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The Reverend Alun Williams was thirty-five. He lived with his wife Helga, who was seven
years younger than he, and their two children in a pleasant home on the campus of the
University where he was Assistant Professor in Rural Studies in the Department of
Theology, the largest Department of the University. The life of the Williams family was a
rewarding one: they lacked no comforts and harbored no doubts. It was a life that the
Williams family, vicars all, had pursued for generations. In his younger days Williams had put in his time of service in the field. They were not days that he looked back upon fondly but they had been necessary to the furtherment of his career. Subsequently he had authored a book: 'Spiritual and Pastoral Care of the Rural Poor' and had entered the Government serving, without much distinction, for several years. Well before the onset of the Public War he had accepted this post at the University and was glad he had or he would certainly have ended up in the field again under circumstances which would have made the first stint seem like paradise. Instead here he was, finally, a Moral Tutor, demonstrating that his impeccable standards had been recognized at last and supervising some of the finest young people in the land : one of his charges was the daughter of the Secretary of State himself! On the morning of July 4th, 2476 Williams left home after breakfast for an appointment with the Dean of Theology, his boss. It was a short walk to the campus on a pleasant pathway winding through landscaped woodland. The day was blustery and, though it was not raining, rain was in the air. His thoughts were on the dinner party that night. Helga was in a state about it: it was her first for such a distinguished company and she had given him a long list of items to review with the caterer that afternoon, even though Williams was quite sure the man knew exactly what he was doing. Williams was confident things would go well and he was hoping against hope that the Secretary of State would show up. There had been rumors of momentous events going on in the Capital for weeks now, though Williams didn't know anyone in a powerful enough position who would tell him exactly what was going on. Anyway, it would probably be just the Secretary's wife who would be attending. Williams had met her once or twice: Vera her name was and he did not think much of her, a flighty sort of woman quite unsuitable as the spouse of the highest official of the land and it was probably her fault that they had had so much trouble with their daughter, Angel. Not serious trouble, mostly high spirits and involvements with young men: just that the girl hardly behaved in a manner that was appropriate for such a lofty father. Well, reflected Williams, at least the hazard of young men was absent at the moment: the young men were at the War, that being the reason that the University classes had been suspended and that the seven young men who were among his charges would not be at the Dinner although their parents would. As, humming cheerfully, the Reverend Williams strode briskly towards the Administration Building, he encountered another of his charges, Elizabeth Bluemud, sitting on the edge of the basin of the fountain in front of the Great Steps. The gusty wind blew her hair which, he noted with disapproval, was none too short, reaching almost to her shoulders, across her face. 'It's good to see you again, my child, Elizabeth.' Elizabeth was startled by the sight of him. Had she seen him first she would have taken pains that he did not see her. 'Been back long? You're in good time. Is your father here? I'm looking forward to meeting him very much as I am all the parents, of course. I do so enjoy these little gatherings, don't you?' Elizabeth nodded, avoiding his eye. She was a girl he knew little of though her dossier gave him no cause for concern: good grades, cooperative in school, a bit eccentric in her choice of studies. 'It won't be the same without the boys here, will it?' 'No Pastor.' 'Seen any of the others? Angel, perhaps?' Angel had been friendly with Elizabeth in the past. He liked to keep tabs on who knew who, especially Angel. 'No, I don't expect Angel will be here until this afternoon.' 'Yes, well, good-bye, Elizabeth. See you this evening. Try not to be late.' To Elizabeth's relief the Reverend Williams went on up the steps and into the Administration Building for his appointment with Dean Wilson. |
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