The clock on the wall inside the pub said 8.15 p.m. The talk was of the growing tension in Africa. Even in this little place no one could ever completely escape the outside world, even if they wanted to. The Americans were on the verge of flexing their muscles in the Middle East, and there was even talk of India and Pakistan using nuclear weapons against each other, but all this was of little concern to Peter.
He sat listening to the people inside the bar give their opinions on the state of the world and how to deal with it. Little did they know that there were people not too far away who were trying to do just that. The usual faces were sitting at their usual places when the front door opened quietly and Jake entered. Heads turned to face him and most of the talking stopped… They knew Vicky was there, seated by the window with Justin. The atmosphere suddenly changed - you could feel it. Jake tried to ignore it, but the silence deafened him. He quickly glanced round the room and noted everything and everyone. He spotted Peter, went to the bar, got two whiskies for them both, and was sitting down in front of him within a couple of minutes of entering.
‘You’re waiting for me, then,’ he announced. Peter said nothing; he just stared at Jake intensely, trying hard to gauge his mental state without Jake noticing - Jake could see it in his eyes.
‘Are you okay?’ he finally asked.
‘Yeah, I’m fine; I was hoping you’d have hung about. This place was beginning to get on my nerves a little. I have been reconsidering your offer and I want to re-join The Circle. If you still have a place for me, I’d like to be apart of it again,’ Jake said, knowing that just by being there the Captain had already given his answer.
‘Yes, we do want you to come back, but that’s not the problem, Jake. You know it’s my job to make sure you’re ready and stable – mentally, that is - to resume where you left off. Now, you know better than me that it’s not an easy job, not by a long shot,’ answered Peter. Jake tried hard not to show his displeasure.
‘Look, sir, we will get on a whole lot better if you stop fucking patronising me. Just give me the information I need and I’ll get out of your face and this grubby little hole,’ said Jake, pointing a finger into Peter’s face. He could hardly contain his anger as he felt the tension rise inside him. Jake knew it was wrong to take it out on Peter; what had happened with Vicky certainly wasn’t his fault.
‘Listen, I don’t think you’re in the correct frame of mind right now, Jake.’
‘Why? Because she’s sitting over there with lover boy?’ said Jake, most definitely not wanting to bring her into the conversation. He couldn’t understand why he was doing it.
‘I think you should go for a short holiday, take a break,” said Peter.
‘I’ve had a long enough break. I want to get back to work. You need me and I can do a job for you. You’ve checked what I’ve done in the past. I want to be a soldier again and there’s nothing left to keep me here.’ Jake knew they were just playing games, but this game was uncalled for, unnecessary, and it fucking bored him.
‘Are you fit?’ the Captain asked.
‘Better than ever!’ Jake watched his newly acquired linkman and waited. Captain Soutar thought hard. Finally he looked straight into Jake’s eyes.
‘Okay, consider yourself back on the team but only because we’re up to our arses in it. When can you be ready to move?’ he asked reluctantly.
‘As soon as I change my socks.’ They both laughed and in an instant the ice was broken. The Captain saw an immediate change in Jake, as if a cloud had lifted. He couldn’t explain it. Little did he realise that, although they had just cleared a big hurdle, there were larger and tougher obstacles looming close on the horizon…