Page 20 of Chaos Theory
She gives me the closed-lip smile again, this time shaking her head slowly. ‘Maeve, I’m going to be honest with you here – give you a heads-up. The reason why Duncan Canning said you had capacity to take on this extra project is because, frankly, we’re in a situation where we have two people doing the same job, but really only enough work for one.’
Two people. She means me and Shane. It’s true, work has slowed down a bit lately, but I thought that was just because of the seasons. Summer is always the busiest for Irish tourism. We’re not exactly known for our grey drizzly winters. Maybe Duncan Canningdiduse AI to write the New York ad campaign. Maybe he’s planning to replace us with it. I glance over at Kobi. He’sclearly not built for marketing, but maybe he’ll replace someone in a factory someday soon. I remember what Josh said about the tide. Am I about to be washed away?
As much as I complain about my job, I’d rather leave on my own terms, ideally with something better to go to. My résumé is already a shattered kaleidoscope of skills and experience that don’t match.
‘So what you’re saying is…’
‘All I’m saying is it would probably be in your best interests to make yourself useful around here, Maeve.’
THIRTEEN
Thursday, 11:15am
I sip my peppermint tea behind the counter as I watch Shane engage Kobi in the most needless of busy work – a stock take of the gift shop merchandise. Shane describes and counts each item and Kobi makes a note of it. But there are very few items so Shane is taking his time over each one, inventing elaborate fables for the shamrock keychains, leprechaun plushies and miniature shillelaghs.
‘Hey,’ I say, leaning on the glass. ‘Be careful what you tell him. He believes everything he’s told and will probably repeat it.’
Kobi turns to me stiffly. ‘Maeve, that is incorrect. I record everything, but I cross-reference it against other data.’
‘Like Sandra Smith’s “objectively beautiful” face?’ I ask.
Shane stops counting the shamrock sunglasses. ‘What’s that?’
‘Oh, nothing. Just… Kobi told Sandra Smith that you said she was “an objectively beautiful woman”.’
He laughs, moves on to the ‘Irish blessing’ coasters. He picks up a bundle, shuffles them. ‘Well, that is technicallytrue. It’s just a fact. I didn’t say I found her attractive. We were talking about art, the definition of beauty and stuff.’
‘Youcan find her attractive if you want to.’ I mean for it to be banter, but my tone comes out defensive.
‘Thanks. But I don’t.’
‘But you can, if you want to.’ I’m getting flustered. ‘My point is – don’t say things like that to Kobi because he’ll only repeat them. At inappropriate moments.’
I notice lights illuminate in Kobi’s chest plate. ‘Compliance violation noted,’ he says.
I sigh loudly.
‘What wasthat?’ asks Shane.
I make a strangled sound. ‘Don’t even ask. We have bigger things to be worrying about.’
Shane places a green velvet top hat on Kobi’s head.
‘Compliance violation,’ Kobi says, lights flashing on and off.
‘You’re no fun,’ says Shane, moving the hat from Kobi’s head to his own. He turns to me. ‘What bigger things? And what do you mean by “we”?’
‘Sandra hinted that we might not have our jobs forever.’ I pause. ‘Or for very long.’
He stops, takes off his hat. He walks over, stands directly in front of me, a serious look on his face. Then he reaches across the counter. A flash of green. I feel the velvet brim snug around my head. ‘You look cute,’ he says.
‘Compliance violation,’ says Kobi, lights flashing.
I grab the hat, fling it across the room in the vain hope it might land on the hook where it belongs. Something about the action reminds me of last Friday morning, waking up in Shane’s bed.Whose underwear was that?Not that I care, of course.
‘Kobi, can you please stop saying that?’ I ask. ‘How about a compromise? You can still do that light thing, but please stop vocalising, okay?’
He replies by flashing his lights at me.
