Opening Lines

HAS it been three years since they arrived first, since they sailed up the Liffey in their fast and nimble longships, the oars glinting in the autumn sun?

Their small and flexible armoury easily outflanked the heavy broadswords and shire horses of the slow-moving native vested interests.

The Troika — the Russian word for threesome (but not in a good way) — were welcomed by the local populace who preferred the possibility of competence to sovereignty any day.