Free The Circle Now Is Made (King's Way Book 1) by Mac Fletcher Page A

long as you know exactly what's there and seal it first."
    “OK, and you're sure you don't mind looking after Red? I'd put him in a kennel but…"
“Don’t be stupid,” interrupted Jan. “Jamie will be over the moon.”
     
    *
     
    It was the Friday lunchtime before his departure on Sunday when Greg made a comparatively rare trip to the pub. He found several regulars eager to anaesthetise themselves in preparation for an afternoon kip. As, in an effort to catch up on recent events, he thumbed through a discarded tabloid, he was joined by Nigel.
    “Drink, Greg?” he asked as he called for a pint of bitter.
    “No thanks, I’ve cut down drastically of late. Might just manage a few bottles of wine while we’re over there, mind. I can afford their prices.” At that point, there was only one thing Greg wasn’t happy with. “How much cash d'you reckon I’ll need?” he asked.
    “Oh, not much. Allow enough for an overnight stop each way on crossing Spain: I suppose you’ll stay with your relatives till we meet back in Barcelona. Just make sure you have your passport.”
    "I have it with me, and my driver's licence." Greg smiled as he took a large travel wallet from his inside pocket. "I'm paranoid about losing it before we travel - thought about getting a strip of Velcro stitched into my pocket."
    "God, you look young there, Greg." Nigel, on opening the passport, smiled at the picture. "Are you sure it's still current…..?" He faltered as he spotted the date. "It's expired Greg … last summer."
    "No…no! I renewed it last summer, you're looking at the wrong date." Despite his certainty, Greg's voice wavered and his jaw fell slightly. He pointed at the date. "Look…!" The colour drained from his face as he realised what he'd done. "Shit, Shit! Shit! That's the old passport! God knows what I did with the replacement – it was such a chaotic period…"
    "Perhaps it's not too late." Nigel looked at his watch. "You couldn't have found out at a worse time though. The nearest Passport Office is near Cardiff, a hundred and forty miles away I reckon….and I was told by an acquaintance recently you need to wait a standard four hours for the process to be completed."
    "Can't I get a duplicate? It's all on record. The post-office can surely do something."
    "Let's find out right away," cut in Nigel as he produced his cell phone.  "The chap I know had to make an appointment. If there’s a slot available on Monday morning we can get the next ferry perhaps. Trouble is the sailings are likely to be less regular at this time of year. As I said originally, a girlfriend booked me on. I'll see if she has a timetable." Greg detected faint traces of doubt entering Nigel's voice. He felt sure a delay of any significance would force him to abandon plans and travel alone.
    "Damn!" Nigel thumped the table and cut off the call. "She's not picking up! I'll see if I can get the Passport Office." After what seemed an age, Nigel was speaking to the relevant office in Gwent. "You can get a duplicate, Greg," he said as he handed over the phone. "But it's the same rigmarole: you still need an appointment."
    Within minutes the appointment was made and Greg handed back the phone.
    "Nigel, I'm so sorry about all this," he said. "I just cannot believe I've made such a stupid mistake. At best it makes our plans bitty, with a possible two days lost – and that's with me starting for Wales at six am Monday."
    "Bit of as bind, I agree. I won't need the Ranger before we leave, so take it back to the cabin."
    "I couldn't possibly inconvenience you any further…"
    "Nonsense! It's RAC covered, has a built-in Satnav and an almost full tank… which I claim against taxes. We can't afford for you to break down: if you get stuck on Monday it's all off. C'mon, drop me back home and get back to your caravan. And give me your doc’s for safekeeping until Monday."
    "You don't trust me any more," conceded Greg sheepishly, "not that I blame you."
    *
    Greg didn't