The second meeting and a chat with the Dean

You stroll back to your cottage and drop off your briefcase, then walk back to the dining hall to get a cup of coffee. The room is empty except for a few workers cleaning up, who direct you to the kitchen when you ask about coffee.

"Sure I got coffee," the stocky Luisa tells you when you enquire, her tone implying that only an idiot would assume she wouldn't. "You want something with that? I got some pastries, or we can fix you something real quick?"

"Coffee's good, thanks," you smile.

"You want con leche? Take two minutes more."

"Sure," you agree, watching as she quickly makes espresso and adds scalded milk to it. She serves it to you with a grin, adding a biscuit to the saucer.

"That Honey Thibodeaux, she don't like cafe con leche. Says that it's not as good as the cafe au lait she can get back in New Orleans. I tell her to take her cajun ass back to Decatur Street if she don't like it."

You grin, sipping the coffee. "It's delicious Luisa. I'm just fine with this."

"You a smart man, senor. Smart man knows its wise to keep the cook happy. You can take the cup to the meeting with you. Housekeeping will bring it back."

Glancing at your watch you see you have only a few minutes before the second orientation meeting. The library is full of students, only a few trailing in behind you before Ms. Naylor raps the table for attention. She makes the same speech as she did this morning, introducing Dean Hawkfeather. You notice that all students are wearing their regulation ties, the only anomalies in uniform being two dark complected girls sitting near the front who wear colourful headscarves and gauzy leggings under their skirts.

He makes no demonstration of his tie removal skills, but simply refers to the dress code and the Code of Conduct. It's apparent that word has gone around the campus since the first meeting, and there are not the mutters of surprise and dismay that greeted his announcement earlier, but only a phalanx of appraising stares as the Dean finishes his presentation and turns the meeting back to Ms. Naylor.

As she did this morning, she runs over coming events and some administrative details, directing students to pick up a copy of the Code of Conduct before they leave, then dismisses them. You rise and stroll over to where the Dean and Ms. Naylor are handing Code of Conduct books to the departing students.

"Not anywhere near as exciting as this morning," you say with a grin.

"I think word got around," the Dean replies. "That was the point of the exercise this morning, so I'm satisfied."

"From what I've seen so far, the students seem to be impressed. Good job."

"We'll see how impressed the parents are, once they hear about it," he grins sourly as he gathers up his papers. "If I was taking bets on me still having a job by the end of the week I'd want pretty good odds."

"You have a good chunk of the faculty on board," you say as the two of you leave the library and head downstairs. "And you don't look like a guy who's afraid to take a stand, or a guy who counts the odds when he does."

He gives you a measuring glance, and you're reminded that this is a former Marine, and from what you've learned a competent and dangerous one. Or was until he got wounded at least.

"Someone who doesn't count the odds is a damn fool Mr. Sharp," he says with a tight mouth. "I believe in going by the book, whether I wrote the book or not. I don't expect to make this a career, but while I'm here I'll do the job the way I see fit."

"I don't doubt it," you nod. "And don't think I was criticising. I'm impressed with what you're doing. Especially since it seems to be working."

As you walk across the quad you're aware of groups of students watching you and the Dean, huddling in little groups as you pass. Their expressions range from wary or fearful to excited and mischievous.

"We'll see," he says, nodding towards the students. "I suspect some of these young ladies are going to be pushing the edge of the envelope. Testing to see if there are holes."

"My guess is that if they do, they'll find they're fucking with the wrong guy. So to speak of course," you add quickly as he glances sharply at you. You enter the Mellon building together, still chatting as you walk towards his office.

That's when you hear the screaming begin.