The Delegates’ Choice

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Just.’

‘What?’

‘Didn’t take you long, did it?’

‘To what?’

‘Cut and run.’

‘I’m not cutting and running.’

‘Well, you’ve been here, what, six months?’

‘Nearly eight,’ said Mr Devine.

‘Eight months,’ said George. ‘And then you’re away? That sounds to me like someone who’s cutting and running.’

‘Aye, I always thought he was a quitter,’ said Mr Devine. ‘“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet—”’

‘All right, yes, thank you, Granda,’ said George.

‘I’m not a quitter, actually,’ said Israel.

‘Are ye not?’

‘No. I’m going to be coming back.’

‘He’s coming back?’ said Mr Devine.

‘Are ye coming back, Armstrong?’ said George, crossing her arms. ‘You don’t want to dash our hopes now.’

‘Ha ha. Yes, I will be back. It’s just a…business trip I’m going on.’

‘A business trip? Really?’

‘Yes.’

‘With what, your job as an international financier?’

‘No.’

‘With the mobile library?’

‘Uh-huh.’

Mr Devine started wheezing with laughter.

‘A business trip!’ said George. ‘That right? What is it, an international conference?’

‘Well, yes, as it happens.’

‘Ach, you’re priceless, Israel, so you are.’

‘A mobile library conference? Holy God!’ said Mr Devine.

‘A junket then,’ said George.

‘Junket? No. It’s not a junket. It’s the Mobile Meet, which is the UK’s premier mobile library conference and—’

‘Paid for with our taxes no doubt?’ said George.

‘“Render unto Caesar,”’ said Mr Devine.

‘No,’ said Israel.

‘Not paid for with our taxes then?’

‘Well—’

‘You’re paying to go yourselves then?’

‘No. It’s—’

‘A holiday then, is it?’

‘No. It’s work. And—’

‘Good. How long are you gone for?’ said George.

‘It’ll be—’

‘Can we sub-let?’ said Mr Devine.

‘Sub-let?’ said Israel. ‘The chicken coop?’

‘You’ve it looking rightly,’ said Mr Devine.

‘How long?’ said George.

‘We’ll be gone about a week, I think. Few days visiting my family, and then to the Mobile Meet.’

‘A whole week?’ said George. ‘Sure, what are we going to do without ye?’

The conversation had not gone as well as Israel had hoped. He’d half hoped that his departure might excite some small favourable comment and wishes for a good journey and a safe return. He was wrong.

‘Is he here for the Twelfth?’ asked Mr Devine.