Cearbhall Lynch

It was a deal with the devil that had brought Cearbhall* here.

As the Pacific sun cut it’s way into the dark of the ship’s hold, the obviously-English guard made sure to jostle Cearbhall a few extra times as he loosed the restraints and escorted him to the front of the boat. He didn’t know if the guard knew he was Sinn Fein**, but everything in his demeanor seemed to indicate disgust.

Ceara*** had been opposed to this mission from the start. “They want us to what??”
“The Brits want a deal. To fight terrorists, you need to think like a terrorist. They enlist our help to root out Al-Qaeda, we get Eire**** at last.”
“And Saran bought these lies?”
“So has your father.”
“And you…?”
Cearbhall had wrestled then, as he did now with the memory. “I follow orders…”
“#@$% your orders, Cearbhall! What about us? What about our future? What if I really am pregnant? What then?”
His stomach was in his throat as he mouthed the words all over again.
“There is something going on here bigger than us. I want our child to grow up in a free Eire, don’t you? We have a chance to realize our dream, and without violence! Ain’t that worth anything we can give? Even us?”
“And if your child has no father…..”
Cearbhall gathered her up in his arms. “I promise you, I’m coming home from this. Not even the devil himself could keep me from coming back to you.”

How he longed to hear her voice for real, as he made his way onto the beach. Even though she was his handler for this mission, radio was out of the question until he made his contact, or found some other means of reaching her. Smuggling anything in himself would have been impossible, even with the resources of Sinn Fein and the Brits. But supposedly, one of the guards would have a comm for him. It was just a matter of time.

He knew his first move. Find assets, and from an initial survey of the prospects, it looked like he had his work cut out for him. Then a movement up the hill caught his eye. An Asian man was surveying the landing with great interest, his eyes reading every newcomer as they disembarked. Their eyes met for the briefest of seconds, but it was all Cearbhall needed. He had found his first asset.



*Pronounced "KYAR ull"-the Gaelic form of Charles.
**Pronounced "shin fain", another name for the Irish Republican Army
***Pronounced "KYAR a"
**** The IRA’s chief goal is an independent Ireland.