Free Risk Assessment by James Goss Page B

voyage there on behalf of the British Empire. Victoria herself, the dear Queen, was delighted by the novelty of the concept, although it would come to fruition only long after she passed through the veil. You see, my dear, George’s journey, even with this drive, would take him a long time. Over a hundred years. I asked him not to go, but he looked at me, and I knew that there would be no dissuading him. And sometimes you have to let them go. . . But I never give up without a fight. So, when the post of Assessor came up, I volunteered for it. I waved off his rocket ship, knowing full well that one day I would be there when he returned, God willing. And really, it works out rather well. . . in its own peculiar way. He’s awake but the speeds he travels at rather bend time. It’s all rather complex. Suffice it to say that whenever I am awake I can communicate with him via radioscope. I can hear his voice and he can hear mine. And there we are, two lovers split by time and space. But one day, he will return. And I’ll make sure that this world is in good shape for him.’
    Gwen just stared at Agnes.
    ‘Have I said too much?’ asked Agnes.
    ‘No,’ said Gwen. ‘Wow.’
    ‘But it is a most elegant solution, is it not?’
    ‘You’ve certainly got balls, that’s all I’ll say.’
    Agnes smiled. ‘I think you’ve had quite enough to drink, my dear.’
    ‘No, really,’ said Gwen, reaching out an arm and hoping to catch a waitress. ‘One more before we go back. I think we can grab a pizza on the way. You see, there’s one more thing I’m dying to ask you.’ And she giggled and leaned forward. Agnes did too. ‘You and. . . Well, it’s about Jack. Tell me about him.’
    ‘Ah,’ said Agnes, and her smile stretched. ‘Captain Jack Harkness. Well, I can tell you that he’s hammering on the window.’

IX
    WHO PASSES BY
    THIS ROAD SO LATE?
    In which Miss Rogers fails to purchase a train set, and a siege is laid
    She’d always liked toy shops. Nina Rogers skipped a few tracks on her MP3 player and looked around her. Every aisle was a different dream – teddy bears, board games, princess outfits, racer bikes, football kits and train sets. She was watching an elaborately laid-out train set right now. It raced round and round – stopping at a little station, going through a tunnel, chugging past little waving model people and miniature houses, and it was all perfect and somehow sunny. Nothing ever changed. No one got on or off, but the train just raced round and aroud this perfect afternoon.
    It was just what she needed. She caught herself checking her phone again. Of course she hadn’t missed a call. Or even a text. Just a text would have been OK. Even if it said something bad. She turned back to the train. It gave a tinny little whistle and she grinned. She was cheered up.
    The thing is, it wasn’t a great day. Now Sunday – that had been a great night. She hadn’t even been that drunk when she’d met him, and he was lovely and she’d skipped lectures on Monday and he’d taken her out for lunch at a café, and he had promised he’d call.
    And it was now Thursday and not a peep. Of course, she was a big girl and these things no longer really hurt. She just got annoyed at how excited she got. Every time she sensed something starting, it was like things were painted in a glossy new colour and she got all giggly.
    Plus she was in the middle of another essay crisis, and she really could have done with that 11 o’clock lecture on Monday morning. She’d borrowed Jessica’s notes, but they’d told her nothing other than that she’d missed a really useful lecture. And so had Jess, seemingly. Oh well, she’d muddle through. A walk across the bridge, some hot dogs from Ikea, and then she’d sneak a pot of coffee into the library and spend an evening surrounded by books.
    Maybe she’d find Tess as well. Tess, who’d been mocking her all week. ‘So, when do we meet him? What’s he like? Has he got you a ring