Comari Dawn

Part One: A Fresh Start - Prologue

May 25th 2020AD (206 Years Before Exodus)

I coughed hard and blew my nose gently for what seemed like the 100th time in the last hour as I struggled to focus on what I was supposed to be doing. The truth of the matter was I was doing a rather miserable job of it since my head was pounding like a Jamaican Metal Drum and my nose was running like a leaky tap.

"I really should have called in sick today." I groaned, to nobody in particular, though anybody in the office who walked passed the entrance to my cubicle could see I was quite obviously suffering from some kind of illness which was doing a number on me. All the same I tried to do my best to carry on with my duties. Though other than an assignment which I'd completed shortly after getting to work, what I was doing was mainly busy-work.

"Martin you look like death warmed over." One of my co-workers said to me as she paused at the entrance of my cubicle her voice showing her concern over my current state of health.

I groaned as her voice set off a series of painful reverberations through my poor abused skull and I exasperated the ache by nodding ever so slightly. "I feel even worse," I stated hoarsely as I tried to keep my mind on the task which I'd set for myself, because I really didn't want to sit around in my chair feeling sorry for myself.

"You really should have called in sick today." The person said, and I looked up too see it was Sally Ross standing there looking at me with some level of concern on her face. "I know David wouldn't like it, but you probably could have gone over his head and talked with either Simon or Walter."

I gave a rough chuckle, which quickly turned into another lung tearing hacking cough and nodded my head, to my regret. "Sally while I would love to be able to just skive off and call in sick I feel I should at least make..."

"Oh, don't give me bullshit Martin." She said as she approached before placing a hand on my shoulder. Sally was somebody who could either be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how you treated her. She did have something of a reputation around the office as an almost professional busybody who made a point to relentlessly mother anybody in the office who was younger than her. She did have some limits and wouldn't go near David Stearn if she could possibly help it.

Sally and I had always gotten along, ever since I'd come home from receiving my MBA at UBC two years ago and joined the company my father, my uncle, and a friend had founded before I was born. I looked up at Sally and I sniffled slightly to which she made a small sound and handed me a tissue from the box beside me.

"Martin you should know when to admit you're too sick to work." She commented as I attempted to clear my blocked-up sinuses though all it resulted in was a small nosebleed which took me a few moments to clear up.

"Sally there were some things which I needed to get done, and they were rather time sensitive." I told her while I was aware she believed I was in no condition to be working, though to be honest I probably should have remained at home. After all I could have done the work at home on my personal system and emailed in the completed work I needed to get done.

She shook her head and sighed while rolling her eyes. "Men, you sometimes don't know when to take a day off when you're sick." She remarked while shaking her head softly before looking me in the eyes, her dark brown eyes showing her concern for my well being.

"Oh, come off it Sally, there are times I've seen you here trying to work through a bad cold when you haven't had a choice. Besides which, you know I've only just come back from my vacation and I need to get back to work." I told her as I recalled my recent vacation to Egypt, which had been so full of interesting sights and experiences.