Croescia embraced me the moment I got in the door. She was in tears. Jarok ran to hug me as if I'd just returned from a voyage.
When Jarok was in bed, Croescia told me she'd received a threatening call after the show. At least it was polite, but the veiled threat was unmistakeable. The voice seemed to know our son's name.
'But how did he get my mobile number?' she asked. 'The caller's number came up as private. Normally I never answer such calls, but I thought it might have been the studio. Oh Jordan, what are we going to do?'
'We're going to the seaside tomorrow, as planned, and we're going to have a lovely day out together. That's what we're going to do!'
At the beach the next day, I pretended that I wasn't keeping an eye on Jarok as we found a spot on the sand not too remote from the safety of the crowd.
The following Monday morning, a colleague was waiting for me at my desk to tell me that the boss wanted to see me first thing. Flovia held my hand and praised me for my courage on the TV show but feared that my job might be on the line.
'Well, they can't fire me, Flovia, unless I committed a crime or something. Anyway, I'll see what the man has to say for himself. Wish me luck!'
I took the glass lift to the top floor. By the time I got to the top, the bustling pedestrians in the plaza below me looked like a colony of ants.
'Ah, Jordan. Can we get you a coffee?' he asked immediately, as I was led into the office by the secretary. 'Or maybe you'd prefer a glass of water filtered by reverse osmosis?' he joked.
'I'll have both, if I may. So, I presume you want to see me about the show? One of my colleagues just told me my job might be on the line.'
'If only!... Ha-ha!'
'That doesn't sound very promising, Mashick. Or even polite, if I may say so.'
'Jordan, Jordan, how long have we known each other? Five, six years? Where's your sense of humour? Security of tenure, my dear boy! Wonderful phrase, isn't it? I call it society's small gesture of gratitude to the loyal and selfless servants of the public that we are. Our public. Ah yes, the great continent of Atlantis. But please, Jordan, do sit!'
'No, I think I'd prefer to stand.'
'Very well. Suit yourself. I'll cut to the chase. The reason I want to speak to you is that, much as I admire you as a man of integrity, as a colleague and as a friend, it is incumbent on me, your boss, to remind you of the t's and c's of your contract in your capacity as head of the QC Health Division of the QSA.'
'Please go ahead.'
'You were entrusted with a five-year appointment at Health to serve the public, not to form public opinion. Our job is not to change the world; our job is to ensure that the world we live in reflects the public need for safety, quality and professional reassurance.'
'I'm sorry that I have been a disappointment to you.'
The secretary arrived with the coffee.
'Thanks, Gilka, that'll be all. Please, Jordan. Do have a seat, will you? Please.'
I sat.
'Disappointment?' he continued. 'Never! You see, that's exactly why I wanted to speak to you this morning. Far from being a disappointment, you have excelled yourself! Here at the QSA, in all our years since the unification of our great continent, we haven't witnessed such a high degree of passion, courage, determination and dynamic initiative as we have seen in you on your return from Lemuria, Jordan. So much so, in fact, that I have recommended you for a promotion.'
'At the QSA?'
'Hopefully not!' he laughed. 'That would mean my job! No, even better than that. More important than that. A chance in a lifetime, Jordan. You see, I've been speaking to my associates at Government Buildings. They're highly impressed with your qualifications and experience but above all, with your originality, your passion, your courage, your creativity and your exceptional initiative. It is clear also from the social media that you have garnered a great deal of approval and popularity in various segments of our society, in particular our youth and student population, the very future of our continent!'
'Pity there weren't more of them at the show!'
'Anyway, the suits at the Department of Health are happy to accept the bona fides of my testimonial and have chosen to bypass the formal application process entirely! What do you say, eh? The job is yours! It's a dream come true! The salary is great. And the perks are unbelievable, certainly better than I'll ever see! Three months' holidays and a car of your choice. Free health insurance for the family, a life assurance pay-out of ten times your annual salary, a widow's pension to die for - if you'll pardon the pun! - golf and tennis club subs and an enviable pension for your golden years. But most of all, Jordan, there's the prestige, the honour attached to working, not just for the Government of Atlantis, as you do now, but with the Government! Furthermore, it's a lifetime appointment. Talk about security of tenure! And as for those mouth-watering perks, wait until Croescia sees the new house!'
'New house?'
'Plus enrolment at an exclusive, private school for Jarok to start immediately, all fees paid. You wouldn't believe the difficulties I had getting my own kids into that school! There was a three-year wait!'
'It's not that I'm ungrateful, Maschick, but you're kicking me upstairs, right?'
He turned abruptly and stared out the window. In the silence, we both knew it was a rhetorical question.
'I'll need to discuss it with my family.'
'Of course, Jordan! By all means! Do that! It's a big decision. In the meantime, why don't you take the rest of the week off? You deserve it!'
'What if I say no?'
'Maybe it hasn't sunk in yet, Jordan, but you've just won the lottery! How could anybody in his right mind even contemplate a refusal?'
'It might be a matter of principle.'
'Principle shminciple! What use is principle? Are your principles the same as your wife's? Are they the same as your son's?'
'I don't understand what you mean.'
'All I'm saying, Jordan, is that you're a parent, a husband, a father, just like me. We can't afford to have the same principles we had when we were young buckos in our college days, footloose and fancy free. Are you getting my drift?'
'No, I don't think so.'
'I too used to be an idealist. Yes, it's true, believe it or not. I was a bleeding heart for any cause you care to name, the more I looked, the more I found. But now, for better or for worse, I am a leader in this society who has willingly taken on the burden of significant responsibilities, to my family, my institution and my country. To the continent of Atlantis, Jordan.'
'Excuse me for repeating myself, Maschick, but what if I say no?'
'It would break my heart, Jordan. Believe me. You see, apart from all the duties expected of me in my job, being entrusted with responsibility for more than two thousand public servants employed here at the QSA is a source of great honour and pride to me. I do everything in my power to acquit myself well in that capacity and by all accounts, I think I do a good job. Should you refuse this offer of a dream promotion presented to you on a golden platter out of the goodness of our hearts and in humble appreciation of your exceptional contribution to our society, you're free to return to your post immediately. However, I will say this much: I, as your boss, outside the call of my duties, will not be responsible for you and your family any more. Do you understand? I will not be held accountable for any possible consequences that may occur as a result of your decision to reject the Government's offer. It would be out of my hands. Do you understand what I'm saying?'
I understood perfectly well. He could see it in the anger of my glare.
'Security and stability in Atlantis are paramount. God knows how long it has taken us to get to where we are now! We have never enjoyed such growth, such a degree of political, economic and social stability, offering hope for a better life for everybody in the generations to come! Unfortunately, hell is paved with good intentions and some people get too zealous, too ambitious, injudiciously so, they move too close to the edge. They forget the role they are supposed to be playing, the unwritten rules. They lose the run of themselves. They interfere. And then what happens? Things get out of control. Then, as we all know, accidents happen. And then everybody loses.'
He turned to look out the window again, down into the silent city, teeming with microscopic life. I thought for a moment that these conversations only happen in the movies. But he wasn't joking.
'My wife received a threatening phone-call after the show on Saturday.'
'My God! I'm so sorry, Jordan. Did you call the police?'
'No. What's the point?'
'But that is exactly what I'm driving at, Jordan! The world is full of psychos! Sure, you're an overnight celebrity right across the continent, you're a hero for God's sake, but nevertheless, there are millions of people out there right now who feel threatened by you. Why, in the name of God, would you put your family at risk?'
He took both of my hands in his, shaking them, as if to shake the memories of Lemuria from my being.
'Come, come, Jordan! Why the long face? Look, forget that crackpot on the phone for a moment. We're all in the same boat here at the QSA, that's all I wanted to say. If any one of us rocks the boat, we'll do our utmost to keep him on board, to keep him on side. Of course, we will, as we would a member of our own family! But there are limits. There's only so much we can do. We must first consider the greater good. What would you do? What would you do in my position, hm? Look, after you've rested and spoken to your family, you'll wonder why you ever even contemplated turning down the job offer of a lifetime! OK? Listen. You go and have a good rest for yourself. Relax. Take it easy. Enjoy the week off. And enjoy your new life! You deserve it! The QSA will be sorry to lose you, Jordan! Hey, and don't become a stranger, eh?'
As the glass elevator descended, I imagined myself falling to my death.
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