When Ben finally came in, surprised to see him up and dressed, he only grinned a bit sheepishly and slid into a chair, helping himself tohisbreakfast.
‘Phone the moron and the other one. Ask them if they will take the dogs again. We are going back to Scilly.’
Ben mulled this over for a moment as he chewed, then announced, ‘They’ll have to come and get them. No dogs on the new leather.’
When Squeezy arrived, he pretended to kick Ben’s new car as he walked past it, but unfortunately for him, Ben was watching from the kitchen and darted out and the tussle that ensured would have been amusing except that the moron was carrying a long bag from which he produced the sword. Even Ben didn’t risk it being waved in fun near his head. He wanted to hold it though and a few imaginary enemies got run through.
Aleksey shook his head fondly. He, obviously, didn’t deign to be so childish, but he did give it a few swings (just to check its heft and balance) when the moron came in with it. Watching him, Squeezy commented casually, ‘Thought seeing you’re going to Light Island, boss, you could give the old man that. Look pretty juicy hung in his shed.’ This seemed a considerable cessation of hostilities, a concession on a son’s part towards his father that Aleksey approved of. Then something else occurred to him. He glanced outside to make sure Ben was occupied and jerked his head towards the bedroom. Squeezy, as he’d known he would, followed.
‘Finally.’
Aleksey turned as he entered the bedroom. ‘What?’
‘We’re going to fuck. Ben’s got that car. He don’t need you anymore. That Bentley’s better than sex with a billionaire, I’d say.’
‘He has both. You don’t have either. You’ve talked to Harry. You’re not just giving him that sword because you’ve taken up shed interior decorating.’
‘Yeah. I heard what happened on Benhar to some old woman—that it somehow involves you. And then there was a bit of a car accident I seem to recall. Coincidence I asked meself? Then I thought, nah, it’s him—wassock—coincidence ain’t even in his vocabulary So, yeah, can’t do no harm to have this, can it?’
‘I told him to abandon the island if he feels there’s any danger.’
‘But he won’t, will he? Silly old bugger will try and repel all borders, or some such shit.’
‘It’s why I’m going there.’
‘To protect him? He won’t see it that way.’
‘No, we have an agreement: when I’m there, he leaves. I will suggest he takes a little holiday to the Channel Islands. I’ve heard it’s nice there this time of year.’
Squeezy nodded, understanding, then got him in a head lock and mock-punched the side of his head. It didn’t seem like the kind of gesture a minion should make to his lord and master, but it served pretty well for thanks between friends.
* * *
‘Huh.’
‘What?’ Ben turned his head, his palms sliding around, caressing the stitch-free leather steering wheel.
‘I just saw a lamb being born in that field, grow to old age and then die.’
Ben clenched his jaw. ‘I am sticking to the speed limit. It’s forty on this stretch.’
‘But—’
‘No! I put you in danger. I do drive too fast. I crashed the car, Nik! You could have been killed!’
‘But—’
‘What if the dogs had been with us? Radulf? Flung around like that—he’d have been killed!’
‘Ack, He Who Guards Against the Wolf in Man is planning to go out in a blaze of glory saving the world before his decrepitude embarrasses him.’
‘Oh, God.’
They continued their potter down the Cornish highway, caravans backed up behind them unable to pass. Possibly a pedestrian too.
Ben turned his head briefly once more. ‘Did you see him jump up into their car this morning? Those new arthritis pills we switched him to are working. I was sure he was spitting them out, but I guess some bits must have got swallowed.’
Some pond water did, yes. Maybe it was his fondness for flat stones…
