The Campus Trilogy by Anonymous Page B

“Look,” I said. “This is urgent. Can you come to see me when you finish? I’ve had a disturbing letter from Jenny Sloth.”
    “The Registrar’s wife?”
    I explained briefly that she was making a formal complaint. “I’ll show you the letter when you come,” I said.
    At a quarter past four, Penelope knocked on my door. She was carrying a bright purple bag full of books and student essays. She sat on my sofa looking exhausted. “Would you like some coffee?” I asked.
    She looked at my decanter. “I think I’d really like some of what’s in that,” she said.
    I poured her a large glass of sherry. “So,” she said, “what’s this about the letter?”
    I showed it to her. She sipped her sherry and looked perturbed . “Bloody hell,” she muttered. “This is ridiculous. There’s nothing here. You asked her to order books for your students, and she’s making a formal complaint. Everyone knows thewoman’s a lazy cow. But what do you expect, married to that dozy imbecile?”
    “So, you think there’s nothing to worry about?”
    Penelope hesitated. “There shouldn’t be. But she is the Registrar ’s wife. Sloth knows about the affair with the student and that girl’s father. Jenny must also know that Lisa’s father had planned to give the university some kind of donation.”
    “Do you think this is a conspiracy?”
    Penelope took a mobile phone out of her bag. “I think I’d better check with the regional officer,” she said. She dialled his number and left a message for him to ring her back. Picking up her bag of books, she walked to the door. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I hear from Morris,” she said looking over her shoulder. “I’ll send you an email. Don’t worry too much. You’ve got the union on your side.”
    After she left, I phoned Magnus. “You won’t believe this,” Isaid.
    “The girl has reappeared?”
    “No, it’s worse. Sloth’s wife is now complaining about a book order. I had a meeting with Pilkington.”
    “Sloth’s wife? You mean that little rodent who works in the library. I’ve had a run in with her before.”
    “Well, she’s written a formal complaint.”
    “I’ll be straight over,” he said.
    As the cathedral bell struck five, Magnus knocked on my door. He was wearing ear muffs and a large scarf wrapped around his duffle coat. His nose was bright red. “I’ve got an awful cold,” he sniffled as he sat on the sofa. He picked up Penelope’s empty glass and looked at it. “I see you’ve had a visitor.”
    “Penelope – the union president,” I said.
    “Isn’t she involved in some campaign about gay rights? I’ve seen some startling posters on her door.”
    “I think so. But you’d better read this,” I said, handing him Jenny’s letter.
    “Can’t concentrate without a drink. Can I have a new glass?”
    Magnus shook his head as he read the letter. “Incredible. She’s too busy to order books! How long does it take, for heaven’s sake? This doesn’t look right.”
    “No?”
    “No doubt Sloth has something to do with this. He knows about Lisa’s father. Probably you’re being ganged up on by the VC and the Registrar. Maybe Sloth got his wife to write the letter. Looks like a conspiracy to me.”
    “I did wonder.”
    “Well, no doubt she’s offended. Must hate criticism. And she knows her husband will defend her.” Magnus scratched his head. “Maybe she’s a bit deranged… but on the other hand, the VC does want you to take early retirement. They probably want to put you under pressure to leave.”
    “But I don’t want to go. I like it here.”
    Magnus finished his sherry. I refilled his glass. “A tricky business,” he ruminated. Then he looked up, “You may like it now,” he said. “But you might not in a few months time.”

CHAPTER FOUR
The Vice-Chancellor Looks Guilty
    Over the weekend we had a large party in our house for over fifty friends and neighbours as well as some academics from the university. This