Friday, 28 March: Sydney, Australia News of a H1N1 outbreak in Sydney had still not reached Sweden when Douglas boarded his plane. The long flight made him anxious. He hadn’t slept well, turning over in his mind all the different possibilities for how events were proceeding at the laboratory. He arrived at Sydney International Airport even more frazzled than usual after a long flight, and caught a taxi directly to the hospital. While in the backseat, composed himself, smoothing his shirt, combing his hair and sipping water from the bottle he’d been given on the flight. He reached the laboratory at half past four in the afternoon. The small suite of offices was empty, so he went through to the main lab. From outside he could hear loud music, and when he pushed open the door, it assaulted him. A banshee voice over a heavy nightclub beat. Doof, doof, doof. Three faces in protective goggles smiled at him from the bench. Someone’s arm reached over and turned the music down. Dora pushed her goggles off her face. “Doug, what are you doing here? You must be shattered.” Her long brown hair was in a glossy ponytail and her olive skin glowed. Her eyes were bright and clear. To Douglas she looked like the healthiest human on the planet. “I thought you said you had a cold.” Bewildered, he spoke before thinking. But it was okay. His question would not give him away, just show him as caring. “All better now.” She grinned. He stared at the others, the PhD student and the Research Assistant. It might seem suspicious if he asked if anyone else had gotten sick, but he didn’t really need to. He could
44 Timeless Tales 2