The Uninvited

The demographer who called herselfIngrid had this expression on her face atthe airport. Kaitlin wore it often.I have disappointed him.In my head I make a lotus flower, afrog, a pelican, a basic water-bomb, anox, a fish, a swan and five ozuru. I drinksome water from the plastic bottle. Ittastes very bland, like it’s missingsomething. I long for the island. For thesmell of burning logs and the sound ofgulls and crashing waves and the squeakof my swivel chair.‘That second piece of poetry youquoted,’ says Mazoor, after a long silence.‘Ozymandias.’‘Is that a comment on Dubai?’‘Dubai is very special. It is like a bodyon life support,’ I tell him. ‘Or a