David said quietly: “You see, I don’t think I could ever kill anybody.”

“But I’m talking about the War.”

“I know. That’s what I mean. War is killing.” Suddenly the little doctor’s voice rose slightly. “How could I spend so many years fighting for life and then fight against it? Why do you expect me to undo everything I have ever done? How can you live and sleep while this is all happening? How can you? Governor — preacher — we’ve put such a lot of trust in you two — why have you let things come to this? Why can’t you save us from these crazy miseries? Why should we put up with you if you can’t? What use are you? People only ask to live in peace and do their work — you can have all the noise and nonsense to yourselves! We don’t ask miracles. But in God’s name, haven’t you learned anything in two thousand years? We’re not afraid of death, but we’ll need to be afraid of life itself unless you fix things better in the future!”

David sank down in the chair with his head in his hands. He was exhausted. He so rarely talked to people like that — it was an effort that left him entirely spent. When he looked up he saw that both the Governor and the Chaplain had gone, and that a familiar face was across the table top. “Hello, George,” he said, smiling.

“Good afternoon, sir. Duty again.”

“You sound hoarse — or is it my ears?”

“Not your ears, sir — my throat. I’ve a bit of a cold.”

“Well … it won’t matter much if I catch it from you, will it?”

“Ha, ha … that’s a good one … glad you’re feeling cheerful. When I first come in, sir, and saw you sittin’ with your head down, I thought you was takin’ on.”

“Taking on?”

“Worritin’, sir. They do, you know, most of ’em, when it gets as near as this. But as I’ve said to all my mates, sir, I do believe the little doctor won’t bat an eyelid.”

“Do they call me the little doctor?”

“Yes, sir — some of ’em bein’ Calderbury men for years, same as yourself. They like you, sir.”

“Do they? Well, I like them, too. I love them.”

“Well sir, no harm in that, I’m sure. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Thanks, George … Oh — and George — about to-morrow morning — it’s all over pretty quickly, I imagine?”

“Oh, bless you, yes, sir — nothing to worry about. Won’t take more than a minute from the time you step out of here. No waitin’.”

Crossing the graveled yard, the Governor and the Chaplain paced with many undertones and shoulder shruggings.

“Quite startled me, the way he suddenly launched out. What had he got against us, anyway?”

“Damned if I know, Millman. I suppose it’s as I’ve said all along — the fellow’s pretty well off his head.”