Dr Reinhard Friedl is an eminent German surgeon who has held thousands of hearts in his hands. He has operated on premature babies and repaired the heart valves of the very old, implanted artificial heart turbines and stitched up stabbing wounds to the heart. Shirley Seul is a professional author. Dr Gert Reifarth is a teacher of German at Scotch College, Melbourne. Born in the former East Germany, Gert has also worked in academia and theatre.