It is rumored that on Samhain, the mighty warrior Cuchulain went to battle. Samhain, the end of summer and harvest and into winter, is a powerful and significant night.
Throughout decades of violence, centuries of unrest, mistrust, and
occupation, the prospect of peace is finally being realized in secret meetings,
public displays of solidarity, and private negotiations. The last three years
have been the most promising times in recent history of the Anglo - Irish peace
talks. Differing from the “must win” ideology of his brother, David seeks
compromise to end the conflict that rules his life. David understands the
politics in the struggle and knows that compromise is inevitable.
He comes across as David the
construction worker, loyal Donegal Celtic fan, and amateur footballer. He
doesn’t reveal his years of studying The
Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu, or countless books on the history of Irish
politics to many. He’s risen through the ranks of the Provisionals rather
quickly, his natural leadership ability one reason, his family history of course another. He may be young, but he
comes across as a seasoned veteran of the Irish War and he’ll
asking nothing of his men that he wouldn’t do himself.
It’s getting late as David meets
with Martin, the Officer Commanding, or OC, of the local brigade. Many believe
Martin is preparing David for future leadership in the brigade. Martin can be particularly
tough on David, pressing him on issues, mistakes, and decisions. It could also
be because Martin was best friends with David's father and really became a
surrogate to him growing up. Either way, David is given a lot of responsibility
as a volunteer.
Martin doesn’t look the commander that he once was. His blonde
hair has turned a yellowed white. The lines on his face are exacerbated by years
of cigarettes and neat whiskeys to the wee hours.
“Ye know it won’t be seen as a break
in the ceasefire,” Martin emphasizes as he attempts to calm David down.
“What the fuck were they thinking?”
David stares at Martin.
Martin attempts to pacify the powder keg sitting across from him. “They already took responsibility
for the shooting, David.”
David knows Martin is guessing and
isn't certain about the status of the ceasefire. The talks hang in the balance
over the promise of laying down weapons among one of many items up for debate.
"Martin, come on. The RUC doesn't
care if they claimed responsibility. The INLA or not, a cop gets shot they cry
IRA. The news cries IRA." David emphasis each word with a tap on the table.
"No punishment." Martin
sits up emphatically.
"What if we…." David would
like to demonstrate to the contending nationalist group, that they are all in
the ceasefire together. Punishment beatings are used amongst those many would
think are on the same side of the fight.
Martin snaps at him quickly,
"No. Is that to be understood? What's next on the agenda?"
Silence as David hesitates, "I
was thinking."
"Jesus wept," Martin knows when David is stalling. He sits
back and crosses his arms, "go on."
"What if we've a tout?" David knows this is a loaded question because he knows that
Martin does have informants, the RUC has informants, Jesus, for all he knows
Abbi has an informant within the IRA, but David means one that is deliberately
working against him. This is a serious accusation that will of course need some
type of evidence to back it up.
Martin does not stir from the position he is in. "You’ve my
attention."
David moves closer to Martin,
speaking in a hushed tone. "Ten of my guys have either taken shots or almost been blown up
in the last two weeks. Not Danny’s, not Brian’s, mine. That's not a
coincidence if ye ask me."
"What else is it, David?" Martin moves closer and leans on the table.
"I don’t know if it’s true and I don’t know who it would be." David
removes the prison comm from his shirt pocket and hands it to Martin.
Martin takes the paper but maintains eye contact with David for an extra
second, as if he is trying to read his thoughts. He reads the tiny print on the
paper, shaking his head in disgust. "A breakaway? Right, I’ll
speak to the IO." He pauses. “Who got this for you?” He holds the comm up.
"I had someone get it…"
“Who?” Martin is terse in his question.
David swallows then sighs. "Abbi."
"I’ve told you before, you’re not to use her for this." His face
reddens quickly.
"But she’s good, Martin.” David leans forward.
Martin bangs his hand on the table. "You’ll find your kneecaps on the
other end of an armalite if I find out you put your wife in that prison again to do your work for you. Understood?"
David nods, a bit shocked at the firmness of the order. "Did someone say
something?"
"Understood?" Martin asks that single world slowly, separating the
syllables with a bevy of potential unspoken repercussions.
"Yes. Understood."
"You’ll await instructions. More than likely you’ll be on the court
martial." Martin formally ends the meeting by standing. "I was thinking the
same but you confirmed my suspicions. We’ll need to start getting evidence down
in writing. I’ll ring you tomorrow." Martin shuts the door behind him but
quickly opens it again. "I mean it, about Abbi."
David
sits alone in the poorly lit room. He thinks about failure. His men are getting
injured and the talks are stagnant at best. He thinks about his brother and
wonders how he would handle this situation even thought their strategies differ. Panic sets in as he wonders if he
made the right decision. It could just be coincidence and he could be
jeopardizing someone who is innocent, but that is the purpose of the court
martial.
Tactically,
he’s been successful. Proposing to call an end to the ceasefire the year before
could have made matters worse. Increasing violence and talking less seemed to
work though and moved the process to where the other side would sit down and
talk peace.
Strategically, David is starting
to question himself. In the event that peace does break out in the middle of
all the violence, he won’t be able stop fighting. Some see negotiations as
giving up and feel that David is not any better than the opposition. His brother would have been one of those people.
David
hears Martin leave through the front door. He knows that someone’s life is now
at stake, if not even more so, his own. He twists his wedding ring around few
times before taking it off. He puts the ring back on his finger and places his
hands on his face. He draws his hands down to his mouth and sighs a cathartic sigh. He thinks
about Abbi. That Martin was right. His decision to not tell Martin all along
that Abbi has been getting information was wrong, but not worthy of his
reaction.
David sits up. "Right.” He stands and turns off the light, leaving him standing in the dark room briefly, before he exits.
