an invisible line。 Politically； success might have enhanced their position； but they didn't succeed； did they？ This will harm them； harm their 'popular' support。 Some people who know them will now consider talking not to us； you understand； but some of what they say will get to us in due course。 They were outcasts before； they will be outcasts even more now。〃
Will they learn from this？ Ryan wondered； if so； what will they have learned？ There's a question。 Jack knew that it had only two possible answers； and that those answers were diametrically opposed。 He made a mental note。 He'd follow up on this when he got home。 It wasn't a merely academic exercise now。 He had a bullet hole in his shoulder to prove that。
The Prince rose to his feet。 〃You must excuse me。 Jack。 I'm afraid I have rather a full day ahead。〃
〃Going back out； eh？〃
〃If I hide； they've won。 I understand that fact better now than when I came in here。 And I have something else to thank you for。〃
〃You would have figured it out sooner or later。 Better it should be sooner； don't you think？〃
〃We must see more of each other。〃
〃I'd like that； sir。 Afraid I'm stuck here for a while； though。〃
〃We are traveling out of the country soon the day after tomorrow。 It's a state visit to New Zealand and the Solomon Islands。 You may be gone before we get back。〃
〃Is your wife up to it。 Your Highness？〃
〃I think so。 A change of scenery； the doctor said； is just the ticket。 She had a very bad experience yesterday； but〃 he smiled 〃I think it was harder on me than on her。〃
I'll buy that； Ryan thought。 She's young； she'll bounce back； and at least she has something good to remember。 Putting your body between your family and the bullets ought to firm up any relationship。 〃Hey； she sure as hell knows you love her； sir。〃
〃I do； you know；〃 the Prince said seriously。
〃It's the customary reason to get married； sir；〃 Jack replied； 〃even for us mon folk。〃
〃You're a most irreverent chap。 Jack。〃
〃Sorry about that。〃 Ryan grinned。 So did the Prince。
〃No； you're not。〃 His Highness extended his hand。 〃Thank you； Sir John； for many things。〃
Ryan watched him leave with a brisk step and a straight back。
〃Tony； you know the difference between him and me？ I can say that I used to be a Marine； and that's enough。 But that poor guy's got to prove it every damned day； to everybody he meets。 I guess that's what you have to do when you're in the public eye all the time。〃 Jack shook his head。 〃There's no way in hell they could pay me enough to take his job。〃
〃He's born to it；〃 Wilson said。
Ryan thought about that。 〃That's one difference between your country and mine。 You think people are born to something。 We know that they have to grow into it。 It's not the same thing； Tony。〃
〃Well； you're part of it now。 Jack。〃
〃I think I should go。〃 David Ashley looked at the telex in his hand。 The disturbing thing was that he'd been requested by name。 The PIRA knew who he was； and they knew that he was the Security Service executive on the case。 How the hell did they know that。'
〃I agree；〃 James Owens said。 〃If they're this anxious to talk with us； they might be anxious enough to tell us something useful。 Of course； there is an element of risk。 You could take someone with you。〃
Ashley thought about that one。 There was always the chance that he'd be kidnapped； but 。 。 。 The strange thing about the PIRA was that they did have a code of conduct。 Within their own definitions； they were honorable。 They assassinated their targets without remorse； but they wouldn't deal in drugs。 Their bombs would kill children； but they'd never kidnapped one。 Ashley shook his head。
〃No； people from the Service have met with them before and there's never been a problem。 I'll go alone。〃 He turned for the door。
〃Daddy！〃 Sally ran into the room and stopped cold at the side of the bed as she tried to figure a way to climb high enough to kiss her father。 She grabbed the side rails and set one foot on the bedframe as if it were the monkey bars at her nursery school and sprang upward。 Her diminutive frame bent over the edge of the mattress as she scrambled for a new foothold； and Ryan pulled her up。
〃Hi； Daddy。〃 Sally kissed him on the cheek。
〃And how are you today？〃
〃Fine。 What's that； Daddy？〃 She pointed。
〃It's called a cast；〃 Cathy Ryan answered。 〃I thought you had to go to the bathroom。〃
〃Okay。〃 Sally jumped back off the bed。
〃I think it's in there；〃 Jack said。 〃But I'm not sure。〃
〃I thought so；〃 Cathy said after surveying Jack's attachment to the bed。 〃Okay； e on。 Sally。〃
A man had entered behind his family； Ryan saw。 Late twenties； very athletic； and nicely dressed； of course。 He was also rather good…looking； Jack reflected。
〃Good afternoon； Doctor Ryan；〃 he said。 〃I'm William Greville。〃
Jack made a guess。 〃What regiment？〃
〃Twenty…second； sir。〃
〃Special Air Service？〃 Greville nodded； a proud but restrained smile on his lips。
〃When you care enough to send the very best；〃 Jack muttered。 〃Just you？〃
〃And a driver； Sergeant Michaelson； a policeman from the Diplomatic Protection Group。〃
〃Why you and not another cop？〃
〃I understand your wife wishes to see a bit of the countryside。 My father is something of an authority on various castles； and Her Majesty thought that your wife might wish to have an； ah； escort familiar with the sights。 Father has dragged me through nearly every old house in England； you see。〃
〃Escort〃 is the right word； Ryan thought； remembering what the 〃Special Air Service〃 really was。 The only association they had with airplanes was jumping out of them or blowing them up。
Greville went on。 〃I am also directed by my colonel to extend an invitation to our regimental mess。〃
Ryan gestured at his suspended arm。 〃Thanks； but that might have to wait a while。〃
〃We understand。 No matter； sir。 Whenever you have the chance； we'll be delighted to have you in for dinner。 We wanted to extend the invitation before the bootnecks； you see。〃 Greville grinned。 〃What you did was more our sort of op； after all。 Well； I had to extend the invitation。 You want to see your family； not me。〃
〃Take good care of them 。 。 。 Lieutenant？〃
〃Captain；〃 Greville corrected。 〃We will do that； sir。〃 Ryan watched the young officer leave as Cathy and Sally emerged from the bathroom。
〃What do you think of him？〃 Cathy asked。
〃His daddy's a count。 Daddy！〃 Sally announced。 〃He's nice。〃
〃What？〃
〃His father's Viscount…something…or…other；〃 his wife explained as she walked over。 〃You look a lot better。〃
〃So do you； babe。〃 Jack craned his neck up to meet his wife's kiss。
〃Jack； you've been smoking。〃 Even before they'd gotten married； Cathy had bullied him into stopping。
Her damned sense of smell； Jack thought。 〃Be nice； I've had a hard day。〃
〃Wimp！〃 she observed disgustedly。
Ryan looked up at the ceiling。 To the whole world I'm a hero； but I smoke a couple of cigarettes and to Cathy that makes me a wimp。 He concluded that the world was not exactly overrun with justice。
〃Gimme a break； babe。〃
〃Where'd you get them？〃
〃I have a cop baby…sitting me in here he had to go someplace a few minutes ago。〃
Cathy looked around for the offending cigarette pack so that she could squash it。 Jack had it stashed under his pillow。 Cathy Ryan sat down。 Sally climbed into her lap。
〃How do you feel？〃
〃I know it's there； but I can live with it。 How'd you make out last night？〃
〃You know where we are now； right？〃
〃I heard。〃
〃It's like being Cinderella。〃 Caroline Muller Ryan； MD； grinned。
John Patrick Ryan； PhD； wiggled the fingers of his left hand。 〃I guess I'm the one who turned into the pumpkin。 I guess you're going to make the trips we planned。 Good。〃
〃Sure you don't mind？〃
〃Half the reason for the vacation was to get you away from hospitals； Cathy； remember？ No sense taking all the film home unused； is it？〃
〃It'd be a lot more fun with you。〃
Jack nodded。 He'd looked forward to seeing the castles on the list； too。 Like many American