"I"ve never told anybody that before," I sipped at my dish of tea, feeling utterly drained and so weak a puff of wind could blow me away.
"Thank you," Doctor Hetherington said.
"Why are you thanking me?" I asked.
"Thank you for your trust," Doctor Hetherington had aged considerably over the last few days.
With the fire bright in the grate and a weak winter sun illuminating the room, I felt better. Or perhaps I felt better because I had told somebody about my ordeal. I was not sure. I closed my eyes, more relaxed than I had been for many years, although the worry of Marie still tugged at my mind.
"You went to India shortly afterwards," Doctor Hetherington said.
"Yes. When the men left me, I ran away." I did not go into details.
"How?" Doctor Hetherington passed over a hunk of bread-a
