In the half darkness, under the flamboyants. They walked in silence

until Audrey spoke. Sean, were you in love with Anna? She blurted out

the question and Sean experienced his standard reaction: quick anger. He

opened his mouth to blast her, then checked. It was a nice question.

Had he been in love with Anna? He thought about it now for the first

time, phrasing the question with care that he might answer it with

truth. He felt a sudden rush of relief and he was smiling when he told

her. No, Strawberry Pie, no, I was never in love with Anna. The tone

of Ins voice was right, he wasn't lying. She walked on happily beside

him. Don't bother to come up to the house. She noticed for the first

time his stained and dirty clothing that might embarrass him in front of

her parents. She wanted it to be right from the start.

I'll watch you till you get to the door, said Sean.

I suppose you'll be going out to Theunis Kraal tomorrow? she asked.

First thing in the morning, Sean assured her. There's a hell of a lot

of work to do. But you'll be coming to the store! Yes! said Sean and

the way he looked at her made her blush and hate her redhead's skin

which betrayed her so easily. She went quickly up the path and then

stopped and looked back. Sean, please don't call me Strawberry Pie any

more. Sean chuckled. All right, Audrey, I'll try to remember. Six

weeks had gone since his return from the Zulu Campaign, Sean reflected,

six weeks that had passed in a blur of speed. He sipped coffee from a

mug the size of a German beer stein, sitting in the centre of his bed

with his nightshirt hitched up to his waist and his legs crossed in

comfortable Buddha fashion. The coffee was hot; he sipped noisily and

then exhaled steam from his mouth.

The last six weeks had been full, too full for brooding grief or regret,

although in the evenings, when he sat in the study with Waite's memory

all about him, the ache was still there.

The days seemed to pass before they had fairly begun.

There were three farms now: Theunis Kraal and the other two rented from

old min Pye. He had stocked them with the looted cattle and the

purchases he had made since his return. The price of prime beef had

dropped to a new low, with nearly a hundred thousand cattle brought back

from Zululand and Sean could afford to be selective in His buying. He

could also afford to wait while the price climbed up again.

Sean swung his legs off the bed and walked across the room to the

washstand. He poured water from the jug into the basin and tested it

tentatively with one finger. It was so cold it stung. He stood

hesitating in his ridiculously feminine nightshirt, with dark chest

hairs curling out above the elaborately embroidered front. Then be

mustered his courage and plunged his face into the basin; he scooped

water with both hands and poured it over the back of his neck, massaged

It into his hair with hooked fingers and emerged at last blowing heavily

with water dripping down onto his nightshirt. He towelled, stripped off

the damp garment and stood naked peering out of the window. It had

lightened enough for him to make out the smoky swirl of drizzle and mist

beyond the pane. A hell of a day, he grumbled aloud, but his tone was

deceptive. He felt excitement for this day; he was fresh and

sharp-edged, hungry for breakfast, ready to go for there was work to do.

He dressed, hopping on one leg as he got into his breeches, stuffing in

the tails of his shirt and then sitting on the bed to pull on his boots.

Now he was thinking about Audrey, he must try and get into town tomorrow

to see her.

Sean had decided on matrimony. He had three good reasons. He had found

that it was easier to get into the Bank of England's vaults than to get

under Audrey's petticoats without marrying her. When Sean wanted

something no price was too high to pay.

Living at Theunis Kraal with Garry and Anna, Sean had decided that it

would be pleasant to have his own woman to cook for him, mend his

clothes and listen to his stories, for Sean was feeling a little left

out.

The third consideration, by no means the least significant, was Audrey's

connections with the local bank. She was one of the very few weaknesses

in old man Pye's armour. He might even weigh in with Mahobals Kloof

Farm as a wedding present, though even the optimist in Sean realized

that this hope was extravagant. Pye and his money were not easily

parted.

Yes, Sean decided, he would have to find time to get into town and tell

Audrey, in Sean's mird it wasn't a question of asking her. Sean brushed

his hair, combed his beard, winked at himself in the mirror and went out

into the passage. He could smell breakfast cooking and his mouth

started to water.

Anna was in the kitchen. Her face was flushed from the heat of the

stove. What's for breakfast, little sister? She turned to him, quickly

brushing the hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. I'm not

your sister, she said, I wish you wouldn't call me that. Where's Garry?

Sean asked as though he had not heard her protest. He's not up yet. The

poor boy's exhausted, no doubt. Sean grinned at her and she turned away

in confusion. Sean looked at her bottom without desire. Strange that

Anna being Garry's wife should kill his appetite for her. Even the

memory of what they had done before was vaguely obscene, incestuous.

You're getting fat, he said noticing the new heaviness of her body. She

ducked her head but did not answer and Sean went on, I'll have four

eggs, please, and tell Joseph not to dry them out completely. Sean went

through into the dining-room and Garry came in through the side door at

the same moment. His face was still vacant from sleep. Sean got a

whiff of his breath; it smelled of stale liquor. Good morning Romeo,

said Sean and Garry grinned sheepishly. His eyes were bloodshot and he

hadn't shaved.

Hello, Sean. How did you sleep? Beautifully, thank you. I take it

that you did also Sean sat down and spooned porridge from the tureen.

Have some! he asked Garry. Thanks. Sean passed him the plate. He

noticed how Garry's hand shook. I'll have to talk to him about letting

up on the bottle a trifle. Hell, I'm hungry. They talked the jerky,

disconnected conversation of the breakfast table. Anna came through and

joined them. Joseph brought the coffee. Have you told Sean yet, Garry?

Anns spoke suddenly, clearly and with decision. No. Garry was taken by

surprise, he spluttered his coffee. Told me what! Sean asked. They

were silent and Garrick fluttered his hand nervously. This was the

moment he had been dreading, what if Sean guessed, what if he knew it

was his baby and took them away, Anna and the baby, took them away and

left Garry with nothing.

Haunted by wild unreasonable fears, Garrick stared fixedly across the

table at his brother.

Tell him, Garry, commanded Anna. Anna's going to have a baby, he said.

He watched Sean's face, saw the surprise change slowly to delight, felt

Sean's arm close round his shoulders in a painful hug almost crushing

him.

That' s great Sean exulted! that's wonderful. We'll have the house

full of kids in no time if you keep that up, Garry. I'm proud of you.

Grinning stupidly with relief Garrick watched Sean hug Anna more gently

and kiss her forehead.

WeLl done, Anna, make sure it's a boy. We need cheap labour around

here. He hasn't guessed, thought Garrick, he doesn't know and it will

be mine, No one can take it away from me now.

That day they worked in the south section. They stayed together, Garry

laughing in happy confusion at Sean's banter. It was delightful to have

Sean give him so much attention. They finished early; for once Sean was

in no mood for work. My reproductive brother, every barrel loaded with

buck-shot. Sean leaned across and punched Garry's shoulder. Let's

knock it off and go into town. We can have a few quick ones to

celebrate at the hotel and then go and tell Ada. Sean stood up in the

stirrup and yelled above the moo and mill of the herd.

Mbejane, bring those ten sick ones up to the house and don't forget that

tomorrow we are going to fetch cattle from the sale pens. Mbejane waved

in acknowledgement and Sean turned back to Garrick. Come on, let's get

the hell out of here. They rode side by side, globules of moisture

covering their oilskins and shining on Sean's beard. it was still cold

and the escarpment was hidden in the wet mist. It's real

brandy-drinking weather, said Sean and Garrick did not answer. He was

lightened again. He didn't want to tell Ada. She would guess. She

guessed everything, she would know it was Sean's child. You couldn't

lie to her. The horses hooves plopped wetly in the mud. They reached

the spot where the road forked and climbed over the ridge to Lady-burg.

Ada's going to love being a grandma, chuckled Sean, and at that moment

Ins horse stumbled slightly, broke its gait and started favouring its

near fore. Sean dismounted, lifted the hoof and saw the splinter driven

deep into the frog. Damn it to hell, he swore. He bent his head,

gripped the hilt of the splinter with his teeth and drew it out. Well,

we can't go into Lady-burg now, that leg will be sore for days. Garry-

was relieved; it put off the time when he must tell Ada. Your horse

isn't lame. Off you go, man! give her my love. Sean looked up at him.

We can tell her some other time. Let's get back home Garry demurred. Go

on, Garry, it's your baby. Go and tell her Garrick argued until he saw

Sean's temper rising, then with a sigh of resignation he went and Sean

led his own horse back to Theunis Kraal. Now that he was walking the

oilskin was uncomfortably hot and heavy, Sean took it off and slung it

over the saddle.

Anna was standing on the stoep as he came up to the homestead.

Where's Garry? she called. Don't worry. He's gone into town to see

Ada. He'll be back by supper-time One of the stable boys came to take

Sean's horse. They talked together and then Sean stooped to lift the