raises issues of a constitutional nature. I have a long list of witnesses, so long that I haven’t yet been able to see all of them.’

Nodie thought to herself; he’s throwing straw in the wind in the hopes of confusing the opposition.

She looked down at him. ‘Mr Joyc, I’ll adjourn for two weeks, but you had better be ready to proceed then.’

‘Thank you, Mi Lady.’

Moxy didn’t like it, but thought the better of antagonising the judge. He went to the Weir Hotel nearby and rang Michael Havlec in London.

‘He’s up to something, Mr Havlec.’

Havlec put down the phone. If these bastards in Hi-Brazil think they’re going to shaft Michael Havlec they’d better think again.

*

D
andaboy and Setanta arrived together in Nodie’s back garden where she was relaxing while John played ball. Setanta snuggled up to her. John stopped in front of Dandaboy.

‘Hello, funny little man,’ he grinned.

He put his index finger on his chest. ‘Me little man; one day, you big man.’

‘Do another trick for me.’

He put his hand on Setanta who promptly disappeared.

‘Where is he?’

He took away his hand and Setanta reappeared.

Nodie laughed turning to her son. ‘Who is this?’

He paused looking puzzled.

‘This is Dan-da-boy. Say it after me, Dan-da-boy.’

He took a deep breath. ‘Dan-da.’

‘Let’s make up a song to help you remember.’

She paused for a moment and then began.

‘Oh Dandaboy—Oh Dandaboy—why are you so small?

Oh Dandaboy—Oh Dandaboy—why are you so tall?’

‘That funny, mum. Do it again.’

‘You sing with me, you too Dandaboy.’

Setanta wasn’t prepared to be left out.

‘I sing too.’

‘Now,’ Nodie began, taking John in her arms.

Setanta barked out the words as best he could; it sounded like he was crunching gravel.

John, getting in on the act, clapped his hands for joy. ‘Again.’

‘Right,’ Nodie looked quizzically at Setanta.

Dandaboy quipped to him. ‘Not you, this time.’

He was disappointed, but he got the message.

Later, Nodie shared a packet of biscuits with John and Setanta; Dandaboy passed. She stood up. ‘I’m going to get some milk.’ She paused. ‘I hear Setanta has been drinking pints down in Paulo’s.’ She looked at Dandaboy. ‘Will I give him a bottle of porter?’

Setanta nodded vigorously; Dandaboy shook his head.

‘No, Nodie. I might have to carry him home.’

‘Spoilsport.’ he gritted.

*

A
nnie Clarke entered Ulick’s office one morning with a file in her hand.

‘Ulick,’ she smiled graciously. ‘I’m going to put the McDonagh case down for hearing in the High Court; will you lead on it?’

Having lost the Harny case he had little appetite for the High Court.

‘I thought that was settled.’

Setanta raised his head to hear better.

‘The settlement fell through.’

‘Very well, let me know when you get a date.’

She smiled and departed.

Setanta growled quietly to himself; I’ll have to talk to DanO and see what we can do.

*

J
oss Ryan was becoming more and more impatient; there were no reports of unusual activity from his operatives around the world. After the departure of the Chinese and Russian ships from Hi-Brazil waters, Eddy Soames reported that two spies had moved into the Turla Lodge Hotel. What were they up to? Someone had the plans. It was clear now that John Yang sold out. He ordered Eddy Soames to keep an eye on those people.

Another email arrived for him via Iceland. It read: “You may now have the plans for $100 million. If and when this sum is lodged to the specified account, we will tell you where you may accept delivery. If we do not hear from you, the plans will be offered to the Chinese and Russians.” That explained the Russian and Chinese presence in Turla.

He couldn’t contact these bastards; if he could, he would have them traced, take the plans and wipe them out. He couldn’t let the Chinese or the Russians have the plans either. The chances of recovering the missile weren’t good. Shit. He would have to consult the President; this decision couldn’t be his alone.

*

I
n Turla Madame Lin and Boris were looking at similar messages. They tried to trace the sender. All Brother Eoin could tell them was that they were delivered by a courier firm from Galway. Retiring to their rooms, they rang their superiors for instructions. Eddy was aware that something was going on, but had no idea what it was. His Director hadn’t seen fit to advise him. Judith sat by the lake reading her book.

*

I
n the crowded courtroom, the Oko oil case finally commenced before Supreme Court Justice Ms Nodie Morris. The TV and newspapers were full of it with particular emphasis on the dire consequences if the Achill people lost again. Ulick had already made it clear that he would not be charging for his services, but that was the least of his worries.

Moxy opened the case against the people of Achill.

‘Mi Lady, I’m putting in evidence the documented concession issued to my clients, which authorised them to explore for oil in the areas A5 to A9 as indicated on the attached map. In the event of a successful bore and it has been successful, my clients are authorised to pump oil to a specially constructed refinery on Achill Island. This, as you will appreciate, is a contract between my clients and the lawful governing authority of the area: then the Republic of Ireland: now the state of Hi-Brazil. It’s a clear cut simple situation which should not take up much of the court’s time.’

He sat down.

‘Thank you, Mr O’Shea,’ the justice nodded. ‘You may call your first witness.’

Moxy rose. ‘Mi Lady, I don’t propose to call any witnesses.’ He handed a copy of the Concession to the court clerk. ‘My client’s contract is clear, undeniable and irrefutable.’

‘Thank you, Mr O’Shea.’

She looked to Ulick.

‘Mr Joyc.’

Ulick rose.

‘Mi Lady, my clients contest the legality of this contract on three grounds. Number 1. The state of Hi-Brazil cannot be bound by an agreement entered into by another state. 2. I will prove that the ecological risks to our marine and wild life would be so extensive as to render this kind of activity detrimental to our environment. 3. and finally, every contract has to have balance and equity; this one, which would give this state a miserable 1% royalty, is the most ridiculous I have ever encountered. Therefore, I ask that this court rule in favour of my clients.’

He sat down to applause from the gallery.

‘Thank you, Mr Joyc. May I see your list of witnesses?’

He took a list out of his briefcase, handed a copy to the court clerk and a copy to Moxy.

She studied it closely.

Moxy jumped up. ‘Objection, Mi Lady, this is madness, there must be a hundred names here; it’s totally irrelevant. We’ll be here until Christmas.’

Nodie’s thoughts were similar to Moxy’s; what’s Ulick up to? He has to know he has no case. Is he just dragging it out in the hopes that Oko will do a deal.

She looked down at the red faced Moxy.

‘Mr O’Shea, I’m over ruling your objection. The people of Achill have a right to be heard in full; we will proceed with this list.’

She looked down at Ulick. ‘Mr Joyc, call your first witness.’

*

M
ichael Havlec was becoming more and more frustrated; the case was in its third week and, so far, only eight of Joyc’s witnesses had given evidence. This was fucking ridiculous; the same environmental prattle from each of them; totally irrelevant. The judge must be stupid, although Moxy O’Shea said she wasn’t, but he didn’t trust Joyc, convinced he was up to something but couldn’t figure out what it was. It was an open and shut case. It could go on for months. Two of his directors wanted him to settle; he was damned if he would let the bastards beat him. He didn’t trust Moxy either.

*

A
nnie Clarke had it all worked out; another night with Ulick in the Ardilaun. It was well time he asked her to move in with him. One morning he invited her into his office. Setanta put his head up and stared at her. She ignored him. Dandaboy was still trying to find some way of keeping Ulick out of the hotel in Galway.

‘Annie,’ Ulick began, ‘I won’t be able to take the O’Flaherty case; you’ll have to do it yourself.’

‘Why, Ulick?’ she asked smiling.

‘I have to give all my time to the Oko case.’

‘Pity,’ she pouted, ‘I was planning to show you some brochures for our honeymoon.’

‘Later,’ he responded quietly.

She departed. Setanta breathed a sigh of relief.

Ulick sat there for some time. He was trapped and he knew it; he couldn’t walk away from his own child. Putting aside his gloomy thoughts, he left to attend the day’s hearing in Galway. That didn’t help. The case was grinding on at a snails pace; the local papers were beginning to question his tactics. Nodie was puzzled but prepared to let it run; Moxy was hoarse from shouting “Objection, Mi Lady.” Ulick maintained his usual bluff confident exterior despite his misgivings.

*

T
he search continued. It looked as if the only location left was Lough Corrib, the country’s largest lake. A cruiser was hired in Maam Bridge; it began to criss cross the lake in a systematic manner. A fit looking middle aged man, Herb was no sailor. He was becoming increasingly impatient that they hadn’t yet found this damned object. He was given very little information; his boss called it a long tubular device.

‘Any luck, Herb?’ Jake asked.

‘Not so far,’ he grunted. ‘How long are we going to keep up this wild goose chase?’

‘I don’t know.’ Why should he be helpful?

‘I wish I knew why it’s so damned important.’

He smiled grimly. ‘Sorry, I’m not allowed to tell you, but it’s vital we find it first.’

*

R
eturning home after another long boring day in court, Nodie was looking forward to a nice cup of tea and a look at the papers. The case was in its tenth week and Ulick was only half way through his list of witnesses; she had long since concluded he was stalling; he certainly had no case and Moxy was ready to blow a gasket. It was a pity; she sympathised with the big lovable blunt Connemara man who just didn’t know when to give in.

She pushed in the door idly; then stopped short. Little John didn’t come running to welcome her home as he always did. She opened the living room door and screamed; Ester was lying on the couch, bound and gagged, her eyes wild with fear. Nodie removed the gag.

‘They’ve taken little John,’ she gasped.

Nodie couldn’t take this in; why would anyone take her little boy?

‘Who? When?’ she gasped.

‘Two men, about an hour ago; pushed in the door, tied me up and took John; I heard a car pulling away.’

Nodie put her head in her hands; tears ran down her face.