Wyse was astonished, no one ever mentioned the Dartford Incident even if they didn’t actually say it. It had been his Waterloo and had allowed Rogers his most coveted desire, promotion. He knew there had always been something undesirable about Officer Rogers from the very beginning, being unable to pinpoint any particular moment where this was evident he took little satisfaction in being proved correct many years later.
‘Ridiculous, you caused the disaster and one day I will prove it,’ said Wyse.
‘How dare you! I am your superior and I will not be talked to like that.’
‘I still remember the first day you joined Rogers. I even tried to defend you, saying you were young and would eventually learn. Even when they started what I believe is called a book on how long you would survive in the job, I still tried to defend you.’
‘They never! That’s a lie Wyse, admit it!’
‘Sorry, I believe the betting is still going strong, they do say though if you stay another year whoever wins it can retire on the amount in the pot.’
‘I, I...’
Wyse would have been less surprised if steam had emanated from Rogers ears, than by the transformation which occurred before him. The crooked smile of officer Rogers was trying to reposition itself entirely under his left ear and his left eye had tightly closed whilst his right eye bulged alarmingly outwards.
Staring at Wyse was a caricature of a saucy seaman’s lascivious leer, one who had entered the first tavern of ill repute after many months, possibly years at sea. This was no doubt a technique Rogers had learnt from the latest management course in Croydon which Wyse had recently heard about, where management were being imbued with alleged superhuman powers to deal with the constant villainy of road staff
The silence waited as Wyse rose to this non-verbal challenge, steeling himself he adopted the pose of the ancient noble Greeks. A civilisation he had greatly admired from his first introduction to them at preparatory school. Here was the stalwart protector of all which was noble and gracious, against the repugnant and grotesque vision of Rogers’ mask
No comments:
Post a Comment