The white and fluffy mycelial growth that I had observed 48 hours ago had turned a mottled grey. I inverted the plate of Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) to examine its reverse. A sinister ochre stared at me.

No one can sleep here in Juhapura. Before dawn one has to go to do one's business. Back in Naroya, we had sheds with common toilets. Some people had their own toilets, at the corner of the kitchen. Outside, there were stones to step on, and tap water. Here, behind the huts is a stinking nala<...