The van struggled up towards Haut’s house. The three men spent the best part of two hours prising, cutting and digging bullet fragments from the walls and staircase. Then, after a beer, Pringle shook hands with Cavalier and Haut. He stared at Cavalier and said, ‘It was a pleasure to help out,’ and then drove off in his van.

‘Ken doesn’t say much,’ Haut said, ‘but he was clearly in awe of you for what happened.’

‘Of me?’

‘He knows I couldn’t kill a fly. Not a human one, anyway! Notice he didn’t ask for any details.’

‘He’s been there, done that, I’d say,’ Cavalier said.

They sat in the lounge in silence. A cock crowed nearby, heralding the pre-dawn.

‘You handled everything with a certain aplomb,’ Haut observed. ‘Almost as if you enjoyed it.’

‘Not as much as writing a crisp article,’ Cavalier said.

‘I can’t believe that. You’ve written stuff for forty years. Surely it can’t give you the same adrenaline rush?’

‘It’s not really the moment for introspection,’ Cavalier said. After a second, he added, ‘But you’re right. The sensation at the depths is unmatched.’

Haut wanted to ask more, but checked himself.

‘How do you think your God will judge me?’ Cavalier asked.

‘He’s your God too.’

‘Okay, but what do you think?’

‘In this case, he wanted you to act. I have a chance to fulfil his mission now.’

Cavalier ruminated for a minute and said, ‘I’ve contravened a commandment.’ He paused and added, ‘Many times.’

‘Is that a confession?’

‘No, a fact.’

‘His judgement would depend on the motivation, integrity …’

‘Of a kill?’

‘Yes. As long as you remain Dr Jekyll as well as Mr Hyde I believe you will be judged well. But that is up to God. Another way to look at this is to remember God does not judge your actions. He judges the state of your heart.’

‘What if I’m Mr Hyde without Dr Jekyll?’

‘Are you?’

‘Just say I was.’

‘Then God would not judge you well.’

Cavalier sipped his drink and said, ‘Perhaps it’s safer to remain agnostic.’

37 WREST POINT OF CONTENTION

37

WREST POINT OF CONTENTION

Cavalier woke with a start. He reached for the Uzi beside his bed and sprang to his feet. He heard a heavy scratching and bumping in the roof above him in the spare room and his first thought was that someone was trying to enter the building. The sound continued. Cavalier, his heart beating hard, stood stock still. The bumping was followed by scampering feet. Cavalier sat on the bed and put down the Uzi. It must have been a possum, he thought with a sigh.