Did I fail in my duty?

Many years ago I retired, acquiring a swell marine house overlooking a busy harbour, and facing the sea. Below there was another group of houses where a man I will call Sam, and his wife, Clare, lived. I never knew them well, only meeting them on rare occasions down at the seafront. It was there one day that the accident occurred. My memory is evergreen. It was early morning. The sun was scorching; we were watching the ferry boat leaving the harbour. Suddenly there was the screeching sound of an engine. A car coming at high speed round a corner, from the opposite side of the road, was skidding towards us. …