I hate her. She's a harlot. Katrina had never in her life spoken the

word out loud, she had seen it only in her Bible, but now it gave her a

fierce pleasure to think it.

She watched Sean and Candy walk arm-in-arm to the dance floor.

Would you care to dance, Mrs Courtney? said Derek.

Katrina shook her head again without looking at him. She was staring at

Sean and Candy. She saw Sean take her in his arms and a cold lump

settled in her stomach. Candy was looking up into Sean's face, laughing

at him, her arm on his shoulder, her hand in his.

She's a harlot. Katrina felt her tears very near the surface and

thinking that word held them back. Sean swirled Candy into a turn,

Katrina stiffened in her chair, her hands clenching in her lap, their

legs were touching, she saw Candy arch her back slightly and press her

thighs against Sean. Katrina felt as though she were suffocating,

jealousy had spread up cold and tight through her chest.

I could go and pull him away, she thought. I could stop him doing that,

He has no right. It's as though the two of them are doing, doing it

together. I know they have before, I know it now, Oh God, make them

stop it.

Please make them stop.

At last Sean and Candy came back to the table. They were laughing

together and when he reached her chair Sean dropped his hand on

Katrina's shoulder, She moved away from it but Sean seemed not to

notice. Everybody was having a good time. Everybody except Katrina.

Harry and Derek were jostling for position. Sean's big laugh kept

booming out and Candy was sparkling like the diamonds she wore. Every

few minutes Sean turned to Katrina and tried to draw her into the

conversation but Katrina stubbornly refused to be drawn. She sat there

hating them and Hating even Sean an, for the first time she was unsure

of him, jealous and frightened for him. She stared down at her hands on

the tablecloth in front of her and saw how bony they were, chapped and

reddened by the sun and wind, ugly compared to Candy's. She pulled them

quickly into her lap and leaned across towards Sean. Please, I want to

go back to the hotel. I don't feel well.

Sean stopped in the middle of a story and looked at her with a mixture

of concern and dismay. He didn't want to leave and yet he knew she was

still sick. He hesitated one second and then he said, Of course, my

fancy, I'm sorry.

I didn't realize, He turned to the others. We'll have to be going . .

. my wife's not too strong. . . she's just had one hell of a go of

blackwater. Oh, Sean, must you? Candy couldn't hide her

disappointment. There's still so much to talk about! I'm afraid so.

We'll get together another night. $Yes, agreed Katrina quickly, next

time we come to Johannesburg we'll see you. Oh, I don't know. . ,

perhaps before we go, Sean demurred. "Some night next week. How about

Monday? Before Candy could answer Katrina interrupted.

Please, Sean, can we go now. I'm very tired. She started towards the

stairs but looked back to see Candy jump up and take Sean's arm, hold

her lips close to his ear and whisper a question. Sean answered her

tersely and Candy turned back to the table and sat down. When they were

out on the street Katrina asked, What did she say to you? She just said

goodbye, muttered Sean and Katrina knew he was lying. They didn't talk

again on the way back to the hotel. Katrina was preoccupied with her

jealousy and Sean was thinking about what Candy had asked and what he

had answered. Sean, where's Duff? You must tell me. He's dead, Candy.

The second before she turned back to the table Sean had seen her eyes.

Sean woke with a headache and Dirk's jumping on his chest did not help

to ease it at all. Sean had to bribe him off with the promise of

sweets. Dirk, sensing his advantage, raised his price to a packet of

bull's eyes and two lollipops, the kind with red stripes, before he

allowed Katrina to lead him away to the bathroom. Sean sighed and

settled back under the blankets. The pain moved up and crouched just

behind his eyes. He could taste stale champagne on his own breath and

his skin smelt of cigar smoke. He drowsed back in half sleep and the

ache faded a little. Sean, it's Sunday you know. Are you coming to

church with us? Katrina asked coldly from the bedroom door.

Sean squeezed his eyelids closed.

Sean! No answer.

Sean! He opened one eye. Are you going to get up? I don't feel very

well, he croaked. I think I have a touch of malaria Are you coming?

Katrina demanded remorselessly.

Her feelings towards him had not softened during the night. I don't

feel up to it this morning, truly I don't. I'm sure the Good Lord will

understand. , Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain Katrina

warned him with ice in her voice. I'm sorry. Sean pulled the blankets

up to his chin defensively. But truly, fancy, I can't get up for

another couple of hours. My head would burst. Katrina turned back into

the sitting-room and Sean heard her speak to Dirk in a voice purposely

pitched to reach him. Your father's not coming with us. We will have

to go down to breakfast by ourselves. Then we will have to go to church

on our own. But, Dirk pointed out, he's going to buy me a packet of

bull's eyes and two lollipops with red stripes. In Dirk's opinion that

levelled the score. Sean heard the door of the suite close and Dirk's