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booze? No. He thought about Maggie, the wedding, and just how difficult this was likely to make their nuptials. He had no choice. ‘Of course, my resources are at your disposal. I’ve already talked to my chief constable about this, so Argyll Constabulary is ready to participate in any way you see fit.’
    â€˜Excellent, Sergeant,’ replied Marshall, a gleam in his eye. ‘Now all we have to do is watch and wait.’
    Hoynes and his first mate, followed by Geordie, sidled up to the bar and introduced themselves to the pilots.
    â€˜They tell me you both served in the war. I’m privileged to say I did myself,’ said Hoynes, his chest swelling.
    â€˜I was in Spits, but Bertie here was part of the lumbering squad.’ He winked at his colleague.
    â€˜Lumbering, Ralph? Remember the parable of the tortoise and the hare, my friend,’ joked Bertie. ‘All very well for you chaps looping the loop and showing off with victory rolls. When it came to beating Jerry in his own backyard it was left to us.’
    â€˜ Touché .’
    â€˜But things must be very different noo,’ remarked Hamish. ‘I mean that great beast you’re flying jeest noo – can you imagine whoot they Nazis wid have done wae such a contraption?’
    â€˜Doesn’t bear thinking about. If Jerry had managed to get a march on us with jet fighters – and they damn nearly did – the war would have had a very different outcome,’ said Ralph, suddenly looking very serious.
    Hoynes puffed at his pipe thoughtfully. ‘I’m a seafarer, as you know. Served wae the RNR as a petty officer. I’m no’ much good when it comes tae science, an’ that.’
    â€˜Spit it out, Sandy,’ said Bertie. ‘Another dram?’
    â€˜Och, I don’t mind if I do. Very kind, very kind, indeed.’
    â€˜Me too,’ said Hamish, raising his glass.
    As Bertie got the drinks in, Hoynes addressed Ralph. ‘I was wondering how come that aircraft of yours makes such a bloody racket?’
    â€˜No magic to it. As we go past the sound barrier – the speed at which sound can travel – that barrier breaks on the nose of the crate. That’s putting it simply, of course. It’s a wonderful piece of engineering.’
    â€˜It would be mair wonderful if they could shut it up a wee bit,’ observed Hamish.
    The little group of drinkers savoured the first sips of their whisky before the conversation resumed.
    â€˜So how long wid it take you to get to New York?’ asked Geordie. ‘I’ve got a cousin there I would love tae visit one day.’
    â€˜From here? Oh, if we were going full tilt and given a decent wind we could be there in four hours,’ said Bertie.
    â€˜Four hours tae New York?’ spluttered Hoynes. ‘It takes six hoors on the bus tae get tae Glesca!’
    â€˜They’ll never fly it that fast with passengers, mind you,’ Bertie continued. ‘But our job is to test it to the limit.’
    â€˜There’ll come a day when folk will be stayin’ here in Kinloch an’ working in America, or even Australia. It’s all mapped oot, if you care tae think aboot it,’ said Hamish.
    â€˜You boys must be remarkable pilots, right enough.’ Hoynes tapped his pipe out in a glass ashtray. ‘I’m thinking there won’t be very many of you about?’
    â€˜With supersonic experience? I should say not,’ replied Ralph. ‘A dozen, maybe fifteen.’
    â€˜Are they all oot at the base at Machrie?’
    â€˜No, not at all. I meant in the whole world. We’re a rare breed, aren’t we, Bertie?’
    â€˜That we are.’
    Hamish looked at Hoynes and winked. Rare breeds like these would be sadly missed – even if it was only for a short while. Time enough to attract the world’s attention to the plight of Kinloch’s herring fishermen.

8
    The three women sat in the