"My father is dying."

Matron looked at him sympathetically. "Oh, how awful for you. Of course you must go."

"It's just, we've been doing some standard tests on our research subjects and I wondered whether there is anyone I can delegate them to. It should only be for a week - a fortnight at the most."

Matron leant over to look at the Kim's folder of notes.

"Let me see." She put on a pair of spectacles which were hanging from her neck by a chain and examined the ...