Mary closes the notebook in her lap, folds her hands and looks round
at the expectant faces crammed in to her dining room. “And the
rest,” she says finally, “Is, as they say, history.”
At first she'd been disappointed by the low number of people who had
responded to their advert in the paper. Where they'd have put any
more she didn't know, but she'd hoped to see them.
“Never worry, luv,” her husband had said, doing his best to
reassure her. “Better to start small, eh? Besides, Fiona's had a
new idea for recruitment, something a little more direct.”
She takes a deep breath, releasing a long sigh before standing. “Of
course the Elements decided to work with the Angel, and us, to
improve the Warp,” she says, focusing on the eager faces before
her. There are others, more cynical in their demeanour, but she lets
her eyes pass over them. “And that's how this place, this bridge,
came to be opened.”
One chap in front of her yawns openly, checking his watch, while
another chews idly on his pencil.
“Now you've heard our story,” she continues, forcing herself not
to tut, “As fantastic and ridiculous as it sounds. The question
for you all is this: Would you like to know more? If your answer is
no,” now she looks directly at the sceptics, “Then I'd like to
thank you for your time. Make your way out through the door at the
back and you'll be back in the real world in no time at all.”
She pauses. Waits. None of them makes a move.
“For the rest of you,” she smiles as Edward pushes himself to his
feet, “If you'd like to follow my husband, we'll try to give you
your first look at the Weave.”
