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Chapter 3

Jim went back to the council offices, inquiring whether the university would re-open and if he could resume his old position. He was told that they were aiming to open the schools first and the university afterwards. The self-appointed regional assembly had assumed responsibility for education, and it was not yet clear how funding would be distributed, which complicated matters.

Jim left the council building and went straight to a jeweller and used whatever money he could spare to buy silver coins.

When he arrived home, Annabel was just heading out to go to a concert rehearsal.

“What’s that you’ve got?” She asked, seeing the small bag of coins.

“Silver.”

“Jim? What is going on? I don’t have time to talk about it now, but we need to talk. We don’t have money to buy silver.”

“But...”

“Wait until I get back. We’ll talk then.”

However, when Annabel returned, Olivia and Jim were already sleeping.