Constant caution. Those words were an integral part of a unicorn interpreter, from the first day of Virgin School to the end of our contract. Until now I’d never considered them as anything but an annoying phrase the instructors would repeat in class. Right now I wished I had paid more attention.

"How's it going with those pink cards?" the voice behind me asked.

Instantly I grabbed my credit card from the table and hid it in my pocket. For several seconds I remained still, looking blankly at the air in front of me. The seconds passed like hours, each making me anxious than the last until I could take no more. Throwing caution to the wind I turned around. What I saw was nothing like what I expected. A trio of jocks stood a few feet away—greasy hair, college jackets, cheap golden-plated chains dangling from their necks. Lurkers, all three of them. My instructors described them as an interpreter’s only natural enemy in today's virgin-based society. For the most part my instructors weren't wrong, though lurkers were for the most part a nuisance than anything else. I'd lost count of all the times they’d find excuses to passively sit nearby in the hopes they a virgin would miraculously fall for them. These three here were anything but passive.

"What'ya say about having some fun?" The leader of the trio, a false blond with piercings on the nose and ears, raised his brows up several times. "You've no idea what you're missing."

"Eat shit, lurker!" Mike gave him the finger. I braced myself. This was the worst way to handle the situation. Every virgin knew never to provoke a lurker. Every virgin except Mike, apparently. "Go lick your monitor in the shithole you call home."

I could see something in the lurker’s mind snap. For a split second his expression froze, like a storm gaining strength, then twisted in rage as he rushed towards us.

"You calling me shit, pinky!?" The lurker snarled in Mike's face. My self preservation instinct took hold. Snatching my bag, I stood up in an attempt to squeeze past, like a cat through a kitchen window. The other two lurkers blocked my path. "You think you're better than us? Do you? You virgins are the scum of the earth. Stupid as fuck! You have a pink card, so what? You get to talk to fucking horses! Too good to work like the rest of us?"

My heart was racing. The only thing I wanted was leave this place as quickly as possible; at the same time I was afraid that any action might attract attention to me. Alice was taking it far better than me, sitting there, her eyes half closed in a mixture of annoyance and disgust.

"So you want to settle this?" the lurker asked. Despite being high, Mike must have realized he stood no chance against someone twice his size, for he didn't say a word. "Thought so," the fake blond laughed to his friends. "So, ladies, how about a night out with some real men?" He turned to me so close I could taste the smell of his breath.

"You sure about that, sonny Jim?" a deep voice asked. A few tables away, a massive black man in a grey turtleneck stood up. He was slightly greying, way past his thirties, with enough muscles to take a carry a bike under each arm. "Fancy you settle things with me?" he asked in an accent that ranged somewhere between English and Australian, quite similar to a Trottingham client I once interpreted for.

The trio of lurkers looked at each other. One raised his hands with a shrug asking "what the hell?" The answer was swift. The large man reached into his back pocket, took out his wallet, then opened it revealing a magenta credit card.

"The fuck?" The lurker leader voiced the exact thoughts I was having.

Never would I have taken the man for interpreter, let alone an active one. He was one of those people who one would swear was married and had at least five children.

"You okay, loves?" He asks loudly enough for half the bar to turn our way. Now it was the lurkers' turn to feel threatened. Stepping away from the table, they gave Mike a threatening glare, then rushed out.

"Scare attempt." Clara whispered patting me on the shoulder. "Whoever hired them was either dumb or desperate," she continued casually, as if it was just another evening.

"Nah, I think college kids on a dare." Alice waved to the barkeeper, then pointed at the table at which our colleague was sitting. I suppose it was only proper of us to treat him after what he did. "Anyway, now that's over I'll get us another round. Mike, will you stop acting as if you want trouble," she sighed.

"I could’ve taken then," the babyface said, still glancing at the door every now and again. With his frame, if worst had come to worst he wouldn't have lasted five seconds. "Bet they were trying to scare me off. Isn't the first time. They've tried to sabotage me too."

"Sure they have," Alice agreed, giving me the universal "paranoia" sign while he wasn't looking. "Those fashion models totally were here to ruin your business."

"I'm telling you!" Mike said, as the barkeeper arrived bearing new drinks. "Someone's out to get me. There's an information war going on and I happen to be smack in the middle."

"Sure you are." Alice raised her glass towards the man who had saved us. The large virgin raised his glass in return. "So, Katie, what will you be having?"

"I think I've had enough excitement for one night." I would give anything to be safely in bed right now, going through the boring documents that Ms. Dis Lee gave me. "I think I'll be off."

"Can't blame you," Alice whispered, while Mike was going on a rant about conspiracies and sheeple. By her expression, I could tell this was something that happened a lot. "Let me fetch a cab for you." She reached for her phone.

"No thanks, I'm good." Virgin one-o-one: never let anyone else fetch your car. Drinks were one thing, but I didn't know Alice well enough to trust her to such an extent. "Was fun meeting you, guys." I flashed my best smile as I stood up. "Catch you again sometime."

"Ciao," Alice waved. "I'll take care of the bill. You have my contacts. Text me anytime."

"And don't forget to call your unicorn," Clara added. "A few more hours and all hell will break loose."

I gave a fake laugh then left. Maybe I should have thanked the interpreter who helped us as I passed by his table, but my mind was on other things. Business deals, sabotages, scare tactics... this wasn't what I imagined being an interpreter in the big city would be. I'd heard about the dangers, everyone in Virgin School had, but they always seemed so theoretical... until now.

"Cool going, Katie," I whispered under my breath. "One day on the job and you're falling apart." I took out my phone and started my Uber-Priority app. On reflection I should have done that while still in the pub. Thankfully, the lurkers weren't anywhere around and the streets were pretty empty.

Car available in 2 minutes. Red Audi, plate 7465. Driver - Patricia Kevin. Virgin Certificate driver. The message flashed on the screen of my phone. Two minutes. I would have preferred it to be sooner, but it was still acceptable. At least this way I could send a text to Ms. Dis Lee. Phoning her was also an option, though one I preferred to avoid at this point.

Poor stallion :) I started my text. At least his wife found the kitten funny.

I wondered whether I should add anything about the the virgins I met, or the lurker incident. Based on what I knew about my employer that would probably lead to more questions. In the end I added a See you tomorrow. and tapped send.

My ride came half a minute earlier than expected. Virgin Certificate drivers did that often, in the hopes it would earn them an additional start. In this case, it was going to get her a positive review for sure.

"Any chance you can get there fast?" I asked as I jumped in the car. "It's been a long day."

"Ten minutes?" She glanced at me, while changing the settings on her route finder app.

"Ten is fine." I closed the door and put my seatbelt on. Ten minutes was plenty. "Can we have some music? Anything light." I closed my eyes as I leaned back in the seat. The only thing I wanted right now was to put this day behind me.

"We'll be there in no time," my driver said as the tune of Orinoco Flow filled my ears. Soon I was going to be home.