Read Online Conna in Crisis & The Marriage of Ulick by James Kilcullen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Kilcullen
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suddenly emerged from behind the clouds. Iggy checked his remote control box again.
They proceeded slowly to a point about half way between Cornamona and Conna. Jody stopped the engine lit a cigarette and suggested they wait until the water calmed down a bit. Paulo prepared his video camera.
‘Make sure you don’t get any of us on that fucking yoke,’ Iggy grunted. ’I don’t want to spend the next six months in Castlerea.’
Jody examined the canoe again; then attached a rope to one end.
‘Right. Iggy, you help me to lift Madamor over the side; she’s heavy, we’ll have to handle her gently.’
Iggy put aside his electrics and took one end of the canoe. Together, they lowered her gently into the water. Jody held the rope while Madamor began to sink slowly beneath the surface.
‘Now Iggy,’ he instructed, ‘Start your motor—very gently now, we don’t want her to run away.’
‘Is she down deep enough?’
‘I think so.’
Iggy pushed a few switches and a whirring sound came from Madamor.
Paulo—leaning over the side—started to record.
‘Seems OK,’ Jody remarked.
‘How long are we going to stay out here?’ Iggy asked. ‘It will soon be bright.’
‘Can you move her forward—just a little—very slowly now?’ Jody asked.
‘I’ll try.’
Iggy pushed one of the switches.
‘She’s moving.’ Paulo called out. ‘I’ll start the video when she’s ten feet away.’
At that moment a gurgling sound came from Madamor and large bubbles rose to the surface.
‘Fuck,’ Jody grunted. ‘I’m losing her.’
He tried to hold on to the rope, but the weight was too much for him. He let her go.
They sat there in silence for a few moments.
Paulo grunted angrily.
‘Back to the fucking drawing board; we’re not giving up that easily.’
Jody turned the boat around and headed back to base.
*
M adame found Director Crat in an angry mood. He waved a printout of an email from the Commissioner.
‘I asked him for a thousand troops and he’s only prepared to increase my present squad to twenty: he has no idea of the problems I have here. Says we have to cultivate the good will of our subjects.’
She clucked sympathetically. ‘I trust you will appeal to the Council, Director?’
‘I most certainly will.’
She smiled to herself—not for the first time. Where did he expect to billet a thousand troops in such a small town? And what about the cost?
She changed the subject.
‘Director, what are you going to do about the court verdict?’
‘I’ve lodged an appeal with the High Court and asked the Commissioner to issue a directive transferring the power to implement Directives to me. These matters have nothing to do with the Courts; the imbecile judges don’t understand the purpose and fairness of our carefully drawn up Directives.’
‘What are you going to do about Joyc?’
‘He’s the kingpin; he’s got to be removed. I’ve issued a summons charging him with violation of Public Order Directive 78643. There’s a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty days in jail. That will take care of him for a while.’
He paused. ‘Have you found an excuse to close down the restaurant run by his mistress?’
‘I’m still working on it, Director: I can’t compare prices with other restaurants in the town because there aren’t any.’
‘There are many restaurants in Galway city.’
‘That is true Director, but we cannot bring Galway into the reckoning just yet.’
‘I will ask the Commissioner to extend our area of responsibility.’
*
U naware he was scheduled to don a yellow suit with arrows painted on it; Ulick joined Ozzy for a quiet drink in Paulo’s. They were surrounded by unhappy farmers looking at the miserable amounts now being received.
“We’re getting less now than from the CAP and we have to beg for it.” one complained loudly.
‘He’s got twenty troops to back him up,’ another added.
‘Much good that will do him; the locals refused them
They proceeded slowly to a point about half way between Cornamona and Conna. Jody stopped the engine lit a cigarette and suggested they wait until the water calmed down a bit. Paulo prepared his video camera.
‘Make sure you don’t get any of us on that fucking yoke,’ Iggy grunted. ’I don’t want to spend the next six months in Castlerea.’
Jody examined the canoe again; then attached a rope to one end.
‘Right. Iggy, you help me to lift Madamor over the side; she’s heavy, we’ll have to handle her gently.’
Iggy put aside his electrics and took one end of the canoe. Together, they lowered her gently into the water. Jody held the rope while Madamor began to sink slowly beneath the surface.
‘Now Iggy,’ he instructed, ‘Start your motor—very gently now, we don’t want her to run away.’
‘Is she down deep enough?’
‘I think so.’
Iggy pushed a few switches and a whirring sound came from Madamor.
Paulo—leaning over the side—started to record.
‘Seems OK,’ Jody remarked.
‘How long are we going to stay out here?’ Iggy asked. ‘It will soon be bright.’
‘Can you move her forward—just a little—very slowly now?’ Jody asked.
‘I’ll try.’
Iggy pushed one of the switches.
‘She’s moving.’ Paulo called out. ‘I’ll start the video when she’s ten feet away.’
At that moment a gurgling sound came from Madamor and large bubbles rose to the surface.
‘Fuck,’ Jody grunted. ‘I’m losing her.’
He tried to hold on to the rope, but the weight was too much for him. He let her go.
They sat there in silence for a few moments.
Paulo grunted angrily.
‘Back to the fucking drawing board; we’re not giving up that easily.’
Jody turned the boat around and headed back to base.
*
M adame found Director Crat in an angry mood. He waved a printout of an email from the Commissioner.
‘I asked him for a thousand troops and he’s only prepared to increase my present squad to twenty: he has no idea of the problems I have here. Says we have to cultivate the good will of our subjects.’
She clucked sympathetically. ‘I trust you will appeal to the Council, Director?’
‘I most certainly will.’
She smiled to herself—not for the first time. Where did he expect to billet a thousand troops in such a small town? And what about the cost?
She changed the subject.
‘Director, what are you going to do about the court verdict?’
‘I’ve lodged an appeal with the High Court and asked the Commissioner to issue a directive transferring the power to implement Directives to me. These matters have nothing to do with the Courts; the imbecile judges don’t understand the purpose and fairness of our carefully drawn up Directives.’
‘What are you going to do about Joyc?’
‘He’s the kingpin; he’s got to be removed. I’ve issued a summons charging him with violation of Public Order Directive 78643. There’s a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty days in jail. That will take care of him for a while.’
He paused. ‘Have you found an excuse to close down the restaurant run by his mistress?’
‘I’m still working on it, Director: I can’t compare prices with other restaurants in the town because there aren’t any.’
‘There are many restaurants in Galway city.’
‘That is true Director, but we cannot bring Galway into the reckoning just yet.’
‘I will ask the Commissioner to extend our area of responsibility.’
*
U naware he was scheduled to don a yellow suit with arrows painted on it; Ulick joined Ozzy for a quiet drink in Paulo’s. They were surrounded by unhappy farmers looking at the miserable amounts now being received.
“We’re getting less now than from the CAP and we have to beg for it.” one complained loudly.
‘He’s got twenty troops to back him up,’ another added.
‘Much good that will do him; the locals refused them
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