joke and then finally let go of my hand. “Follow me.” He crossed his legs and spun around in a dramatic turn, ending with both hands making gun gestures.
It was weird, meeting him for the second time. Although this was clearly the first time for him. This multiple reality thing was hard to get my head around. Now that everything had been put right with Katie, I was back in an alternative reality where ARES hadn’t come and dragged me out of Aubrey’s flat. As far as Morgan knew, I was just a kid who’d tried to climb a pylon and had discovered I was a Shifter. Nevertheless, I kept flinching, expecting Morgan to start shouting at me again or cuff me to a chair.
He led me away from reception and down a long, dark corridor. It smelt of new carpet.
“The Agency for the Regulation and Evaluation of Shifters comprises two main divisions,” Morgan began. “The Shifters and the Regulators. Shifters are broken down into three separate divisions; Spotters, Mappers and Fixers. While the Regulators includes Enforcement, Analysis, IT and what have you.” He waved his hand as he spoke, as if dismissing these Non-Shifting departments. “And of course beneath all of that is the Programme.” He turned and grinned at me. “Where you shall begin your training and we shall see what you are made of, Mr Tyler.”
We turned a corner into another corridor, with peeling grey wallpaper and portraits of stern-looking men glaring down at us.
“ARES was established in 1840 by Queen Victoria after an assassination attempt was thwarted by a Shifter,” Morgan said, continuing his induction. “A Shifter named Jack Locke pushed the shooter out of the way and saved the day. Back then, most Shifters were wild children, living off their wits. Circuses and traveling magic shows were filled with them. A far cry from the focused and disciplined youngsters who pass through our doors today, isn’t that right, Scott?”
I laughed, thinking he was joking, then swallowed it in a quick cough when he pursed his lips at me.
“Yes,” I said, quickly. “I guess.”
Morgan turned on his heels and continued his lecture. “When Queen Victoria learned of the presence of Shifters, she set about finding a way to harness their talent. One of her closest advisors revealed himself as an exShifter and was appointed to create and oversee ARES.”
We stopped in front of one of the portraits: a man with a huge handlebar moustache and small squinting eyes. His cheeks were red and his expression made him look severely constipated. The name under the portrait read Lord Cuthbert Morgan-Fairfax.
“He was my great, great, great…” Morgan paused and counted on his fingers. “…great, great uncle. And we Morgans have been in the service of ARES ever since.” I looked back down the line of portraits. Each man did bear a resemblance to the man before him – they each had small, dark eyes and a distinct lack of chins. The last painting in the row showed a man with dark, slicked-down hair and too-big teeth. “My father,” Morgan said pointing at the picture, “Sir Richard Morgan, is the current head of ARES and oversees both divisions.”
“So your dad’s also your boss?” I asked, trying to read the expression on Morgan junior’s face. Was it awe or fear? Or both?
“Well, yes. Although he’s not especially hands-on. He delegates most of the more important decisions to me, naturally. Lets me get on with the business of actually running things down here.” He brushed an invisible speck of dust off his shoulder, then examined his fingernails. I guessed he was waiting for me to say something.
“Er, I guess he must really trust you.”
“I wouldn’t call it trust, Scott. Not really. You see trust implies hope. My father doesn’t need to trust when he knows I am the man for the job. Now, where was I?” Morgan glanced back to the picture of his stern father and then walked on. “Lord Morgan-Fairfax’s aims were to help Shifters to become valuable
It was weird, meeting him for the second time. Although this was clearly the first time for him. This multiple reality thing was hard to get my head around. Now that everything had been put right with Katie, I was back in an alternative reality where ARES hadn’t come and dragged me out of Aubrey’s flat. As far as Morgan knew, I was just a kid who’d tried to climb a pylon and had discovered I was a Shifter. Nevertheless, I kept flinching, expecting Morgan to start shouting at me again or cuff me to a chair.
He led me away from reception and down a long, dark corridor. It smelt of new carpet.
“The Agency for the Regulation and Evaluation of Shifters comprises two main divisions,” Morgan began. “The Shifters and the Regulators. Shifters are broken down into three separate divisions; Spotters, Mappers and Fixers. While the Regulators includes Enforcement, Analysis, IT and what have you.” He waved his hand as he spoke, as if dismissing these Non-Shifting departments. “And of course beneath all of that is the Programme.” He turned and grinned at me. “Where you shall begin your training and we shall see what you are made of, Mr Tyler.”
We turned a corner into another corridor, with peeling grey wallpaper and portraits of stern-looking men glaring down at us.
“ARES was established in 1840 by Queen Victoria after an assassination attempt was thwarted by a Shifter,” Morgan said, continuing his induction. “A Shifter named Jack Locke pushed the shooter out of the way and saved the day. Back then, most Shifters were wild children, living off their wits. Circuses and traveling magic shows were filled with them. A far cry from the focused and disciplined youngsters who pass through our doors today, isn’t that right, Scott?”
I laughed, thinking he was joking, then swallowed it in a quick cough when he pursed his lips at me.
“Yes,” I said, quickly. “I guess.”
Morgan turned on his heels and continued his lecture. “When Queen Victoria learned of the presence of Shifters, she set about finding a way to harness their talent. One of her closest advisors revealed himself as an exShifter and was appointed to create and oversee ARES.”
We stopped in front of one of the portraits: a man with a huge handlebar moustache and small squinting eyes. His cheeks were red and his expression made him look severely constipated. The name under the portrait read Lord Cuthbert Morgan-Fairfax.
“He was my great, great, great…” Morgan paused and counted on his fingers. “…great, great uncle. And we Morgans have been in the service of ARES ever since.” I looked back down the line of portraits. Each man did bear a resemblance to the man before him – they each had small, dark eyes and a distinct lack of chins. The last painting in the row showed a man with dark, slicked-down hair and too-big teeth. “My father,” Morgan said pointing at the picture, “Sir Richard Morgan, is the current head of ARES and oversees both divisions.”
“So your dad’s also your boss?” I asked, trying to read the expression on Morgan junior’s face. Was it awe or fear? Or both?
“Well, yes. Although he’s not especially hands-on. He delegates most of the more important decisions to me, naturally. Lets me get on with the business of actually running things down here.” He brushed an invisible speck of dust off his shoulder, then examined his fingernails. I guessed he was waiting for me to say something.
“Er, I guess he must really trust you.”
“I wouldn’t call it trust, Scott. Not really. You see trust implies hope. My father doesn’t need to trust when he knows I am the man for the job. Now, where was I?” Morgan glanced back to the picture of his stern father and then walked on. “Lord Morgan-Fairfax’s aims were to help Shifters to become valuable
Similar Books
