Well, almost. I was almost out of the door.
'And where do you think you're going?' asked a very stern voice indeed.
I turned to view the stern-looking face that had uttered these very stern words. It belonged to the matron and she stood with folded arms. A badge upon her breast spelled out her name, Ms Mavis Patron.
'Out for a healthy walk in the park?' I suggested. 'Thought I might have a bit of a jog, too. I am all well and cured now.' 'Oh, well and cured, is it? No more shouts of "Help, Mister Rune, save me"?' 'What?' I asked. 'In your hours of delirium.'
'Ah,' said I. 'Those. I am sorry, I was… er… delirious, I suppose.' 'And you're all better now then, are you?' 'Could not be better,' I said. 'It was all a dream, you see.'
'All a dream.' The matron said this slowly. Deliberately. 'You are certain of that, are you?' 'Absolutely certain,' I said. 'Absolutely certain?' 'Absolutely.' The matron nodded, thoughtfully. 'So I will be off,' I said.
The matron nodded slowly and then she smiled. 'Go along, then,' she said. 'And I don't want to see you here again.' 'Nor me,' I said. 'Farewell.' And I made once more for the door. And then I paused and turned back to the matron. 'Just one thing, I said, 'before I go.' 'Yes?' said the matron.
'Well, two things, actually,' I said. 'Firstly, thank you for looking after me.' 'That is what we do,' said the matron. 'And secondly?'
'Well, secondly,' I said, 'if I was hauled from the sea, unconscious and wearing nothing but my underwear, how did anyone know who I was and where I lived, so that I could be brought back here to Brentford?' 'You have your uncle to thank for that,' said the matron. 'My uncle?' I said. 'What uncle?'
'I didn't catch his name,' said the matron. 'He was a very large, imposing gentleman, with a long leather coat and a shaven head. And, oh yes, I almost forgot – he said that I was to give you this.'
And the matron delved into her apron pocket and brought out a drawstring bag. She handed this to me and said, 'Just you be careful in the future, James,' and turned away and went about her business. I weighed the drawstring bag upon my palm. I gave the drawstring bag a little shake. The drawstring bag's contents gave a little rattle. And I knew just what they were.
And so I withdrew the drawstring and emptied the contents into my hand. And there were twelve little badges. And I went down to the pub.