‘But why me? Nearly everyone in this room is better qualified to do this. You can’t spend my entire working life calling me feckless and irresponsible and then tell me I’m just what the unit needs in a time of crisis.’
Major Guthrie interrupted. ‘Yes, but that’s just it, Max. They don’t need a normal Director. They need someone like you. They can identify with you. You’re one of them. You sent them to bed in a happy frame of mind. You’ve just organised breakfast.’
‘For God’s sake, you make me sound like their mother.’
‘Well, that’s not so far off, is it? They’re children; they’re frightened, shocked, and hurt. They don’t need a Dr Bairstow, they need a Max.’
I was gobsmacked. Director! Me!
It wasn’t the responsibility. I’d headed missions where everything had turned to shit, we were isolated and alone, and I’d brought them back safely. It had never bothered me before. But this was different. This wasn’t a group of people who knew and trusted me. These were just kids. Kids who had seen too much, as well.
Nobody spoke. I sat back in my chair and started to think it through. They waited for me in their own distinctive ways. Tim stretched his legs, dropped his chin on his chest, and went to sleep. Guthrie started checking over his weapons. Mrs Partridge produced a scratchpad – presumably from another dimension, since I was pretty sure that impeccably cut suit had no pockets – and waited expectantly. I zoned them out and started to think.
All around us, the building fell silent. We’d left all the lights on to stop the kids having nightmares, but everything was quiet.
I said to Mrs Partridge, ‘Please advise everyone. Tomorrow after breakfast, say at 11 a.m., there will be an all-staff meeting in the hall. I’ll tell people what’s happening. Can you let me have an updated staff-list and the most recent schedule of pending assignments? While I think of it, do we actually have anyone out on assignment at the moment?’
She shook her head.
‘I want to establish exactly who is still with us and what they do. The main job is keeping them here. Their first basic need – food – is taken care of. We can run the kitchens for a few days at least. Mrs Partridge, please speak with the kitchen staff and start ordering supplies. I want people to see stuff coming in. Show them this unit has a future. Are we likely to have any problems paying our bills?’
‘Not for a month or so. After that …’
Shit! I hadn’t thought of this. No wonder the Boss was always in such a bad mood.
‘We’ll cross that bridge later. Major, our second need is security. That will be your responsibility. We’ll identify all remaining security staff at tomorrow’s meeting. I want everyone to know they’re safe now. Get security together and do whatever it takes.’
‘Yes, Director.’
Bloody hell, that was me.
‘Tim.’ I knew he was awake. ‘You’ll take charge of the trainees and, I believe, our one remaining historian. Unless he or she is a complete idiot, promote him or her to Senior Historian. I want them to see a career path in front of them. If the trainees are within three months of their Finals, then abandon all that and qualify them immediately. They can pick up the rest as they go.
‘Any technicians are to be cherished. I want them starting in Hawking immediately. We’re going to bring back the pods as soon as we can. Major, you and I will supervise that between us until someone emerges from Sick Bay and can take over.’
OK, they had wanted this, now they got it. I picked up speed.
‘Mrs Partridge, please open up the Director’s office; leave the door open and the lights on. I want people to wake up tomorrow morning knowing there’s a Director in place and St Mary’s is functioning. Please find me a uniform. I’m an historian, so make it blue. And if you could find us some accommodation, please. You two get your heads down for an hour or so. I’m off to Sick Bay to check on the wounded and brief the doctor. Any questions?’
They shook their heads. I was getting up to go when I remembered the most important thing. ‘Please remember the basic rules of any assignment. Don’t contaminate the timeline. First names only. In addition, Mrs Partridge, as a matter of urgency, if they haven’t been destroyed, please could you remove the Boards of Honour from the Chapel. I don’t want to see the dates we die.’
‘Of course, Director.’
‘OK, I’ll see you all at breakfast.’ I got up and walked away, so I never saw their faces and their reaction to the monster they’d created.
Sick Bay was dimly lit. The nurse said something over her shoulder and the doctor appeared. He beckoned me into his office. I explained what was happening. He seemed pleased.
I asked him his name.
‘Ben. Call me Ben.’
‘OK, Ben, update me.’