When Professor Alan Gibson finally retired as head of the School of Philosophy – years after some members of the staff thought he should have retired – it was clear who was going to replace him.
The dead hand of the past still lay heavy on the faculty, and the dead hand said that although in theory it was the senior members of staff who chose those who would fill vacancies, in practice it was the one to whom the head of the faculty gave the nod who got the job. Gibson had given the nod to Dr. Jarvis Dodd, the "Associate Head" of the faculty.
Also known to all was the fact that "Associate" was a euphemism for "Assistant," and Gibson had ruled the School of Philosophy with an iron hand for many years; and so it was Jarvis Dodd, at the age of forty eight, a confirmed bachelor, who replaced Gibson.
This was not a popular appointment, because whereas Gibson had been blunt to the point of rudeness, at least the staff knew where they stood with him. Dodd was the contemporary version of the iron fist in the velvet glove type, the "touchy-feely type, softly spoken, all smiles and concern when addressing his victim, but always with his own best interests at heart, and determined that his own wishes would in the end prevail.
His staff had a metaphor for his dealings with them, "It's only after you've left him that you feel the blood dripping down your back."
Of course as Dodd moved up to the top his previous position as Associate became vacant. This was filled by an elderly, but compliant member of staff, Arthur Ruff, whom Dodd knew he could count on for unwavering obedience.
Two years after his appointment Ruff, from Dodd's point of view very inconveniently, died, leaving the position of "Associate Professor" vacant.
To fill the vacancy due form was followed. The position was widely advertised in universities around the world and in the end there were thirty applications. These, on the basis academic qualifications, known reputations, papers and books published, were at first reduced to seven possible candidates. After interviews the number was reduced to three, two already on the staff of the faculty and one outsider.
Of the three one was Dr. Jacob Glen; forty four years of age, married to a darkly attractive woman, Ita, with two children now grown up and away from home. Glen had been a tutor and lecturer in the faculty for fourteen years. He had been a brilliant student, and written a number of well received papers and a book entitled, "The Crisis of Identity." Apart from a brief period after he first graduated when he travelled overseas, his working life had been within the faculty. Ita, a woman very keenly aware of social status, strongly supported Glen in his application, believing that if he gained the position their income, social status and circle of friends would be enhanced.
Dr. Jason Raven was the youngest of the candidates at age thirty two, had recently married Karma the editor of a magazine, "The Historical Review." Like Glen he had been a graduate of the faculty and after graduation had spent some time working for the Historical Review, editing those articles that had a philosophical as well as historical content.
It had seemed almost inevitable that this good looking and personable young man should marry the acknowledged beauty, Karma McEwen. It was after his marriage that he returned to the faculty, first as tutor and then as tutor/lecturer. He had written several notable papers and was in the process of writing a book, "The Problem of Post-Modernism."
The Ravens had recently bought a house on the outskirts of the city and in doing so had stretched their finances close to breaking point. In addition they wanted to start a family, but knew this would be unwise until they got their debts under control. If Jason got the position it would mean a considerable increase in salary, and so from that point of view he needed the job more than the other two.
The third candidate, the outsider, was Dr. Gerald Parsons. Aged forty nine and unmarried, he had travelled widely, working in a number of universities: Sydney, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Moscow. His book on the philosophy of Emmanuel Kant had, in terms of academia, been a best seller.
The staff members were somewhat tense about the outcome, especially as Dodd had so far not given the nod to any of the candidates, but of the three they thought that Jacob Glen would be the most likely winner since it was thought that he would be the least threat to Dodd.
There was one final interview to go, after which the name of the successful candidate would be announced, and that interview was two weeks away when Jarvis Dodd decided to hold one of his staff and family "get togethers," as he called them. The staff cynically referred to them as, "Dodd's Love-ins."
From the staff point of view these gatherings were Dodd's way of keeping an eye on his staff and picking up any subversive gossip that might be floating around. It also served the purpose of getting to know the wives, or in some cases, the husbands, of his staff, and woe betide any member of staff who failed to attend.
On this occasion another reason for holding the gathering was probably that Dodd was enjoying the suspense that his failure to indicate which candidate he favoured had created, and he loved to gloat.
* * * * * * * *
The get togethers were normally dull affairs with the staff members talking philosophical shop for want of any other topics of interest. Wives and husbands, not members of the staff, did the best they could, getting together in groups to talk about babies, the terrible increase in prices, what they had bought recently, or if it was still light enough they wandered into the rather magnificent garden, kept in superb order by university employed gardeners.
On this occasion however there was something to distract them for a while. Jason Raven has so far not introduced Karma to any of his colleagues, and as Jason and Karma made their entrance the cheap white wine inspired chatter descended to a whisper.
The main response on seeing the beautiful Karma was jealousy: on the part of the men, jealousy that Jason should have gained such an attractive bride, and on the women's part jealousy of her beauty and anger that their menfolk were paying Karma so much obviously salacious attention.
Jason introduced Karma to Dodd, and for his part Dodd was polite but apparently unaffected by Karma's looks.
With a gesture that took in the company he said, "Welcome my dear, to our little family," and after a few more words to her he turned his attention elsewhere.
During the course of the evening if anyone noticed that Dodd and Ita Glen were absent from the gathering for half an hour they said nothing. First Ita reappeared her clothing looking a little dishevelled and her face flushed. When Dodd, a few minute later, made his appearance he had a rather contended look and was in an unusually cheerful mood. Again if anyone, including Ita's husband, Jacob Glen, made any connection, nothing was said.
When the gathering began to disperse Dodd was again polite to Karma, but nothing more. On the way home Karma said to Jason, "I don't think your Professor Dodd likes me very much."
Jason laughed and said, "I don't think he likes anybody very much, but he knows how to be affable when his self interest is involved.
From Karma's perspective Jason's colleagues, on the whole, seemed a dreary lot, and yet Jason did not seem to be of that ilk.
The next day was Saturday and Jason and Karma set about establishing a garden in their new home. During the course of the day Karma questioned Jason about his hopes for the Associate Professorship and why he seemed to want it so badly.
Jason pointed out that philosophy was what he had been trained for and the Associate's job would give them an increased income; he would be the youngest Associate Professor the university had ever had, and it would open up opportunities in other universities, perhaps even the headship of a philosophy faculty. He added that it would be for both of them and their future.
"Of course," he said, "I don't really give myself much chance."
Surprised, Karma asked, "Why, you're well qualified?"
Jason shrugged and said, "Qualifications are not the most important thing in this game, it's how well you get on with Dodd. I've upset him a few times, especially over my paper on "Hegel in the Philosophy of Karl Marx." I ran it past Dodd and he criticised it so much I almost didn't submit it to the journals. When I did submit it and it got accepted, it drew very favourable comments and Dodd didn't like that one bit, and so I think I'm running third in this race."
"You really do want this job, don't you Jason?" Karma asked.
"Yes, more than I ever wanted anything before, except getting married to you he added hastily."
Still in the early stages of their marriage Jason's last remark led quite naturally to them suspending gardening for a couple of hours and going to bed to make love.
* * * * * * * *
Monday dawned a fine day. Jason didn't usually go to the university on Mondays but having some research to do in the library he left home at around nine o'clock, saying he would be home about mid afternoon.
Being a fine day, Karma, having some papers to read for The Historical Review went into the embryonic garden, and settling herself in a garden chair she commenced reading. An article submitted on "The Gentry during the Tudor Reign" proved to be very hard going. Karma referred to these sorts of articles as "sleep makers," and as if to prove the point, around eleven o'clock she started to doze off.
She was jerked awake by the sound of a car pulling into the drive. She hadn't been expecting anyone and was surprised when she saw Professor Dodd get out of the car and start to walk towards her over the somewhat disreputable looking garden.
Puzzled she rose to meet him; they shook hands and smiling Dodd said, "I happened to be in the neighbourhood and thought I'd like to have a look at your new house."
Karma laughed and said, "Well you won't get a very good impression from the garden, we've only just started on that, would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"
"That would be excellent my dear," Dodd said.
Karma gathered her papers and said, "Then we'd better go inside and you can have a look at the house professor."
"Oh please," Dodd said warmly, "Jarvis. We might have to keep up the formalities around the university, but socially...may I call you Karma?"
"Yes....yes of course," Karma replied, puzzled that this seemingly agreeable man had such a reputation for being disagreeable.
"I like to keep in touch socially with my little family," Dodd added.
It took Karma a few moments to realise that Dodd meant the faculty staff.
"I'll show you over the place while the coffee is percolating," she said.
Dodd duly admired the house, furnishings and décor and they returned to the kitchen for coffee. Karma was going to carry the coffee into the lounge, but Dodd said he preferred the informality of the kitchen, and so they sat at the kitchen table.
"Really, you have a very pleasant place here," Dodd said.
Karma smiled and said "Yes, and a very expensive place I'm afraid."
"Yes, I can see that," Dodd said. "I suppose that if Jason got the position of Associate it would make a considerable difference – financially I mean?"
"Yes, it would make a difference," Karma said wistfully.
"I take it Jason is very keen to get the job?"
"Oh yes very keen," Karma said enthusiastically.
"Of course it would mean a lot of added responsibility...I...er...take it that he has your support?"
