[ Dan Heng's hand is cool when he grabs her wrist and starts to gently tug her towards the storeroom exit, just as the soldier begins to direct her and the other "volunteers" about where the mountain of heavy boxes behind him are meant to go. Blustering and well aware that his authority is being diminished right under his feet, the soldier goes to argue, but Dan Heng levels a piercing glare over Hilda's shoulder, and continues to pull her towards the doorway anyway. His words carry across the room with a professional's directness, sharply contrasting to his age and giving him an air of authority... ]
They want me to redo the greenhouse breakers, but the wires keep tripping the fuses in the switchbox. Can you come and redo the auxillary set before the power goes out again when they try to run the watering system?
[ ... but it's definitely a lie, because there are no fuses in the greenhouse. There's no actual electricity that he understands, and he is picking the most reasonable sounding excuse he can come up with to try and hide his real, much more important plan to get her out of the box hauling duty. Dan Heng keeps talking as he guides her along the wall, avoiding the main press of the crowd, but once they're out of earshot of the soldier and box loading crew, his tone shifts apologetically. ]
Sorry. I do need your help with something, though — just not with the greenhouse. Is that okay?
hilda β¦ closed.
[ Dan Heng's hand is cool when he grabs her wrist and starts to gently tug her towards the storeroom exit, just as the soldier begins to direct her and the other "volunteers" about where the mountain of heavy boxes behind him are meant to go. Blustering and well aware that his authority is being diminished right under his feet, the soldier goes to argue, but Dan Heng levels a piercing glare over Hilda's shoulder, and continues to pull her towards the doorway anyway. His words carry across the room with a professional's directness, sharply contrasting to his age and giving him an air of authority... ]
They want me to redo the greenhouse breakers, but the wires keep tripping the fuses in the switchbox. Can you come and redo the auxillary set before the power goes out again when they try to run the watering system?
[ ... but it's definitely a lie, because there are no fuses in the greenhouse. There's no actual electricity that he understands, and he is picking the most reasonable sounding excuse he can come up with to try and hide his real, much more important plan to get her out of the box hauling duty. Dan Heng keeps talking as he guides her along the wall, avoiding the main press of the crowd, but once they're out of earshot of the soldier and box loading crew, his tone shifts apologetically. ]
Sorry. I do need your help with something, though — just not with the greenhouse. Is that okay?