Illyrian Summer (15 page)

“
Adam,
”
he murmured, looking across the bay.
“
With a name like that, I ought to have known. What makes it so funny is that I was the one who brought you out here to the place where he was. You
’
d never have met him in London, would you? Oh, well, we
’
ll call it a day, shall we?
”
He turned toward her, kissed her cheek lightly and turned away, resting his elbows on the stone parapet of the terrace.
“
Bye, Sarah. See you at the film premiere, perhaps, if it ever gets shown.
”

When Edmund
accompanied the two girls next morning to the station, he produced a package for Sarah.
“
Present from—guess who?
”

Daniel
’
s name flashed into her mind, but she would not utter it in case it was not his gift.

“
Don
’
t know,
”
she said,
“
but thank him, anyway. I know it won
’
t be from Melanie.

Edmund laughed.
“
It
’
s a
... well,
you
’
ll see when you open it—from Ricardo and me.
”

“
Many thanks. I
’
m sure it
’
s just what I wanted.
”

The train had traveled some distance before Sarah opened the package.

“
Look, Radmilla!
”
she exclaimed.
“
A camera! A cinecamera! And boxes of color films. I hope there
’
s an instruction book, too.
”

There was, and Sarah
’
s attention was distracted from the beautiful scenery through which she was passing by the prospect of being able to take her own films. Another secret thought entered her head. When she had watched the rushes of the films taken by Edmund in Krasnograd, she had remembered dismally that those pictures of Adam were probably the last she would ever see, but now she would be able to take her own.

In Sarajevo Sarah and Radmilla stayed a couple of days at the apartment of the latter
’
s aunt, then resumed their journey.

Sarah left a suitcase full of clothes at the flat, but took with her the Dalmatian costume, in addition to more serviceable pants and shirts.

The railway line into Krasnograd had now been cleared, although the station there was wrecked,
and when Radmilla and Sarah alighted they had to walk along a narrow path from which the debris had been shifted.

“
Zoran should be here to meet us,
”
Radmilla said,
“
but perhaps he did not receive my letter.
”

He appeared the next moment and greeted Radmilla with a warm embrace and exclamations of delight.

“
You have met Zoran,
”
Radmilla reminded Sarah, and the young man bowed over her hand.

Outside in the street they waited for a convoy of brand-new trailers to pass, towed by sturdy cars. Each trailer had a strip of paper pasted across the sides: Help for Yugoslavia from Great Britain.

“
Britanski
!”
Radmilla and Zoran exclaimed in unison, and patted Sarah on the back as though she had sent the trailers personally.

“
It would be very agreeable if we could have one of those to live in while we stay here,
”
Radmilla remarked wistfully,
“
but I expect the best we can manage is a hut somewhere.
”

Zoran had already made inquiries and now escorted the two girls to a hut encampment on the farther side of the river. Here they found bunks and a small space for their personal possessions.

“
We shall be very comfortable here,
”
commented Sarah.
“
All the mod cons,
”
she added carelessly, but translated the abbreviations quickly before Radmilla could ask.

Radmilla yawned after Zoran had left them to settle in.
“
I think we could have the rest of today to be lazy,
”
she said.
“
Tomorrow we will start work.
”

Sarah was glad of the opportunity to visit the prefab site where Adam was in charge.

By now a number of houses had been erected and were only awaiting electricity and water services to be connected.

Sarah approached one of the men whom she thought she recognized and asked for Adam
Thorne
. When he did not understand, she wrote down the name and asked another man.

“
Beograd,
”
he answered, and pointed up the road to Belgrade.

“
Hvala
,”
she smiled, and walked away.

So Adam had gone to Belgrade, no doubt taking
Mirjana
with him so that she could see her mother.

A coldness crept into Sarah
’
s heart.

CHAPTER
SIX

For the first few days
Sarah worked at the health center near the hospital. With her own typewriter she was doubly welcome, and not only were the officials extremely kind and helpful, but several of the young men and girls brought her little presents of an apple or a bar of chocolate, and once two small boys gave her a basket of wild strawberries picked that morning in the hills. Everyone smiled at her and called her the young
Engleskinja
,

Every evening she and Radmilla, accompanied by Zoran when he was free, went to the huge tented camp of the Red Army, where in a clearing around a small camp fire groups of almost every nationality performed dances, sang songs and mixed together in a jamboree spirit.

This was
where nightly Sarah searched for Adam
’
s face in the fireglow. Since almost everyone in the whole town drifted to these evening amusements, surely it was likely that Adam might come one night? But he did not.

When she had been at Krasnograd nearly a week, she was typing a batch of index cards at the health center and her fingers stopped in midair as the words appeared on her typewriter.
“
Spirova, Mirjana,
”
followed by the equivalent of
“
transferred to
”
and an address. She hurriedly made a note of the address, and as soon as she met Radmilla that evening she asked where it might be.

Radmilla shook her head.
“
It is not a street that I know. The town is not there, so perhaps it is another town, not Krasnograd.
”

“
Possibly Belgrade,
”
agreed Sarah despondently.

But Zoran guessed that it might be a house near the steelworks.

“
Thank you, Zoran. I
’
ll visit Mirjana if she is still there. Will you come, Radmilla?
”

But Radmilla wanted to spend her time with Zoran, and Sarah was undeniably glad of the opportunity to go alone.

She found the house without much trouble, and an elderly woman opened the door. Almost immediately Sarah
’
s command of Serbo-Croatian deserted her and she began to stumble out a few haphazard words of inquiry. Eventually she recovered her poise a little and spoke more coherently, and the woman invited her into the house.

Mirjana hobbled to greet Sarah. After a few preliminary remarks and inquiries, Sarah understood that Mirjana
’
s leg, though still in plaster, allowed her to hobble about with the aid of a stick and that the doctors said she must use it and not rest it too much.

As for Adam, he had gone to Belgrade some days ago to visit Mirjana
’
s mother and reassure her about the future.

“
Also,
”
Mirjana continued,
“
he will find a place for me to live temporarily while my mother is in hospital. This house is where he lives now because his hotel was destroyed.
”

Sarah saw the situation all too plainly. Adam had, of course, and most naturally, brought Mirjana to the house where not only would she be well looked after but where he would have ample opportunity of being with her.

“
But eventually you will both come back here? You and your mother?
”
Sarah forced herself to ask the question.

“
Oh, yes,
”
came Mirjana
’
s quick and certain answer.
“
When my mother is well we shall return. My work is here. But now I worry because it is all neglected. Adam must find a new secretary for a few weeks.
”

It occurred to Sarah that this was work she could no doubt do for Adam, but she suppressed that idea before it could take shape.

“
When is Adam returning?
”
she asked.

“
As soon as he can. He has much business to do in Belgrade.
”

Sarah promised to come again to visit Mirjana and left the house.

Only a few yards away, Adam
’
s tall figure came striding toward her. He was obviously surprised to see her, but there was another expression on his face that she could not read. Pleasure? Resentment? Or perhaps only an amused tolerance.

“
So you
’
re back in Krasnograd. What did Edmund forget to film?
”

“
The unit isn
’
t here,
”
she answered.
“
In fact, I
’
ve left the company.
”

“
Oh?
”
His eyebrows rose.
“
Temperamental differences?
”

She laughed in spite of herself.
“
No. Just that the work was finished. The unit has gone to Florence and I had the choice to go to London or come here.
”

“
I see.
”

“
I
’
ve just been to visit Mirjana,
”
she continued.
“
I found this address because I
’
m working on the records for the health center.
I ...
I hope you didn
’
t mind?
”

“
Mirjana would be glad of company. Go and see her whenever you like.
”

Adam had put down his suitcases and parcels. Now he said,
“
Let me get rid of these and I
’
ll walk back with you to whatever deluxe hotel you
’
re staying in.
”

“But ...
Mirjana?
”
she queried.
“
She
’
ll be anxious
to—to
hear about her mother.
”

He gave her a long, almost hostile glance.
“
Yes, you
’
re right, of course. Mirjana will be expecting me. I
’
ll just come to the end of the path with you. It
’
s not yet dark, and you can probably see your way back to the town.
”

The atmosphere had changed in a split second. Was it because she had reminded him of his obligations toward Mirjana, the girl who had saved his life? In any case, she was relieved that she had met him outside the house. She had no wish to witness the touching reunion between Adam and his beautiful Slav secretary.

She took a roundabout route back, crossing the river by a temporary bridge and walking through the deserted streets, then along the opposite bank. Even here she could hear the distant echoes of singing and laughter from the international camp. Tonight she was in no mood for gaiety and eventually returned to the hut and went to bed.

It was just as well to have an early night, for at five in the morning in this country of early risers, parties from various youth organizations—French, German, Austrian, Czech and many other nations—mar
c
hed off singing and with banners flying to their daily task of clearing the debris.

Radmilla came in later with the news that Zoran had found a tent that she and Sarah could share.

“
Just for ourselves, and in a good place. Near the river and the health center.
”

Sarah brightened.
“
Sounds good. Do we move in tomorrow?
”

“
As soon as we wish.
”

The tent was fairly roomy and comfortable, and Sarah liked the greater privacy. It was, however, a stroke of irony that as soon as she had settled in within a distance of only five minutes
’
walk to the health center, the senior officials told her that temporarily the work was finished. The emergency of tracing every injured or sick person was over and now the medical authorities were moving to a new clinic, to allow the hospital site to be cleared so that rebuilding could start as soon as possible.

They expressed their gratitude to Sarah and the others who had worked long hours, and Sarah, as the only
Engleskinja,
was presented with a tin of chocolate biscuits that someone had brought from Belgrade.

“
Do not despair that there is nothing more that you can do,
”
the assistant medical officer told hen
“
If you wish to stay here to help, there is much more. I am told that the international cafeteria needs many helpers. People must always eat.
”

Sarah
’
s eyes shone with pleasure. It was heartwarming to be so appreciated.

She found that the cafeteria with its multiplicity of signs ranging from the native Medjunarodni Kafana to Hotel Ritz and Mother Hubbard
’
s Kitchen welcomed her, particularly when she volunteered to do any amount of washing-up.

“
I
’
m not very expert at cooking.
”
she admitted,
“
although I could fry eggs—I think.
”

As space was limited, most of the washing-up had to be done outside the long hut, and Sarah was busy when a party of British soldiers came by. Sarah could see by their uniforms that they belonged to the contingent that had brought and were erecting Nissen huts.

“
Hiya, miss!
”
called out one.

Sarah gave them a demure
“
Good evening
”
in Serbo
-
Croatian.

They grinned, and one said with exaggerated gestures,
“
Me—like—you. Savvy?
”

“
Savvy yourself!
”
she retorted, laughing.
“
D
’
you mind if we speak English?
”

“
English! Why didn
’
t you say so?
”

“
You didn
’
t ask me.
”

“
You a washer-up for this outfit?
”
asked another man.

Sarah nodded.

“
Look, ducks, I could bring a nice bit of strong wire tomorrow and make you some plate racks. Save you spreading everything out to dry.
”

“
Thank you,
”
she said.
“
Nothing like British ingenuity for saving work!
”

Through a gap in the six or seven men grouped around her, she suddenly saw Adam
’
s face.
“
Hallo, Adam!
”
she said coolly.

The soldiers gave him one glance, saluted Sarah and walked away.

“
Sorry if I interrupted the pleasantries,
”
Adam said. Sarah did not answer, and he continued,
“
New job?
”

“
Yes. The other one finished.
”

“
And what
’
s Daniel doing?
”

“
Daniel? Busy on the set in Florence, I expect.
”

Adam
’
s face showed surprise.
“
Oh, isn
’
t he here with you?
”

“
He went with the unit to Italy.
”

“
Why didn
’
t you go with him?
”
Adam demanded.

“
I told you I was sacked. Actually, I was sacked twice. Once because I was redundant and once because of Melanie.
”

“
Why was that?
”

“
She thought I was a menace—chiefly to Daniel
’
s career.
”

Adam smiled sourly.
“
Perhaps you are.
”

“
Not now, anyway.
”
Sarah suddenly saw that she must make quite sure Adam understood about
Daniel.
“
We were never engaged,
”
she said firmly.
“
That was only something Daniel said in a wild moment.
”

Adam was silent. He did not look at her, and she expected him to say good-night and walk away.

“
Why did you really choose to come here, then, instead of returning home to London? You know that it isn
’
t going to be a holiday.
”

She raised her head and stuck out her chin.
“
I came to work in any way I could find.
”
She could hardly say that one of her reasons was the mistaken significance of the gift of a distaff. She added,
“
Edmund gave me generous compensation, so I
’
m not in need of money yet.
”

“
If you should want any help
...
”
Adam began, but at that moment Radmilla appeared, eager to find out how Sarah was getting on and if she was nearly finished for the day.

“
Zoran has told me that in one of the villages near here there will be two weddings on Saturday.
Would
you like to go?
”
she asked Sarah.
“
It is quite pleasing to watch.
”

“
I
’
d love to go,
”
Sarah replied.

“
What transport have you laid on?
”
asked Adam.

“
Zoran thinks he might be able to manage by taking an extra truckload,
”
Radmilla answered.

“
We could go in my car,
”
Adam offered. Sarah
’
s delight bubbled while he and Radmilla discussed details and distances.

After he had gone, Radmilla murmured thoughtfully,
“
He could have come with us now to the camp entertainment.
”

“
Perhaps he has work to do,
”
Sarah commented, though she suspected that he was more anxious to return to Mirjana.

Sarah managed to have the whole of Saturday free, promising to work extra time other days, and dressed for the first time in her new Dalmatian costume.

“
It
’
s all right for an English foreigner to wear this?
”
she asked Radmilla.

“
Of course. You look very pretty. I wish I had not left mine in Sarajevo.
”

When the two girls met Adam, Sarah
’
s lively spirits immediately sank. Mirjana was in the back seat. How stupid, Sarah thought, to believe that Adam would leave Mirjana out of this day trip!

T
he village was about twenty miles away and evidently
en fete
for today
’
s occasion. At intervals in the main street, posts crowned with flowers had been erected. The path between the church where one ceremony would be held and the sober office building where the civil marriage would take place was edged with colored ribbons and bunches of flowers.

When the weddings were over, the two couples headed a lively procession of attendants, friends and anyone else who cared to join in. A variety of instrument players made a musical din with bagpipes, drums and cornets, with an accordion or two wheezing away for good measure.

The diversity of costumes would have delighted a pageant
m
aster, and Sarah, eager to take films of the occasion, dodged about to find the best vantage points.

“
You should be in the procession yourself, Sarah,
”
Adam remarked.
“
Where did you get your costume?
”

“
It
’
s a present. Bought in Dubrovnik. Or did you think it came out of the film company
’
s wardrobe?
”

After giving him enough time to suppose that Daniel had bought it for her, she said,
“
Radmilla gave it to me.
”

The wedding breakfast for the two couples and their relatives and friends was held jointly in the walled courtyard of the inn, where tables were set out under the trees.

Sarah and Radmilla had brought a. picnic meal for themselves,
Mirjana
and the two men, but wine to drink the health of the brides was free and flowing plentifully.

When the hot afternoon had cooled off, Sarah was delighted to watch the teams of folk dancers performing their traditional dances. The men danced with agility and vigor, while the women were more graceful and lyrical. Radmilla and Zoran showed Adam and Sarah some of the steps and figures and soon all four were whirling in large circles to the music of bagpipes and clarinets, while a small girl blew a whistle in the shape of a bird.

Sarah guiltily remembered Mirjana, who was unable to join the dance, and spoke to Adam at the end of a breathless round.
“
I must talk to Mirjana. It
’
s not fair to leave her on her own.
”

But Mirjana was engrossed in chatting to a handsome, dark-eyed young man.

Adam said laconically,
“
I don
’
t think we need worry,
”
and broke the ring of dancers to interpose himself and Sarah into the chain.

Sarah wondered if Adam was surprised or disturbed by
Mirjana
’
s capacity for finding new acquaintances, but he gave no sign.