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Chapters (52)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. About the Book
  4. About the Author
  5. Also By
  6. Contents
  7. Dedication
  8. Roll Call
  9. A Brief History of the Time Wars
  10. Jane
  11. Luke
  12. Matthew
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. 6
  19. 7
  20. 8
  21. 9
  22. 10
  23. 11
  24. 12
  25. 13
  26. 14
  27. 15
  28. 16
  29. 17
  30. 18
  31. 19
  32. 20
  33. 21
  34. 22
  35. 23
  36. 24
  37. 25
  38. 26
  39. 27
  40. 28
  41. 29
  42. 30
  43. 31
  44. 32
  45. 33
  46. 34
  47. 35
  48. 36
  49. 37
  50. Epilogue
  51. Author’s Note
  52. A Note on Recruitment

She pushed it back again. ‘Substance abuse these days is punishable by considerably more than a two-year gaol term, and is invariably served in institutions far less benevolent than the Time Police. The end result will be the same, however – you out of harm’s way for at least two years. Your father is graciously offering you a choice. I’ll tell him you’ve declined the Time Police and chosen the other option, shall I?’

She began to gather up the papers.

It started to dawn on me with a very nasty thud that there was no way out of this other than to do as my father . . . well, I was going to say ‘wished’, but ‘commanded’ would probably be more accurate.

I held out my hand for the documents. Could be worse, I suppose. The uniform was pretty cool and you got to shoot people. And they were based in London, so apart from showing up for work occasionally, I could just carry on as before. My dad’s not as clever as he thinks he is.

‘One other thing,’ she said. ‘During your period of service, you will receive no money other than that which you earn.’

I must have gaped like an idiot.

‘Your allowance is rescinded. Your social engagements are cancelled. All your accounts except one have been closed and that one is now empty. Your property – all your property – is confiscated. You may take with you one small suitcase. I advise you to choose wisely – the contents will have to last you two years. And now I must take my leave, Mr Parrish.’

Honour demanded I have one last try.

‘Oh, don’t go yet, Ms Steel. I thought we could spend a little time discussing things and . . .’

‘I’m a very busy woman,’ she said, clicking her case closed. ‘You are simply number three on my list of Things To Do Today, Mr Parrish. Good luck with your new career.’

And she was gone. Just like that. I know I was well hungover but surely I hadn’t lost that much of my touch.

I made a giant pot of coffee and sat down to read. There were more words there than I’d read in the last five years put together. It made my eyes ache but at the end of it there was no doubt. Like it or not, I was now a member of the Time Police.

Matthew

Matthew