[Milliways]: Posner's Reward
Although he did spend an extra day (or two) in Milliways, Posner eventually makes his way home, still beaming, hoping he doesn't smell like champagne. His parents are beyond proud. Even his uncle claps him on the shoulder and says how proud he is.
They have breakfast first, but almost immediately after there is a phone call from the school. Felix, having already heard from some of the other boys, is eager to have news of all the rest. There's to be a celebration of sorts at the school in the afternoon, and Posner hops on his bicycle to head over.
There's more champagne, of course, in little, plastic cups. Posner is hugged more than he thinks he's been since his bar mitzvah, perhaps more than that even.
Felix is incredibly pleased, wandering about the room, refilling glasses at random. "Splendid news! Posner a scholarship, Dakin an exhibition and places for everyone else. It's more than one could have hoped for. Irwin, you are to be congratulated, a remarkable achievement. And you too, Dorothy, of course," he adds to Mrs. Lintott as an afterthought, "who laid the foundation."
She pulls him into conversation, then, and Posner loses track of her, drawn into the others' celebration.
They all stay for a while, lingering at the school as though they're reluctant to leave. Posner isn't sure where the others end up, but he suspects Dakin's whereabouts at least. He stops briefly by Hector's room, but the man isn't there, so he goes to see Mrs. Lintott instead. She's solid. She's safe.
He should say goodbye to Irwin, he supposes, but he doesn't want to intrude on anything (Dakin) he may be busy with.
Eventually, they all filter out into the courtyard, talking of their plans, giddy with success.
"I might try the army," Lockwood says, and Timms bursts into laughter.
"You? You're a shambles."
"No, but they put you through college apparently. Your fees and everything."
"Yeah, provided you kill people afterwards," Akthar offers
"We won't go to war again," Lockwood predicts. "Who's there to fight?"
"I don't know about a career," Scripps says, deadpan. "I've got to get fucking out of the way first."
Posner is...relatively certain this is a joke.
"That goes on," Crowther says with a grin, to which Posner smirkily responds, "Or doesn't."
And then Dakin comes jogging up behind, motorbike helmet in hand.
They have breakfast first, but almost immediately after there is a phone call from the school. Felix, having already heard from some of the other boys, is eager to have news of all the rest. There's to be a celebration of sorts at the school in the afternoon, and Posner hops on his bicycle to head over.
There's more champagne, of course, in little, plastic cups. Posner is hugged more than he thinks he's been since his bar mitzvah, perhaps more than that even.
Felix is incredibly pleased, wandering about the room, refilling glasses at random. "Splendid news! Posner a scholarship, Dakin an exhibition and places for everyone else. It's more than one could have hoped for. Irwin, you are to be congratulated, a remarkable achievement. And you too, Dorothy, of course," he adds to Mrs. Lintott as an afterthought, "who laid the foundation."
She pulls him into conversation, then, and Posner loses track of her, drawn into the others' celebration.
They all stay for a while, lingering at the school as though they're reluctant to leave. Posner isn't sure where the others end up, but he suspects Dakin's whereabouts at least. He stops briefly by Hector's room, but the man isn't there, so he goes to see Mrs. Lintott instead. She's solid. She's safe.
He should say goodbye to Irwin, he supposes, but he doesn't want to intrude on anything (Dakin) he may be busy with.
Eventually, they all filter out into the courtyard, talking of their plans, giddy with success.
"I might try the army," Lockwood says, and Timms bursts into laughter.
"You? You're a shambles."
"No, but they put you through college apparently. Your fees and everything."
"Yeah, provided you kill people afterwards," Akthar offers
"We won't go to war again," Lockwood predicts. "Who's there to fight?"
"I don't know about a career," Scripps says, deadpan. "I've got to get fucking out of the way first."
Posner is...relatively certain this is a joke.
"That goes on," Crowther says with a grin, to which Posner smirkily responds, "Or doesn't."
And then Dakin comes jogging up behind, motorbike helmet in hand.