Nights Dance To Day~~~Chapter 16

Chapter 16

　

On the Greek island of Anafi a group of small children play along a sandy beach running in and out of the turquoises blue water. Watching over them are two elderly women the children call γιαγιά, grandmother. One child, with the red hair of her mother and the black eyes of her father, stands out among this happy group. A peaceful scene out of a Greek Island travel guide.

Beauty really does hide evil.
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We decided to fly into Manchester, England rather than directly to Belfast so our arrival would be less noticeable. A Jeep Cherokee was awaiting us at the airport. It was large enough to carry our equipment and still gave us the look of three business men traveling together.

Driving  north out of Manchester we covered the 220 miles to Carlisle in a little over four hours. Our slow driving pace was making Wailer nuts but this was a trip that needed to stay under the radar in every way. Carlisle was our rendezvous point with some of Pete’s old running buddies; who were making arrangements for the equipment we would need. We only carried our basic needs on the flight over to Manchester. Everything else would be picked up upon arrival in Northern Ireland.

We checked into the Crown Hotel in Wetheral just outside of Carlisle. After a meal, in the hotel restaurant, Wailer and I headed into the bar to relax and Pete set off to meet our equipment contacts. When we met back at the hotel at midnight Pete briefed us on what would come tomorrow.

The next morning we would travel to Cairnryan, Scotland to catch a ferry to Larne, Northern Ireland. Keeping up our appearance as businessmen. We would be met in Larne by one of Pete’s contacts who would provide us with our equipment and a change in vehicle. Our rental car would be kept in Larne for our return trip. Basically we would carry nothing into the country and nothing out when we were through.

A lot of faith was being put in Pete’s contacts but this was our best hope of a stealth arrival in Belfast.

Staying in control was my challenge. There was so much churning inside of me. Sleep was next to impossible. My urge to give into my worst thoughts was over powering.

I stayed in control, best I could, by keeping a picture of Maria in my mind. I was going to find her and nothing was going to stop me.

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A fragile red haired child cries herself to sleep in γιαγιά arms; the only one of the group not to see her mother today. Most of the time she seems happy but at night, when darkness falls and she is about to be left alone in bed, her tears flow.

Love ya,
Night