The overnight rain has cleared by they are having breakfast, coinciding with Adam ringing to say that Malcolm and Martin will arrive sometime between ten and eleven. At a time when something as simple as watching Ruth buttering toast with the radio on in the background, is all Harry needs to prove that his decision to retire is the right one. Whilst at the same time not wanting to distract Adam who is vital when it comes to the plan succeeding, so says 'thanks for letting us know and you take care now.'

Not that this is the only interruption, because almost as soon as they have settled down again a knock on the door which Harry answers sees him involved in a very one-sided conversation and a lot of adaptation by way of arm waving as to where he wants what is a truck load of logs to be stacked. Which means that by the time he sits down again, not only has his coffee gone cold but Ruth has eaten his toast. The alternative to Ruth answering the door in her jimjams the reason that he had gone in the first place which assures that his mock indignation is rewarded with two more slices of toast, a fresh pot of coffee and a radiant smile.

Which leads them very nicely into a conversation about Martin, eventually coming to the conclusion that they need to be careful in the way they behave towards each other, until Harry has judged his mood. Not knowing that a curious Martin has persuaded Malcolm to give him not details but his opinion as to how he sees them, which Malcolm who had felt backed into a corner had kept it brief by heading back to the day when it had all gone tits up after he had said to Ruth, I think you make a smashing couple. Add the fact that Martin already knows Harry and his history as well as he knows his own, when the invitation had come to spend a week with them, his desire to confirm with his own eyes that his friend is truly happy means that for the first time in his life he is one nil up on Harry.

Opening the front door as soon as he hears the car pull up, Harry cannot deny how pleased he is to see Malcolm again or is he surprised when they shake hands that he apologises by saying, 'I hope we're not interrupting you're morning routine by arriving a bit early, but once we dropped our luggage off at the hotel, we found ourselves at a loose end.'

But the biggest surprise given the circumstances which have brought Martin here and the two - year time gap since they last met is how well he looks and his obvious curiosity about Ruth, when Malcolm who has followed her into to the kitchen says, 'this is so you,' meaning the house, and Martin who is still in the hallway hanging up his coat, follows it up by turning to Harry and saying, 'I never thought the day would come when I'd see you look at a woman the way you just did you lucky bugger.'

Neither did I thinks Harry but is saved from saying so when Malcolm reappears, presumably prompted by Ruth, suggesting that they go for a walk, which Harry is more than happy to do thank you very much, but not until Ruth has made their guests a warm drink.

.

Heading in the direction of the village rather than be confronted by a graveyard, again with Martin in mind, Malcolm who is walking ahead with Ruth kicks off the conversation again as they approach the point where the canal changes direction in a large sweep by saying, 'this path reminds me of my mother reading Tales of the River Bank, I think I've still got it somewhere.' That he is also able to identify in detail not only the flora and flora that even at this time of year is hidden amongst the reeds, but the series of small holes just above the water line by saying, 'those are crag martin's nests I haven't seen any of those for years,' before adding, 'you are so lucky to be living somewhere as remote as this where nature can live undisturbed,' doesn't surprise his hosts on either count given his passion for walking.

Only for Martin to chip in with, 'it reminds me of the Wind in the Willows' which was a follow up by saying, 'if my memory serves me correctly.'

Hopefully without Ratty thinks Harry, transported back to a time when he himself had been dressed in short trousers and his mother had read him the same stories. Another thought which he keeps to himself. As he does the fact that Malcolm being here is a positive. A reminder as to how well he and Ruth had and still are so at ease with each other. So much so that when they do go to London, he wants to ensure that the three of them get to spend some time together.

.

Once back at the house where the cheese, a fresh loaf of bread and the fruit which they had bought on market day sufficient that it is making Malcolm's tummy rumble, at a time when is Ruth is laying the table for lunch with his help, 'why did to choose to stay here?' he asks her. Curiosity having got the better of him, having been the one who had cobbled together at breakneck speed false identity papers which would have enabled her to go anywhere in the world.

'During the first few days I asked myself the same question even though I knew the answers. The fear of the unknown, because I loved him, him being enough given that this is Malcolm that he doesn't have to ask who and I thought if I went further afield that I would eventually regret my decision. Because leaving had been difficult enough but stepping onto French soil and I could barely think straight. It was also a bitterly cold afternoon and I crossed the road fully intending to go up onto the clifftops to take one last look at home. To imagine him sitting behind his desk. But my legs felt like jelly, so instead to warm up I went into a café for something to eat and drink. It was there that I picked up a newspaper with a view to finding somewhere to spend the night and instead found this.'

'And now?'

'We're happy Malcolm more than I can put into words, with a future planned that won't see us looking over our shoulders or controlled by whichever madman is threatening god knows what.'

'I envy you that but I also hope it doesn't mean that I won't see you again?'

'I promise that will never happen,' she says giving him a hug and meaning it.

Although whether Malcolm is genuinely tired or the warmth from the fire is making him sleepy or he is just being tactful, but sometime between lunch and mid-afternoon he yawns before suggesting that he and Martin drive back to the hotel.

Harry only responding when they are shaking hands at the door by saying, 'Ruth I and I will pick you up at ten tomorrow but in the meantime enjoy your dinner, we did and have a chat with Martin about where you'd like to go for the day.'

Before heading back into the sitting room, flopping down on the sofa next to Ruth and saying, 'you were right this house it isn't big enough to accommodate Martin.'

.

'Ros and I are going to have another look at the site in the morning so will you hold the fort and field off any questions until we get back,' Adam tells Jo and Zaf who are shutting down their computers before they go home. The reason being that at the back of their minds despite all the discussions they have had, they still have no idea what Mace is actually planning to do and by putting themselves into the situation that Harry and Martin would have been in, they might be better placed to get it right on the day. For now though just as their friends and colleagues both here and on the other side of the channel are, they are planning a quiet dinner with no talk as to what might or might not happen on the day.