‘Who are you?’ Her dark eyebrows arched upwards above wide open eyes. ‘Where am I?’ She swung her head towards the window. ‘Snow! But it’s summer.’ In utter confusion she gasped, her breast heaving. ‘I – Who – ? My room. Where is everything?’ Her head tilted forward and bewilderment twisted her features as she took in the sweater and green trousers she wore. Her hands shot up to cover her face. ‘I’m dead! I must be dead!’ She raised her head, sparks in her eyes reflecting the lights. ‘Is it Hell? Am I in Hell? I didn’t mean to do it! I didn’t! Oh please. Oh God! Oh God! Help me, help me!’

Racking sobs and cries escaped her. She sank to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.

It had all happened so quickly and dramatically that the onlookers remained spellbound. The first move was made by Meredith.

‘Calm down, Mary, calm down my dear. Be quiet and listen. We are your friends. Calm down. Let me help you.’ With a sharp gesture he stilled Bourne’s angry and tentative movement. That it commanded Bourne at all was probably due to the neurologist’s uncomprehending astonishment that Mary Rolfe had not only seen the others but was also listening and responding to the kindness and warmth in Meredith’s voice. Still on her knees, she quietened bit by bit, her head raised towards Meredith, her shining eyes fixed on his face.

‘Mary, my dear, what is the last thing you remember?’

‘Please. I’m all confused. . . .’ The girl’s head swung wearily from side to side, her wet cheeks glistening.

‘You’ve been confused a long time, haven’t you?’

‘Yes. A long time.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘I don’t seem to be well – at least I’m not myself. I can’t talk to people, they don’t listen. Somehow it’s different here now. Lots of people I don’t recognize. Sometimes I’m alone. I’m lost. And afraid. I’m so tired. Please, sir, where am I?’

‘Mary, do you remember going out in a boat?’

The brows furrowed, the tear-filled eyes seemed to gaze into an immensity of space. The head moved slowly up and down.

‘Y-yes.’

‘What happened?’

‘We sailed. It was a warm day.’ The frown returned. ‘William turned the boat over. I fell in the water. I couldn’t swim . . . I’m sorry, sir, everything is sort of . . . funny after that. Mixed up.’

Meredith spoke very gently.

‘Mary, if you fell into deep water, and couldn’t swim, and William couldn’t save you, what would happen?’

‘I’d drown.’ The eyes widened. ‘I’d drown. Oh no! Did I drown? If I am dead where am I now. How can I be dead if I am speaking to you?’

‘Mary, look at your hands, at your clothes. Are they yours?’