Robert Karson: A Life in Nine Parts

  Part Seven: The Cause for Success

  “So, Mr Lou. Have you come to apply for the Head’s position of our department? Of course you have, why else would you be here? I just need to ask you some questions first. You haven’t bought in a resume, I see (that’s wonderful, because I can’t read, actually) and you’re a bit dirty, if I do say... No matter...”

  The man was wearing the finest suit Bob had ever seen, and his peppered hair was smooth and shiny. He was the Head of the Department of the Care and Supervision of Dragon Hatchlings, and he was retiring. Manfred, it seemed, had the pleasant job of carting the applicants to the Head’s office. Bob hadn’t applied, of course, but there was nothing he could do now. He couldn’t turn around and say that he was really Robert Karson, and that he wasn’t applying for a job. They’d either arrest him (if they found out his identity), or kick him out. Neither was an option for Bob.

  “How old are you, Mr Lou?”

  “I’m 32, sir.”

  The Head’s eyes twinkled. “Sir, hmm? I like that; you’re a man with manners, Mr Lou! Maybe you’ll teach these idiots a thing or two.” Bob nodded in agreement, and the Head went on. “Do you know about dragons, Mr L- may I call you Billy? Let’s not be formal here. I’m Richard, but you already knew that.” Richard held his hand out, and Bob shook it. Bob could feel the self-importance radiating from him like a furnace.

  “Yes, sir, I do know about dragons. I know a fair bit more about FireDragons than the rest, though.”

  “Of course you do. Most people that come in here know more about one type of dragon than the rest, but you’ll learn fast enough. As long as you know what they eat, you’ll go far. You do know what they eat, I trust?”

  “Not chicken.”

  Richard laughed. “Correct!” He picked up a glass of water, sipped from it, and put it back down. “You’ll do just fine. Do you have any qualifications?”

  Bob did have qualifications. He passed his HeatStone handling course, had majored in FireDragon anatomy, care and history, and had received his FireDragon first aid certificate. He’d always wanted to work with FireDragons, as he found them most fascinating of all, but he didn’t know too much about the other three types. They couldn’t be too different, though.

  “I... no, sir,” Bob told him. He didn’t want to apply for a job, he wanted to get into Manfred’s office and question the man! He wanted to know, if and why, Manfred sold him out. The quicker he did that, the quicker he could get out of the Department of Departments building and be on his way to... he didn’t know. He’d have to figure that out later.

  “Ah, you will soon enough.” Richard was acting as though he’d already gotten the job. “Do you understand what this job entails? You will be in control of all Hatchling Centres, and all of the hatchlings are, ultimately, in your care. The Hatchling Centres and their managers work under you, along with everyone in this Department. You hire, fire, take the blame for everything, give raises and cuts, attend meetings at the Department of Departments, and occasionally at the Department of Departmentless. You make laws, break laws, make more laws, have them enforced, make sure they stay enforced, and break a few more of them. Aside from all of that, you are your own boss.”

  The offer would have enticed Bob, had he not been a fugitive on the run. “That sounds... very good, sir. When will I find out if I have been successful or not?” He hoped the interview would end soon, so that he could find Manfred.

  “Well, as you were the only applicant, and interviews end.... now, I have the pleasure of informing you that your application was successful. Congratulations, Mr Lou. You’re hired. You will start, uh... immediately, actually. I’ve officially retired.”

  And so it was, Robert Karson found himself the Head of a Department.