Perkins stirred. I moved to kneel at his side. ‘Could I have a little water, please, Manno?’ Our skipper half-filled an enamel beaker from a tank under his seat. I cradled Perkins head and helped him to drink, then dipped the corner of my apron into it and dabbed his forehead.

He stared at me. ‘Tell me this is not a recurring nightmare, and that I still have at least one complete leg, nurse?’

‘Don’t talk nonsense, Corporal, of course you do.’ I continued to cool his red face. ‘I must say, this scar on your forehead has healed nicely. The surgeon did an excellent job stitching you up.’

The humour left his eyes. ‘I’d like to get hold of the person responsible for all this.’

My heart banged. Was it really possible that he had no recollection of what happened in the ward? I turned my eyes away and stared at the water just outside the boat, remembering the flotsam and human debris, and that terrible time in the lifeboat. Realising I was holding my breath, I exhaled slowly, my breath feeling hot in my nostrils.

‘I’m quite sure it was not down to one person, Corporal Perkins; and I think you realise it too.’

‘They must pay,’ he said, his face hard as he looked into my eyes. ‘Whoever caused the Britannic to sink – they must pay.’

‘I’m quite sure they will, Corporal,’ I whispered. For a moment, I wished we were alone together and I could hold him to my breast, and kiss him tenderly. His mood swings were due to his injuries, I understood that; everything would be all right because I intended to take good care of him, for always if he wanted. I was close to telling him he would always be perfect to me. Knowing those words would mean everything to him. But that was me, Gertie Smith, the hypocrite who had caused those very injuries by her own self-centred vanity in the first place. I reminded myself how much I had wanted to appear in control, superior to those poor patients in the ward.

*

I shifted my attention to the two-funnelled battleship that lay alongside the quay.

‘You see? That’s SS Athena,’ Manno said as we motored past. ‘She came in last night. She will take you away after dark.’

‘Where are they taking us, Manno?’ Perkins demanded.

‘They tell us nothing.’

‘So how can you know we are leaving tonight?’ Perkins scoffed.

‘Because yesterday, they ordered fresh meat to go on board this evening. Is logic, yes. If they were leaving tomorrow, they would order fresh meat tomorrow. Logic is a Greek word, so you see, we understand these things.’

Perkins pulled his mouth around to one side. ‘The sooner we get back to England and civilisation, the better.’ He slid his hand up and down his thigh and narrowed his eyes. I guessed he was still in pain, though he never complained.