ACCURSED

ACCURSED

G JOHANSON

CHAPTER 1 – LEAVING HOME– ATTEMPT TWO

“Are you in or out?”

James Grey had barely set foot into the work premises before his employer, Bob Grant, asked this question. Bobs office was humbleness itself, a sharp contrast to his large home, though he spent so little time there that the size was immaterial. Bob ran a gardening business, built up from scratch and originally a one man operation before the years took their toll and now he had three employees who did most of the physical work. Unfortunately times were hard and with the war three years old and still going strong he found that customers were in short supply. Initially work had picked up as they obtained several short term jobs mowing lawns and basic gardening as housewives called on their services when their menfolk went away, but that didnt last long (even though they charged peanuts for this, with money at a premium most learnt to do the job themselves). He was still able to rely on regular state assignments but it looked increasingly likely that he was going to have to let one of the boys go and as the youngest and most recent employee, Dick Pike would be the sacrificial lamb, depending entirely on what answer James Grey gave him. Grey was less than a year older than Pike, and had just turned 18 and had attended his physical examination for entry into the army yesterday. The Marines had rejected his application a year earlier so, despite Greys eagerness to serve his country, his army career was not assured.

“Both. In the army and out of the business,” Grey said, beaming with pride. “Ill work today as agreed, „til ten at night if I have to to get the work finished.” Bob shook his hand and patted his shoulder, pleased for him as Grey had made it plain how much he wanted this. “Get yourself off home. Make the most of your time off. Youll be paid for the week.” Grey shook his head. “Ive got two weeks yet before basic training. Besides, I want to see this project through. I cant expect Dick to do it all himself.” “I was planning on working with him. Its up to you. You can go home with a full weeks pay or if you want you can finish off today.” “Ill finish today, boss. Id better load up the pickup and call on Dick and get started, unless youre not going to be around tonight…” “Not if you finish at 10 I wont be. Sit down, Ill make a brew. Dick can wait half an hour for his lift– hell be grateful his jobs safe,” Bob said, filling the kettle as Grey sat down. “Ill have to come back another day anyway, to see Greg. Are you going to pair them up again?” Grey said, referring to Bobs oldest employee, in age and length of service. Greg had trained Grey when he started exactly a year ago, and as Grey had proven himself a fast learner with a maturity beyond his years he was quickly trusted to complete assignments on his own. Dick was a shiftier character and kept his job because he had good crack and when he chose to knuckle down he worked hard, hard enough to make up for the moments when he slackened off. Unfortunately Dick and Greg had proven completely incompatible and Dick had quickly been assigned to work with Grey instead. “That depends. Youve worked with him for a good while now. Is he ready to fly solo?” “Yeah,” Grey nodded without hesitation. The true answer was probably not but Grey gave him the benefit of the doubt. “How are your parents?” “Theyre fine. Theyve had a lot of time to get used to the idea. They know how much I want this.” “We all know that! End it quickly, will you? A couple more years like this and Ill be my sole employee again.” “With your contacts youre guaranteed to stay afloat.” “Staying afloat doesnt cut it with the wife. She has expensive tastes. I need to thrive again to satisfy her. Tip for the future, Jim. Get involved in an industry that can profiteer from the war,” Bob said, his comments tongue in cheek. If the war really did ruin him it would be a different matter but he knew he would weather the storm. Grey had found him an ideal first boss– relaxed, unassuming, a good-natured sort who talked to him as an equal. “I was hoping to get back into this game.” “Your job will be waiting for you, if you want it.” “If it is, then great, but I know that things change. If you find you need to take on more staff and when I come back