I read the job offer the next morning after cutting up some cantaloupe for breakfast. After opening the document and seeing that it’s 43 pages, I get out a notebook and start writing stuff down. The job seems simple in premise, I have to travel around the country fighting bugs primarily to get the spots recognized for Fast Travel, so that if there’s some emergency I can get there fast. And the more I read about it the more I understand why Albert wants me to have this job. It makes sense– I could really be in a position to save lives here. Despite my idea that I was not a person who travels for work, I was considering taking this job.

I reach the section on “Compensation.” I wish the kids good luck at school, then call Albert. He doesn’t pick up. I copy down the pay.

Albert calls me back.

“Hi Albert. I’ve been reading through this job offer you sent me.” I say

“And? What do you think?” Albert asks.

“Is the pay right? Almost a million a year?”

“Base salary. You’ll likely end up getting more, with all the bonuses and such. If you’re effective as I think you’ll be, you’ll save the guild more than we pay you.”

“Huh. Really?”

“Really.” Albert says. “Look, I’ve got a meeting going on, do you have any other questions about the contract right now?

“Not now, no. I haven’t finished reading it yet.”

“Alright. You can call or text me when your ready to discuss.”

After he hangs up, I finish reading through the document. Gerard is still at work, I had convinced him to go back in today. I think I’m going to have to take it. I could really help people with this job.

I search up how much the bugs have killed. It’s difficult to find. There’s plenty of estimates of the millions who died initially. But after that it’s harder to find data or even estimates. Besides the data on Bug Hunter death rates, which is freely available. It’s over one percent a year. And if Albert is right, I could help with that with this job.

I sigh and close my laptop, and go out into the living room, where Cole and Iona are playing bridge.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hi Jessica,” Iona says.

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“Hey Jessica. How’s it going?” Cole asks, patting the spot on the couch next to him.

I sit down. “I think I’m getting used to being back. Thanks for letting us stay at your house.”

“It was the natural solution. And it’s been nice having more activity in the house.”

I nod.

For a while, I watch Cole and Iona play their card game, before leaving and going on a walk. I wonder through the prairie for a few hours just looking at plants and little bugs. I wouldn’t have thought I would enjoy alone time after those months of alone time, but if I’m seeing interesting I don’t mind. I also enjoy watching the bugs even if I’ve spent too much time with bugs lately. But the small ones wiggling on plants or crawling on the sidewalk are different. Small, and within their ecosystem.

When I get back home, Gerard is back from work and washing dishes.

“You’re back! You came back,” Gerard says. He takes of the gloves and hugs me.

I reply “Yeah, I just went out for a walk. It’s really nice out. How was work?”

“Tiring. But the bills must be paid.”

“I looked through Albert’s job offer today. I’m thinking of taking it, and if I do you won’t need to work,” I say.

“I really don’t think our financial situation is stable enough that one income is a good idea,” Gerard says.

“It’s almost a million dollars each year.”

“Oh. I wasn’t expecting that. Bug Hunters usually don’t get paid that much, a decent wage, but not that much.” Gerard pauses. “This is just Albert trying to help us out isn’t it? He should just offer the money straight then, instead of dressing it up as a job.”

“It sounds like that’s what he thinks a fair rate is. Gerard, I’ve reached the max number of skills. When Bug Hunting was just a video game, I don’t know if anyone reached the max after they raised it. And if these bugs are killing people, it would make sense to pay someone who can easily kill them.”

“Just how good are your skills? What would it take to kill you?” Gerard asks.

“Apparently anything that kills a normal human. But for a bug to kill me, it would take a lot. They’d have to have a magic attack to even begin with, but even then it would take a lot of hits. Maybe hundreds, I haven’t looked into it.”

“That’s a relief,” Gerard says. “But are you still sure you want to accept this job? It sounded like it was a lot of traveling.”

“It is. But it’s also a lot of money” I say. “I could really help with this, it sounds like. Someone needs to deal with those bugs, and it sounds like I’m the best one for the job.”

Gerard nods. “Okay. That makes sense. If you wouldn’t die, then you should do it.”

“I’ll prioritize our family. I can’t go from the months in that anthill and then ignore my family. But I will need to travel. I’ll make sure I’ve got a good amount of time at home.”

Gerard nods, and turns back to the dishes.

By all logic this is the right choice. I can still have time to spend with my family, while solving the money problem we apparently have, and making the world safer. Why do I feel so hesitant?