Their minds were further persuaded by a fortunate change in the wind, which began to blow in our favour from the northeast, the very wind to carry us down the coast of Portugal. The soldiers were ordered back to the ships, loading what provisions they could and destroying what little was left in the town. It would be a long time before Coruña recovered. There were a good many wounded men amongst those who had served in the attacks against the citadel, including even some of the recruits who had finally been forced into service. Along with the provisions, the injured were loaded on to the ships, to survive or die while we sailed south, as Fate should decree. Before we left, I paid a final visit to Teresa and her family, and to Paolo, whom I had kept supplied with food all the while we had remained in the harbour. ‘You are leaving, Dr Kit?’ Teresa asked. She was a different child now from the terrified creature I had first seen. The cottage was kept as clean and neat as anyone could contrive, given its dirt floor and the sand that blew in from the foreshore.
