last picture

 One camera bag over the shoulder, and a tripod in it's bag there too. A case with camera equipment in the right hand and a stepladder in the left hand. Cross the big modernist hallway in the university building that had been built in the fifties of the last century. Kick the glass fire door with the left foot so that it will open. Rush through before it swings closed again. Then the outside door, deal with that using the same procedure again. Now cross the open space, the concrete terrace, down the stone stairway (granite) and cross the tarmac paved forecourt to the small aluminium staircase that leads to the side entrance to the reactor compound. The compound is enclosed by a three metre high fence that is topped with barbed wire.

At the turnstile remove the identity card from the plastic holder after putting down the case. Pass the card through the card reader, the locking mechanism gives a happy beep and the lock is released. Pick up the case again, and with a great jangling from the ladder against the metal fencing, pass the turnstile, barely fitting with all the gear. Walk on, then go over and hide the stepladder behind a small shed containing monitoring equipment. Later on, there is a group photo to make in front of the reactor building, and the ladder will be needed then. Go on to the main entrance, and - There is a big glass revolving door. Put away the silly idea of attempting to take it at a run, carefully gather all the bags and the case and go through slowly. Get through safely without damaging anything, and leave all the equipment on the floor beside a statue of Professor Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, perhaps he will keep an bronze eye upon the stuff.

Go back outside to talk to the press secretary, she has finished her phone call now. Discuss the job, and there are three changes.

Then the question: "Why did you hide a ladder behind that shed?"

The answer is that  two pictures are scheduled at much the same time, and there will be no time to rush from the first floor, down the stairs and across the plaza to set up for the outdoor group.

The thought occurs that this will be the last picture ever here.

After more than twenty years, a picture of the university president and the directors of the reactor all standing one and half metres apart because of the virus, will be the last one. Maybe, unless they think of something else.