1. A New start
'Mr Duncan? Come in please. Mr Wilson will see you now.'
'Thank you.' John Duncan stood up and walked nervously. Towards the door. He was a, man tall thin, forty about - five years, old now in an old gray suit. It was his, best suit but. It was ten years old now. He had grey hair and glasses. His face looked sad and tired.
Inside, the room a man stood up to. Welcome him.'Mr Duncan? Pleased to meet you. My name' s David Wilson. This is one of, our chemists Mary Carter. '
John Duncan shook hands. With both of them and sat, down. It was a, big office with a thick carpet on the floor and beautiful pictures on the, walls. David Wilson was a young man in an, expensive black suit. He had a big gold ring on one finger. He smiled at John.
', Oh. I see.'John looked at Mary. She was older than Wilson - about, thirty-five perhaps - with short brown hair and a pretty friendly,,, Face. She was wearing a white coat with a lot of pens in the top pocket. She smiled at him kindly but John, felt miserable.
I LL. ' Never get, this job he thought. I 'm too old! Employers want younger people these days.
David Wilson was looking at some. Papers, Now. 'Mr Duncan, '' he said I see that you are a very good biologist. You worked at a University..... And then for two very famous. Companies. But..... You stopped working as a biologist nine years ago. Why was that? '
' I 've always had two interests in. My life, 'John said,' biology and boats. My wife was a famous sailor... Rachel Horsley... Perhaps you remember her.She sailed around the world alone in a small boat, '
' Yes, 'said David Wilson,' I remember her. '
' So we started, a business. Said John. '' We made small boats together and sold, them. '
' And did the business go well? 'asked Wilson.
' Very well at, first. Then we wanted to, build bigger better boats. We borrowed too much money. And then my wife... 'John stopped speaking.
', YesThe Sevens Race. I remember now, 'said David Wilson.
Both men were silent for a moment. Wilson remembered the newspaper. Reports of the storm and the lives lost at sea. He looked at the man who sat sadly in front of him.
', So after my wife died,' Continued John, 'I closed the business. That was five years ago.'
'I see,' said David Wilson. 'It' s a hard world the world,, Of business.'He looked at John' s old grey suit. 'So now you want a job as a biologist. Well this is, a, chemical company Mr Duncan.? We make paint. But we need a biologist to make sure that everything in this factory is safe. We want someone to tell the. Government that it 's safe to, work here and that it' s safe to have a paint factory near the town. That 's important to us.'
.'And if something', s not safe then of course we ',' ll change it Mary Carter said. David Wilson looked, at her but he didn t. ' Say anything.
', Yes I see,' John began nervously. 'Well I think, I could d that. I mean when I, worked for Harper Chemicals. In London I... 'He talked for two or three minutes about his work. David, Wilson listened but he didn' t say anything. Then. He smiled.It was a, smiled cold hard, it and made John feel uncomfortable. He remembered his old suit and grey hair and he, wished. He hadn 't come.
' You really need, this job don ', t you Mr Duncan?' David Wilson said. 'You need it a lot.'
', do Yes I, he.' Said quietly. But h thought: I, hate you Wilson. You 're enjoying this. You like making people feel small. I hate people. Like you.
.Wilson 's smile grew bigger. He, stood up and held out his hand.' OK, 'he said.' When can you start? '
' What? 'John was very. Surprised. 'What did you say?'
'I said, "When can you start?" Mr. Duncan. We need you in our factory as soon as, possible. Will Monday be OK? '
' You mean I 've got the job?'
'Of course. Congratulations!' 'Wilson shook John s hand.'My secretary will tell you about your pay. You' ll have own office and a, company, car of course. I 'd have you to start. Work with Marry on Monday. Is that OK? '
' I... Yes yes of, course. That 's fine. Thank you thank you, very much.'
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