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But Jimmy's right。 The ULA has never hesitated to break a rule。 The Royal Family was off…limits to everyone else； but not the ULA。 The PIRA and INLA never hesitated to advertise its operations every terrorist group advertises its operations。 But not the ULA。 He shook his head。 There wasn't any evidence to suggest that they'd break this rule。 It was simply the one thing that they hadn't done 。 。 。 yet。 Not the sort of thing to start an investigation with。
〃But what are they up to？〃 he said aloud。 Nobody knew that。 Even their name was an anomaly。 Why did they call themselves the Ulster Liberation Army？ The nationalist movement always focused on its Irishness； it was an Irish nationalist movement； but the ULA's very name was a regional expression。 〃Ulster〃 was invariably the prefix of the reactionary Protestant groups。 Terrorists didn't have to make all that much sense in what they did； but they did have to make some sense。 Everything about the ULA was an anomaly。 They did the things no one else would do； called themselves something no else would。
They did the things no one else would。 That's what was chewing on Jimmy； Murray knew。 Why did they operate that way？ There had to be a reason。 For all the madness of their actions； terrorists were rational by their own standards。 However twisted their reasoning appeared to an outsider； it did have its own internal logic。 The PIRA and INLA had such logic。 They had even announced their rationales； and their actions could be seen to fit with what they said： To make Northern Ireland ungovernable。 If they succeeded； the British would finally have enough of it and leave。 Their objective； therefore； was to sustain a low…level conflict indefinitely and wait for the other side to walk away。 It did make conceptual sense。
But the ULA has never said what it's up to。 Why not？ Why should their objective be a secret？ Hell； why should the existence of a terrorist group be a secret if they're running operations； how can it be a secret； then why have they never even announced their existence； except within the PIRA/INLA munity itself？ This can't be pletely unreasoned action； he reminded himself。 They can't be acting pletely without reason and still be as effective as they've been。
〃Damn！〃 The answer was there。 Murray could feel it floating at the edge of his consciousness； but his mind couldn't quite reach that far。 The agent left his office。 Two Marines were already patrolling the corridors； checking that the doors were locked。 Dan waved to them on the way to the elevator； his mind still trying to assemble the pieces into a unified picture。 He wished that Owens hadn't left so soon。 He wanted to talk this one over with Jimmy。 Maybe the two of them could make sense of it all。 No； he told himself； not 〃maybe。〃 They'd find it。 It was there； waiting to be found。
I bet Miller knew； Murray thought。
〃What a dreadful place；〃 Sean Miller said。 The sunset was magnificent； almost like one at sea。 The sky was clear of the usual urban pollution； and the distant dunes gave a crisp； if crenelated； line for the sun to slide behind。 The odd thing was the temperature range； of course。 The noon temperature had reached ninety…two and the locals thought of this as a cool day！ but now as the sun sank； a cool wind came up； and soon the temperature would drop to freezing。 The sand couldn't hold the heat； and with the clear； dry air； it would just radiate away； back to the stars。
Miller was tired。 It had been that sort of day： refresher training。 He hadn't touched a weapon in nearly two months。 His reactions were off； his marksmanship abysmal； his physical condition little better。 He'd actually gained a few pounds on prison food； something that had e as quite a surprise。 In a week he'd have that run off。 The desert was good for that。 Like most men born in the higher latitudes。 Miller had trouble tolerating this sort of climate。 His physical activity made him thirsty； but he found it difficult to eat when it was so hot。 So he drank water and allowed his body to turn in on itself。 He'd lose the weight and harden his body more quickly here than anywhere else。 But that didn't make him like the place。
Four more of their men were here also； but the remainder of the rescue force had immediately flown home via Rome and Brussels； putting a new string of entry stamps on their 〃travel〃 passports。
〃It's not Ireland；〃 O'Donnell agreed。 His nose crinkled at the smell of dust； and his own sweat。 Not like home。 No smell of the mist over the peat； or coke fires on the hearths； or the alcoholic ambience of the local pub。
That was an annoying development： no liquor。 The locals had got another attack of Allah and decided that even the fellow members of the international revolutionary munity could not break God's law。 What a bloody nuisance。
It wasn't much of a camp。 Six buildings； one of them a garage。 An unused helicopter pad； a road half…covered with sand from the last storm。 One deep well for water。 A firing range。 Nothing else。 In the past as many as fifty people had cycled through here at a time。 Not now。 This was the ULA's own camp； well separated from camps used by other groups。 Every one of them had learned the importance of security。 On a blackboard in hut #l was a schedule provided by other fair…skinned friends that gave the pass…over times for American reconnaissance satellites； everyone knew when to be out of sight； and the camp's vehicles were under cover。
Two headlights appeared on the horizon； heading south toward the camp。 O'Donnell noted their appearance； but said nothing about it。 The horizon was far away。 He put his arms into the sleeves of his jacket to ward off the gathering chill as he watched the lights slide left and right； their conical beams tracing over the dunes。 The driver was taking his time； Kevin saw。 The lights weren't bouncing about。 The climate made it hard for a man to push himself hard。 Things would get done tomorrow； God willing。 Insh'Allah； a Latin colleague had once told him； meant the same thing as manana but without the urgency。
The vehicle was a Toyota Land Cruiser； the four…wheel…drive that had replaced the Land…Rover in most places。 The driver took it right into the garage before getting out。 O'Donnell checked his watch。 The next satellite pass was in thirty minutes。 Close enough。 He rose and walked into hut #3。 Miller followed； waving to the man who'd just e into the camp。 A uniformed soldier from the camp's permanent force closed the garage door； and otherwise ignored them。
〃Glad to see you got out； Sean；〃 the visitor said。 He carried a small satchel。
〃Thank you； Shamus。〃
O'Donnell held open the door。 He was not one to stand on ceremony。
〃Thank you； Kevin。〃
〃You're just in time for dinner；〃 the chief of the ULA said。
〃Well； one can't always be lucky；〃 Shamus Padraig Connolly said。 He looked around the inside of the hut。 〃No wogs about？〃
〃Not in here。〃 O'Donnell assured him。
〃Good。〃 Connolly opened his satchel and brought out two bottles。 〃I thought you might like a drop of the pure。〃
〃How did you get it past the bastards？〃 Miller asked。
〃I heard about the new rule。 I told them I was bringing in a gun； of course。〃 Everyone laughed as Miller fetched three glasses and ice。 You always used ice in this place。
〃When are you supposed to arrive at the camp？〃 O'Donnell referred to the one forty miles away used by the PIRA。
〃I'm having some car trouble； and staying the night with our uniformed friends。 The bad news is that they've confiscated my whiskey。〃
〃Bloody heathens！〃 Miller laughed。 The three men toasted one another。
〃How was it inside； Sean？〃 Connolly asked。 The first round of drinks was already gone。
〃Could have been worse。 A week before Kevin came for me； I had a bad time with some thugs the peelers put them up to it； of course； and they had a merry time。 Bloody faggots。 Aside from that； ah； it is so entertaining to sit there and watch them talk and talk and talk like a bunch of old women。〃
〃You didn't think that Sean would talk； did you？〃 O'Donnell asked reprovingly。 The smile covered his feelings of course they had all worried about that； they had wo