The train was six minutes late when it arrived at Dover station
I could see Geraldine waiting for me near the buffet
She had aged since I had last seen her but not unattractively so
You are late
Seventeen years late
When were you released?
About a month ago
Are they still following you?
Yes
I have seen them watching my house and the shop
They think it was part of a larger conspiracy
No I acted alone as you know
They are obsessed
I know
Corbett had to die if I had not assassinated him then somebody else would have done
Are you keeping well?
Yes I am happy at last
Do you live in Dover?
Yes
The end of England
How is Lynne?
She lives in London with her man
What does she do?
Something in the city she has a good job
Do you see her often?
Yes about once a month
What is she like?
She looks like me but is far cleverer
When Ralph left me she was there for me
It was because of her that I now own a flower shop
A flower shop?
Here in Dover not far from the sea
So Geraldine Lovell one time anarchist now owns a flower shop
Don’t take the piss I can see that you have not changed
I have greatly
Would you do it again?
Yes if another Corbett came along
What are your plans?
I am flying out to Piedmont on Wednesday
Betty has people out there
What will you do out there?
Recover
Seventeen years is a long time
Where are you staying at present?
In a hotel
Would you like to stay with me for a few days?
That is very kind of you
No it will be nice to get to know each other again
As long as you do not talk about old times
Promise
That will fuck them off two known anarchists together
They will most likely think we are conspiring again
You will learn about flowers that’s all and maybe I will sleep with you
For old time’s sake
For old time’s sake
Geraldine reached into her brown leather handbag
This is for you
What is it?
A poem
Yes Lynne wrote it when you were jailed
You were her hero you know
You still are
The only one who had the guts to kill a corrupt Prime Minster
We all spoke about revolution but that was all it was talk
And smearing shit on industrialists cars
You were the true revolutionary
I opened the poem which had been written on a page of exercise book
Superstar
It is of no concern to you what I think of myself
I have chosen you as my assassin
You are my superstar
Fifty grey angels await you in the city of fear
One has a rifle
Another will open the door
That will lead you to the rooftops
You will position yourself
And wait
One bullet changes everything
It is a form of democracy you see
A swarm of black dragonflies
Will provide you with cover
No-one is totally secure
The is the first rule
There are no others
Later you will hide with me in the desert
For thirty days plus ten
And then we will return in triumph
I handed the poem to Geraldine
No it’s yours she wanted you to have it
I do not think that she would write a poem such as this today
Maybe not
Does she know we are meeting?
No
I will tell her when I see her
But she has a life of her own
It is bad enough having a mother with a past
I understand
It is her job you know
Fear replaces fear
That never changes
Shall we go I will show you my flower shop and then we will go back to the house
My car is outside
To Be Continued