Pale, aging face, red hair, red beard. Clean jeans, rubber-soled boats, green anorak. Tank-like briefcase at his feet. A consultant veterinarian returning home after an early morning call. James has not committed suicide.
Many vets do.
What he is doing or thinking This morning James attended London Zoo to examine an old sick gorilla. To examine gorillas he has to fire tranquilizer darts at them. The gorillas have learned what the darts are. The animals have taken to flinging them back at their handlers. Even more cunning, some of the gorillas pretend to be tranquilized.