CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
LONDON, MONDAY MARCH 10 1947
The tram rattles and grinds along the tracks and comes to a shuddering halt at the junction. Brian alights and walks swiftly along the pavement towards the hospital entrance. It is a warm afternoon, surprisingly so, really, he considers, for so early in the year. Perhaps it heralds a hot summer but that is pushing it considerably. He cannot remember the last one of those. He enters the hospital and follows long passages of dull green and brown tiles until he reaches the ward he is looking for.
Elsie is sitting up in bed wearing a soft pink cardigan and smiling as she sees him enter. There is a faint smell of disinfectant in the air, although the window is open. He moves forward eagerly and plants a kiss on her left cheek before asking if
