Jack had wanted desperately to avoid such challenging remarks, but now he saw no alternative: his own strategy had collapsed.
Dan said: “We won’t go back to work for less than twenty-four pence, and that’s that.”
Prior Philip said angrily: “It’s out of the question. It’s a foolish dream. I’m not even going to discuss it.”
“We aren’t going to discuss anything else,” said Dan. “We won’t work for less, under any circumstances.”
Jack said: “This is stupid! How can you sit there and say you won’t work for less? You won’t work at all, you fool. You’ve got nowhere else to go!”
“Haven’t we?” said Dan.
The lodge went quiet.
Oh, God, Jack thought in despair; this is it—they’ve got an alternative.
“We have got somewhere else to go,” Dan said. He stood up. “And as for me, I’m going there now.”
“What are you talking about?” Jack said.
Dan looked triumphant. “I’ve been offered work on a new site, in Shiring. Building the new church. At twenty-four pence a week for craftsmen.”
Jack looked around. “Has anyone else been offered the same?”
The whole lodge looked shamefaced.
Dan said: “We all have.”
Jack was devastated. This whole thing had been organized. He had been betrayed. He felt foolish as well as wronged. He had completely misread the situation. Hurt turned to anger, and he cast about for someone to blame. “Which of you?” he yelled. “Which of you is the traitor?” He looked around at all of them. Few were able to meet his eye. Their shame gave him no consolation. He felt like a spurned lover. “Who brought you this offer from Shiring?” he shouted. “Who is to be the master builder at Shiring?” His eye raked the assembled company and came to rest on Alfred. Of course. He felt sick with disgust. “Alfred?” he said scornfully. “You’re leaving me to work forAlfred?”
There was silence. Finally Dan said: “Yes, we are.”
Jack saw that he had been defeated. “So be it,” he said bitterly. “You know me, and you know my brother; and you’ve chosen Alfred. You know Prior Philip, and you know Earl William; and you’ve chosen William. All I have left to say to you is that you deserve everything you’re going to get.”
