“To get the fucking wire brush before them two dirty buggers!” he whispered.
History doesn’t relate to his fate, but if the RSM had his way, it probably involved ten men with rifles, a single post and ten rounds of ammunition at dawn.
I told the man in the next bed this joke and he started to laugh. Then he started to swear, because the laughing hurt his stitches, followed by another laugh, then he swore, then laughed some more. I left before he became violent.
We were all given a light supper of some sandwiches and some fruit. David and I had ours sitting on some chairs in front of the TV in a small lounge.
I watched the news with interest. No mention was made of the facility or of any scandal involving the MOD or Hugh Standing. But then, on the local news, there was a short piece about me. The female announcer was standing outside the front of the hospital staring into the camera while people came and went behind her.
“There is some good news in the strange story of the young woman found unconscious in some woodland over a week ago. After being in a coma for seven or eight days, she is reported to have regained consciousness and has been talking to police. Unfortunately, the police will not tell us whether she has been able to shed any light as to how she came to be found naked and unconscious in some woodlands. There is some speculation as to her identity. An un-named source from the hospital believes her to be of Eastern European origin, and links with the Human traffickers can’t be ruled out.”
The woman then toughed her ear-piece and looked quite excited.
“I’ve just been told that the investigating officer will be speaking to us in a few moments, so here is a picture of the girl shortly after she arrived here some nine days ago.”
They showed a photograph that must have been taken while I was still unconscious, and then DI Furness came into shot to be interviewed.
“This young woman was discovered in some woodland north of the Humber. We’re still anxious to ascertain her movements prior to her being found. We have ruled out any sexual offences and any link with Eastern Europe. Fortunately, she has recovered sufficiently to be able to give us some details, but we need to find anyone who may have seen her or anyone with her in the hours leading up to her being found.”
Next in front of the camera came a doctor whom I hadn’t seen before.
“I’m please to announce that this young woman has now recovered well and is making good progress. The medical staff at this hospital have worked hard and we are pleased to say she will be discharged into the care of the social services in the next couple of days. Our thanks go to all who helped in this unusual case, and we urge anyone with information to contact the police.”
“Who is she, doctor? What’s her name?”
The doctor smiled gently before replying. “All I can say is that she is British and in good health, considering what she has been through.”
“Can you at least tell us whether she is a local girl?”
“I am not able to tell you either her name of where she comes from, I’m sorry.”
I became aware David was watching me. I turned and caught his glance.
“What?” I asked.
“I can’t get over how beautiful you are,” he said, looking away and going red.
“David, you’re a nice guy and everything, but don’t get too excited. I may come with baggage and so it’s probably wise just to stay friends, okay?” I asked, nodding at the TV. The next news item was on, something to do with a seal washed up the Humber.
He nodded, but I could tell the boy was falling for me. I felt curiously detached, almost like a spectator of a live theatre. The girl, who was me, was playing a role and was using the other characters like bit-players.
I needed control, so if he was flopping about in love, it was an extra burden I didn’t want. Likewise, I didn’t want to form any emotional entanglements to complicate things. At least, not until I had sorted everything out.
“I’d take you on, baggage and all.”
“David, please give me room,” I asked.
He smiled. “Okay.”
The nurses came round and were involved with those who’d been in for the day. All were discharged, except one woman who had come in for a ganglion to be operated on, as her temperature was rather high. They kept her in for observation.
We watched TV until quite late.
It was about eleven thirty when we went to bed, and I slept very soundly.
Chapter Six.
It was raining in London.
The journey down had been uneventful. David’s father, Colin, was an older version of his son, but somewhat weathered by years of farming and outdoor life. He was very well spoken and I was not surprised to learn he had been an army officer in his younger days.
“My father died and I left to take over the family farm. Pity really, as I loved the life. But it made me settle down, find a wife and start a family. Can’t complain really,” he said.
I sat in the front of his Discovery, with David taking up the back seats with his leg out straight. I decided not to talk about the army, for I probably shared a good deal with this man, as I was nearer his age than his son.
It took us four hours to reach Hertfordshire, as the A1 was a nightmare of road works. I declined David’s offer of a bed for the night, as I was anxious to get to my flat and then on to meet the colonel.
“Look, I’ll call you. Things may not work out and I may need a place to stay. The Hull social services are expecting me to go to a bed sit and check in with the social security on Monday,” I said.
He gave me his mobile and home numbers and kissed me goodbye. I sensed he wanted to be a little more physical, but a peck on the cheek was all I could cope with at this time.
Colin dropped me off at the station and I hopped on a train to London.
I walked from the tube station towards my flat. It was strange seeing all the familiar sights and yet, as I caught sight of the stunningly attractive blonde girl in the windows of shops, I felt a stranger in a strange land. I dropped into a bargain clothes shop and bought another pair of jeans, some knickers and two tee shirts. I had some cash in the flat, so I planned to rebuild my wardrobe as soon as I could. This was all very new and rather strange. I supposed I had better learn about makeup and feminine hygiene.
Suddenly, I felt out of my depth. Being in hospital was very cosy, but it had protected me from the serious business of trying to rebuild my life as someone completely different. Being a girl wasn’t going to be as easy as I had first thought.
I arrived at the block a few minutes later. I stayed in the street by the bus stop for ten minutes. I was cautious, so I waited and watched to see if the place was under observation. If it was, they were very good, for I never saw anything untoward.
The flat was a modern, open-plan apartment, with a single large bedroom, bathroom and living room on the ground floor in a small block of six, two on each of the three floors. My spare key was still in the little hole between some bricks under the doorsill. Opening the door, I entered very cautiously.
Everything seemed to be where I had left it. I locked the door and checked to see if there were any signs of intruder.
They’d been very careful, but not careful enough!
I’m very tidy by nature, as the army makes you that way, so the flat was pristine, with everything filed and shut away. I had developed a practice of leaving things in special places, just off centre. So a pile of correspondence would always be topped-off with one letter not quite square to the others. Should anyone look at the pile, the natural reaction would be to leave it square, as the general appearance of the flat was very neat.