December 4, 1966
Marcus told me that it's official: that he and Ashford managed to reconstitute a complete sample of the Clay virus. Its new name: Progenitor. Supposedly, they intend to make an expedition to Africa themselves, but this has not yet been confirmed.
March 2, 1967
End of the expedition.
Ashford and Spencer are to acquire ownership of Ndipaya land for the construction of a laboratory. There are rumours that they are going to post mercenaries from the surrounding villages to guard the Garden of the Sun, or what do I know, there is nothing but rumours these days.
Ashford and Spencer are said to want to set up a new company for I don't know what; Marcus didn't go into the details either. The new company would be built on Anzec Pharma, I think.
The thing is, Anzec Pharma has made me head of the lab that will be built in Africa.
I don't know how to take it. If Anzec Pharma is going to disappear, what will become of me? I hope they will reuse their research staff.
As for the expedition, this was a curious experience. I accompanied Ashford and his son Alexander, Marcus and Spencer. A motley bunch. I tried to ingratiate myself with the youngest, Alexander, for a few litres, but no luck. He showed not the slightest interest in me beyond answering my perfunctory questions with a contrived formality that I have learned to hate. Ashford senior was merely polite, as was Spencer. For his part, Marcus kept to his thirteen, withdrawn as if he wasn't there.
There were a few mishaps related to Ashford Senior's age and Marcus's poor heat management, but apart from Spencer's insufferable banter and how prudish I found Ashford Junior to be, it was an interesting experience that I will never repeat.
The best thing: the food and not paying for the hotel.
Brandon Bailey