Enjolras looks at him: largely preoccupied still, but sober and studying, and just for a moment his attention is all on Simon.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

He means it. Sincerity is Enjolras's natural state.

The man has been at Milliways for years. His world has its understanding so far advanced that this is a simple outline to him, but who knows what other worlds he's helped?

His eyes return to the paper; his focus returns to the problem at hand, and the problems of a country far away.

"I doubt we can do much in the short term to affect the source of disease. We haven't the power to enact policy, nor the influence." In the long term -- well, that depends on many, many things. "But even a few doctors with this knowledge will make a difference. Especially when their preventatives and remedies work."

Remedies that work reliably in an epidemic were in very short supply.

He turns back a page, reads over certain paragraphs again, more thoughtfully. At length, he returns his attention to Simon.

"I hardly know what to ask next. So I ask you, Dr. Tam: what else do you think a man in my position should know?"