Page 21

Nurse Maria spoke again in rapid Maltese. ‘His eyes are turning glassy. He needs to rest. We don’t want him to get an infection. His bones have had no time to even begin the healing, and his bruising means he’s still bleeding. How much more damage does he want to do to himself? Tell him!’

Valentina sighed but dutifully translated, adding, ‘They want you back in the skies, keeping us safe.’ She hoped it might help convince him.

As they were waiting for him to agree to return to the hospital, Valentina’s father approached, waving to her.

‘This is my father,’ she explained. ‘He speaks some English.’

‘Mr Camilleri?’ Peter ignored the women for a moment, reaching out a hand to the other man.

‘Yes. Is everything all right, Leni?’

She nodded to reassure him.

‘I owe you a debt, sir,’ Peter began haltingly as they shook hands. ‘I think your daughter saved my life.’

Her father nodded. ‘That’s what she’s telling everyone,’ he said, and Valentina wanted to dive into a hole. She had said no such thing. ‘I told Leni to invite you to our bar.’

‘She has, and I should be delighted to visit. How about now?’

Nurse Maria spoke again in Maltese. ‘Mr Camilleri, this patient should not be out of hospital yet. Dr Sammut wanted him in for a week at least before he was released, but he is being obstinate… stupid English hero attitude.’

As Valentina glared at Maria, Peter gave her an enquiring look.

‘Er, Maria is just telling my father that you need more care but that you’re being brave and not admitting it,’ she lied.

‘Surely they need the bed.’

‘But you shouldn’t be out of hospital yet,’ she replied, now on Maria’s side because it meant he would stay close. ‘She is insisting you go back. What if you have an infection, like she says?’

He shook his head. ‘I’ll be fine. I should get back to my base.’

‘But you can’t fly!’ She sounded aghast.

Peter gave a painful-looking shrug. ‘I’ll help where I can.’ His complexion suddenly faded even more and his body listed to one side.

Valentina cried out and reached for him, but it was her father who caught him, lowering him to lie sideways on the bench.

Maria looked triumphant. ‘You see!’

‘I’m not going back,’ Peter murmured.

‘Please,’ Valentina tried. ‘Then you’ll be close and I can visit you every day. You were going to help me study, remember?’

‘I feel useless.’

Valentina explained to her father that Peter didn’t want to go back to hospital.

‘Come with me then, Peter,’ her father said in English.

‘Where?’ he groaned.

‘To the bar,’ he said, before switching to Maltese for fast instruction. ‘Leni, take this rent up. You know where. Maria, you can help me get the pilot back to our place.’

Maria looked like she was set to explode. ‘This is ridiculous. Your bar?! He needs the doctor!’

‘This man needs a Scotch and some other men around him, instead of all you women fluttering at him,’ Valentina’s father said. ‘Then we’ll see about a bed. I’ll bring him to the hospital after a reviving drink.’

Valentina’s heart swelled with love. ‘Go with my papa,’ she told Peter. ‘He’s taking you to his bar for a Scotch.’ She could see his mind swimming with thought. ‘Lean on Papa. He’ll look after you. I’m just going on a quick errand and then I’ll find you both at the bar.’ She bent down to look directly into his face. ‘Go now before you pass out. Papa’s got a whisky waiting for you.’