A Feather in your Cap (pt 2 of 3)

[wytchcroft]

The offices of London Legal and Miscellaneous were in a tall building etched out of stone and wood with wide ledges, the odd gargoyle, and black shuttered windows. The doors to the main entrance were also black and suitably imposing, despite leaning, like the rest of the edifice, at a quite noticeable angle. Robeson had been assured numerous times in his career that concrete and counterweights were making certain of the buildings stability.

Naturally enough, Robeson never entered the building through the great double doors but instead through an unassuming back entrance. Today was different, no longer a Junior Clerk, little better than a servant in the eyes of his superiors, he was now entitled to use the Employees entrance at the side.

The Porter had even called him ‘Sir’ and nodded to him upon his arrival. No/one had called him that before, not formally, and certainly not at work. Percy was naturally pleased. He was shown through the winding cluttered corridors to the cubby-hole that was to be his work space.



To his delight Percy found that it actually overlooked the desk of another worker.

London Legal was very keen on hierarchies and Robeson began to share that view almost at once. Climbing up the stepladder he glanced down to read the name of the man below him, a Mr J. Levers. Percy had never met the man, testament to the lack of interaction between the ranks.

His back was still turned when he felt the hairs on his neck go up. There was a thin draught of air and a sudden dry rustling from behind him, and then came the clatter of well heeled feet and the murmur of voices.

“Thirsty work eh?” The voice had an indolent edge, a self assurance, and Percy knew at once that these were workers from the top floor.

“Thirsty?” Snapped another in reply, “I’ll say –I‘m practically spitting feathers! Ha ha ha!”

There was a chorus of laughter, a final sound of tail coats sweeping the floor, and they were gone.
Percy let out a low shuddering breath. “Phew!” he said.
His hands had gone rigid around the sides of the ladder, gently he disengaged his fingers. There was a vague disturbance below him and glancing down again Percy saw the grizzled head of Mr Levers emerging from under his desk. As the head levelled itself, Percy had a moment to admire the neat bald patch in the centre of the scalp, before the man looked up, blinking through a bare of spectacles.

“Why Mr Robeson, there you are!” The man said, somewhat disingenuously.

“Why Mr Levers,” said Percy, “I might say the very same.”

Levers blinked again. “Except that you wouldn’t,” he corrected, “For if you were to say ‘Why Mr Robeson, there you are!’ it would be a foolish thing indeed! Attention to detail, the importance of words in our business Mr Robeson, cannot be underestimated.”  

Percy was not to be out witted by such a fellow on his first day in this new post, he wouldn’t stand for that. “Perhaps Mr Levers, but it seems words with any meaning can be used to evade the reason of an argument, which in this case is the fact that you were hiding under your desk.”

Levers nodded; a fractional concession. “I have learned, Mr Robeson, that in regards to our employers it is better not to be seen at all than to not to be seen working, or working slowly, or in a manner not easily and immediately understood.”

“Quite right I’m sure.” Percy hadn’t actually understood a word himself, but he did his best to look knowledgeable and as Mr Levers pulled on a cap, one feather, naturally, he took the opportunity to climb up and squeeze himself into the space behind his desk.

Whatever was going through his mind as he did so was shoved roughly aside by the satisfaction that engulfed him on seeing the feather lying across the desk, the long and lovely symbol of his new position. Tenderly he picked it up by the stem and held it up where the weak filtered sunlight might reach it. He wondered what sort of feather it was, pigeon perhaps – it would a common example, he knew, but all the same just there and then it may as well have been made of gold.

Already he was counting the days until the first new wage would allow the purchase of a hat.
“You know your duties I assume?” Levers called up.

“Yes thanks,” Percy said brightly, “fully informed.” He had a thought - perhaps this would be a chance to make a friend of Levers after all. “On the other hand…” he said slowly, “duties is one thing, work is often something very different.”

“Quite so,” the floating voice of Levers agreed.

Percy leant precariously out from his perch. “So, if there’s anything you think I should know..?”
There was a considered pause, Levers would be wondering what to reveal, Percy assumed. The man could choose to help Percy, this might reflect well if the efficiency of their teamwork was noticed, on the other hand – he wouldn’t want Percy outshining him… and he could even try and be rid of this new assistant if he was sufficiently power hungry.

Levers cleared his throat. “Make sure you get through one list per day, feel free to request help from the clerks, you can even ask advice from the Seniors – and you may on occasion be called into their offices…”
Percy gulped.
“… on no account disturb anyone during their lunch.”

Percy snorted, that was common sense surely – he could imagine the fine foods and wines consumed by the superiors, by his employers, it would be luxury, in their position he wouldn’t want to be interrupted either.
“Thanks,” Percy said – not feeling especially grateful. But it was a start surely? And barely into the working day - he already had many anecdotes with which to combat Mr Botham back home.

Still feeling satisfied therefore he pulled a buff envelope from the wire basket that was his in-tray and settled himself for the mornings work. London Legal was a large agency considering the tough economic times, the rude nature of the London social infra-structure and the living Diaspora that were its people.
 
The organisation of rules, regulations, funds, approval for births, deaths and marriages - housing claims and arguments, dock licenses and insurance, applications for power, gas, water, all of these landed in some form or other on the books here – normally once the original issue had become ensnared in some obscure legal complication. Life was tricky after all, one reason why so many citizens liked to complain and bewail their state and hark on about the good old days and the times before ‘the change’. Percy had believed none of the tall tales told to him down the years.

And besides, it was good for business.

He was very quickly absorbed by his tasks, ticking and crossing sundry and diverse forms, editing and re-editing announcements and memos, and using his stamp with a hearty slap! to print the word PENDING FURTHER DOCUMENTATION at the bottom of most of the documents he perused.
Indeed, time passed so swiftly that it was only when his stomach began an unsettling chorus of basso-profondo rumblings that he realised it must be time for luncheon.  

 

 

Comments

[reginaclarejane.livejournal.com]

How do you do it?
I was utterly engrossed!
In such a short time you really give us such fleshed out and interesting characters!
Bravo, my friend!
Looking forward to the next installment!
:)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

thanks indeed regina!:)) very kind of you:)

i've posted the final chapter - y'know me, i like to get these thngs out the way! LOL!:)

[reginaclarejane.livejournal.com]

YAY!
I'll get to it tonight!
:)