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'The Energy Department were rather abrupt； to say the least；' he said。 'They pointed out that they were well aware of all the aspects relating to the 〃harvest process〃； as they officially term the new method of disposing of nuclear waste。 They promised to convey my concern to the Secretary of State for Energy himself。 A lot of good that will do。 The girl concerned has probably already forgotten about it。'
'And the Radiological Protection Board？'
'They're already looking into it。' He shook his head。
'We've got a real fight on our hands now。 Anne。'
'It could be you're wrong； and nothing whatever will happen。 Surely the Radiological Protection Board will investigate every detail； take steps to ensure that there cannot possibly be a leak。'
'I have no faith in officialdom；' he sighed。 'It's just another form of nationalisation。 Everything botched up under a cloud of false efficiency； one big con； and I don't see that this is going to be one little bit different。 All that worries me is when。 A year； two； five； ten…who knows？'
'We'll fight them； though； won't we？'
'We？'
Tm with you all the way； Bob； no matter what'
He leaned over and kissed her； their tongues entwining briefly。 She sensed his gratitude； and pulled him closer。
'Only one thing worries me； though' she murmured at last。 'How long before your wife finds out about us？'
'Or your parents？'
'That would be a minor catastrophe。 They would be shocked； disgusted； but there would be no repercussions from my end。 But what if Jane got to know？ What would happen； Bob？ What would you do？'
'I don't know。' he admitted frankly； 'but I wouldn't want to give you up 。 。 。 at any price。 I couldn't。'
'I'm glad。' she sighed deeply。 'But you may be faced with a choice。'
'I know whom I'd choose； darling； but I don't think it'll e to that。 Not yet； anyway。'
He noted a flash of disappointment on her face； and regretted his words instantly。
'What I mean is 。 。 。 well； we've time to get things sorted out。 Us； I mean…not this damned plutonium business。 God knows if anybody will ever sort that out； until it's too late。'
'It's an odd time to start discussing our future'…she blushed slightly； something which she rarely did these days…'but； well； I suppose it's the thought that we may all be blown to Kingdom…e that's made me think about it more deeply。 I mean； we don't spend much time together； do we？ Once； maybe twice a week。 She has you every night； even if you don't do anything。'
'We haven't made love for over two months now。' He admitted； and she knew he spoke the truth。 'I used to wonder if she was going into the change prematurely； but it's just that her sexual desires have gone。 Otherwise； she performs the usual marital duties without plaining： cooking； washing； cleaning 。 。 。 '
'And the children？'
'Well； they aren't children any more； are they？ Richard's nineteen； Sarah's seventeen； and they've made it quite plain that they don't need either of us。 It doesn't make it any easier for me to have both of them working up at the nuclear centre。 Either they're just plain rebellious； or else Dyne and Co。 have done a first…class brainwashing job。 Dad's just a trouble maker； they think； a silly bugger trying to stir up trouble。 In a lot of ways I'm glad I don't see much of them。 That doesn't sound very good ing from a father； does it？ It's Sarah that worries me most； though。'
'You mean her affair with Houston？'
He nodded。
'That would really crucify Jane if she got to know。 Far worse than if she found out about us。 Sarah knows about you and me； of course。 A sort of family blackmail。 〃Mind your own business； Dad； or else I'll let on to Mum about you and Anne； you dirty bugger。 A man of your age carrying on with a young girl。〃 Damn it； Houston's only five years younger than I am。 He's got three young children； and that's what makes it one hell of a lot worse。 He only wants her for one thing。 Thank Christ she's on the pill。 Maybe it'll fizzle out。 I just pray that he'll lose interest in her。 Nothing I can do； anyway。 Richard knows about both her and me。 We've never been very close。 He hit me once。 He was sixteen at the time。 I could have killed him。 That was when the real breach started between us。 He hates my guts。 Sometimes I wish I could return the pliment； but it doesn't work out that way。 He's still seeing that Lakin girl。 I saw them together in town the other night。'
'She's a right slut。'
'That's putting it mildly。 She came down here from Aberdeen； and her reputation wasn't long in following her。 I've heard it said that she was making a hundred quid a week out of the oil…riggers。 I slave my guts out to earn that。 She did it easily； just lying on her back with her legs open。 And now she has to e down here and latch on to my son。 Maybe it's as well I resigned from the council。'
'You can't be held responsible for what your kids do when they grow up。 These things sort themselves out。'
'Like we'll have to。' He shook his head sadly。 'I couldn't do without you； Anne； not now。'
'You won't have to。' She kissed him again。 'I don't need to guess the contents of next week's lead article； do I？'
'I'll knock it out tomorrow。' His expression became grim。 'The toughest yet。 I'll phone Kent； too； and get it in the dailies as well。 The people of this country will have been warned in the gravest possible terms。 After that； it's up to them； but you know how lethargic the British people are a sort of it'll…never…happen…to…us attitude。'
The evening meal was already in progress when Bob Coyle walked into his semi…detached house on the outskirts of the old town。 Richard looked up； his mouth full； his greasy unkempt hair straggling around his shoulders。 He had not even bothered to change out of his overalls。 Coyle's thoughts momentarily dwelled on the protective clothing his son would have worn during the day。 No doubt it was already on its way somewhere as low…level waste。 Then…eyes met…recognition but no greeting。 Scorn from a son who knew his father would terminate his source of employment if it was within his power。
Coyle looked over at Sarah。 Her petite figure was clad in a bright…green trouser…suit which showed off everything to perfection。 No doubt Houston had bought it for her。 Short dark hair； perfectly groomed； obviously she had been to the hairdressing salon that afternoon。 Another favour from Houston？ Perfectly moulded features； lips that almost smiled。 Almost。 He read her expression only too clearly。 Contempt for an adulterous father。 He wished he could reciprocate with a similar feeling； but he sensed only regret。
'Your dinner's in the oven。 I'll fetch it for you。'
Coyle's gaze moved to Jane as she rose and crossed towards the oven。 Even her apron could not hide her still shapely figure。
Coyle took his place at the head of the table； and began to eat mechanically。 He wasn't hungry； but it was something to do in an atmosphere heavy with