Red surfaced from his fantasy and looked at his new Ingersoll watch. He had bought the watch with the money saved from his job in Jack"s new shop on the council estate. It was a temporary job because he was soon going to be leaving the town. But not by hitch-hiking into the unknown, though he had replayed his departure scenario countless times. He had even located the quarry where he had intended to get rid of his bike.
But that was before he had heard of the Forestry Commission.
He was on his way by train back to the town after his second and final interview. They had told him he was exactly the kind of youngster they were looking for: physically robust, intelligent – but, above all, someone who was passionate about the long-term management of the landscape.
He had impressed them, than
