‘How pissed off was he on the phone?’ said Aesop, when they were settled into their seats.
‘Well, I’ve heard him worse …’
‘Right.’
‘But not by much. Did you ride her?’
‘A gentleman doesn’t say.’
‘Right. So, did you ride her?’
‘I’m not messing Jimmy, what happened is between me and Helen.’
‘So you’re not going to fill me in on all the details?’
‘I’m saying nothing about it.’
‘Give us a look at your passport for a minute.’
‘For what?’
‘I want to make sure it’s you.’
‘Listen Jimmy, forget about it. If it’ll shut you up, let’s just say my feelings haven’t changed, okay? Are you eating them nuts?’
‘Here.’
‘So who’s going to be looking after me in London if Norman’s in Dublin having a sulk?’
‘Dónal and Norman reckon you’ll be grand. Your stalker doesn’t know where you’ll be. Anyway, it’ll give Norman a chance to cool down. And he misses his bird he says.’
‘Yeah … his bird …’
‘What?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Every time anyone mentions Trish, you get all quiet. Is it the shame of it?’
‘No. It’s just … listen Jimmy, if I say something, will you do your best to listen to it without calling me a fuckin’ eejit?’
‘Can I just think it?’
‘Yeah … I s’pose so.’
‘Go on so.’
‘When I was talking to Trish that time … y’know, with the badger and all … she wasn’t fuckin’ normal?’
‘What do you mean normal?’
‘She said she wanted to talk to me. She needed to show me something. Not the picture, something else. And she said not to tell Norman about it. She wanted to meet me for dinner. Just the two of us, like.’
‘What? That’s a bit fucked.’
‘I know. I don’t know what she’s after, but I’m not into doing all this behind-the-scenes shite. Norman is my mate and if she wants me to shag her or something, then I don’t know what to do.’
‘You mean about shagging her? Because …’
‘No, you fuckin’ dipstick. I’m not shagging her either way. But what do I do about the psycho fuckin’ vibes I’m getting?’
‘Did you tell Norman what she said?’
‘Jesus, no. I already broke his door, wrecked his shoes, scared the bejaysis out of his girlfriend twice, served him up salad cream sandwiches for his dinner, smashed his phone, and then I disappear into the night with his cousin. If he’s anywhere near breaking point, do you think I want to tell him his bird is looking for me to throw a length into her on top of everything else?’
‘Fair point. So what are you going to do?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe I can get her on her own for two minutes and tell her to fuck off and leave me alone.’
‘Maybe the curious incident of the badger in the night did the trick?’
‘Maybe it did. But I don’t know man. She’s a bit mental, that one.’
‘Are you sure she said all that stuff about meeting her privately? You know the way you’re an awful dopey cunt sometimes …’
‘I’m telling you man it wasn’t right, the stuff she was coming out with. The girl was saying all this shit to me, and Norman’s in the next room. That’s why I was in the bedroom at all that night. I didn’t want him hearing what was going on.’
‘Look, just give her a call. See what she wants, okay? If she wants you instead of Norman, you’re going to have to say something. Unless she just accepts that it’s not going to happen and never mentions it again to either of you. Then it can just be a little secret between the two of you. Or, well, the three of us.’
‘Ah … fuck this shit anyway. Who needs all this crap when I’m already after telling Helen that … eh …’
‘Yeah? What did you tell Helen, Aesop?’
‘Nothing.’
An airhostess came by with champagne for them.
‘Thanks very much,’ said Jimmy, taking one for each of them.
‘How long is this flight?’ said Aesop.
‘It’s just over an hour, Mr Murray.’
‘Oh right. Thanks.’
The girl moved on to the next row.
‘She recognised us,’ said Aesop.
‘Yeah. Well, she has a list of all her passengers too. So maybe …’
‘Nah. Did you see that look?’
‘She wanted to ride you as well I s’pose, is it?’
‘It’s a cross I have to bear Jimmy. I’m mad for gee and women can sense it.’
‘Oh, okay.’
‘It’s the way God made me.’
‘God made you mad for gee?’
Aesop nodded.
‘Right,’ said Jimmy. ‘I didn’t know that was his department.’
‘Yeah, well it doesn’t matter. I’m retired now anyway.’
Jimmy looked at him.
‘Over Helen?’
Aesop said nothing.
‘Aesop, are you and Helen a full-time thing now or what’s the fuckin’ story?’
‘You wouldn’t understand.’
‘You’re not answering me, Aesop.’
‘Well stop asking then, Jimmy.’
‘Fuck sake.’
*
‘Dónal!’
‘Great to see you lads. Jaysis, Aesop, I think you’re after putting on a bit of weight, are you?’
‘You should see the size of the dinners Norman was making, Dónal. The things that man can do with a spud.’
‘Well it suits you anyway. A bit of colour in the cheeks and everything.’
‘Yeah, well I’ve been taking these morning walks and all y’know? A few miles across the bogs, just to get the heart going.’
‘Jesus, don’t mind him,’ said Jimmy. ‘You have to empty him out of the bed.’
‘Lads, we’ll go and grab a bite for lunch, right? We’re meeting with Senturian at two.’
‘Grand,’ said Jimmy. ‘Do you already know what the story is with them?’
‘Only that they want to talk about the next album. And they’ve got something on the cards for America. They were talking about a support slot for you.’
‘Cool. With who?’
‘Don’t know yet. C’mon.’
The bellhop signalled a taxi just outside the main door and they got in. Dónal told the guy where they wanted to go and then they all sat back and gazed at the sights going past.
‘Do you know what I love about English women?’ said Aesop, when they stopped at a traffic light and a pile of pedestrians started walking in front of the car.
‘What?’ said Dónal.
Jimmy had more sense.
‘I love the way they’re posh and dirty at the same time,’ said Aesop.
‘I’m not with you.’
‘English women can do posh and make it sound dirty. Liz Hurley, now. I could see her spanking the arse off you.’
‘Off me?’
‘Off anyone.’
‘And that’d be brilliant, would it?’
‘Oh Jaysis yeah. Smacking you on the arse and telling you you’re very bold. I’d say she’d be deadly at that.’
‘Based on what?’
‘Are you not listening to me? Her accent.’
‘So you’ve decided that Liz Hurley, a woman you’ve never met, is into smacking people on the arse. And you’re basing this revelation on her accent.’
‘I know women, Dónal.’
‘Jimmy, what’s he on about?’
‘Ah, don’t listen to him, Dónal. It’s not worth it.’
‘Do you know what else I love about English women?’ said Aesop.
Silence.
‘Lads?’
Nothing.
‘Lads? Do you know what else I love about English women?’
‘Christ. What do you love, Aesop?’
‘Knickers. Well, underwear in general. Do you ever notice that English birds have the coolest jocks?’
‘I’ve been married for fourteen years, Aesop,’ said Dónal.
‘Yeah, but you can still look, can’t you?’
‘At their jocks? How, for fuck sake?’
‘Magazines or on the telly or whatever. They have some good gear over here, I’m telling you. I don’t know where they get it. Do you?’
‘Do I know where English women get their underwear?’
‘Yeah.’
‘No I don’t.’
‘That’d be a good business to be in. Bringing English girls’ scanties over to Ireland and selling it.’
‘I’m sure it’s the same stuff at home as here.’
‘Well maybe they just don’t buy it as much. It’s all about marketing, y’know?’
‘Is it? Okay, right. That’s enough, Aesop, please.’
‘Oh, by the way, that reminds me … I’m after having a brilliant idea.’
Dónal was rooting in his briefcase now. Jimmy was still looking out the window.
‘Lads? Lads, me brilliant idea … do you want to hear it? Lads?’
Jimmy looked around.
‘Aesop, if we listen to your idea, will you shut fuckin’ up until we get out of the car?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Okay. What’s your idea?’
‘It’s a band. A trad band, right? But it’s an all-girl band. A female trad supergroup. I betcha a few of them Riverdance babes play instruments and …’
Dónal looked up.
‘An all-girl trad band?’
‘Yeah. I was watching Helen singing the other night, right? And this other young one, Cathleen, was on the whistle and another one was on the guitar, y’see? Dónal … Dónal, do you see?’
‘Yes, Aesop. I don’t know the girls, but what about them?’
‘They were all gorgeous!’
‘Good. Great. And so you rode them all and everyone lived happily ever after …’
‘No, no. I’m just saying, there were these three top birds and they were all playing trad music. No hairy jumpers on them, no moustaches, no beer bellies. We’re talking top-shelf gee, right? You don’t normally get that in trad. So my idea was, right, you get four or five birds that look like the Corrs. Sexy Irish country accents, good singers, good musicians, the whole nine yards, right? But proper trad. Dress them up properly in lovely black dresses, proper make-up, English jocks … and all of a sudden you’ve got a new type of girl band. Like a normal girl band, except trad. Trad needs more sexy birds, lads. The Yanks would lap it up. I’m telling you, it’d be a goldmine.’
Jimmy and Dónal were just looking at each other.
‘Wouldn’t it be deadly?’ said Aesop.
Dónal sighed.
‘I s’pose it might have a market.’
‘Might?! They’d be gagging for it! Can I do it?’
‘What?’ said Dónal.
‘Can I do it? For Sin Bin, like. Can I start auditioning young ones for it? We could have different troupes, y’know? Touring and all, like Riverdance.’
‘I’m not having you use Sin Bin so you can collect yourself stables of pretty young trad musicians to scandalise.’
‘It’d be a good name for the band, though,’ said Jimmy, looking around. Aesop’s Stables.’
Dónal laughed.
‘Yeah. True.’
‘I’m serious lads. Youse are always talking about other bands and all. I’d like to give it a go. Be a manager and all, y’know? And anyway, I’m not scandalising anyone at the moment. Amn’t I not Jimmy?’
‘So you say.’
‘So anyway, Dónal. What do you think?’
‘Aesop, if you’re serious about managing a band, we’ll talk about it again. There’s a lot to learn, y’know?’
‘I can learn stuff.’
‘Well, there’s a lot to know before you can go hand-picking a group of musicians anyway.’
‘But this band will be sexy. That’s their thing.’
‘That’s not enough, Aesop.’
‘Ah cop on, Dónal. Do you think The Corrs would be The Corrs if they all looked like the brother?’
‘Look, the restaurant is just there. We’ll talk about it again. There’s a lot of thought needs to go into something like this.’
‘I’ve already given it a lot of thought.’
‘Have you?’
‘Yeah. I’ve already got a name for the band and everything. It’s sexy girl band, but it’s trad sexy girl band. Irish, sexy, trad, girls …’
‘Okay okay, Aesop. So what are you going to call them, then?’
‘B*Jaysis.’
Jimmy started laughing out the window.
‘Fuck sake …’ said Dónal, shaking his head. He got back to the contents of his briefcase.
‘Wotcha think? Lads? B*Jaysis. Lads, what do you think of that? Lads?’
*
The Senturion offices were very sexy.
‘So you like your hotel?’ said Alison, leaning back in a huge leather armchair.
She was the boss. A tall beautiful black woman with some kind of Caribbean accent. They’d met her before in Dublin, but Jimmy and Aesop had both forgotten just how stunning she was.
‘It’s brilliant, thanks,’ said Jimmy.
‘You have us spoilt, Alison,’ said Aesop. ‘You could play Twister on the bed, sure.’
She laughed.
‘Really? You’ll have to make some friends then, Aesop, while you’re here.’
Jimmy immediately gave him a boot under the table. He knew Aesop well enough to know that he was about to say something dirty to her and Dónal had warned them about ten times that she went spare when blokes thought they had a chance at getting the cacks off her.
She went on for another fifteen minutes or so, telling them they were brilliant and how happy everyone was. The singles, the tour, the album … everything was going great. There was even some interest in the US in the whole thing. She was pretty sure that a tour over there would be on the cards as soon as they were done in Europe. Jimmy and Aesop were beaming. A US tour. That would be the absolute mutt’s nuts. Then Alison leaned in again to the table and put on a pair of glasses.
‘I guess we should talk a little business now?’ she said.
‘Why don’t we start on the album contract?’ said Dónal.
‘Sure,’ said Alison. She looked at the guy next to her and he pulled some pages out of a folder. She passed them out. ‘What we have here is a four-album contract to replace the single-album one we’re working to at the moment. As you’ll see, we’ve got some very exciting ideas about where all this will go.’
The lads all looked at the documents for a few minutes. Dónal skimmed through his copy and glanced up at Jimmy. Jimmy was frowning at his. Aesop was still on the first page, bending down to try and read it. He hadn’t gotten used to the controls on his own armchair and it was at its full height. He seemed to be miles above the table.
‘As you know,’ said Alison, ‘we’re extremely excited about you two guys and can see great potential for upcoming projects. This document and your talent will make all of us a lot of money over the next two years.’
‘Two years?’ said Jimmy.
Dónal put a hand on his arm and looked at Alison.
‘Go on …’
Alison pointed to a graph on the overhead projector.
‘Well, as you can see, the next twelve months are going to see some movement in the industry. We’ll be striving to maximise all the leverage we can within that calendar.’
Jimmy swallowed. They’d be striving to maximise their leverage? He was used to hearing this type of nonsensical bollocks when he worked in an office, but he wasn’t expecting to have to listen to it here. And what was that about two years?
‘So, if no one has any questions, we’ll move on to some of the details … eh, yes Aesop?’
Aesop had his hand up.
‘What does “whereon” mean?’
‘Em … well it doesn’t really mean anything. It’s just a word for … em …’
‘Oh. Okay. Can I have a lend of your pen?’
She passed it across and he started crossing out words on his contract.
‘Eh, okay, so moving on … are you … okay Aesop?’
‘Sorry. I’m just … I can’t get this chair to go down. Look at me. I feel like I should be eating a bowl of Liga up here.’
‘There’s a little lever just at the side. You need to push it down. But be careful …’
There was whoosh and then a bang.
‘Ow! Aw … me fuckin’ mouth …’
‘Are you okay Aesop?’
‘Bit me tongue. Aw man, that hurts like a bastard. Look, it’s bleeding … don’t be looking at me like that Jimmy … Oh God … look at that … aw, I … I don’t feel well Alison …’
He was looking at the blood on his finger, the other hand steadying himself on the table.
Alison barked a few instructions and one of the guys next to her went around to Aesop to help him to his feet.
‘Maybe you could show Aesop to the bathroom please Phil?’
Dónal looked at her.
‘And maybe then Phil could introduce him to a few people around the office?’
‘Good idea. Why don’t you do that, Aesop, when you’ve got yourself cleaned up?’
‘Okay. Sorry for all this trouble Alison,’ said Aesop, taking his contract and moving towards the door, leaning on Phil’s arm.
‘It’s no trouble. These chairs can take a bit of getting used to.’
When the door closed behind them, Jimmy turned around to Alison.
‘Sorry about that. Usually he waits until all the chocolate biscuits are gone before he gets bored and starts annoying everyone.’
‘That’s okay Jimmy. Now, where were we?’
‘The album contract,’ said Dónal. He hadn’t been distracted at all by Aesop. He was still frowning and looking down at a particular part of it.
‘Right. Yes. Well, the way we see this working, going forward, is that …’
*
Aesop thoroughly enjoyed himself for the afternoon. Once he was done in the bathroom, Phil led him through the office, stopping at all the girls’ desks and introducing Aesop as the drummer with The Grove. They all knew exactly who he was. Each one stood and smiled at him in turn and he bowed and shook their hands and grinned at them like his whole life was a complete fucking waste of time until about five minutes ago. He concentrated on cramming as many names as would fit into the special mental vault he used for people he wasn’t planning on shagging but wanted to charm anyway. It was usually reserved for mammies and table staff in pubs. But these girls were the ones who’d be working on the album; making calls, sorting out the publicity, making sure the shops were stocked and the CDs properly displayed. They’d be putting out the press releases and contacting journos and setting up interviews and promotions. Never mind all that shite going on in Alison’s office, this was where the real work was done and he wanted to make a good impression.
Phil was a bit of a tit though. He showed Aesop some of the latest reviews.
‘One magazine two weeks ago said you were easily the most exciting new drummer in England, Aesop. What do you think of that?’
‘I wasn’t in England two weeks ago, Phil.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘I’m from Dublin.’
‘Oh of course, sorry. Maybe it said the UK, not England.’
Aesop nodded at him slowly.
‘Did you get The Muppets on the telly over here, Phil?’
About an hour later he saw Jimmy coming out of the meeting room and going into the lift without a word to anyone. Then Dónal came out and followed him. Aesop frowned and said his goodbyes to the girl he was talking to. Dónal and Jimmy were waiting for him on the street outside.
‘C’mon,’ said Dónal, before Aesop could open his mouth. ‘There’s a pub just down here.’
They all started walking down the road.
‘Anyone want to fill me in on what the fuck happened up there?’
‘Wait till we have a pint in front of us, Aesop. That got a bit heated, so it did.’
‘But I thought we were all mates, Alison and us?’
‘We’re business partners, Aesop. Not always the same thing.’
‘Were you having a row?’
‘Discussion. In loud voices.’
‘Yis bleedin’ eejits. See what happens when I leave you alone? You need my unique brand of charm and can-do attitude in these situations.’
‘Yeah. How’s your tongue?’
‘I think a bit came off. Feels funny. Bumpy.’
‘Doesn’t affect your appetite though. What’s that you’re eating?’
‘Yorkie. Do you want one? I have a Turkish Delight too.’
‘I’m grand thanks.’
‘Murray Mint?’
‘Where did you get all that stuff Aesop. Were you robbing their fridge?’
‘There’s a fridge? Bollocks. No, that Phil bloke was annoying me so I had to get rid of him out to the shops a couple of times.’
‘How did he annoy you for God sake?’
‘Ah, he’s a dope. He thinks Ireland is part of the UK.’
‘For the first time, Jimmy looked over.
‘You weren’t exactly the best geography student yourself that Brother Patrick ever had, were you Aesop?’
‘Jesus Jimmy, at least I know where me own country starts and finishes.’
‘Yeah,’ said Jimmy. ‘Dublin.’
‘Ah, not any more Jimmy. Sure I’ve a whole new appreciation for bog-warriors now. I mean, when you get right down to it, most of them are only a decent haircut and a change of jocks away from being like the rest of us.’
‘Very magnanimous of you, Aesop.’
‘Sticks and stones, Jimmy.’
They were outside the pub now and Jimmy pushed open the door and led them inside. At the bar, Dónal called for three pints.
‘Okay then,’ said Aesop, picking up his glass. ‘What’s up? Why did this fella come barrelling out of Alison’s office like a man with the trots?’
‘Right Aesop,’ said Dónal. ‘This is what’s after happening, right? Are you listening?’
‘I am.’
‘Okay. Basically, they want us to sign a four-album deal. For a lot of money.’
‘The bastards.’
‘No, listen. The new album will be out in a couple of weeks, right?’
‘Right.’
‘Then you go on tour.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well it seems that Alison and her team have come up with an ingenious solution to the problem of us not having a bass player.’
‘Deadly! What is it?’
‘Well, it’s a bit complicated. But, what they want to do is for us to tour with Leet.’
‘Sure that’s grand. It’ll be a laugh having young fellas like that around the place.’
‘Yeah, well we tour Ireland, then the UK. We use Leet’s bass player in The Grove. He plays with us every night when Leet come off. We just pay him a session fee.’
‘Okay.’
‘Now, here’s where it gets a bit fucked.’
Jimmy put down his empty glass. He nodded to the barman for three more, even though the other two had barely touched theirs.
‘You can fucking say that again,’ he said.
Dónal went on.
‘Senturion aren’t sure about us being headline material in the States.’
‘Well that’s all right, isn’t it? Nothing’s even been released over there yet.’
‘Yeah. But they think Leet might be.’
‘What?’
‘The Grove would be supporting Leet in the States.’
‘But they haven’t even recorded anything yet! They’re only kids.’
‘I know. But they have the makings of an album and Senturion are ready to put a huge amount of money behind it, based on what they’ve heard. They’ll have songwriters working on it straight away on the side, and they’ll come up with a production sound for us to work to in the studio. They’re looking for something new and they’ve decided that Leet is it. They’re going full tilt, man. They have some big American friends on board with the whole thing. It’s time for a new biggest-band-in-the-world and Leet are in the right place at the right time. Could’ve been anyone, but it’s Leet.’
‘But could it not have been us?’
‘Well, that’s what we were kind of hoping for, Aesop. Unfortunately, they basically think you’re too old. You and Jimmy. Great musicians, great songwriters … but a bit long in the tooth to attract the kids in the US. Kids who don’t want to see their Dads up there on the stage. They need a new Green Day, now that Green Day are getting all serious.’
Aesop looked in the mirror behind the bar and flicked at his hair.
‘Me? Look at me, for fuck sake. I’m gorgeous! I could pass as twenty-two no bother.’
‘Maybe not any more Aesop.’
Aesop looked over at Jimmy.
‘Is this what has you like this, grandad?’
Jimmy nodded.
‘It gets better, man. Go on Dónal.’
‘Right. Aesop, do you understand what’s happening so far?’
‘Yeah. Jesus, it’s not like I’ve no brain at all Dónal.’
‘I know that. I just want to make sure you know where we are. We’ll all need to be able to discuss it later, the three of us.’
‘I’m grand. Go on.’
‘Right. So, we release The Grove album, go on tour around Ireland and the UK with Leet as support. The Leet album is recorded on the road. Not easily done, but the timing means it has to happen that way. When it’s ready, your album and Leet’s album both go out in the US, a shed load of money behind theirs and fuck all behind yours. But you’ll get the run-off because you’re touring together over there – except with The Grove supporting Leet this time. All the kids over there run out and buy the Leet album because MTV tells them to, some of them buy yours too.’
‘Okay. I’m starting to not like it as much now.’
‘Right. But that’s not all.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Senturion are after having another great idea. What they’re basically saying is, The Grove is too old to really sell records from a standing start. But Leet don’t have the musicianship in the studio to cut it. Or the songwriting. So … after the US tour we all come back here and get back here to work on our second album.’
‘Yeah …’
‘Except, it’s a Leet album.’
‘We work on a Leet album? But …’
‘The drummer and guitar player in Leet get fired. You and Jimmy join Leet for the other three albums in the contract. What you have in your hand there is really a contract for Leet not The Grove. You see the problem now?’
Aesop nodded.
‘One contract, two bands.’
‘No. One band Aesop. That’s the problem. The Grove is no more. You can take the songs into Leet with you, almost everything else stays the same, except the front man of the band isn’t Jimmy. Eamonn does the singing. Jimmy gets to hang back and become a guitar hero. You do what you’ve always done. You’re Jimmy’s rhythm section.’
‘And … The Grove is gone?’
‘Except for the songs. Yeah.’
‘Jimmy?’
‘Yeah?’
‘You all right?’
‘No.’
Aesop looked back at his pint for a minute.
‘Dónal, it’ll never happen.’
‘Why not?’
‘Man, them lads in Leet have been mates since they were kids.’
‘I know.’
‘Well, they’re not going to just fire the drummer and the guitar player, are they?’
‘Well, I don’t know. But when there’s money involved, Aesop, people can surprise you.’
‘Well … okay. But we can just say fuck off, right? We don’t want to be in Leet. We want to be in The Grove. Right Jimmy?’
‘Right.’
‘And anyway, what are they on about? We’re huge in Ireland! Everyone loves us.’
‘Ireland is a piss-splash Aesop. This is a whole different game we’re playing. There’s no money in Ireland. Not like that anyway. It’s too small.’
Aesop had caught up to Jimmy at this stage and waved at the barman.
‘So,’ he said, turning back to Dónal. ‘We sign this contract, tour, and then come back and join Leet?’
‘Right.’
‘And if we tell them to fuck off?’
‘We tour the UK and Ireland. With Leet if we want. Then we’re on our own. The album is released at home and here. Anywhere else, it’s only on export. End of story. We go looking for another deal unless the album really breaks. Then Senturion will probably get behind us again. But, Aesop, the album won’t break unless they’re behind us in the first place. And their plan is to pull money out from under us and put it into Leet. Do you understand?’
‘Yeah. I think so. But we can still get another deal, right? We got the first one easy enough, didn’t we?’
‘Well, in retrospect, the first one was probably all about getting some exposure for you and Jimmy. They wanted you to become known in your own right while they looked for another band that you could join. Kids that will fit the image of this new vibe they’re trying to put together. They probably never intended for The Grove to be it. The Grove was just a vehicle for putting you guys on the map, but they need someone else to complete the line-up they have in mind. And then when we came up with Leet, there it all was. A package deal. What they basically want to do is hand-pick a new version of Leet that they think will do the job. So anyway, maybe The Grove could get another deal. We’ll still be big in Ireland. We can always pay the bills that way. Maybe the UK fan base from this album would give us a bunt up to something bigger … but no one’s making any promises.’
‘So what do you think we should do?’
‘I think we should think about it.’
‘You mean you want to go for it?’
‘I mean we should think about it. It’s a lot of money. A lot, Aesop.’
‘Come on then, how much?’
‘You sign that document and commit to the next three albums with Leet – and by the way, you can sign it on your own if you want – and one million will go into your account tomorrow. Sterling.’
Aesop’s glass went crashing to the floor.
‘Are you all right Aesop?’
He was pale.
‘Aesop?’
Aesop stood up and then sat down again.
‘You okay?’ said Dónal.
‘Yeah man. Sorry. When you said one million I got such a shock that I thought I was after having an accident. I could feel it sliding around back there and everything.’
He pulled a melted Curly Wurly out of his back pocket and grinned.
‘False alarm.’