"So, anyway. There I am, dead. One moment I've got my whole life ahead of me, next minute I've got my whole death ahead of me. And how long was that going to go on? I mean, what was I supposed to do to fill the time? A bit of painting? Or try and get up a game of football? Or what?

So I go back to the Desk and I ask the man behind the computer terminal there. 'Excuse me,' I say. 'Will I be dead long?'"