Molly Malone (pub)

Molly Malone (pub) is a bar in Bilbao where Admiral Luis Ávila stops for a drink before the assassination at the Guggenheim Museum. It is the site of a violent confrontation with two Irish football hooligans, during which Ávila demonstrates his lethal combat skills and his psychological state of controlled rage, and it also serves as the location from which he places a crucial call to the Regent, confirming his readiness for the mission.

Location and Atmosphere

The bar is located at Calle Particular de Estraunza, 8, in an unfamiliar town where Ávila has just arrived after a long journey. When he enters, the pub is entirely empty except for a pretty barmaid in her thirties, full-figured, with a playful smile. Ávila is seated on a bar stool, drinking tonic water, and staring at the colorful array of bottles behind the bar. The atmosphere is initially quiet and allows Ávila a rare moment of contentment as he eyes his reflection in the mirrored bar, admiring his own image in his full-dress navy whites.

Confrontation with the Hooligans

The peace is shattered when two burly men in green fútbol jerseys stumble in, singing an off-key Irish fight song. They immediately target Ávila, mocking his uniform and calling him "the king of Spain." The larger man roughly grabs Ávila's arm and pulls him back to a bar stool, demanding he stay for a beer. The second man pokes a dirty finger at the medals on Ávila's chest, tugging on one of his most prized emblems. Ávila, maintaining his composure, gently explains that the mace is the symbol of the Spanish navy's Unidad de Operaciones Especiales. When the hooligans turn their attention to the barmaid, making crude advances, Ávila commands them to leave her alone. The second thug pokes him hard in the chest, and Ávila, feeling tired, offers to buy them a beer. The hooligans sit on either side of him, taunting him for drinking tonic water. When Ávila tries to leave, both men slam rough hands on his shoulders and shove him back onto the stool. The thug does something disgusting with his tongue at the barmaid.

Ávila's Response and the Call to the Regent

Ávila sits quietly for a long moment, then reaches into his jacket. The men grab him, but he slowly pulls out a cell phone and tells them he needs to call his wife to say he'll be late. He touches a few keys and holds the phone to his ear, speaking in rapid Spanish. He reads the bar's name and address off a coaster: "Le llamo desde el bar Molly Malone, Calle Particular de Estraunza, ocho." He then says, "Necesitamos ayuda inmediatamente. Hay dos hombres heridos." The barmaid's pulse quickens as she processes the meaning: "Two wounded men?" Before she can react, Ávila spins to his right, sending an elbow smashing upward into the larger thug's nose with a sickening crunch, causing his face to erupt in red. He spins to his left, his other elbow crashing hard into the second man's windpipe, sending him backward off the stool. The two men lie on the floor, one screaming in agony, the other gasping and clutching his throat. With an eerie calm, Ávila removes his wallet and places a hundred-euro note on the bar. He apologizes to the barmaid in Spanish, telling her the police will be there shortly to help her, then turns and leaves. Outside, he slips into the shadows to let the police pass, knowing he cannot afford further complications tonight. The Regent has clearly outlined tonight's mission, and Ávila finds a simple serenity in taking orders, feeling like a foot soldier in a war. The brutality of last night's mission still haunts him, but he knows his actions will be forgiven, believing that righteousness exists in many forms and that more death will come before the night is over.

Narrative Significance

The Molly Malone pub serves as a crucial character-establishing scene for Admiral Luis Ávila. It reveals his lethal capabilities, his psychological state of controlled rage and discipline, and his willingness to use violence without hesitation. The confrontation also foreshadows the brutality of the assassination he is about to commit. The call he makes from the bar, ostensibly to his wife, is actually a coded message to the Regent, confirming his position and readiness. The bar's name and address, which he reads aloud, serve as a location marker for the authorities he has summoned, demonstrating his meticulous planning. The scene also provides a stark contrast between the quiet, disciplined violence of Ávila and the chaotic, drunken aggression of the hooligans, highlighting Ávila's self-image as a righteous soldier on a holy mission.