military operation. If was a natural occurrence, then it wouldn't be subject to a news blackout.”
“Whatever it is, I smell bull ploppy.”
“Bull ploppy?” stated McIntyre, wrestling with a blossoming grin.
“Its something the wife says instead of saying shite. She even made me a frickin swear jar! I need to put a coin in the jar every time I frickin swear, can you frickin believe that?” The Commandant dropped a coin in a glass jar and looked up at McIntyre.
“Have I said something that amuses you Mac?” McIntyre shook his head. Fighting the urge to laugh, he said,
“I don’t even know if frickin is an actual swearword Saul?”
“Maybe its not a swear word in your house. Sorry, you don’t live in a house do you, you live in a caravan infested with earwigs.”
“Only since your sister threw me out – it’s not through choice. Anyway, its a pod, not a caravan and they’re not so bad once you get used to them, the pod that is, not the earwigs. They’re wee frickers as you would say.”
“As I said, we’ll talk about Morag later. What about the new lad? Wasn’t he due to start today?”
“As I told your virtual-self last night, he was getting the ferry from Ullapool yesterday, but he didn’t show. I hope he’s alright.”
“Was he on the new hydrogen cell boat?”
“It’s not hydrogen fuelled Saul, it’s a reactor that electrolyses sea water into…” The Commandant frowned and said,
“You think yourself so intellectually superior don't you? If I wanted a lecture on marine propulsion, I’d call the Royal Engineers. Well, whatever it does, the prototype ship has gone and taken the new technology to the bottom of the frickin Atlantic Ocean. Is there anything more I need to know?”
“There are a few other complications. According to one of my contacts in Norway, a Green Movement ship tried to disrupt a Russian drilling operation in the Arctic. A few Hedge Monkeys got arrested and one got shot, but the Earth Liberation Front captured several Russian security personnel and ransomed them in exchange for activist prisoners. The GM Catamaran fled here, to St Kilda, with a Russian surveillance ship picking up their trail. But get this; the Russian ship was hit by the wave when entering shallower waters.” The Commandant flushed with irritation. He reached inside his trouser pocket and took out a coin. He put it in the swear jar.
“What the frick have the ELF got to do with this?”
“They’ve upped their game. I suppose this is the fruits of their labour.” McIntyre emphasised his use of the word suppose, knowing it was one of several words the Commandant hated. He failed to take the bait this time. McIntyre continued,” They also sabotaged a Russian oil rig and destroyed a military surveillance base so they couldn't be followed. I suppose you need to admire their balls?”
“You sound as if you approve of what they did?”
“I suppose I’m ambivalent Saul, but you must admit, the Russians have had this coming. They opened up the old gulags in Siberia just to process the amount of detained greenies, so the animosity between them has been brewing.” The Commandant appeared anxious. He exhaled loudly and then said,
“The Russian Government doesn't concern me. I need to know what happened in British waters. I want to know how can MoDs conduct search and rescue operations when the satellites are down?”
“They’re relying on good old fashioned radar I suppose .” Finally, the Commandant took the bait. He grimaced and raised both his hands to make a quotation sign and said,
“You don’t get paid to suppose, Mac. Find out what they are up to.
“As you instructed, Jansen and Lennox have taken a cutter up to Loch Ghlinne to see what they're up to, but they haven’t reported back yet.”
“What about your contacts for frick sake - you used to work in Communications, didn’t you? Isn’t your brother some Government big wig? Do some more raking about. Get me some
“Whatever it is, I smell bull ploppy.”
“Bull ploppy?” stated McIntyre, wrestling with a blossoming grin.
“Its something the wife says instead of saying shite. She even made me a frickin swear jar! I need to put a coin in the jar every time I frickin swear, can you frickin believe that?” The Commandant dropped a coin in a glass jar and looked up at McIntyre.
“Have I said something that amuses you Mac?” McIntyre shook his head. Fighting the urge to laugh, he said,
“I don’t even know if frickin is an actual swearword Saul?”
“Maybe its not a swear word in your house. Sorry, you don’t live in a house do you, you live in a caravan infested with earwigs.”
“Only since your sister threw me out – it’s not through choice. Anyway, its a pod, not a caravan and they’re not so bad once you get used to them, the pod that is, not the earwigs. They’re wee frickers as you would say.”
“As I said, we’ll talk about Morag later. What about the new lad? Wasn’t he due to start today?”
“As I told your virtual-self last night, he was getting the ferry from Ullapool yesterday, but he didn’t show. I hope he’s alright.”
“Was he on the new hydrogen cell boat?”
“It’s not hydrogen fuelled Saul, it’s a reactor that electrolyses sea water into…” The Commandant frowned and said,
“You think yourself so intellectually superior don't you? If I wanted a lecture on marine propulsion, I’d call the Royal Engineers. Well, whatever it does, the prototype ship has gone and taken the new technology to the bottom of the frickin Atlantic Ocean. Is there anything more I need to know?”
“There are a few other complications. According to one of my contacts in Norway, a Green Movement ship tried to disrupt a Russian drilling operation in the Arctic. A few Hedge Monkeys got arrested and one got shot, but the Earth Liberation Front captured several Russian security personnel and ransomed them in exchange for activist prisoners. The GM Catamaran fled here, to St Kilda, with a Russian surveillance ship picking up their trail. But get this; the Russian ship was hit by the wave when entering shallower waters.” The Commandant flushed with irritation. He reached inside his trouser pocket and took out a coin. He put it in the swear jar.
“What the frick have the ELF got to do with this?”
“They’ve upped their game. I suppose this is the fruits of their labour.” McIntyre emphasised his use of the word suppose, knowing it was one of several words the Commandant hated. He failed to take the bait this time. McIntyre continued,” They also sabotaged a Russian oil rig and destroyed a military surveillance base so they couldn't be followed. I suppose you need to admire their balls?”
“You sound as if you approve of what they did?”
“I suppose I’m ambivalent Saul, but you must admit, the Russians have had this coming. They opened up the old gulags in Siberia just to process the amount of detained greenies, so the animosity between them has been brewing.” The Commandant appeared anxious. He exhaled loudly and then said,
“The Russian Government doesn't concern me. I need to know what happened in British waters. I want to know how can MoDs conduct search and rescue operations when the satellites are down?”
“They’re relying on good old fashioned radar I suppose .” Finally, the Commandant took the bait. He grimaced and raised both his hands to make a quotation sign and said,
“You don’t get paid to suppose, Mac. Find out what they are up to.
“As you instructed, Jansen and Lennox have taken a cutter up to Loch Ghlinne to see what they're up to, but they haven’t reported back yet.”
“What about your contacts for frick sake - you used to work in Communications, didn’t you? Isn’t your brother some Government big wig? Do some more raking about. Get me some
Similar Books
Lyon's Gift
Tanya Anne Crosby
The Apartment: The Complete Affair
Amanda Black
Pigboy
Vicki Grant
The Informers
Juan Gabriel Vásquez
His Greatest Pain
Jenika Snow
An Heir for the Millionaire
Julia James