The Man Behind The Door

The Man Behind The Door

By Paul McCann 

It was 2021 and the new year had begun with the news that a new vaccine was found to fight the spread of the COVID 19 virus . I was part of Border Control and worked as night security in a hotel .

I walked the corridors of the hotel at night to make sure no one tried to sneak out and escape from their quarantined lifestyle .

I noticed most every night while everyone slept in their rooms one room always had the light on . I was intrigued why this person never turned off the light . I wondered if he or she was all right and felt like knocking the door just to check but had to respect the privacy and personal rights of that person .

All of the guests here in Sunny Side Up Lodge were part of the COVID quarantine requirements and had to stay there for two weeks in the newly built Hotel . They all had to pay for their accommodation and food as part of the Governments policy on overseas people arriving into the country . Everyone who stayed here were unwilling guests . Most just wanted to return to their family and friends after a year or more of waiting to get a flight back to Australia .

Most of the people slept until the dark cape of night was removed and the morning sunlight crept above the horizon and before long the trolleys with breakfast trays on board were delivered to each of the rooms.

I usually waited near the door were the light was on all night ,

Just for curiosity sake I wanted to catch a glimpse of that person .

Each time the door was opened all I saw was a hand reach out a grab the tray .

I asked a colleague who did the morning shift if he would keep an eye on the room and let me know if ever that person left the room .

After I left , the morning routine of laundry, newspapers and non verbal communication began at the hotel . I would go for my exercise routine before breakfast and a sleep

One afternoon as I arrived for work I noticed the door of that room had not been closed properly . Wearing my PPE I went to check inside and discovered a man in there who was tied to a chair and gagged.

When I removed the gag from his mouth he told me about the man who knocked on his door the first night he arrived . The intruder beat him and tied him up to a chair .

As I removed the restraints from his arms and legs he began to explain

the role he played as a Catholic priest .

He had just retuned to Australia from a mission in New Guinea . Father John was an English Teacher who had been working in the missions most of his life.

Then he went on to tell me how this man stayed in his room for almost two weeks undetected , eating his food and sleeping in the bed while he was left tied to a chair .

He told me that the intruder took his passport and ID and all his money and then just walked out the door after the dirty laundry was removed that morning .

I called in the local police and they arrived all dressed in body armour with guns at the ready . Wearing PPE and unsure what to say the officer in charge spoke

“Good morning sir , my name is Officer Williams . Have you been hurt or assaulted here by someone ?“

“No Officer I am ok just a little thirsty . “

Said the priest .

“Is there anything you would like to tell us about your experience. “

Came the reply from the police officer .

“I have been , tied up to this chair for a long time but every now and then he removed the gag to feed me and give me some bottled water . We actually drank from the same bottle and had a few laughs during the time I’ve been held here as his prisoner ,”

Said Father John..

“So he never caused you any harm sir ?

The officer replied .

“No officer I was treated well however there is just one thing .“

The priest said .

“What is that ?

The officer said .

“Well I suspected when I left Port Moresby that I was positive to COVID and my test results just came this morning confirming that and I wasn’t able to tell my uninvited guest before he left the room this morning .

I think maybe you should send an alert so he would know what he is carrying apart from my passport and money .“

Everyone in that room including me made their way out the door almost in seconds and heading off down the lifts to reception .

Pretty soon the hotel was surrounded by police cars and ambulances with lights flashing and all kinds of medics rushing past .

The Sunny Side Up Hotel had 14 confirmed cases and no one was ever able to make contact with the man who invaded Fsther John’s room where he had stayed for almost two weeks with Father John .

I was tested positive for the virus but luckily I managed to survive .

Three of the police officers in that room had also tested positive and they are still in a clinical hospital ward being treated for their condition .

Meanwhile I changed my occupation and am now working as a trainee nurse in a hospital dealing with people who had been identified as having COVID .

I often think about that man behind the door with questions going through my head . I could have done this and should have done that but I believe somehow another call was made over that situation .

I look at life now and see the how COVID has changed the world and now with the vaccine on the way I just wonder what on earth will happen next ?

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The End