Felix put his travel bag down before anyone gave him a task.
He had reached the Central approach after nightfall, exactly as the booked route allowed. Part of the journey had passed in sleep. He had slept again in the assigned lodging. Neither interval had turned him into a man who could use breakfast merely as a decorative object.
He accepted a bowl, bread and the first direct briefing.
Barnaby checked the date on the travel copy.
“Any additional imaginary reserves?”
“Left them in the departure kitchen.”
Felix placed the Ashford review on the table. The extra fallback remained crossed out. His private note about a cupboard hinge stayed on the other side of the packet, where it had no authority over a public control.
The qualified engineer took the lowland report first.
