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of doing intensive care? There’s a job coming up in that department. I think you’d be good at that.’
    â€˜I’d take that as a compliment if I didn’t get the feeling you think I’m best at dealing with unconscious folk.’
    He was quick to reply, ‘No, no. It’s just that I think you’d be good at meeting the challenge.’
    â€˜And I’ve just got a job I’ve always wanted to do and a house,’ I said, ‘so I can’t think what could be better.’
    â€˜You’ve maybe got a point,’ said the recently married doctor suddenly, and in a heart-felt way. ‘Raigmore’s hospital staff quarters are pretty basic. My wife feels she’s sharing her life with every other person in the block.’
    Nurse Black thought that wouldn’t be so bad. ‘Won’t you find it scary living on your own?’ she asked.
    I was confident. ‘District nurses’ houses are usually at the heart of the community, so it’s not as if I’ll be stuck at the back of beyond and on my own.’ I warmed to my theme. ‘And I’ll be in lots of different places if I’m doing holiday relief. It’ll give me a great way to see Ross-shire. Anyway, I was brought up on a hill farm so I’m used to and love open spaces.’
    Life without the Caley dances was plainly an anathema to my young colleague. ‘But what’ll you do for a social life?’
    â€˜I’ll get the bright lights in Edinburgh. At some point, and if I’m a good girl, I’ll get to go and do the district nursing course there.’
    â€˜Staff Nurse!’ Sister Gall called. ‘Will you stop that gassing and get a spatula? Dusty’s off again.’
    Our patient was having a full-blown epileptic fit. With her rolling eyes and jerking, convulsive movements, she looked like a marionette controlled by some vicious puppeteer. In her screened-off bed, she was at risk of throwing herself beyond its contained space.
    We eased the wooden spatula into her frothing mouth. ‘That’ll stop her biting her tongue,’ said Sister Gall, ‘but these grand mal fits can’t be doing her any good. Keep an eye on her. If this lasts much longer, she’ll need to be seen by the consultant – and get Nurse Black to help you change the bed. I’ll bet Dusty’s been incontinent.’ She bustled off, calling back, ‘And I’ll finish the list. Think we’ll need another bottle of disinfectant.’
    Dusty’s movements slowly relaxed. Recovering consciousness, she spat out the spatula.
    â€˜I was away again, then?’ she said in a matter-of-fact way. ‘Och but those fits wear me out!’ She yawned, showing black tusks that were the remnants of her teeth and a blight in a face, with its skin so fine it looked as if it was made of porcelain.
    â€˜Sister Gall’s no best pleased I forget to take my pills. Anyway, I canna always afford them or even get to a chemist. And when I’m out on the road, it’s easy to lose time. Sometimes I don’t even notice a day going by. Anyway I hate the damn things.’ She sighed and gazed out of the window. ‘You don’t think I’ll be here long do you?’
    Her brother would occasionally visit. The last time I saw him I heard him say, ‘You’ll no get out if you dinna have an address, and you ken you canna sign yourself out. You canna write an’ neither can I.’ He was as thin as his sister and had the same bright red hair. But whilst Dusty’s flamed round her face, his clung in tight curls on top of his head. He looked ill at ease and out of place with his ragged clothes. His mud-spattered boots were so big he could hardly hide them under his chair. Unlike Dusty, however, his teeth shone even and white in a sunburnt face.
    Awkwardly patting her hand, he smiled and said, ‘Just tell the doctors you’re going to Dingwall. Like