Chapter 14

Catilin hadn't really felt very hungry. Instead she just pushed what constituted as porridge, but looked more like lumpy wallpaper paste, around her bowl. Sighing heavily she got up and made her way back towards her room. Before she had a chance to leave the hall, however, Nurse Guillyham blocked her path. Starting slightly, Catilin lifted her gaze to meet with the suddenly imposing woman.

'I wish to go back to my room now,' she tried to have as dignified a tone as possible.

'Aye, I know that lassie.'

'Then let me pass.'

'I'm afraid I cannea do that,' she shook her head.

'Why not?'

'Youse cannea leave the hall till breakfast is over.'

'What?'

'It's not like that fur any of they other meals lassie, but at breakfast the cleaners like to clean they rooms. And they cannea do that if youse are all up in their way.'

'But I wouldn't be in their way,' she pouted, 'I'd be in my room.'

'I know lassie and they probably done with it be now, but rules are rules and ye must adhere to them.'

'Let me pass,' Catilin stressed each word in a low, even tone. 'I won't tell any of the others you let me, so I won't get you into any trouble.'

'I'm not worried about trouble lassie.'

'Then what are you worried about?'

'Upsetting they cleaners. They're a mighty sensitive lot them.'

'And you're a Nurse, surely…'

'There ain't no surely here lassie, now please, return to y'table.'

'What if I refuse?'

'You see them nice strong laddies in the corners of the room?'

At her question Catilin flicked her gaze round. In each corner stood a pair of muscular looking young men, in white t-shirts and trousers. Most of them had their arms folded in a defensive looking manner as though they were just waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting prey.

'What about them,' Catilin could feel her confidence starting to waver slightly.

'Any one of youse patients who breaks the rules has to deal with they.'

'Deal with them how?'

'Whatever way they deem fit lassie, but I can assure youse it ain't often pretty.'

Thinking about it for a few moments, Catilin tried to decide whether or not it would be worth it. After all, she did promise SK she would behave herself.

'I'll let youse in on a secret lassie,' Nurse Guillyham's voice became barely more than a whisper, 'I like youse and I don't wanna see any harm coming to y'pretty self. So do may a favour and try not to rock the boat whilst yer here.'

'But I don't belong here,' she could hear the whine in her own voice, 'I wish I could prove that somehow.'

'I know,' she shot Catilin a sympathetic smile, 'and I wish I could believe ye. But until youse are out of here I cannea do anything fur ye.'

At first that just made Catilin sigh again. Then something about it struck her as odd. In not so many words Nurse Guillyham had pretty much told her she believed her. Or if not fully believed her, then she knew more than she was letting on. This was about the fourth or fifth time now Catilin had gotten that feeling and she refused to sit on it any longer.

'What are you?'

'Me lassie,' Nurse Guillyham chuckled, 'doesn't the uniform give it away?'

'That's not what I mean and you know it,' Catilin shook her head. 'I mean, what breed are you?'

'Breed lassie,' she focused her gaze on her, 'do I look like a dog to youse?'

'Again, you know what I mean by that.'

'I'm afraid I don't lassie.'

'You do,' Catilin insisted, 'I can hear it in your voice and… and you've hinted at it way too many times yourself for anything else to be true.'

'I've not hinted at anything lassie.'

'Yes you have.'

'Well if I have, I cannea say that I meant to.'

'But I think you did.'

'Oh y'do now, do you?'

'What are you?'

'Careful with ye lassie, you don't wanna cause a scene in here,' her eyes flickered towards the white dressed men.

'Then where do I?'

'What?'

'You said I don't want to cause a scene in here, but you suggested there were other places that I could.'

'Did I now?'

'Yes,' she held her ground, 'you did. Now, tell me where they are.'

'I don't know what yur talking about lassie, but if ye want a calm word with me then y'need t request somewhere a little more private like.'

'Do you have an office I can see you in,' Catilin frowned, trying to decide if that was a hint or not.

'Me, lassie, no. I'm just a nurse, what would I have an office for?'

'What about you come and see me in my room?'

'I don't mean to alarm ye lassie,' Nurse Guillyham's voice dropped below a whisper, 'but yer room bay far from private.'

'What do you mean,' Catilin dropped her voice to the same level.

'Let's just say the walls can talk and leave it at that.'

Taking a deep breath in, Catilin slowly let it out. It didn't take a genius to work out what she meant by that last comment and she was smart enough not to say it out loud.

'Are there any rooms without eyes and ears,' Catilin kept her voice level and low.

'Aye, there be one.'

'And where is that?'

'Where you wouldn't expect lassie.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'I'm afraid you'll have to work that one out for yourself lassie, I cannea say no more.'

'Why not?'

'Because I think y'need t work the rest out for yer bonnie self.'

'But…' before she could say anything else there was a mass clattering behind her.

'Y'free to go now lassie,' Nurse Guillyham stepped to one side in order to let her pass.

'But…'

'No buts, go, now; that is what youse wanted, isn't it?'

'Yes, but…'

'There's no time for dillydallying lassie, they cleaners will be wanting to do in here next and we cannea hold them up now.'

'Tell me where I can find you.'

'Where you least expect it lassie, now go. I'm sure the doctor will bay wanting to see y'soon.'

'Like he saw me last night,' she took a chance.

'No lassie,' she shook her head, 'not like he saw you last night.'

'So that wasn't…'

'It wasn't what youse think it was either,' she cut her off. 'Now off with ye, before we both get into trouble.'