Free Finders and Keepers by Catrin Collier

‘Is this really necessary?’
    â€˜Not if you want to exhale your potentially lethal germs over patients weakened by disease. Or are prepared to risk inhaling tubercle bacilli, without what little protection that mask affords.’
    He tied the mask around his neck, and when she pulled up her own mask, he followed suit, covering his nose and mouth. Hoping to inject a friendlier tone into their discussion, he said, ‘Doctor Adams mentioned that you’ve taken a break from your medical studies to work here.’
    â€˜His assistant resigned without giving notice. Given my father’s workload, I felt I had no other option but to fill the breach. I will be returning to London to continue my studies as soon as he has found a replacement.’
    So she was his daughter. The lift juddered to a halt on the top floor and Miss Adams opened the cage door. They stepped out on to a landing furnished with a desk and chair. A masked woman – dressed in the dark blue dress and white starched veil, cuffs and apron of a nursing sister – sat behind it.
    Diana Adams nodded acknowledgement and walked on. ‘The private rooms are all on this floor in the old servants’ quarters. They were considered to be the most suitable to take two beds.’
    â€˜We’d prefer my grandfather to have a room to himself.’
    â€˜We will take your family’s wishes into account, but occupancy depends on demand. At the moment we have more applications for beds than we can accommodate. But my father is always prepared to assist old friends. And Doctor Williams is a very old friend.’
    Harry glanced through the open door of a walk-in cupboard. Two girls dressed in the all-white uniform of trainees were folding linen inside. They stopped to curtsy to Miss Adams.
    â€˜As you see, all the staff who work on the wards wear masks, Mr Evans. And you will be expected to wear one should you ever visit your grandfather here.’ Miss Adams opened the next door they came to and showed him a cheerless room furnished with two iron bedsteads, set at opposite ends of the room, and a pair of scrubbed-pine cabinets. There was nothing else, not even drapes at the windows. The floor-length French windows were wide open. Harry walked through them and out onto an iron balcony that overlooked the terraced gardens.
    Far on his left a pond gleamed dull pewter through the leaves of encircling trees, its surface unbroken under a cloudy sky. The river flowed from it, cutting through the shrubberies and flowerbeds that tiered upwards on the opposite hillside as well as towards the house. Hearing footsteps, he glanced directly below and saw beds arranged in rows on the terrace.
    â€˜Fresh air, Mr Evans.’ Miss Adams stood alongside him. ‘As I’ve already explained, it plays a vital role in our treatment here. It is a proven fact that the sun’s rays kill bacteria.’
    He glanced up at the sky. ‘There’s not much chance of the sun’s rays killing anything today.’
    â€˜The sky is not always overcast.’
    â€˜And when it rains?’
    â€˜The beds are covered with rubber sheets. The patients remain dry while enjoying the benefit of fresh air, which cleanses, disinfects and strengthens their lungs.’
    â€˜Surely damp air cannot be good for chest patients?’
    â€˜I see you have no medical knowledge, Mr Evans.’ She gave him a withering look.
    â€˜The room is rather spartan,’ said Harry.
    â€˜All the rooms and wards are minimally furnished so they can be easily cleaned and disinfected.’
    â€˜I may not have much medical knowledge but I do realize that much.’
    â€˜We insist patients’ personal property be kept to an essential minimum and everything brought into the sanatorium be subjected to weekly disinfection.’
    â€˜Even books?’ He had a sudden image of his grandfather’s beloved books disintegrating in a bath of