4
He
waited until he stood directly in front of Sean before speaking.
“What is it you’ll be having to drink then, lad?”
The brogue was unmistakable to McGuire’s ears … as if
he’d been magically transported home. “I’ll be
havin’ a Guinness, if you don’t mind,” he replied.
While waiting for Rafferty to pour his glass, McGuire thought, There’s
no mistaking where this fellow’s from.
“I don’t see you in here very often,” Rafferty
said, placing the pint of Guinness in front of him. Looking at Sean’s
cap and noting the “HM Submarines” label on it, Rafferty
said, “I see you’ve finished school. What boat did they
give you?”
“Ares,” Sean replied. “She’s old, but busy,
and that’s good. It gives me a chance to learn.”
“Training
vessel, isn’t it? I hear the boys talking whenever they come
in.”
“That’s right, and that’s why we’re busy,”
Sean said. “Lots of people coming through the school these
days, so we’re under way a lot. But as you well know, it also
keeps us close to home.”
Rafferty did know; while tending bar at the base pub for a number
of years and keeping his ear tuned to the customers’ side
of the bar, he knew a lot more about the comings and goings of submarines
than most of his clientele.
“I’m Rafferty,” he said, putting his hand out
in greeting. “Mick Rafferty is what I go by, and with friends
it’s just plain Mick.”
“My name’s McGuire, Mr. Rafferty, Sean McGuire, and
I’m pleased to be meeting you,” he said, grasping Rafferty’s
hand.