A few months back in Sweden
everytime I entered my local paper store
I was drawn to the cover of a graphic novel.
I always picked it up, browsed through it
but put it back on the shelves again.
On my way home it would still be on my mind
and I was kind of fascinated
with the mysterious way it appealed to me,
for I could see no apparent reasons
for it to be doing so.





One day I picked it up and told myself
that I would soon find out why it was calling me.
A few days later
the Fever Ray album hits the stores
and the cover illustration is strikingly similar in style
to that of the book that had been haunting me for weeks.
I immediately went to the store
and bought my copy.





As I entered Paper Cut on Krukmakargatan in Stockholm
oddly enough
the Fever Ray album was humming from the speakers.
As I payed for the book I mentioned
that I had been attracted to it for weeks
but that it was the cover art of the Fever Ray album
that now finally made me buy it.
The man behind the counter then told me
that Karin of Fever Ray actually had bought the book
from him little over two years ago.
Interesting, I thought
and looked forward to see what it was about.
I decided to bring it with me on the plane to NYC
and read it on my journey.





The story is about a strange bug, a virus
that infects american yuth just as school's out for summer.
Those who catch the bug begin to develop different animal traits.
One tries to hide a tail growing under her skirt,
anothers face is covered with fur and so on.



I loved the vibe of the book.
It was strange and hypnotic to read.
But before I know it
suddenly I'm half a world away from home,
with the news and headlines stirring up a Swine Flu panic
just as summer is approaching.
Also there's this animal reference
in both the name of the flu and in the graphic novel.

Normally I'd retreat to the countryside,
chillout and wait to see what happens.
But between me and the lush forests of Sweden
lies a serious and difficult decision to be made.
According to media it's getting worse.
But it's hard to know what's true these days.

The World Health Organisation
has now raised threat level to five out of six.
That's only one step away from total lock down,
shutting down airports, quarantaine,
people in rubber suits, masks
and stuff you only see on film.



I'm sitting by my computer
looking at a possible booking of a ticket
home to Sweden on friday.
My doubts says stay
but paranoia says get out now
while you still can.
I'm stuck between the arrogant idea
that something like that simply wouldn't happen to me,
and a gaping black hole of fear.