The Fire of Life (16 page)

were the first time an elephant screamed at you: Of course I don't want to back. out. I'm enjoying this . . . it's . . . it's . . . well, it's different,' she finished lamely.

I'll say! Very different from your safe little life in London.'

Safe? With all that traffic?' Rayanne laughed. It's not different in that way.'

Sure you feel safe with me?' Cary asked suddenly. You wouldn't have preferred to go with Burt?'

Of course I feel safe with you.' Puzzled, Rayanne stared at him. How he liked to throw unexpected questions at her, she thought. ' Why should I prefer to be with Burt?'

' I just wondered. You seem to rather fancy him,' Cary said casually, looking at his watch and frowning. You've quite got my poor mother worried about it.'

Why should she worry?'

Cary chuckled. Well, as you know she's decided that you're to be my bride.'

What absolute nonsense! ' Rayanne's cheeks burned, her eyes flashed, her hands clenched. Just how much more of this could she stand? she asked herself. ' As if I'd marry you if you asked me! ' she said angrily, for attack was the best defence, her father had once said.

Cary laughed. Wouldn't you?' he asked, and suddenly the Rover shot forward, causing Rayanne to slide down the seat bumping into him. ' Steady on,' he warned. No time for battles, now . . . there are the hippos! '

The rest of the day was too exciting for Rayanne to have time to feel furious with Cary for what he had said. They had rounded the hippos and Dr Bilkington had doped the one he advised, the hippo had raced away, but slowly his or her running had slowed until finally it was a sort of drunken walk, with frequent stumbles and a final collapse. Then the veterinary surgeons had got to work, examining the animal quickly, passing him or her or saying they did not advise it. The little wound was treated with a disinfectant and those allowed to go back to freedom were given another injection which, with amazing speed, brought them back to normal. Meanwhile the staff were driving, slowly and with patience, the huge ungainly chosen animals into the trucks.

Later Cary drove Rayanne to see the elephant that had taken a dislike to them. He was lying on his side, still unconscious, with Dick `Wallace working on him. The elephant was obviously badly injured.

' Not to worry,' Dick Wallace said, seeing Rayanne's look of dismay. ' It's fortunat
e you saw him and we found him!
He must have been in terrible pain, no wonder he hated everyone he saw.'

Will you be able to cure him?' Rayanne asked. Dick Wallace shrugged. I reckon so. These are tough creatures, but I'm taking him back with

'

me and keeping him under sedation to make sure the wounds heal.'

It was a long tiring day and as Cary drove her home, Rayanne yawned. Cary, who had been rather silent, looked at her.

Well, was it worth while?'

She smiled in the middle of another yawn. ' It was absolutely marvellous.' She yawned. ' I'm sorry about this, but I am sleepy, I'm afraid.'

A hot bath and an early night,' Cary suggested. ' By the way, I hope this will have helped your work on your thesis. You don't seem to be getting on with it.'

Rayanne caught her breath. Was this another hint that she was not wanted?

I'm getting on with it all right,' she said quickly, though she knew it was a lie. I've got copious notes. It's just a matter . .

Of knowing from which angle to write,' Cary mimicked her voice. You've told me that before. Well, has today given you that angle?'

Rayanne clasped her hands together tightly and stared ahead. It was lovely countryside, yet she was giving it so little attention.

I'm not sure,' she said slowly. Had it? Was it perhaps the importance of having found the elephant who was in pain and therefore a menace to all living creatures? Was it watching the vets as they handled the animals? They all seemed to believe their jobs were worth doing.

Is it because you're not interested,' Cary asked, or just that you feel inarticulate?'

Rayanne frowned. She recognised some of the

landmarks around her—a huge rock, carved out by generations of rain and wind into looking like a lion's head; a cluster of cypress trees which seemed out of place here in the bush, but a few clumps of bricks piled up told the sad story of the house that had once been there and probably burned in a fire. These 'meant they were nearly home and the questions would cease.

' I honestly don't know,' she admitted. I'm

interested, very interested. I was a bit sceptical at first, but now I'm beginning to understand how important it is. I just can't seem to find . . .' She paused, her cheeks hot. You must be bored stiff hearing me say that.'

They were going through the last gate, Cary shouting to the African who opened it and who replied with a big grin and a salute.

At least,' Cary said as he drove surprisingly fast down the drive, ' you're honest.'

Then they were there and Mrs Jefferson came to meet them. My dear child, you do look tired! Was it very frightening? You wouldn't get me going out like that. Why, those elephants . .

Finally Cary left them and Rayanne had her bath, a little sleep, and woke refreshed. She shuffled through the notes she had made. What should she write about? Perhaps if she made a skeleton draft . . . what did conservation teach the civilised world? Did the understanding, or partial understanding, of the migratory habits of certain animals really teach the civilised world anything worth knowing? she wondered. Was it important to keep the wild animals alive? Was it really necessary?

Perhaps if she answered those questions, it would get her started, she thought.

Later that evening, she excused herself and went to bed early. But not to sleep. Instead she sat by the small table and sorted out her notes. Somehow or other the thesis must be written.

During the next few days, she worked on her notes, trying different angles, unable to write anything that she thought was worth even reading. She began to feel even more depressed, for it showed that her brothers might be right. Perhaps she had no brains, after all?

Cary had gone away, suddenly called by an urgent phone message. He didn't say where he had gone, but Burt made a guess that it was to help Aileen.

He likes to play the cool indifferent dedicated man, but I think he really fell for Aileen,' Burt said with a chuckle.

The course was nearing its end, soon the noisy students would be returning to their home towns and a few weeks of quietness would follow, Mrs Jefferson said.

Not that I mind having them around. They keep to their own quarters, but I do get a bit tired of the noise their transistors make. Do they really have to have such loud music?' she asked Rayanne.

It was Burt who answered. Sure they do, Mrs Jefferson. That's the only way to be part of the music.' He grinned as he spoke. At least, that's what they say. They have to be a part so the noise must screech through the brain, leaving you stunned '

A funny way to enjoy music,' Mrs Jefferson commented.

He lifted a finger. I agree, but . . . ah! we're

not young, Mrs Jefferson.' He turned to Rayanne who was standing by the window, watching the movements on the sand as the crocodiles came slowly out of the water. How she would miss the crocodiles .. .

She swung round. What? Sorry, I didn't hear you.'

You're young, my dear,' Mrs Jefferson said gently. D'you like loud music?'

Loud music?' Rayanne's face wrinkled as she frowned. ' Well, I don't know, but I do like to hear it. I mean, there's no point in listening to it if it's too soft, is there?'

She wondered why they both laughed. ' I can't see the joke.'

my dear child,' Mrs Jefferson said with a smile, there isn't a joke—it's just that the different generations see everything so differently.' She looked up at Burt. How old are you? I'd have thought you were one of the young ones.'

He bowed. Thank you, madame. Thank you very much. I'll never see thirty-five again, I'm going on fast towards forty so I can't be called young.'

That's not old, Burt. Cary is just thirty-five,' Mrs Jefferson said.

I think men in their mid-thirties are the most interesting of all,' said Rayanne. I met Keith that day we got the hippos and I found him awfully boring, and he's about my age.'

Burt bowed towards her. You've made my day, if I may be so corny. What a comforting thought, to a man as the years race by ! Do you honestly think we grow more attractive the older we grow?'

Rayanne laughed. Depends on how much older you do grow.'

Later that day as Burt patiently taught her to drive the Land Rover, he asked her:

` Did you really find Keith a bore?'

Rayanne was concentrating on what had to be done. They were driving outside the game reserve on a rather bad road but with little traffic. ` He was terribly immature.'

' You prefer mature men?'

' Who doesn't?' she said as she deftly turned a corner.

' How's it going? Feeling happier?'

Much,' Rayanne smiled. ` Thanks to your patience.'

Does Cary know I'm teaching you?'

' I . . . well, I suppose he doesn't. I didn't tell him. Did you?'

Of course not. I was afraid he'd insist on teaching you himself and I knew it would be an absolute flop. The things you need most, Rayanne, are praise, encouragement and . .

` Patience,' Rayanne finished. Thanks to you,

I've had all three.'

My pleasure,' he said, and laughed. Why do you want to drive, Rayanne?'

So that when I get home I can buy a car and show my brothers that I can drive.'

` So you are going home?' he asked, his voice

becoming grave.

' Of course.' She turned to stare at him and Burt grabbed at the wheel, just managing to save them from going off sideways into the deep ditch.

Hey, watch it, young woman ! ' he said gruffly.

Then don't talk to me,' she told him in return.

Back at the house, they found Mrs Jefferson in great distress.

If only Cary was here ! He'd cope with it. He can manage anything and anyone . .

What's the trouble?' Burt asked. Maybe I

can help.'

I've just heard. Samantha has left Mike!'

' I don't believe it,' Rayanne said quickly. She

wouldn't do a thing like that, I'm sure.'

Well, Sister Macintyre was here earlier. She wanted to speak to you, Rayanne. She seems to think it's all your fault.' Mrs Jefferson, sitting down in her deep armchair, pressed her hands together, her face unhappy. I told her I was sure it wasn't, but she wouldn't believe me. I don't think she likes you.'

How could it be my fault?'

She says you've made Samantha restless and discontented and . .

She was like that before I got here. Samantha knows I can't really understand why she's so miserable. Yet I can, in a way. If only Mike could interest her in his work ! '

Or give her a baby,' said Burt. That's the

real trouble, I think.'

Rayanne pressed her hands to her mouth, her eyes widening as she thought of something. But perhaps,

she thought, it was better to say nothing at this stage. ' What's Mike doing?' she asked.

What can he do? She went off . .

' She can't drive,' Rayanne said.

I gather she got Kwido. You weren't using him, so he took her to Perlee and she told him she was staying with some friends, so when he came back, he concluded that Mike would know and said nothing?

Then where does Daphne Macintyre come into this?' Burt asked.

It seems she went to see Samantha because she was worried about her. Samantha's had a bad cold for some time and . . . well, she was out. Daphne waited and Mike came in and knew nothing about it. Then he sent for Kwido, and . . . well, she's just gone.'

I'm sure she hasn't. Perhaps Mike has forgotten she was going away. He's so lost in his work that he could forget anything.'

I hope you're right, Rayanne. I do feel so upset about it. Cary won't be at all pleased . .

Well,' said Burt, we can't do anything to help, I'm afraid. I think I'll go have a shower. You, too, Rayanne?'

Yes, I am rather sticky with dust,' Rayanne said.

Should she phone Mike? she wondered. Where was he? Had he driven to Perlee looking for her? Samantha wouldn't run away. She just wasn't that sort. She might have a terrific quarrel, but it would all be open.

Suddenly Rayanne had an idea... Very quietly

she made her way outside, knowing Burt must still be having his shower and that Mrs Jefferson would think nothing of the sound of a car starting up. Luckily the key was left in it as it was always left there, since there were no burglars to fear.

A little nervous, because she had only had a few lessons from Burt, Rayanne started up the engine. All went well, for with no traffic around, one could take a corner badly and yet be quite safe. The African at the gate looked a bit surprised, but let her through, and she drove towards the Crisps' gate. There she paused and asked Lobitha if he knew where the master was.