Shadow of an Angel

The Anthropologist's Diary

March 30th, 00:45

An attack of doubt again last evening; going for that beer was a mistake. What should have been a, somewhat, relaxing escape from the pressure cooker of 'the society', became instead a chance to realise how crazy this all is. Despite all I've been shown, in the urbane surroundings of the Bra öl pub, I became convinced it was all nonsense, an artefact of a collective delusion.

When the fourth empty soldier hit the bar, I send the code by text. Despite my new found 'Dutch' scepticism, I still cracked the phone case open and removed the sim as I exited. It was duly dropped down a drain, and the phone itself crushed under foot before being tossed in a bin.

As my old mentor loved to say, "Just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean I'm not being watched."

Torvald, if that's his name, pulled up a few minutes later, asking what was wrong; wasn't I spending a few days at the hotel to unwind? Getting in, I said simply, "I'm having doubts, I need to see the evidence again."

I expected just about anything apart from the boyish grin that spread over that handsome face. This was entirely normal, he said, each one of them had looked, and looked, and looked again; anyone who found it easy to believe was probably stupid, a lunatic, or both. They'd been waiting for my crisis of faith. They were prepared.

He took me to the "Safe Lab" as they call it (well if you can have a safe house, and a safe room, then why not?). First though we made rather a grand detour to buy a refurbished computer from a mall store; it was "essential to the practical demonstration. " It was also essential that I pick it "with absolutely no influence from anyone else. "

I considered questions, but decided they could wait.

Once arrived at the lab, I was to set the computer up on a workbench with no assistance. When that was done a key was produced and a metal cabinet opened.

"Professor King, if you would, please remove the three boxes from inside. I promise, not one of them is a bomb."

Torvald does enjoy a particular brand of humour, but, with a sigh, I did so. I set down three equally sized mailing boxes, no larger than a wash bag, on the top of the cabinet. Would I examine each to see if I could detect if any had been opened or tampered with.

No, to the best of my ability, I could not see any evidence of the boxes having been opened or compromised. The postmark was for California, and dated around a month earlier.

"Now please open the boxes and remove the components, if you would, Professor."

I found three, identical packages, containing portable USB DNA/RNA sequencers; something that I had been entirely unaware existed.

Could I check if the packaging appeared to have been opened before? It was all feeling a tad like a conjurer's set up, and I said as much.

Torvald just chuckled, "Professor, tonight will be a complete waste of time, if you, afterwards have scope to suspect a set-up. So, if you please, continue."

So, I did as he asked; and indeed, the three packages appeared as they must have the day they were shipped. The plastic wrapping and contents appeared pristine, without the slightest blemish.

I guessed what was coming, so I closed my eyes, and picked one.

Soon it was unpackaged and I followed the inset instructions for set up. It was all rather trivial; essentially plug in and play. The associated software itself came on a micro USB memory stick, and that was quickly installed on 'my' new laptop.