The House by the Liffey (33 page)

The five years following Eddie's death and Harry and Cathy's marriage were relatively peaceful at Riverside, much to the relief of Milo and Noola. Aunt May had turned ninety, Maggie would soon reach the same age and the rest of the family knew that, although both were in good health, they would have to say goodbye to them soon. Aunt May, although frail, still had all her faculties. Maggie was still feisty and although suffering quite badly from arthritis was determined not to allow that to get in the way of anything she really wanted to do.

Trisha and Will were the best of friends with Johnny, now aged nine, taking very seriously his responsibilities as the oldest. He was also highly delighted at having a brother and sister of his own, Orla aged four, called after Cathy's mother, and little Henry, aged three, after his father but called Hal to avoid confusion. Milo and Noola were so pleased to have five grandchildren running around at Riverside and when Mageen and family visited there were three more. To Milo's delight they all were what he referred to as “water babies”, following in the Butler tradition of loving and being outstanding at water sports. Mageen and Jack's two boys, Ewan now fourteen and Alasdair at twelve, like their Butler forebears, were already remarkably good oarsmen, this not only being in their blood, but also encouraged from birth by living close to a Scottish loch. Rachel, at eight, was holding her own too and competing successfully with Johnny in handling an oar or paddle.

It was March 1982. Jack had taken some leave and he, Mageen and the children were looking forward eagerly to spending the Easter holidays at Riverside. The children were all at independent schools so although Easter Day was quite late, not until 11 April, their schools had broken up for the holidays on 31 March. The next day the family had piled into the big, comfortable S-Class Mercedes and headed for the ferry to Dublin.

Jack, however, was uneasy. There had been news of the Argentinian flag being raised by metalworkers on South Georgia, a British territory close to Antarctica and not all that far from the Falkland Islands. In response, the British naval vessel, HMS Endurance, had been dispatched from Port Stanley in the Falklands to investigate the incident. Jack knew that Britain had also dispatched submarines to the South Atlantic from various locations, but he had not had his leave cancelled or been put on “standby” so he didn't postpone his holiday plans. However, his uncanny sixth sense, acquired from all his training and experience, together with an astute political awareness, was making his finely-tuned, intellectual antennae tingle with apprehension.

The family arrived at Riverside tired but happy after a long journey and they were given an ecstatic welcome. They had a wonderful celebratory dinner, cooked to perfection and served by Kitty and her team, with the whole family present around the enormous dining table. Milo noticed that Jack wasn't his usual relaxed self and after the meal gradually manoeuvred his way around the sitting room to where he was sitting.

‘Everything all right, Jack?'

‘To tell the truth, I'm a bit on edge, Milo. I don't like the smell of things happening in the South Atlantic. Where the Falkland Islands are concerned I don't trust Galtieri's motives one little bit and I'm not alone in that.'

‘I take your point. Strange stories have been filtering out about large numbers of his own Argentinian citizens disappearing.'

‘Yes, and the intelligence is that those tales are true. Before he became President of Argentina he was a very senior member of the ruling Junta. The “Death Squad” reported directly to him and at that time left-wing sympathizers were being rounded up and taken away. There were mass executions and, so I've been told, torture was quite commonplace.'

‘What a lovely man – shades of Nazi Germany!'

‘Well you can see why I'm not inclined to trust a man like that, nor indeed those in power around him. There's more to it than that though. It seems the economy is something of a disaster too and what with that and family members disappearing without trace the people are becoming restless – or so we hear!'

‘So this business in South Georgia could be just the prelude to a much bigger and more serious act of aggression which could distract the people from the other problems?'

‘Absolutely! For some time now Argentina has had eyes on the Falklands. Trouble is they would be able to get troops there much more quickly than we could and the islanders are not very well equipped to defend themselves. The Argentine Junta knows that, but also
must
know that nuclear subs are on their way in response to the South Georgia episode – it's been leaked by our own press for God's sake. It's a pity some politicians can't keep their mouths shut! So what would you and I do in his place?'

‘Ah! You think he might be panicked into a sudden attempt to invade the Falklands. But might he not be just sticking his toe in the water to test the reaction of the Brits? He hasn't actually landed troops on South Georgia has he?'

‘I don't know but I wouldn't be surprised to find he has infiltrated some military personnel in there, amongst the civilians who raised the flag.'

‘What happens if he
does
invade the Falklands?'

‘Good question, Milo. Somehow I can't see Maggie Thatcher sitting doing absolutely nothing while they get themselves well entrenched there, as efforts are made to work out some sort of diplomatic solution. I bet the Falkland Islanders will want a very rapid response too. They certainly won't be happy at being taken over.'

‘Hmm! So where does that leave you?'

‘If it happens I'm certain I'll be on the way in no time.'

‘You reckon your special skills would be required “up front” as it were?'

‘I feel the chances are pretty high. After all, ours is considered to be one of the “crack” organisations for small group infiltration behind the lines, surveillance and, if need be, swift and decisive action. Usually very effective! But, in these particular circumstances, the clincher will be that I speak quite reasonable Spanish. Actually, so does Bertie. That's a skill in pretty short supply at the moment amongst our people.'

‘Presumably needed for questioning prisoners effectively, which would put you in at foot-sloggers level, regardless of rank?'

‘Exactly.'

The next day the BBC announced that the Falklands had been invaded and were now occupied by Argentinian forces. Broadcasts by the invaders, claiming to have taken possession of the islands, were confirmed on the afternoon of 2 April. Within hours Jack received the expected call.

‘Jack – it's Bertie. Can you get here pronto?'

‘Yes. Tonight?'

‘If you can manage it! There's a lot to do in a short time.'

‘Sure. I'll get there somehow.'

‘Let me know the details. I'll have transport waiting.'

Jack found Mageen and told her he wanted a word in private. There was nobody in the library so they closed themselves in there and he told her. Mageen, accustomed to Jack's sudden calls to duty, was outwardly remarkably calm.

‘I'll pack up everything and we'll be ready to go home in no time.'

‘No, Mageen. I think you should stay here for the rest of the holiday as planned. I'm certain we'll be off to the Falklands very soon and I think it would be best for you to stay here where you'll have the support of your family.'

She put her arms around him and he drew her close.

‘I would like to be with you until the last possible moment. You know the agonies I go through every time you have to go away on some assignment or another. I don't want to be a silly, clinging wife, so I do try not to nag at you about your job, but you must know how I feel.'

‘Mageen…'

‘No wait, Jack. There's another thing. I think Ewan is beginning to suspect that you're not simply a regular member of the Scots Guards. He's a bright lad and he's probably worked out for himself what you do. He hero-worships you, both the boys do, as you know, but sometimes I see the worry in his eyes too when you're away. It's very touching. He goes out of his way to keep me company as much as possible at those times – almost as if he's watching over me.'

‘Well done, Ewan! Would it make you happy if I retired from soldiering?'

‘Yes for me, but not for you. I know you'd be miserable doing a desk job.'

‘When this latest skirmish is over we'll talk about it again. I'll be forty-five next month so maybe I'm getting to the point where I should think about alternatives. Not necessarily a desk job though!'

‘That would be wonderful for all of us. Thank you, my darling.'

‘But I'd still like you and the children to be here for as long as possible while I'm away.'

‘All right. If it will make you happier we'll stay but, whatever happens, the children will have to go back to school at the end of the holidays.'

‘Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. But now I must get away at once.'

Later that evening Mageen and the children took Jack to Dublin Airport. Given that members of the British forces needed to keep a low profile in Southern Ireland they were all acutely aware of the need for discretion, so the goodbyes there were rather muted. The more deeply personal farewells had been made before leaving the house. Now all managed to maintain the proverbial stiff upper lip except little Rachel who couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Jack gathered her in his arms.

‘If you have to go to war you will come home safely to us, Dad, won't you?'

‘No problem, sweetheart. Your dad's a tough guy you know.'

‘I know, Dad, but I so hope you won't have to go.'

All this was said in little above a whisper, Rachel, even at that young age, being alert to the dangers.

Back at Riverside Milo and Noola were trying to explain to the younger children why Jack had to leave so suddenly and, with the other adults, were doing their best to distract their attention. When they had a moment to themselves they were at last able to voice their considerable alarm.

‘I feel so much for Mageen in particular, although all three children are old enough to understand the dangers.'

‘I can feel for her perhaps even more, Milo. I remember vividly how I felt when you went off to join the RAF in 1942 and I was pregnant and so sick I couldn't go over there to be close to you.'

‘Well at least she's not pregnant and unwell unless I've missed something?'

‘Not as far as I know, but the children will need support too. We must think of as many ways as possible to keep their minds occupied.'

‘It'll be difficult to drag them away from the news reports. In fact we'll be glued to them ourselves.'