Forty-eight: End of work

Things in the office loosened up. There was less work and less people, but some of the old camaraderie returned, making my days very much more enjoyable. It offset the loneliness at night. However, when the war's peace talks completely fell apart, food prices skyrocketed. Guards began to patrol the Compound, the walls were reinforced again and I needed a permit to get in and out. Nobody walked or played in the park anymore.

Eleanor resigned from work, as did many, many others. Boss didn't say much. Only looked stressed as he nodded, hugged and farewelled our friends. He paid them out and watched them leave, returning to his desk with slightly more hunched shoulders.

Businesses everywhere were closing down. People were leaving the city in droves. There was hardly anything left to do at work.

"Jean, Priscilla," he said one day, having called us to his office. We could guess what he was about to say. We'd been expecting it. "Thank you for all your hard work and for staying with me for so long, but it's about time we parted. Our landlord has left, everyone else has left and I have to think of my family now too. I'm closing the business down. There's not enough work for us to continue. Perhaps I'll start it again when the war is over. For now, it's better for us all to do what needs to be done. Here are your pay packets. I gave you both a little bonus. I hope it's enough to tide you over in the coming days."

"Thanks, Boss," we said, accepting our pay in cash, since going to the bank was getting hazardous these days.

To our surprise, Boss pulled out a bottle of wine and shared it with us. The wine made me itch, because of my alcohol allergy, but I wasn't about to turn down the boss's kind gesture. It was sad. It really was farewell.

Priscilla left first. She said she was leaving the city and still had stuff to pack and organise. I guessed she was shedding this persona and returning to the agency office for debriefing. It was still early, but there wasn't anything left to do.

"I'm sorry, Jean," Boss said, "about your situation and all. I tried, but there hasn't been anything I can do about it."

"It's okay, Boss," I said, with a watery smile. "Thanks for trying and for taking care of me anyway. Look after yourself and your family."

"I'm taking my family up to where Eleanor and Katja have gone. To Tiller or Farrell City or beyond. It depends."

"Say 'hi' to them if you see them."

"I was thinking, Jean, whether, perhaps, and don't take this the wrong way, but I was wondering if you'd come with us."

"Boss, you know my situation," I sniffed, wiping my eyes and Boss passed me a tissue. I hadn't known he'd cared that much. "I would if I could, but I doubt they'd let me. I'd just bring you and your family trouble. You go on ahead and find somewhere safe where you can stay with your wife and kids. Don't worry about me. I'll be all right."

"You're a brave woman, Jean."

"I don't think so, Boss, but I haven't much of a choice, have I?"

"I suppose not."

There was a knock on the door and two soldiers walked in.

"We've come to escort Miss Jean Wallace back to the Compound," they said. "We heard you've closed your business down, sir. You'd best get going. It's not safe out there anymore. There are some men downstairs waiting to escort you home and get you and your whole family to safety. Fighting has broken out at the border and the Boskies are making headway in this direction. Our people are on the way in to beat them back, but we've been told to evacuate everyone we can while we can. Just in case they do get this far. Don't worry. Miss Wallace will be safe with us. The Compound is probably one of the safest places in the city at the moment."

"See you, Boss," I said, shaking hands with the boss. "Take care."

"You too."

Boss grabbed his stuff and turned out the lights behind us. I followed the soldiers and they took me in an armoured car back to the Compound.

The tall, thick, new Compound walls looked so much more forbidding with the barbed wire and broken glass. So much more like a prison.