ABSTRACT
We now introduce the individual people. For none of them was their life without incident. For long stretches, while they were in bed, or sitting in a chair, time could move slowly enough. But if they were, as never before, on the alert to interrogate the bodies which had brought them such an unwelcome new interest, at least it was an interest and one which gave the utmost scope for sometimes painful learning. Their bodies were no longer the silent, uncomplaining companions they had once been. Their bodies had turned traitor. Their bodies were making themselves felt, or it was feared they would before long; or if they were already in a bad patch they could look forward to, or at any rate hope for, some relief to come.
