Alex looked deep into her eyes. ‘I can’t deny you the very thing that I love you for: your caring and compassionate ways. Yes, I’ll help you. There are hundreds of people to board yet, so we’ve got time.’ As they filled the trays with the doses needed, Alex whispered, ‘I almost feel like doubling the dose, so that none of them have to face their fate.’

Daisy understood. Part of her wanted to do the same, but they weren’t killers; they were carers, the preservers of life, no matter what.

Once more the door to the ward swung open, and this time a desperate Florrie stood in the opening. ‘Daisy! Daisy lass. I’ve been searching frantically for you. The nursing staff have all boarded. Come on, we’ve got to go.’

‘Help us, Florrie. All the trays are marked with the names. And do it calmly, lass. As if you were administering medicine on an ordinary day. Then we’ll go, I promise.’

Florrie hesitated. ‘I – I . . . Aw, Daisy, it’s hopeless.’ The last word came out as a sob.

‘Where there’s life, Florrie. Remember that. We’re nurses, and these men need us. We can give them that last bit of help.’

Florrie picked up a tray that was ready. Strength seemed to have come into her. ‘Aye, we can, our Daisy.’

An explosion rocked the building and they all froze. Dust showered down from the ceiling.

‘Oh God, they’re attacking the hospital.’

‘No, they aren’t that near yet; it will have been a stray bomb. Let’s hurry.’

Daisy followed the other two out of the office, all of them bearing trays. As she went from bed to bed, she felt as if she was betraying the terrified young men who’d fought so hard to keep the island from occupation.

By the end of the round, all three of them were in tears. As they reached the door, Alex turned and shouted, ‘Good luck, fellows.’

He meant well, but the effect on Daisy was to make her feel wretched, as if she was saying, ‘I’m all right – you take care of yourselves.’

At the dock there was chaos, as so many people were trying to board ships: doctors, nurses, orderlies and even some patients who were able-bodied enough to mobilize themselves. No one was refused.

Once aboard, Florrie smiled. ‘Eeh, Daisy, we made it!’

Daisy couldn’t smile, but hugged her sister to her.

‘Daisy, try not to dwell on leaving the men,’ Alex said. ‘This is war, and we could do nothing more for them. If we stayed, we would not only have sacrificed ourselves, but our talent, too. You have to think as we have always been taught – of those that we can save; and that will be many in the future, I’m sure, darling.’

‘I’ll try.’