Part 5 Summary

Robert left St. Aubyn’s hospital, leaving Barbara behind to head back out to battle by train. A misunderstanding took place and Robert and his luggage were lost. Robert found himself ending up in Magdalene Wood in a mental institution until he got his pack back. Robert arrived at a bath house shortly after settling in, and got brutally raped by several other men in a dark cell while retrieving his clothes. At that time, Poole found Robert in the cell and returned his kit bag to him and broke the bad news that Bonnycastle has passed away. In the cell, Robert took his only picture of Rowena and burned it into ash as an act of charity, not anger.

Robert was then moved to the front lines, where he was in charge of the movement of convoys to the trenches. The Germans were attacking full strength now with plane bombers, creating casualties left, right, and centre. The Germans were hitting their mark, firing shells and setting everything ablaze. Robert had just received a fresh shipment of 30 horses and 30 mules and Robert went to speak with Captain Leather to request that the horses be let out of the stables for safety precautions. Leather refused Robert’s request, saying it would look cowardly, but that would not stop Robert from freeing the horses. Robert persuaded Devlin to help him with the horses, and got him to run and open the gates, going against his Captains orders. At that moment, Leather got up from hiding and saw Devlin releasing the horses. Leather ran out screaming at Devlin to stop, calling him a traitor. Leather then pulled out his gun and shot Devlin dead. Leather then went after Robert, taking a few shots and missing. At the precise moment, three shells land on the barn and set it on fire, killing any horses still trapped inside. The whole yard started to set ablaze, killing everything in its path besides Robert and Leather. Robert saw Leather struggle to his feet and Robert walked over and shot him between the eyes.

Running of the horses

Robert, looking at what had happened, knew he would be arrested for treason and started to run away with a horse and a black dog along an abandoned railway. Along the way, Robert spots a train with over one hundred and thirty horses inside, and sets them free. As Robert and the horses ran to freedom, it was said a man named Private Cassles tried to stop Robert. Robert then took out his Webley and shot him dead. Robert fled to an old barn where he stayed until Major Mickle and his forces found him. Mickle gave Robert an opportunity to surrender voluntarily, but Robert refused and shot in his direction. Mickle then advised his troops to set fire to the barn, and the roof collapsed on top of Robert and the horses. All of the horses and the dog died, while Robert was saved but badly burned.

The novel ends with another transcript of Mariam Turner explaining Robert spending two months in Magdeline hospital under arrest until he was reinstated to St. Aubyn’s. Turner offered Robert a way out and to die, but Robert replied “Not Yet”. Robert spent the rest of his life in St. Aubyn’s hospital until he died in 1922. Only his father came to his funeral. He was almost 26 years old.