Page 126 of The Examiner

‘What are you going to do?’

‘I want to communicate with it,’ he says, ‘but the only one of us who knows anything about radio is Jem.’

I freak out. ‘We cannot involve Jem. She’s too young, and after all’s said and done, it’s not her fault.’

‘It is Jem’s fault. Partly, anyway. If she hadn’t booked us into one room, this would never have happened.’

I can see his point, but if we get her involved it will be the beginning of the end, and I say so. It occurs to me that’s what he wants: a way to end this that takes the decision out of his hands …

‘What about you, Patrick? You wired the unit up and got it working. You can make it a two-way thing. Ask radio experts on message boards and YouTube. You can do it.’

I can’t. I just can’t.

‘I don’t want to speak to it. If you want my opinion, then the way we solve this problem is to switch that thing off and dump it. Send it back to RD8 even. It’s not ours, we never should’ve had it, and I wish – wish to God – I’d never helped Jem open it up and tinker with it. It distracted her from everything else, but if I’d known …’

‘Patrick, you have to contribute. You know what the rest of us are doing don’t you?’

I have to nod.

‘Well, you can do this. You can do it. Because if you don’t, someone will remember whose fault this really is.’

Doodle message group [Private] Hannah and Gela, 6 May 2024:

Hannah O’Donnell

When can I expect MMAM(FTP) grades for Assignment Six?

Gela Nathaniel

They had a setback on their final project, so I’ve only just handed it out.

Hannah O’Donnell

Is Cameron planning to submit?

Gela Nathaniel

Definitely. He’s working on something now.

Hannah O’Donnell

I’m sending you an email about the final grades.

To: Gela Nathaniel

From: Hannah O’Donnell

Date: 6 May 2024

Subject: Final grades

Dear Gela,

I’m preparing guidelines for how the final project is marked and those marks reviewed. There’s a draft document entitled ‘Notes for examiners’ attached. It’s the first thing they read before diving into the students’ coursework. I think it’s clear and to the point. In addition, please read the points below and come back with any comments and amendments.

You will mark the students in the first instance. An external examiner will access those marks and other course materials to evaluate both coursework and the final project, and to confirm – or query – the given grades. As we know, the external examiner very much holds the balance of power, and I don’t want this course to flounder at such a late stage after everyone has worked so hard. Not least you, Gela! We all want this course to fly.

As I understand it, the group won’t be able to assemble the installation here before the materials are transported to RD8 and assembled for real, so to speak. As the event takes place outside the college on private property, the onus is on you to document the process for the external examiner.