Compound Five

Heard the one about a Norwegian, a corkscrew and a power cable? It gives Dale Engadine's family a free weekend, so they head to grandparents in Ledbury. A different accident puts something else on its way. Combining a place and time can have consequences. Dale is set on a path to face down far more than a personal demon or two. He may save lives, but that won't necessarily make him popular. And what about the politician, the journalist and the lottery winner? If one maverick spanner in the machinery might be stimulating; consider what several hundred could do. Then there is conspiracy theory, it usually only goes one way. There is a foul-up; those on high move to cover up, those beneath suffer the consequences, unless a miracle fix appears; though only to be dispensed if there is kudos in it. But what if "on high" score an own goal, and don't find the cure; it comes from beneath, who are not in a mood to compromise? What price your cover-up, if concealment forfeits you?