Printed Post issue 18 | Page 31

of a cheerful fire, drinking iced tea, scoffing cupcakes and chattering to Cyan. “Do join us Clime. We were just discussing the Meteorologist Management Position,” Cyan said smoothly. “That’s my position and these two are under my authority. What right do you have discussing me or my position with them?” Clime snorted pointing at the twins. “I have every right. Do sit down! We were just discussing how well you have been performing lately,” replied Cyan sarcastically. “I was thinking that a board of people would be better suited to run the Meteorology Department rather than the oneman authority we have now.” He raised his eye brow when he said authority to show he didn’t believe there was any authority. Clime’s face turned beet red as he shouted, “You cheeky, young pup. You were a map maker, a nothing ,when I fired you from Weather, remember. I want to speak to Mother Nature.” “Mother is on holiday, as well you know, and we don’t know how to contact her. You deal with me or you don’t deal at all,” responded Cyan coldly. Clime looked at Nina and Nino with disgust. He suddenly felt old, uncertain of himself in front of this young man, who was now his boss. He had an inkling Cyan would discard him without a second thought and he would be out of a job. A job he liked very much. Apart from the troubles with Nina and Nino, his was a cushy position. Clime’s father had been the head of Meteorology when Clime was a small boy. He had learned his trade on his father’s knee. His father had passed the job onto Clime when he, his father, had retired. It was usually the way in Naturalis that jobs were handed down to the eldest son in the family. Other children could choose their own vocations. Clime had happily worn the mantle of the weather department. “Think carefully before you speak,” Clime thought to himself, “consider your options.” The only choice for retiring workers was withdrawal to Cloud Nine. Not much of a choice but that was the way of Naturalis. Many workers looked forward to this time, Clime did not. With no hobbies or interests outside of weather he envisaged Cloud Nine as endless tedium until death. His only option was to side with Cyan and hopefully retain a position on this Board of his. “I’ll deal with you,” Clime choked humbly with bowed head. “You once told me I was opinionated and arrogant. You think you know it all because you
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know a little and you feel I shafted you for it. Who knows if I was wrong or not? Maybe it‘s your turn to discover just how hard weather is to control.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “I may be as arrogant and obstinate as you say I am but Meteorology has been my whole life. I may have been out of line for sacking you but in my opinion you were meddling in things you didn’t understand. I probably won’t change my attitudes, I am too old. Mother Nature obviously thinks you have what it takes to run all of this so I’ll take the opportunity to serve on the Board you are talking about, if I can’t maintain the position by myself.” “You can’t maintain the position yourself and I haven’t offered you a position on the board,” Cyan said. The old man opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. He shrugged his shoulders as if defeated. “Cyan wants revenge on me for sacking him,” he thought. Cyan admired his former boss. He wondered if he, Cyan, would have been able to back down as quickly and as eloquently as Clime had just done. He got to his feet and put his hand out to the Meteorologist. “Welcome aboard, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” Clime felt confident that he was now a part of Cyan’s team. At least he hoped that's what the welcome was all about. Both men turned and looked at the twins, scoffing cakes and slurping noisily on their iced teas. “You two can leave now, “Cyan informed them. Putting down the cake he was eating Nino said, “We haven’t discussed what we came here for.” “I will call for you when I am ready, “Cyan replied sternly ushering the twins out the door. The twins realised that they had just lost the upper hand. They had been hoping to obtain something from Cyan that would get Clime, and everyone else, off their backs over their lack of movement. Nino, more than Nina, needed Cyan on his side. Continued next month

©2008 Susan Johnston 194 Lachlan St, Hay NSW 2711 02 6993 2016 Warning: Do not use information in the story for science exams without checking validity with your teacher.