The chapter in which Alfred meets the angelic nurse Elizabeta Herdervary.

Alfred was led into a small, stone cell and was ordered to sit on the narrow steel bed by the window. He complied and limped over as dignified as he could, under the watchful eye of the two soldiers.

"We'll get someone in to look at your leg before it turns gangrenous and starts stinking up the place."

Alfred nodded gratefully – he was well aware that they weren't doing it for his own good and that they'd rather see him suffer a slow death of blood poisoning, but nevertheless they needed information from him and he needed medical attention. Sitting down on the stiff, straw mattress, he removed his boot and rolled up his pant leg gingerly to see the damage the bullet caused.

Craning his neck, he could see beyond the caked-on dried blood that the wound was beginning to show signs of infection - there was pus oozing out around the corners and it was very swollen. He was about to touch it when he suddenly remembered the last time he got a bad cut and was chided for putting his fingers on it.

It was years ago, when I was really young and I used to play in that clear lake with Matthew. We were horsing around, splashing each other until I found this big ugly fish lurking by the weeds. I picked it up and started chasing Matt with it, cause he was so freaked out, and then my foot got sliced by that sharp rock.

Alfred gave a slight smile.

I remember sitting on the bank and crying, whilst Matt went off to get Arthur and the first aid kit. He came and was so pissed off at my recklessness, yet he still treated me. I know I tried to touch the cut cause it was starting to swell and Arthur batted my hand away and told me that I shouldn't ever do that cause it'll get infected.

He left it alone, yet still inspected it. He could just about see that grey bullet lodged in the middle of that swollen hole.

"Is he in here?" A soft, female voice asked. The guard confirmed politely and allowed her to go in, then closed the door behind her. Alfred tore his attention away from the wound and took in the pretty young woman in front of him.

"Hello there, I am Nurse Elizabeta Herdervary. I trust that you're in a lot of pain?" She smiled warmly, setting down her large briefcase on the wooden desk and producing a syringe from the special elasticated compartment inside.

"Are you going to inject me?" Alfred asked nervously – he was very adverse to needles due to an incident he had at the doctors' when he had to have a vaccination.

"I'm afraid I do, but it will both kill the pain and numb the area for treatment." The nurse replied, sticking the needle into a small ampoule of clear liquid and compressing the plunger. Alfred watched worriedly as the liquid filled up the chamber of the syringe, draining the container held in her long tapered fingers. Satisfied with the amount, Nurse Herdervary turned to Alfred and instructed him to lie on his front.

"It is okay, you wont see it." She soothed, as he felt that horrible needle pierce the swollen flesh on his left calf and pump out the liquid inside. He grit his teeth and let out a sharp sigh as soon as she withdrew.

"It's done. Now I'm going to remove the bullet and treat the infection."

Alfred thanked her and she went back over to her bag to fetch tweezers, iodine and bandages, which she arranged on a tray in front of him.

Nurse Herdevary gently eased open the wound and brought her head closer to see clearer. She made a slight grimace when faced with the smell of the pus, but nevertheless went in with her tweezers and gripped the bullet hard. It is like pulling out a bulb from the soil.She mused, extracting the blood soaked item with little ease.

"You are lucky that it did not hit the bone, or you would have been in big trouble!" The nurse told Alfred, who remained silent. It was not out of rudeness, it was just that he did not want to risk opening his mouth in case he started crying again – her kindness was too much to handle after all the abuse he has been through.

"I don't mind if you cry out, Mr Jones. I know how hard it must be for you right now."

Alfred nodded in appreciation, but still did not say a word. He didn't want to appear weak in front of this angelic young woman, lest she thought of him as less than a man.

After cleaning the mangled muscle thoroughly and slathering it in iodine and bandages, Nurse Herdevary instructed him to sit up and allow her to take his temperature.

"I just want to check if the infection is causing you to have a fever." She took the thermometer out of his mouth and smiled "your body temperature is fine, but you must alert someone if you do get very hot, yes?"

"Yes of course."

She walked to the bin and discarded the syringe, empty vial and used cotton, then went to the desk to collect her bag. After snapping the clasps shut, Nurse Herdervary laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I have to go now, as my husband will be wondering where I am." She furtively glanced at the spy hole behind her and brought her lips very close to his ear "I'll think of a way to get you out, America, just stay strong."

His eyes widened in surprise

"I'm Hungary, in case you were wondering."

The nurse slid open the heavy spy hole shutter and called for the guard to let her out. As she left, Alfreds' heart soared with hope and small, yet noticeable smile played upon his lips.