Chapter 36

The mists slowly rolled back and he gasped as the pain lanced through him. He tried to focus his eyes and his mouth seemed full of ashes. He stared up at a figure with a naval shirt on bending over him. The face smiled and lifted his head to drink from a glass. The water seemed the best drink he had ever had. He saw the lips moving and slowly the words registered with him. He was on a submarine heading for Alexandria. He tried to speak but his lips seemed fused together and then another bout of pain hit him and he gratefully sank back into the black abyss.

When the mists cleared again he found a man bending over him in a white smock, a stethoscope hung from his neck. He slowly became aware of his surroundings. He was in a room and stands were alongside of his bed holding bottles.

The man must have seen his eyes open. “Major Ramage, it’s good to see you have joined us. My name is Commander Stiles and I’m head of surgery here at the hospital. You’ve given us quite a few worries over the last week or so. Now don’t try to talk, you need rest to build up your strength. Later someone will be here to answer all your questions”.

Shaun drifted back to sleep again.

Over the next few days he gradually grew stronger in that he remained awake for longer. He was still having bouts of pain and found breathing difficult, but Commander Stiles seemed happy with his progress. He had not seen anyone from Patrol Z and had found out that no one was as yet allowed to visit him.

Then one morning Commodore Silverman appeared in his room.

“Hello Shaun, I won’t ask you how you feel, bloody uncomfortable I should imagine,” he said with a grin. “you got yourself pretty banged up by all accounts, according to Commander Stiles”.

Shaun smiled “Yes Sir”.

Silverman carried on, “You are going to be in here for a while longer since there’s still some shrapnel they have to dig out of you. They have had to wait until you were stronger before going under the knife but the Commander assures me that in two or three weeks they will be able to let you go”.

Shaun’s face fell at this news. “What has happened on Scalos?” He asked.

Silverman smiled again. “The operation was a complete success,.Himmler’s thugs were wiped out. Andrias has stayed behind to organize the islanders. The German radio operators brought back with them their code books and other important documents and have given us quite a bit of information regarding the set up in the Aegean Sea”.

Shaun nodded, he then asked the question that was foremost on his mind “Sharon, how is she Sir?”

Silverman chuckled, “You can ask her yourself; she’s waiting outside. She’s been pestering the doctors to see you ever since you were brought back. She was nearly put on a charge due to her impatience”.

Silverman picked up his hat, “I’ll see you again Shaun, but I’d better let her in before she breaks down the door”.

It seemed like an age after he had gone before the door opened again and she was there in the doorway. She was in uniform and she stopped, just looking at him as her eyes began mist up. Then with a sob she was bending over him putting her lips against his as her tears fell onto his cheeks.

When she lifted her head he gazed at her. There were dark rings around her eyes. “Hi! Did you miss me?” he murmured.

She smiled through her tears, “No, I was just passing and thought I’d drop in. You stupid bastard”.

His eyes widened at her remark, “Second Officer Silverman that is no way you should answer a superior officer”.

“When a superior officer asks stupid questions he deserves a stupid answer,” and then she bent and kissed him again.

They began talking and he found out her father had her assigned to the Alexandria office so she could be near him.

“When they let me loose we’ll paint the town red. I think they have one or two good hotels here with swimming pools and a dance floor,” he said excitingly. He watched her face as she frowned going pale. “What’s the matter darling?”

She hesitated before answering, “Haven’t they told you yet?”

“Told me what”, he said grinning.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, “Shaun, they had to remove your left foot”.

His face betrayed the shock of her reply, “I’m a cripple” and he gasped.

Her voice grew stronger, angrier, “You are not a cripple and you’ve only lost a foot for god’s sake. Other men have lost their legs or arms or have been blinded. You were lucky. You should have been dead with the injuries you had. They can make you a new foot as good as the old one”.

The anger in her voice made him calm again. “So I’m out of the war now,” he murmured.