Chapter 33

A car arrived to take Dan to the army base. It was the larger model, similar to the cars driven by the members of the OWG. He was anxious about going to the base, but Dan was interested too. He didn't know what type of place it was, but he would be getting a, first hand, experience of the army.

Dan was a bit underwhelmed when he arrived at his destination. The base was just a collection of white buildings with two factory type edifices within the enclosed area. The cars parked by the main building were the standard design. He had hoped to see some vehicles which were made specifically for the military bedecked in camouflage paint.

He was escorted inside and asked to take a seat.

"The colonel will be with you shortly."

Dan tried to appear relaxed and unconcerned, but he was squirming on his seat as he waited. It was like being summoned to the headmaster's study when you knew you were in trouble. An aide of some sort arrived and he followed the man into an office which had the obligatory imposing desk and leather chairs.

It was when Dan looked at the man behind the desk that he got a surprise.

"Ryan!"

The colonel looked curious. "Have we met?"

Dan was thrown at this point. "I know your name so I think we must have done."

A conversation about the places they might have met followed with Dan mentioning that he had partially lost his memory after an accident. They agreed that they had probably encountered each other, but could not recall where.

It was difficult for Dan to concentrate on the conversation as he looked at the man who had been his best friend in the other world. What was this Ryan like? Would he still like him? He got over his shock and focused on the words that were being said. What he was hearing was not what he had expected at all.

Dan had come to the attention of the MOD because he had met Bertie. Initially he had been under suspicion, but that had now changed. He had come forward even though he might get into trouble and he had then proved resourceful in preparing for an attack. The alarm system had been ingenious. Ryan also mentioned Dan's expertise at unarmed combat.

There was a brief review of his career with the Ministry of Transport. Dan's innovations with the turbo engine and the new coil springs and shock absorbers were mentioned and praised.

"Now that you have come to our attention it would be remiss of us to not exploit your talents. You are being transferred to the MOD and you will be under my command."

To say that he was surprised by this turn of events was an understatement. Dan had been a member of a group opposing the government and had uncovered the existence of chemical weapons developed by the army. Now he would be working with the armed forces. He had somehow completely changed sides.

His thoughts about the OWG hadn't changed, but he was now more a part of their world than he had ever been. Dan was brought back to the present as he wondered what this would mean for his family. Ryan confirmed that he could remain at his home for the time being. If the attachment to the army was successful it was likely that he would be moved to a, bigger, house nearer to the base.

As he left the office Dan could not really work out if what had happened was a good thing or a bad thing. He would tell Eric about the development and he was sure that his father-in-law would see it as a promotion of sorts. What would his friend and colleague Martin say? This was not an offer of a job. This was a command. Dan now worked for the MOD.

He returned to work to collect his personal belongings and to hand over any unfinished projects. Martin was as bemused as him about how he had ended up working for the MOD. Dan wanted to reassure his friend.

"You know that I'll never talk to them about you or the group. I still have big problems with the OWG and, who knows, maybe I can do something from the inside."

"What a turn of events. You have managed a great escape and got a promotion into the bargain."

"Is it a promotion?"

"Of course, it is. The MOD is more important than transport. Do you know what you will be doing there?"

"Not really. I was pretty stunned by the whole thing. I forgot to ask what they wanted me for. Ryan, the colonel, was talking about the alarms and the innovations I was involved with here. I will find out when I start next week."

He and Martin agreed to stay in touch. Dan said that he would have to sign some sort of official secrets act. He would not pass information onto Martin unless he thought it was vital to do so. He did not want to get either of them into trouble so, where possible, he would follow the rules. He would not be going to any more meetings with the anti OWG group.

"The group has disbanded at this time. I don't know if we'll ever get back together to be honest. The whole thing with Bertie showed us that we were naïve. It's great having ideals, but we had no real way of acting on them. It will be nice to meet up with you every now and then and not be doing something illegal."

The funeral was held and Dan stood by the grave holding his children's hands. It had been decided that Phyllis would not attend given the circumstances. It was a traditional affair although there was no religious service. Everyone wore black and Eric spoke about his daughter before her coffin was lowered into the ground.

Dan met a lot of Sam's friends. They were a group of neurotic women who seemed as unhappy with their lives as she had been. Many of them used the words "now at peace" when they referred to her death. Everyone had seen the tension and sadness in Sam and probably had similar feelings.

Towards the end of the day as the last of the mourners left, Eric and Dan sat down and talked. Dan asked him if he was okay and Eric shrugged.

"I know she loved the children, in her way. You were good to her and she had a fairly easy life. She was never really happy though, was she?"

He thought carefully about his words before he answered.

"She never got to be the person she could be. Her role was cast the moment she was born a girl. She would never be able to use her brain, maybe in a job or to study. She was never allowed to fulfil her potential. The time must be coming when women are given more of a say about how they live their lives."

Eric looked at Dan for some time. What he had said was virtually treasonous. The inner struggle to back the OWG was lost and he nodded in agreement with his son in law.

"I think you are correct Daniel, but I don't know if we are ready to hear it yet. As soon as the time is right, I promise I will do what I can to change things."

As he thought about his son in laws words Eric realised that Sarah had probably felt the same. He had never asked her opinion on anything of importance. He had chosen where they lived and how. He had managed their money and had only left decisions about food and clothes to his wife. He had considered their marriage to be happy, but now he didn't really know.

Both men had lost their wives and had faced some hard truths in the past few weeks. Eric had never got on well with his son in law. He thought of him as competent, but not really good enough for his daughter. Now he was pleased that Dan had proved to be of value to the OWG and that he would be working with the MOD. Dan asked Eric if he knew Colonel Ryan Anderson and if so, what he was like.

"I think you will like him. He is one of those more modern types."

There was one more thing Dan had to do before he started his new job with the MOD. He had to go to see Dr Frobisher. He telephoned the hospital and arranged a time for them to meet. His car which, had been supplied by the Ministry of Transport had been taken away and he had received a nearly identical one from the MOD. He drove it to District 31 to see the doctor. He was quite amused that crazy bureaucracy existed in the OWG.