trainees and just one historian. A young lad, only recently qualified, I guessed. He put his hands on his hips and glared defiantly around him. And at me. I asked him his name.
‘Evan.’ He stared suspiciously at me. ‘And you are?’
I saw Tim hide a smile. I put my hands on my hips and mirrored his pugnacious stance.
‘Max.’
‘Should that mean something to us?’
Oh God, I thought it had all been too easy. I was going to have to do the Director thing. I’d seen Dr Bairstow do this when we all went that bit too far. I stared long and hard. The silence went on. And on. I began to see the first flickering of uncertainty in his eyes. Now.
Then, thank God, I had second thoughts. I smiled down at him.
‘Were you anything like this stroppy in the basement?’
‘A bit.’ One eye was nearly closed and he had a big bruise over his cheekbone. Otherwise, he seemed intact. He had got off lightly.
‘Well, good for you, Evan. But direct it towards rebuilding your unit. In honour of your friends.’
He said nothing, but he didn’t back down either.
I said, ‘Tim, would you stand up please. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tim.’ He stood, tall, relaxed, confident, good-natured, and non-threatening. They were going to love him. ‘He will be taking charge of your department until you are able to look after yourselves. On his recommendation, I am promoting you, Evan, to Senior Historian and you trainees can now regard yourselves as fully qualified. Draw your blues as soon as possible. The pods will be back soon. I have here a list of assignments. Each mission will consist of three newly qualified historians, together with Tim and Evan in a supervisory category. Tim, please have mission plans on my desk in three days’ time.’
I wanted them out there as soon as possible. Sending them in groups of three would give them confidence. Sending Evan to supervise would give him confidence, and sending Tim with all of them would give me confidence. I hoped to God I knew what I was doing.
I passed Tim the list. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. I’d chosen them because they were not event specific. They could be visited at almost any time in their existence. It was a kind of historical Sunday afternoon out. Easy but worthwhile. It was important they felt they were making a real contribution.
I continued. ‘On your return, you will work up your findings in the usual manner and present them to St Mary’s, prior to filing them in the Archive.’ Many of us found the presentations more nerve-racking than the assignment itself, so it would give them something to take their minds off the present. Worrying about the future has that effect.
‘So, to sum up. Business as usual, as soon as possible. I’d like to thank all of you in advance for the truly enormous amounts of work you are about to embark upon. Anyone still alive at 1900 hours tonight – the first drink is on St Mary’s.’
Well, it wasn’t my money!
I swept off to my office, conveniently forgetting to ask if there were any questions.
Mrs Partridge brought me a cup of tea. In a delicate flower-patterned cup and saucer. With two chocolate digestives.
Oh, yes!
I have never done so much paperwork. Where does it all come from? Who needs to know this stuff? Why don’t they get lives? I fled to see Leon.
‘He’s awake,’ said Ben. ‘Don’t be upset if he doesn’t know you. He doesn’t always know who he is at the moment and when he does, he keeps forgetting. Don’t be alarmed if he drops off in mid-sentence. Especially don’t worry if he starts talking strangely. He’s not mad – well, no more than anyone is who works at St Mary’s, but he doesn’t always know if he’s awake or dreaming.’
‘All right,’ I said slowly, trying to sound calm and confident.
He patted my shoulder. ‘He’ll be fine. And so will you. Go on in.’
‘I’ll come and see you afterwards.’
‘I’m in my office.’
Leon was asleep when I went in. But now, at
‘Evan.’ He stared suspiciously at me. ‘And you are?’
I saw Tim hide a smile. I put my hands on my hips and mirrored his pugnacious stance.
‘Max.’
‘Should that mean something to us?’
Oh God, I thought it had all been too easy. I was going to have to do the Director thing. I’d seen Dr Bairstow do this when we all went that bit too far. I stared long and hard. The silence went on. And on. I began to see the first flickering of uncertainty in his eyes. Now.
Then, thank God, I had second thoughts. I smiled down at him.
‘Were you anything like this stroppy in the basement?’
‘A bit.’ One eye was nearly closed and he had a big bruise over his cheekbone. Otherwise, he seemed intact. He had got off lightly.
‘Well, good for you, Evan. But direct it towards rebuilding your unit. In honour of your friends.’
He said nothing, but he didn’t back down either.
I said, ‘Tim, would you stand up please. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tim.’ He stood, tall, relaxed, confident, good-natured, and non-threatening. They were going to love him. ‘He will be taking charge of your department until you are able to look after yourselves. On his recommendation, I am promoting you, Evan, to Senior Historian and you trainees can now regard yourselves as fully qualified. Draw your blues as soon as possible. The pods will be back soon. I have here a list of assignments. Each mission will consist of three newly qualified historians, together with Tim and Evan in a supervisory category. Tim, please have mission plans on my desk in three days’ time.’
I wanted them out there as soon as possible. Sending them in groups of three would give them confidence. Sending Evan to supervise would give him confidence, and sending Tim with all of them would give me confidence. I hoped to God I knew what I was doing.
I passed Tim the list. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. I’d chosen them because they were not event specific. They could be visited at almost any time in their existence. It was a kind of historical Sunday afternoon out. Easy but worthwhile. It was important they felt they were making a real contribution.
I continued. ‘On your return, you will work up your findings in the usual manner and present them to St Mary’s, prior to filing them in the Archive.’ Many of us found the presentations more nerve-racking than the assignment itself, so it would give them something to take their minds off the present. Worrying about the future has that effect.
‘So, to sum up. Business as usual, as soon as possible. I’d like to thank all of you in advance for the truly enormous amounts of work you are about to embark upon. Anyone still alive at 1900 hours tonight – the first drink is on St Mary’s.’
Well, it wasn’t my money!
I swept off to my office, conveniently forgetting to ask if there were any questions.
Mrs Partridge brought me a cup of tea. In a delicate flower-patterned cup and saucer. With two chocolate digestives.
Oh, yes!
I have never done so much paperwork. Where does it all come from? Who needs to know this stuff? Why don’t they get lives? I fled to see Leon.
‘He’s awake,’ said Ben. ‘Don’t be upset if he doesn’t know you. He doesn’t always know who he is at the moment and when he does, he keeps forgetting. Don’t be alarmed if he drops off in mid-sentence. Especially don’t worry if he starts talking strangely. He’s not mad – well, no more than anyone is who works at St Mary’s, but he doesn’t always know if he’s awake or dreaming.’
‘All right,’ I said slowly, trying to sound calm and confident.
He patted my shoulder. ‘He’ll be fine. And so will you. Go on in.’
‘I’ll come and see you afterwards.’
‘I’m in my office.’
Leon was asleep when I went in. But now, at
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