Chapter Twelve – 19 years 8 months before the collapse
“Your time will come,” Annabel said with as much diplomacy as he knew she could muster, patting him on his arm as he lay next to her, though not taking her eyes off the stretch which she had bought to replace her old flip.
“I’m doubting that,” said Jim. “They gave the head’s position to Wang.”
“That’s not a surprise, is it? Jim, a year ago we were living on an allotment site. You should just be grateful that you have a job.”
“I suppose. And I suppose they were bound to give Devi the humanities job. What was I thinking?”
“You’re allowed to dream, darling.”
“That’s all it is, a dream. We could have done with the money, you know. What, with the house and everything.”
“Oh, so it’s my fault, is it?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You don’t
