Page 50 of Summer in Greece

I had mixed feelings about missing his operation. Although this would have been my first real procedure, I didn’t think I could watch the bone-saw being used on him because of my actions.

*

The next day, I felt wretched. ‘What’s happening out there?’ I asked as Nurse Josephine administered the Corporal’s medication.

‘There’s a ship in the bay, minesweeping.’ She stuck a thermometer in Perkins’s mouth. ‘When they’re sure there’s no danger, the vessel will tie up, then they’ll ship us to Athens. Matron said you’re to stay here until the surgeon’s seen you. How do you feel, Gertie?’ She placed a hand on my forehead. ‘You appear a little flushed.’

Josephine would have been in her late thirties. Mature for a nurse as only unmarried women were accepted into the medical corps. She was not exactly homely, in fact her features were quite faultless, but they always seemed drawn into a knot. A person couldn’t relax in her company. Josephine was generous with her atmosphere of tension and one squint from those eyes would halt so much as a wince when a hypodermic went into a vein.

‘Gracious me, I’m so hot after two days in this corset, even my arms and legs ache,’ I said. ‘It’s so uncomfortable to sleep in, nurse.’ I noticed the bed at the end of the row was now empty. ‘What happened there?’

‘Ah, another sad case. The gallant officer died of his injuries. Nothing we could do but ease his pain and hold his hand at the end.’

‘How sad, he seemed such a nice man. Were there many fatalities?’

‘We don’t know, of course. Most of the survivors, casualties, and bodies were picked up by the other two ships. I guess there’ll be an inquiry. Everyone wants to know how such a thing could happen.’ She sighed. ‘The ship was supposed to be unsinkable, wasn’t it? It’s a disgrace, if you ask me.’

Inquiry! My heart stopped for a moment, and I understood the term, sick with fear.

Nurse took the thermometer from Perkins and stared at it. ‘He’s got a temperature. Let’s check yours.’

Twenty-minutes later, Matron Merriberry, the surgeon, and Nurse Josephine, all wearing masks, filed into the school room. The other invalids were examined first, and then removed from the room.

‘Put a QUARANTINE notice on the door,’ the surgeon said. ‘The last thing we need is an epidemic on the island. The influenza’s already costing us more soldiers than the war itself. See if anyone’s had influenza in the past twelve months – if so, there’s a chance they have some immunity. They can stay behind to take care of these two.’

I thought about dear Sissy and knew I had to do all I could to get better. If I died of the influenza after all this . . . oh, my poor parents! They would be completely heartbroken. I had to get better!

The surgeon continued. ‘Reduce the Corporal’s morphine in doses, the amputation site’s healing nicely. I want everyone checked before they board HMS Foxhound. Anyone with a dry cough, temperature, severe headache or muscle aches must be moved into here. It’s our duty to protect the people of this island, and to contain the outbreak. The VAD seems to be suffering from bruising only, but her temperature’s up and she’s already showing influenza symptoms.’

‘Please can I take the corset off, Matron?’ I asked.

Merriberry gave an enquiring look to the surgeon. ‘I don’t see why not,’ he said.

When they’d left the room, I asked nurse, ‘What did he mean about the Foxhound?’

‘That’s the name of the ship commissioned to take us all away, back to Piraeus, the port of Athens, I think, though nobody’s very sure. Anyway, they’re all hoping to leave this afternoon.’

‘What? You mean they might not let me go on board! I’ll be stuck here?’ My heart plummeted.

‘He’s afraid you and Perkins might spread the influenza. He’s quarantined you with the Corporal and left me in charge.’

‘But that’s not fair!’

She nodded, her mouth a tight line. ‘You’re right, but there’s nothing I can do.’

Then I thought perhaps it was justice. After what I’d caused, I’d probably get pneumonia and die like half of those who caught the dreaded illness, and that would be the end of it. Poor Perkins. Sooner or later he’d realise what had caused the Britannic to sink, and he’d hate me enough to tell the authorities. My parents would be ashamed.

Perhaps Perkins would develop pneumonia and die, then nobody would know the truth. I stared across at the next bed. How could I think such a thing! The poor man had lost his foot and been in absolute agony. It wasn’t something that could be undone. Then again, if he hadn’t bullied me . . . but that was no excuse for me breaking orders!

Such terrible thoughts . . . what was I turning into? Had these monsters and demons always been inside me, waiting like dragon’s teeth to spring into life?

Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes and trickled into my hair. Everything was so awful, so unforgivable. If only Sissy had lived, none of this would have happened. Why was I saved – for my parents’ sake? A miracle, the priest said, but I knew the truth. It was so I could live out my punishment.

‘Nurse Gertie, why are you crying? What’s wrong?’ Perkins asked. Even though his words were drowsy from medication, there was concern in his voice.

I glanced across at him, lying on his back, eyes closed. He was usually a confident man, a decision maker, a man who cared. Good-looking with a square jaw and straight nose. As I studied him, a warm feeling gathered inside me. I was so glad he didn’t suffer the terrible fate of his fellow passengers in Lifeboat 1. I sniffed. ‘Nothing, really, I’m just being silly. How do you feel, Corporal?’

‘Good, a little lightheaded, muzzy, but no pain.’ He reached across the gap. ‘Will you hold my hand for a moment, nurse?’