See note regarding source FILOFAX.]
[Department of Mysteries. Source FILOFAX, POLLOX, and CRANE walk together through central research hub. A young woman walks by carrying a pile of textbooks.]
FILOFAX: Who’s the new girl?
POLLOX: I was going to ask that myself. Is that – ?
CRANE: Jones. Hestia. Junior Artificer. Here to replace Greengrass.
FILOFAX: Does Greengrass need replacing?
CRANE: Greengrass has been terminated.
FILOFAX: Eliminated?
CRANE: Never you mind. Jones is Greengrass now. She doesn’t have half his experience so we’ve put a pause on artefacts, at least until we can find a real replacement. For now she’s on research.
POLLOX: I haven’t been informed about any artefact research requiring a full hire.
CRANE: Well you haven’t been in your plum position for very long, have you? Don’t you start thinking a title warrants you access to anything you oughtn’t be accessing. We aren’t the Department of Explanations. You hear me?
POLLOX: Loud and clear.
CRANE: Good. Now take this cissy out of my sight and brief him.
[Crane opens his office door and slams it shut.]
POLLOX: Apologies for the abuse, [FILOFAX]. It’s been a bit rough around here.
FILOFAX: Sounds like turnover.
POLLOX: I’ll say. Hard to say just what. I’ve been promoted, as you’ve perhaps discerned. Chief of Operations. Chief babysitter, more like. Not much of a change really, only I report directly to the Duchess now and get sent across creation keeping you legmen in line.
FILOFAX: Uptick in fieldwork, is there?
POLLOX: You could say that.
FILOFAX: No Bode then, eh? Was he, er, terminated, too?
POLLOX: No, no. Bode’s back to the desk. Requested it – he had a hard operation last spring. The poor man – he’s getting old, you know. He joined up for research, didn’t he, not as an operator. His joy is in the laboratory, doing – well, whatever in hell he does. Funds are no good for that any more though, not under this administration. So Crane did him kindly and put him in archives. Brains like Bodes’, he gets the filing done in an hour and spends the rest of the day poking around alongside Croaker, seeking out the elixir of love or whatever it is they do together. Queer man. But you’re free of him.
FILOFAX: Can’t say I’m too cut up about it.
POLLOX: Well, you’ve got me instead, so keep your bandages at hand. More gossip, or are you ready for your briefing?
FILOFAX: Ready? I’m always ready, dear.
POLLOX: Good. We’ll go to my office.
THE PENSIEVE PAPERS 