I’d walked into a trap and knew it immediately. ‘I’m not sure, sir. In fact, that might have been the day before. We had the same breakfast every morning. The events of that day are all blurred. I was very frightened.’

‘Were you in the dining room for the surgeon’s meeting?’

‘I can’t remember, sir.’

‘Do you remember what he spoke about?’

‘No, sir. It’s all a blank.’

‘Where were you when the alarm went off?’

‘I can’t remember, sir.’

He sighed loudly. ‘Did you open the portholes, Miss Smith?’

‘It was forbidden to open the portholes, sir, so I can’t imagine why I would do such a thing.’

‘Yes, it was forbidden; but did you?’

My face burned. He knew, I sensed it. I couldn’t lie under oath. ‘I can’t remember, sir.’

‘You really expect us to believe you don’t remember doing something that caused too many horrible deaths, and needless maiming?’

‘Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir.’

‘So which is it? Did you open the portholes?’

‘I can’t remember, sir.’ My tears rose and I tried hard to keep my voice even. ‘I nearly drowned, sir. I was pushed up from the deep by a dolphin . . . everyone saw it. I can’t remember much else apart from saving Corporal Perkins. He was bleeding to death in the water.’

‘So, let me see if I have this straight. You were on duty that morning and you cannot swear that you didn’t open the portholes, an action that forced the Captain to sound abandon ship; an action that rendered the Britannic’s double hull and watertight doors useless, and caused the ship to sink faster, before she reached port; an action that led to the deaths of many brave soldiers, sailors, and medical staff?’

I lost track of his question and didn’t know if I should answer yes or no. They saw through me, saw everything I was done for. ‘I can’t say anything for sure, sir, because I can’t remember all that happened that morning.’

‘I see. So, you may have opened the portholes?’

‘I can’t say, sir.’

‘If you can’t remember, then you may have opened the portholes, is that right? Just answer yes or no.’

‘Yes, sir.’

He sighed loudly. ‘Yes, what?’

I flinched. ‘Yes, I may have opened the portholes, sir.’

‘At last! Thank you, you may go.’

*

Outside the town hall, Josephine, Matron, and Father stood side by side staring anxiously at the entrance. As soon as I appeared, they strode towards me.

‘How did it go?’ Father asked.

I shook my head. ‘I don’t know. I told them I couldn’t remember, but they went on and on until I don’t know what I said.’