“I lost sixty soldiers under my command.” “Your fault?” I asked. “No, but they were all my responsibility, so… — Jasper Fforde

I’d been so convinced of that particular narrative I never for one moment stopped to reappraise the situation.

It would have been easy to dislike her intensely, but I actually felt nothing for her at all.

The numbers were too great for HiberTech to hide what had happened. As it was, well-engineered corporate surprise, orchestrated bafflement, faux delight, suitable soul-searching and feigned contrition won the day.