I took hold of his arm. He was getting on my nerves. 'There's something you know and I don't,' I said. 'What is it?'
'It ain't nuffink.' He pulled his arm free. 'It's me nerves, that's all. All very well fer you — you're a miner. I ain't used to this sort o' work. Gives me the willies, that's wot it does. It ain't natural like ter be standing 'ere breaving God's air when we're right underneath the sea.' He handed me another charge. I tamped it home. But my mind wasn't on the job. He was scared. Not just scared because he was working down here under the sea. He was scared because he knew something — something that threatened us. I thought of the conversation I'd overheard the previous night. 'See you don't mention it to Pryce. I don't want him scared' That's what Manack had said. I glanced at Friar. The sweat glistened on his neck as he bent to unscrew the drill clamp. His eyes met mine and turned away quickly. His hands fumbled. He was a bundle of nerves. And when we'd fixed the charges his haste to get out of the Mermaid gallery was so marked that it would have been funny had I not felt the threat of something I did not know about.
The gig stopped as before at the gallery leading to the hideout. We all got out with the exception of Manack. 'I'll be back in a few minutes with some tea,' he said. The others went on up the gallery. I hesitated. Then I turned to Manack. 'Will you be seeing Kitty?' I asked.
He nodded, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
'Then tell her to be ready to leave with me tonight,' I said. 'I'm taking her with me.'
'You'll do nothing of the sort,' he snapped, his eyes flashing angrily. 'The Arisaig isn't a refugee ship. Mulligan wouldn't stand for a woman on board.'
'I'll look after Mulligan,' I said.
We faced each other sullenly for a second, neither speaking. I was cursing myself for putting it the way I had. I should have flattered his sense of power by appealing to him to allow her to come with me. Instead I'd imposed it on him as a decision already made. I'd have to make it an ultimatum now. 'Either she comes with me,' I said. 'Or else — "
'Or else what?' he snarled.
'Or else the Mermaid stays like she is.'