Page 125 of The Impossible Fortune

And what he sees are the broad white sails of a galleon. It is returning from the East Indies, laden with treasure.

72

‘Timothy Dalton?’ says Ron. ‘Timothy Dalton?’

‘Of course,’ says Ibrahim. ‘Isn’t he everyone’s favourite Bond?’

‘How are we even friends?’ Ron asks.

‘We both have a masculine energy,’ says Ibrahim. ‘We are like kings of the jungle. How is your rosehip tea?’

‘Delicious,’ says Ron, taking another sip from a china cup. ‘You’ve forgiven me for lying to everyone, then?’

‘Of course,’ says Ibrahim. ‘You used a worthless piece of paper to jail a violent man.’

‘Didn’t know it was worthless though,’ says Ron. ‘What if he’d killed me and ended up with three hundred and fifty mil?’

‘Then Connie would have killed him,’ says Ibrahim. ‘Though I’m glad it didn’t come to that. That would have been very difficult for me professionally.’

‘Would have been difficult for me too,’ says Ron. ‘Being shot dead.’

Ibrahim nods. ‘And Suzi is okay?’

‘Physically,’ says Ron. ‘Who knows apart from that? She’s made of tougher stuff than me. And she’s glad to have Kendrick back.’

‘I was proud of Connie,’ says Ibrahim. ‘I think Tia finally got through to her. Finally made her do something good.You weren’t ever worried that she was simply going to steal the money?’

‘Not for a second,’ says Ron. ‘I knew she wouldn’t.’

‘How could you possibly know that?’ asks Ibrahim.

‘Because she told me why she wanted to help me,’ says Ron. ‘And I believed her.’

‘And why did she want to help?’ Ibrahim asks.

‘She wanted you to be proud of her,’ says Ron. ‘She wanted to show the great Ibrahim that she wasn’t worthless.’

‘For me?’ Ibrahim asks.

‘Uh huh,’ says Ron. ‘She said we could call in Chris and his gun pals. She even agreed to grass to make you happy.’

‘It did make me happy,’ says Ibrahim. ‘What a nice thing for her to do.’

‘There’s something I think you don’t realize, old son,’ says Ron. ‘And it upsets me, as your mate, that you don’t realize it.’

‘There is very little that I don’t realize, Ron,’ says Ibrahim. ‘I have a very clear and precise vision of myself and my world.’

‘Oh, you’re a bright lad, I’ll give you that.’ Ron takes another sip. ‘But I don’t think you realize that you’re loved.’

Neither man looks at the other.

‘Well, I …’ Ibrahim takes another sip too. ‘Love is a word that can be used to cover a great deal of ground. It can mean many, many things.’

‘Connie loves you,’ says Ron. ‘I love you, God help me. Joyce and Elizabeth love you. Kendrick does. I know it’s not the love you might have had in the past, your businessthat, but it’s love. You’re a very special man, Ibsy, and I’m proud I know you. And you’re loved.’

‘I would, I suppose, agree in part,’ begins Ibrahim. ‘I sense, at least, that at times people are glad to have me around. I can fuss, I do know that – don’t interrupt me, Ron, I know I do –’

‘No one’s interrupting you,’ says Ron.