The Fire of Life (10 page)

along, my dear.' She took Aileen's arm. ' I hope you'll enjoy your visit here.'

I'm sure I shall,' Aileen Hampton smiled at Cary. ' I've been looking forward to it for a long time.'

Rayanne found herself walking by Burt West's side. He yawned and grinned, Sorry about that. I find this heat rather exhausting. Where are you from?'

England. And you?' Rayanne found it easy to talk to him. Maybe because she hadn't to tilt her head and look up at him? she wondered.

London. I've known Aileen for years. A real beaut, isn't she?'

She certainly is,' Rayanne said warmly, and knew the pangs of jealousy, for Cary was talking to the girl, laughing, his hand under her elbow as he helped her up the few steps to the stoep.

The next few days were strange ones for Rayanne. Sometimes she wondered if they could really be happening or if there was something wrong with herself, for nothing made sense.

In the first place, Mrs Jefferson practically ignored her. Normally this wouldn't be strange, but after the fuss she had made of Rayanne, and the real love she had shown, her sudden chilliness, her ignoring Rayanne while spending all her time talking eagerly to Aileen Hampton was so completely different that Rayanne could not help feeling hurt. Had she done something wrong? she wondered. Said something unintentionally that annoyed Mrs Jefferson—or was it just that Cary's mother had decided Aileen Hamp-

ton would be the perfect wife for Cary?

Maybe she would, for no one could deny that Aileen was one of the nicest people Rayanne had ever known. Very friendly, always paying little compliments about that colour matches your eyes perfectly' or ' you should wear long dresses more often, they give you a glamorous look '. Not silly, obviously false compliments, but words said with sincerity. Aileen and Rayanne spent many an hour late at night talking together, feeling the heat and sitting on the screened stoep, looking at the beauty of the starlit sky. They learned to know one another well. Aileen was an only child, smothered with love, while Rayanne felt that no one in her family cared for her. They discussed their problems, gave one another advice. It was impossible, Rayanne knew, that no matter how envious and jealous she felt, it was impossible not to like Aileen very much.

The only person who didn't was Cary! This was the oddest thing to Rayanne, for she just could not understand why he was so cool and impersonal to Aileen, often formal, almost rude. He rarely talked to her alone; far more often seeking out Rayanne and sitting with her.

Right from the beginning, they seemed to have divided up into strange groups. That first evening Cary had turned to Rayanne.

Ray, would you mind taking Burt round with you and Kwido? I'm rather short of Land Rovers at the moment. Seeing you're both interested in the same phase of wild life conservation, it might help.'

Of course I don't mind,' Ray had agreed instantly.

And so, during the mornings, sometimes in the afternoons, Rayanne and Burt would go off with Kwido. It was in many ways much more interesting, Rayanne found. She liked Burt; they were both relaxed together. Kwido showed them everything and Burt never stopped asking questions. He carried with him a small tape recorder—so that later in the afternoon he and Rayanne could listen to Kwido's descriptions, and make notes of what they felt was important.

Meanwhile Cary would take Aileen Hampton and leave her with Leslie and Loftus, saying that he was busy preparing for the next lot of students. It was true that the staff was already arriving and that no doubt Cary was busy, Rayanne thought, but she didn't feel this really excused his behaviour, for he was little short of rude to Aileen. Not that Aileen worried about it. If she and Rayanne ever discussed Cary, Aileen was full of admiration. She thought he was a wonderful man, unselfish, dedicated, a devoted son; in fact, super! That he would make some lucky woman a wonderful husband. It was obvious she was hoping to be the ' lucky woman '. Rayanne learned how to agree laughingly, to talk lightly of Christine and Daphne's attempts to ' hook him ', and Aileen, having met them both during her introduction to everyone and everything, agreed that they hadn't a hope '.

Cary is different. He wants someone with more than a pretty face;' Aileen said. He needs someone who understands his fanatic love not only for animals but for everything to do with them.'.

In the evenings Rayanne would feel sorry for

Aileen, though, oddly enough, Aileen didn't seem to notice anything strange, for every night Cary chose to sit by Rayanne, making it obvious that he liked her company, doing many little thoughtful things that surprised Rayanne and hurt her as well, for she knew he was doing it for one reason only. Not because he loved her—but because he wanted to make Aileen realise there was no hope '. Yet Aileen seemed happy enough, chatting with Mrs Jefferson and Burt; or with Leslie and Loftus, whom Mrs Jefferson frequently invited, sometimes with and sometimes without Christine and Daphne.

Then the students arrived. Most of them were in their late teens, great husky lads full of noise and laughter which would sometimes drift across the garden to the house. There were quite a few girls, all dressed in crazy-looking clothes but obviously enjoying their stay. The lectures were in the afternoons, so Rayanne and Burt were able to attend. Burt would sit, looking entranced, as he listened to Cary's lectures.

There was no doubt, Rayanne thought, but Cary was a wonderful lecturer. He could make the dullest facts interesting. He could show them the importance of conservation, the difficulties, the plans for the future. He could even prove the importance of preserving the wild life of the country.

Burt admitted he was converted. Somehow I

hadn't thought of it that way,' he told Rayanne

' I know, that was how I felt at first. It seemed such a waste of money to keep all these wild animals in
safe comfort when so many millions of people were starving and homeless,' she agreed. Yet now . .

The students seemed really interested and there were a number of small buses which took them round the reserve every day. Of course the skill of the game catchers was demonstrated and the students saw how the animals were drugged for examination, or transported to a different reserve. Naturally the students were fascinated by the crossbow and dart that looked like an ordinary hypodermic syringe with a tail added and that when it sank into the animal's hide or skin, soon drugged him and sent him to sleep. After the examination, treatment or removal, an antidote to the drug was given and the animal recovered within seconds and without any harm having been done. In fact, frequently wounds had been treated or even operations performed successfully.

Rayanne, Burt and Kwido followed some of the demonstrations, but Cary said to them that later he would let them take part in a real one.

' I've promised to transport a dozen white hippos to England. It's going to be quite a performance.'

Rayanne said nothing, but she wondered just how long Aileen and Burt planned to stay ! Which rather applied to her, too, she thought worriedly. How long could you pretend it took to write a thesis? And what was she going to write? She always had the fear that one day Cary would ask to see it. How could she refuse when he had been so generous as to let her stay for so long?

Burt was producing some amazingly good photos. He even said that maybe he would write a book about it all. He smiled as he spoke.

Aiming high, but why not? I'm a journalist.'

But are people sufficiently interested?' Rayanne asked.

' We should make them,' said Burt, his freckles showing bright in the sunshine.

One evening Rayanne was late joining the family group ' as Mrs Jefferson called it with a quick smile at Aileen, and Cary was sitting next to Aileen, listening to what she was saying, nodding his head. He looked up as Rayanne entered the room, left Aileen immediately, though she was in the middle of a sentence, and went to Rayanne, to lead her to a chair, get her a drink and sit down by her side.

Rayanne looked at him, keeping her voice very quiet. ' Is it necessary to be so rude?' she asked.

Cary smiled. Was it so obvious? Then it was successful. The best remedy is to behave so badly that the hunter loses interest,' he said with equal quietness, bending close to her.

Rayanne was looking at Aileen. Surely it must have hurt her? Or was she so sure of success that things like this seemed to her trivial? Rayanne wondered. Aileen was talking to Mrs Jefferson, who looked rather upset, glancing across the room towards her son. Rayanne sighed. Had Mrs Jefferson decided that Aileen would be the perfect wife and was she upset because things were not going the right way? she asked herself.

After dinner, following the others back to the drawing-room, Rayanne felt Cary's hand on her arm and he led her outside to the garden.

Listen,' he said, the hyenas are out again.'

She listened. The strange eerie howls made her

shiver. They reminded her of that first terrifying

night in the rondavel. Impulsively she turned to him.

Did you put me in that awful rondavel in order to frighten me?' she asked abruptly. ' Were you trying to make me change my mind about staying?'

It was too dark to see his expression, but his fingers tightened round her arm. ' On the contrary, I was merely protecting you from the malicious gossip that might have ensued had I had you to' stay here with no chaperone . . .' He sounded amused as he spoke. Can you imagine what Daphne and Christine would have said? I wonder if you have any idea just how malicious a frustrated female can be.'

Rayanne turned to him quickly. Why do you always say such nasty things about women? We're not all malicious. I think you're being absolutely hateful to poor Aileen, the way you ignore her. After all, she is your friend.'

My friend?' He sounded amused. That's

interesting. I met her once. How can you call her my friend? That reminds me—you never answered my question: why do you hate men so much? You always stiffen, look defiant, or on the defensive as if expecting an attack. Surely you can't judge all men by your brothers' behaviour? No, I forgot.' His voice changed and became cold. You're not afraid of Burt West, that's obvious. What is it that Burt has that the rest of men lack? How come you're so relaxed with him, so at ease?'

Am I?' Rayanne was startled. Yes, I am, I suppose,' she said thoughtfully.

Why?' he asked again.

' I think because he treats me as an equal. He's never condescending, never corrects me, never patronising. He gives me the credit of having some brains.'

Cary groaned. Must we always have this, Ray? Who said you had no brains? I told you that you had. You've got a real chip on your shoulder about it, and you'll never be the real you until we've got rid of it.'

I doubt if that's possible. Twenty-two years of being made to feel inferior, of being laughed at and even despised . .

Ray! ' His hands caught her by the shoulders and he shook her. Stop it, do you hear me? No one considers you inferior, despicable, nor do they laugh at you.'

They do! ' Suddenly Rayanne felt desperate. Even your mother has stopped loving me. It was so wonderful when she fussed. I've never been treated like that before. She seemed to enjoy being with me, but she's changed. It's Aileen, now. Aileen, the perfect wife for her wonderful son,' Rayanne added bitterly.

His fingers dug into her flesh for a moment and then he released her, almost pushing her away.

Just how stupid can you be! ' he said angrily. Can't you see why Mother is doing that?'

Doing what?'

Oh, for crying out loud! ' He gave a dramatic-sounding groan, took her arm and walked her down the lawn, into the utter darkness. In the distance the hyenas howled, an owl hooted and somewhere a lion growled. Look, Ray. Mother thinks she's

being very clever. She forgets it's a method she's used as far back as I can remember. She has a theory that children, particularly, sons, will always want what they can't have, so she believes that if she praises someone, I shall take an immediate dislike to that person. She has now decided that she's pushed you down my throat too much, having apparently forgotten this method and that by doing so she has made me have doubts about you. Now she dislikes Aileen very much. Why, I don't know. As I know, you think Aileen is a nice girl. She'll be a good wife to someone. That someone is not me. But Mother, bless her foolish little heart, thinks that if she now pushes Aileen at me, I shall revolt .. . Get it?' His fingers tightened round her arm. You do see what I mean?'

Rayanne drew a long deep breath. It didn't make sense . . . yet it did make sense, in a way. Just like everything else that happened in this hot wonderful place, nothing really made sense, yet always did!

' I do see what you mean, but . . . but is it fair to Aileen?'

Fair? I don't get it.'

Well, she loves you . .

Cary roared with laughter. Ray, sometimes you slay me,' he said, trying to control his mirth. Can anyone else be so naïve, so . . . ? Look, Aileen has been in and out of love with famous, wealthy men. She's always in the news. Why she's looked at me, I honestly don't know. But love . . . No, she doesn't love me.'

Rayanne hesitated. She . . . we talk quite a lot