I instantly regretted my flippant remark as Nat described Greg’s condition: he has been receiving medication for a swollen testicle, probably orchitis—most likely a psychosomatic illness brought on by the dichotomy of being in an “anarchist band” whilst continuing studies in the sixth form of one of the “system’s” comprehensive schools. His obsessive studies of the effects of parasites on the human body might account for the nature of the illness.

SUN OCT 31

Nat seems to have returned to living vicariously. He speaks incessantly of the dramatic events that are shaping Greg’s life. His friend has left school. He also can no longer tolerate the hypocrisy of living with his parents and now resides at several addresses, the majority of which are squats.

As if this were not enough, his testicle has been surgically removed and his illness diagnosed as cancer. Of course, I have no knowledge of the case but metastases are likely. Their early treatment will probably be successful, especially for one so young. However, I did not let on to Nat that the medical profession remains puzzled by much of the newly gleaned information about cancer. I did say that the latest therapies are very effective and Nat looked suitably impressed, so I didn’t mention that we don’t know how they work exactly. Greg has been studying the disease, obsessively scrutinising any book he can lay his hands on. Some of the other books in his reading list don’t sound such a good idea: Nat mentioned the diary of Bobby Sands. Indeed Nat is a little squeamish about the whole affair, but he has been visiting Greg regularly in hospital, despite his abhorrence of such places—he still faints at the sight of blood. Mark cannot cope with the idea of visiting Greg at all. Happily though, many of Greg’s squatter friends keep a vigil at his bedside, much to my colleagues’ annoyance, no doubt.

Nat was keen to speculate on the more abstract implications of Greg’s malady. He compared his own life closely with that of Greg’s—which he now knows intimately—making out a case for the genuine existence of the much-touted “cancer personality”. He also uttered a long diatribe against any possibility of a “suicide personality”, but was unable to separate himself from his own experience here.

Nat has constantly tried to get Greg to vary his staple diet of bread, cheese, chocolate and little else, but failed. Eventually he got so wound up that he could do no better than quote “life is the disease”.

SUN NOV 28

The prognosis for Greg is good. Although he has secondary deposits on his chest they are only minor, and he has been undergoing chemotherapy.