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was Captain Halloran's manding officer in Aden。 He was an excellent soldier； one I had a high regard for； and his death was a great loss for my unit so early in the campaign。 I took a personal interest in the family he'd left behind； and that's how I learned of the boy。' Mather finished the tea and again placed the cup on the floor。 When he straightened； his hand began to soothe the ache in his knee。 Talk of the war in Aden somehow always revived that pain。
'As Liam grew older； it seemed he was always in some kind of trouble； as though a wildness in him had been unleashed。 Perhaps that was his way of smothering the sorrow； disguising it with anger。 I've no idea； to be honest。 The wildness grew out of hand when his mother； unhappy and unstable for all those years； finally mitted suicide。 I'd kept track of them both since the death of Captain Halloran； made sure the widow received full financial pensation from the British Army； but lost touch for some time when I had difficulties of my own。' He tapped his aching knee to indicate the precise nature of those 'difficulties'。 〃Thought I was going to lose it； but managed to convince the medics the leg would e good again after a little tinkering with their scalpels。 Nowadays； I wonder if I did the right thing；' he added as if to himself。 'Anyway； I received a letter from the grandfather informing me of Siobhan's death； and when I was yell enough； I travelled to Ireland myself to see what could be done for the boy。' He smiled wryly。 'I believe I arrived just in time。' It was difficult for Cora to picture Liam as a boy； angry； probably frightened； grief…stricken again with the loss of his mother； her death a direct consequence of his father's murder。 How could she equate that image with the man who had e to her room the night before； had taken her against her will； that very act of ravishment stirring the familiar pleasure such defilement had for her； so that she could not help but respond？ But then the quieter passion afterwards； the lovemaking that was gentle； so tender； arousing purer emotions that eclipsed mere desire。 It had left her stunned； unsure； as though he had deliberately enacted both sides of passion with her； the cold harshness lacking any caring； and then the simple joy which came without abuse or pain； a fulfilment she'd almost forgotten。 But then Cora had to wonder if Halloran was someone on whose actions others put their own interpretations。 Was she presuming too much of him？ Was he really only a man of violence？
Mather's voice broke into her thoughts。 'Liam had been getting into scrapes。 No； more than that…his mischievousness went beyond the bounds of natural boyhood hooliganism。 From what I heard on my arrival； he was in serious danger of being taken into youth custody。 Several incidents around the small town where he lived with his grandfather had been attributed to him； although on the worst occasions no damning evidence of his involvement could be laid absolutely on his doorstep。 There were particular problems with the local priest。 Whether or not it was because the Church represented the nearest authority against which he could rebel； I've no way of knowing。 One particular incident 。 。 。 but no； as I say； there was no definite proof； it would he wrong for me to speculate。' The Shield Planner interlocked his fingers； his elbows resting on the arms of the char。 He pressed his forefingers against his lip； momentarily lost in thought。 'I felt it was time to take Liam away from that environment； Ireland held too many tragic memories for him。 So I arranged for him to board at a school in England； the least I could do in honour of his late father。 The school had close connections with the army； turned out many fine cadets。 I'm afraid I was rather preoccupied with my own career； which was starting afresh after my leg injury； but I tried to keep an eye on things as much as I could。 The boy appeared to settle down perhaps a strict regime was what he needed all along…eventually I suppose because of what his father had been； the type of school that had educated him； and the fact that his grandfather had passed away and that there really was no other place to go； Liam decided that soldiering was the profession for him。' Mather's face wrinkled with pleasure。 'Damn good at it； too； by all accounts。 Oh； he was still somewhat reckless； never quite losing that touch of Irish wildness； but the army has ways of channelling that kind of spirit。 Liam took to that way of life as if ordained for it； and was good enough to make the SAS。
'Unfortunately； he was involved in an incident in 1972 that I believe was the root cause of Liam's later cynicism。 Still not into his twenties； he was stationed with a small British Army training team at Mirbat in Oman…about ten of 'em in all。 A civil war was going on between the monarchy of Oman and its left…wing opponents； and the SAS unit had spent three months in that dreary little town of Mirbat attempting to drill some kind of order into the loyalists。 They held two forts； thirty Askaris in one； around twenty…five Dhofar Gendarmerie in the other； with an unruly bunch of counter…guerrilla irregulars billeted in the town itself。 The only artillery of any real weight they had was a Second World War 25…pounder； a 。50…inch Browning and an 81mm mortar。
'One morning； just after dawn； they were attacked by nearly three hundred rebels armed with machine guns； mortars； anti…tank rifles and a Russian rocket…launcher。 It should have been an outright massacre； but the SAS manding officer； an absolutely fearless individual； and only a few years older than Liam himself； organised his own men and their Arab allies into a fighting force to be reckoned with。
'I won't bore you with all the battle details； m'dear； but the officer； a captain； was here； there and everywhere； screaming orders； directing what meagre artillery they had； shaping his defence so that the attackers couldn't take a hold。 Under enemy fire； he crossed four hundred yards of open ground with a medical orderly to reach the fort where the Gendarmerie was holed up。 He'd already radioed his HQ for a helicopter to evacuate casualties； but enemy fire…power was so fierce the damn thing couldn't even land。 The captain took over the second fort's gun position； the guerrillas no more than thirty yards away； and nearly had his head chopped off by machine…gun fire。 Men were being cut down around him； but not for one moment did the captain consider giving the order for surrender。 No； no chance of that。 From his position； he was able to site targets for two Strikemaster jets that had arrived to lend support； but still the battle raged。
'At last； a relief squadron flew in from Salalah to assist； and the rebels； already stopped in their tracks and their numbers considerably depleted； gave up the ghost and fled。 A quite remarkable resistance by the manding officer and his men； and the rebel forces never really recovered from the defeat； although it took another four years for the war to end。
'I believe that battle affected Liam in two ways； the first being that he was involved in a carnage of mindless ferocity； and he； himself； had dealt out much of it； and the second was that he was