Epilogue
“Inspection’s coming up again,” Stuart informs me. “Need to be on our best behaviour. Can’t let our standards slip now. The company’s been talking about merging us with Birmingham. And you know what that means—more job losses.”
“No worries, Stuart,” I tell him, only half-listening. “Will do.”
Stuart does a quick inventory count, pointing his pen at each stretcher. “Only twenty-six today, Robert. Not too bad then.” He smiles tightly, and then leaves the room.
“Yeah, wonderful,” I say, as I watch him disappear outside.
“Prick,” I whisper, when I’m positive he’s out of range.
I take a look at the stretchers, and then at the time on the wall. Twenty-six. Not the end of the world. I’ll be out by seven. Hopefully.
I grab a pair of safety-goggles from the shelf and slip them over
