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Subject: Wedding At Hellfire Club

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Montpelier Hill, Dublin, Turkish occupied Ireland
Day 4247 ERT 13:00

Claire asked me to bring Doctor Stevie up the Dublin Hills to the spot where he’s getting married to the sweet, raven haired Doctor Ali. She could have provided us with better transport, but we’ve been through worse in fairness. We barely fitted in the tiny rusted red Mini Cooper and it took forever to get there, but managed to find some balloons at an old, family owned Petrol station on the backroads and the young Civ mechanic helped to fix the ariel so we could finally get some F.M. The Doctor looked really embarrassed by them but didn’t say anything, he was probably too terrified to speak. His eyes kept wandering towards my lucky shirt, a nice bright floral one. A yellow, blue and purple shirt I’d found in a creepy old Hawkin’ shop on one of our missions. It stood out from the rest of the tattered garments like a bouquet. They had given me a boring, tight white plain formal shirt with a purple bow tie to wear along with this fancy, tight fitting tuxedo. Felt like I was being throttled, so I decided I’d wear the floral shirt instead. It's really festive, plus with the tuxedo it should look formal enough.

After a few hours of driving through the forest on an old goat trail of a road we finally arrived. The Stone Building looked impressive. I heard it was nicknamed the Hellfire Club. There were a few camoed tents set up outside the ominous stone building and I found Dr. Stevie a tent near the back, away from the other guests and towards a glass of whiskey. Once he was settled with Quigley and Murph, I went looking for everybody and found them in the upstairs area of this dank and ancient building. They were all dressed up and chatting among themselves and a small altar had been made, decorated in wildflowers. I walked calmly in and smiled at them “So when’s the ceremony?”

Claire stormed through the crowd and grabbed me by the collar. “Where’s Doctor Macallistar? You’re so late!”

“Mick was bringing him. What did you do with him Baby Bro?” I could spot him stuffed into his tuxedo. He looked precious, like he was making his first Communion.

“No you were supposed to Bro! And stop calling me that!”

“Nope I’m sure you were bringing him.” I loved there minced faces, so cute.

“Liam Ian O’Malley! I told you to bring him, now where is he!?” Claire glared at me, in the way that ended all jokes. It kinda jolted me into “military mode.” I shook it off.

“No you didn’t I distinctly remember you telling Mick to bring him.” I gave her my most innocent look. Her face was turning me to stone.

“I provided you with a car and a map to get here, the rest of us had to walk all the way uphill through the woods, now stop playing around and tell me where he is!” Claire said softly and oddly lethally, I was used to this but she’d brought her A game this time.

“It was nice to have the car! Thank you! Ehh, but you didn’t say anything about picking him up and bringing him here, that was Mick’s job.” I winked at her and turned to walk away, if she didn’t get the joke by now, I don’t know.

“We do not have time for this nonsense Liam, stop playing games and tell me what did you do with him!” Claire snapped, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. She had me in her famous wristlock, if I moved I’d be not only in absurd pain, I’d be lacking a working arm. I guess she didn’t get the joke.

“Sure the brides late anyway” Murph remarked, receiving a frosty stare from Claire.

“He’s outside having a whiskey with Quigley to settle his nerves before the ceremony Claire. Calm down... geez.”

I grinned at Murph and Quigley who had climbed the slippery, narrow stairs as quietly as they could to the hall during our “discussion”. They were trying hard not to laugh as they started towards the woman who had arrived just before them and was looking a bit lost. She was a sight to see to be sure. She’d wild red hair and milky skin and wrapped in an elegant pale green dress and a light blue satin shawl. Of course we’d already received info on her, but for functionality and the day that was in it sure, she was simply an old friend of Ali’s. Before I could approach her I was brought down short to Claire’s level, her grabbing my right ear and twisting, it standing on her tiptoes to reach and pulling my head down.

“What is that shirt you’re wearing?” she hissed in my ear.

“Umm my lucky shirt. ”

“We provided you with a nice formal shirt and tie Liam. Where are they?”

“Oh come on Sis those things were entirely unbespoke, and not to mention completely lame! It’s all far too tight, I can hardly breathe!. This shirt is much better for a festive occasion like this.” I gave her my most sincere smile, pleading eyes and all.

“You’re the best man Liam. Where are they?” she was starting to sound really angry. She’d stopped screaming at me.

“Back at the safe house.”

Those piercing blue eyes of hers bored into me. “You better be joking Liam. We don’t have time for you to go back to get them now. I’m very disappointed with you.” She let go of my ear and turned around and stalked back to the others. We’d made quite a scene and the crowd around us were left staring. I shrugged and spun my finger near my ear. The bravest laughed but most pretended they’d seen nothing.

I looked after her for a bit rubbing my sore ear, then turned my attention back to Doctor Ali’s old friend, the famous journalist Grainne Sweeny.

“Hello I’m Liam.’ We shook hands.

“So I heard, is she always like that?” she had a breezy, unplaceable Irish accent.

“Who Claire? She’s just uptight with being outside the base. We’re siblings, actually twins you know.”

“I’m Grainne, an old friend of Allisons, I like your shirt.”

A loud noise interrupted us and I looked over to see my nephews and niece causing a ruckus. Mick’s ten year old son Thomas and his adopted son Cairán having a fight on the floor, twin sister Erin was standing watching with her hands on her hips egging Thomas on. Fists were flying. That Cairán is always starting fights over nothing and quite the fighter. I sighed and excused myself to go break it up. But then saw Mick and Sarah heading over so I turned back to Grainne. Murph and Quigely backed off acting nonchalant, the dirty dogs.

“Sorry about that. Ah, kids, what can you do? Why don’t we get to know each other. I’m Liam as you probably have heard about, born in Cork along with Claire and Mick over there, we’re triplets actually, and that red head Murph is our cousin on our father’s side. We all grew up together and eventually moved to Mayo before they joined the army. I went to medical school for a while before joining too. We’ve been all over the place since we joined the military.”

“I’m Grainne Sweeney, grew up in Mayo before getting my degree…”

“In English Literature at Cambridge. You were a journalist before spending some time in South Africa teaching kids at a small school, where you met Allison, soon after lost touch with each other due to war and only recently were reunited.” I laughed at the expression on her face. “We have to know everything about people we’re around in these times Grainne." She looked taken back "Well I have to get going, I’m best man after all. It was nice to meet you, you’re even more beautiful looking than I was told.” I looked around and caught Murph’s eye, trying to give him the come over here gesture with my head. He looked at us for a few seconds before walking over, with a nervous, grim expression on his face.

“Grainne I’d like you to meet my cousin Patrick, but we all call him Murph. He likes to think he’s a big tough guy but he’s really a big softy at heart…” The pair of them were staring at each other like a pair of lovesick puppies.. I was delighted. Murph could never talk to women unless it was about battle strategies. I pushed him slightly in front of me. “Murph, this is Grainne, Doctor Alison’s friend. She’s a famous journalist.”

“Uh yeah hello.” He mumbled.

“Woah, do I detect a hint of awkward romance?” I nudged him but he didn’t even respond.

“Ehh no! I mean, what gives you that impression?” His face had turned bright red. Grainne was blushing hard and couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“Come on, the way you looking at her is the same way I’ve seen Stevie and Ali look at each other.”

He stared at me wide eyed. “Liam I’ve just met her!”

“So… I know love when I see it…” I felt a small hard grip on my elbow.

“Leave them alone Liam” Claire said quietly but sternly next to me. I always forget that she can appear out of nowhere.

“But…” She pulled me away hard towards the others. I glanced back to see them just standing staring at each not saying a word. “But Claire….”

“They don’t need you around them right now Liam!” she said in a hushed tone, smiling for the first time today.

“But…” The fierce look she was giving me shut me up. She was definitely still not happy with me right now. She looked so cute.

Fortunately Father Antoin de Quane decided to arrive right then with his entourage of Partisans from Liberty Hall and I went to go check on our groom Stevie. I could feel Claire's eyes on me the whole way across the hall and down the stairs. He was standing staring out of his tent his untouched glass of whiskey held to his forehead. I heard a noise and turned around to see Mick winking at me from the doorway.

"Ali's arrived" he whispered hoarsely.

I walked over to Stevie "You ready for this?" He stared at me nervously and slowly nodded. I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on I'll be right there with you."

We walked out of the tent and Stevie downed his drink in one gulp. He nearly puked but I held him upright trying not to laugh and we entered through the murky passage and made our way back upstairs. One of the Partisans was playing a fiddle and the other played bodhrán. They played Haste to the Wedding. Father de Quane stood on the makeshift altar with a battered old leather bible in his hands.

Soon Ali made her way up the stairwell and was standing in front of the priest waiting with Grainne beside her. She was looking really beautiful and wore a similar dress to Grainne but in white and carried a small bouquet of wildflowers. Murph was off to one side looking very red. The fiddler played a beautiful piece as she made her way to Stevie at the altar.. I switched to the right of her and moved back into the crowd.

I only half listened to the ceremony, I was just waiting for the “Do you Stephen Joyce Macallistar and Allison Lisa Payne take each other etc”. It was cramped and stiflingly hot. People were fanning themselves with their own wedding letters, crammed with cash. Too soon they were asking for the rings.

I patted my pockets desperately and turned to Mick "Did you bring the rings?" He just stared at me. "You had them." he mouthed, frowning intensely. I could feel Claire's eyes on me and turned to look. She was staring at me with murder in her eyes. I reached into my inside jacket pocket and pulled out the box with them. They placed their rings on each others fingers and Father de Quane pronounced them husband and wife and everyone cheered. Stevie even tilted Ali over with his kiss, I never thought he’d have it in him. The ceremony was over and we all piled out to get started on the most sacred part of any wedding, the piss up.

Claire pulled me to one side "You're in big trouble Liam! I will sort you out back at base!" she hissed sounding furious before walking away to congratulate to the newly wed couple. She’d be grand after a few drinks, it’s gross to think about but maybe it’d be good for her to have a man in her life so to speak. Only I don’t think there’s a man in this world who could match her.

Ali took her time to throw the bouquet out the open window to the congregation below.. Grainne caught it and I saw her give Murph a big Cheshire cat grin. Good to see Murph was finally paying attention to someone in a non-murderous way. Claire appeared at my elbow. "What do you think Bro? Probably time he found someone," she said with a slight smile. "Nah, you're next Sis." I teased. "Too busy for love Liam and don't think you're going to get away with what you pulled today!" she marched off to talk to Mick’s wife Sarah before I could respond.

Soon the sun was setting and our wee party was coming to an end. I seen Murph and Grainne talking awkwardly beside the humble wedding cake. Mick was croaking at the barman, one of Father de Quanes guys. I watched the wind pick up some petals and drift them off away over the bushes. The fiddler played his last tune of the night as Stevie and Ali danced, another tune I hadn’t heard of. The new Mr. and Mrs. Macallistar-Payne. It was all so tranquil and I truly felt safe. I could see Dublin town far away and below as the street lights were beginning to flicker on. Liberty Hall could be made out too. It all looked so serene. But knowing what I know about this world, I knew it wasn’t going to last.

Signing off,

Captain Liam Ian O'Malley, Rasa Blank