Free Drink With the Devil by Jack Higgins Page A

Tully vaulted over the rail.
    “Now then, you little bastard, what do you want?”
    He grabbed the boy by the front of his anorak and shook him, and Kathleen Ryan ran forward. “You great bully, let him go.”
    She struck out at Tully, who released his grip in astonishment, and the boy turned and ran away followed by the dog.
    Tully grabbed for the girl’s wrist. “So it’s you, is it?”
    “Leave me be.”
    She slapped his face and Dolan and Fox appeared at the stern, laughing. “A hot one there, Captain. Needs sorting out. Are you up to it or do you need help?”
    Tully was angry now as she slapped at him again. “You little bitch. I’ll teach you.”
    He had both her wrists now and pulled her toward him and somewhere there was a terrible cry and Benny arrived on the run. He grabbed Tully from behind, pulling him away, and threw him to the ground. Then he turned to the girl.
    “You go now.”
    Tully scrambled up and punched him in the back. Benny swung an arm backwards and knocked him down again with casual ease and Tully cried out, “Dolan, get down here.”
    Dolan and Fox vaulted the rail, Fox carrying an iron bar. Benny took a fist in the face from Dolan with no apparent ill effect, but punched him in the breastbone in return, knocking him onto his back.
    Kathleen screamed, “Stop it!”
    Fox rushed in wielding his iron bar. Benny actually took the blow on his left arm, twisted Fox’s wrist so that he dropped the bar. Then he gave him a slap backhanded that spun Fox around and sent him on his face.
    “Benny, look out!” Kathleen called.
    Tully had got to his feet and picked up the iron bar. He swung at Benny’s skull, but the big man turned just in time so that it bounced off his shoulder. He tore the iron bar from Tully’s hand, then wrapped his great hands around his throat and actually lifted him off his feet.
    There was a shot, flat in the rain, and Keogh and Ryan ran out of the mist. “Benny, no!” Ryan called out.
    Benny paused, still holding Tully off the ground, then gently lowered him. Tully collapsed groaning, sitting on the ground, head on his knees.
    “What brought this on?” Ryan asked.
    She told him. When she was finished, Keogh said, “So some boy saw the boat. So what? It might mean something later, but not now.”
    “I agree.” Ryan turned to Benny. “Good lad, Benny, for looking after Kathleen. Back to the farm with you now.” He nodded to her. “Go with him. We’ll sort things here.”
    “I’m sorry, Uncle Michael.”
    “Not your fault, girl. It comes from having to deal with scum.”
    She took Benny’s hand and led him away. Tully, Dolan, and Fox were on their feet, distinctly the worse for wear. Ryan stood looking at them.
    “What a sorry bunch of shites you are. Go on, get on board before I forget myself and shoot the lot of ye.”
     
     
    I N THE WHEELHOUSE Tully sat at the chart table, the rest of the crew grouped around him. Ryan said, “The only reason I’m talking at all is that I need you. We’ll be back here between four-thirty and five with the transporter, so you be ready for sea, do you understand?”
    The crew shifted uncomfortably. It was Tully who said, “Yes, we’ll be ready to go.”
    “You came snooping at the William and Mary,” Ryan said, “so Mr. Keogh informs me. Now why would you do that?”
    “I was worried,” Tully said. “I just wanted to make sure everything was kosher.”
    “It’s kosher enough for me to promise to blow your fucking head off if you try anything on the trip to Kilalla. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good, we’ll be off now and you be ready to leave at the appropriate time.”
    He went down the ladder followed by Keogh and then crossed to the rail and dropped down to the jetty.
    “What do you think?” Keogh asked.
    “Oh, they’ll try to cut our throats halfway across.”
    “And doesn’t that bother you?”
    “Why should it? That’s why I have you along, Keogh.”
     
     
    D OLAN SAID , “W HO was