The Fire of Life (5 page)

See what a pattern of protective orderliness there

is,' Cary had said. Look how the young animals place themselves between the older ones. See . . . some of them drink while others keep watch and the way they sniff the air. They can smell danger.'

Finally he drove her back to the Crisps' house.

' I hope you're not too tired,' he said politely as he walked round to her side of the Land Rover. He had to help her out, much to her annoyance, but, sitting on her feet, she had got caught up with a slit in the seat cover.

His voice had changed again. Gone was the relaxed friendly voice. Now he was Mr Jefferson, owner and boss of the Reserve.

No, I'm fine. Thanks,' she said, embarrassed as he half-lifted her down. Thanks for showing me everything. It was most interesting.'

Good. I'll send you round a Land Rover in the morning and a Ranger. Then you can go and look for yourself. You brought your camera, of course . . . ?' He saw the hesitation in her face, for, though she had brought a camera, it was only a small one. Let me know if you need one. We have plenty available. Goodbye.' He shook her hand solemnly, lifted his hand in greeting to Samantha Crisp, who was standing on the stoep and drove away.

Samantha smiled. Well?' she asked. Bored to tears?'

Actually,' Rayanne admitted, it was much more interesting than I expected it to be.'

That's only because he told you about it all,' Samantha said, and laughed, clapping her hands as she watched Rayanne blush. Don't tell me you've

fallen for him, too. Oh me, oh my . . . we poor women! Don't dream, Rayanne . . . there isn't a hope.'

' I'm not dreaming,' Rayanne said stiffly, but knew her red cheeks might have given away her secret. Actually it's simply that he's very good-looking, attractive and interesting to talk to. I've never met a man like him before.'

And never will again,' Samantha prophesied. ' Better have a bath, if you can bear that ghastly brown water, and then come up for a drink. You must be caked with dust.'

I must look a sight,' Rayanne admitted, laughing ruefully. By the way, I met Sister Macintyre and Miss Horlock.'

Samantha whistled softly. ' And how did you get on?'

Rayanne laughed. ' We didn't. Obviously Sister Macintyre didn't like the look of me, but Miss Horlock was a little more friendly. They're both very . .

Dishy? You bet they are. Deliberately dishy. Silly clots! They ought to know that Cary will never marry. He's married to his work and that's all that counts . . . but they go on hoping, go on trying. It's pathetic, that's what it is. Pathetic. Now hurry and get washed up. I've cooked a good dinner for us all.'

Rayanne obeyed, shuddering as she slid into the muddy water but enjoying it all the same; grateful for the drinking water with which she washed her face and cleaned her teeth. She put on a green trouser suit and made her way to the house. Mike

had promised to refill her torch with batteries, apologising profusely for not having checked the night before.

It was so peaceful sitting on the mosquito-screened stoep. Samantha seemed delighted to have an audience and talked most of the time. She did ask a lot of questions, though, about England, and Rayanne remembered what Cary had said.

' I think I could be happy here,' Rayanne said slowly. It's so quiet, so relaxed . .

And so unutterably dull,' Samantha added.

Mike Crisp joined them and asked Rayanne how she had enjoyed the day. They talked of animals and soil conservation and the importance of water, and poor Samantha looked bored to tears.

It was after dinner as they were sitting on the stoep, a starry-skied black night outside with an occasional howl or bark to break the quietness, when the car arrived. It was not a Land Rover but a huge Jaguar.

Oh no ! ' Samantha half groaned. It can only

be...'

Mike had already gone down to meet the visitors. Rayanne stared at the small plump little woman with snow-white hair who came up the pathway, leaning on Cary's arm. She smiled at Rayanne as they reached the house.

My dear child! ' she said, holding out her hands. ' I'm so delighted to meet you. Any relation of my darling Joe is welcome.'

I'm not really a relation,' Rayanne said quickly. His goddaughter.'

What's the difference?' Mrs Jefferson laughed

happily. He never married for years, you know. That was because of me.' She turned to the silent Cary and tapped him on the shoulder. ' I chose your father, Cary darling. He wasn't so rich, but he was a darling. Like you,' she added, and smiled, then turned to Samantha. You'll forgive me if I take your guest away, won't you, Samantha? I can't bear to think of Joe's goddaughter in one of those ghastly rondavels. I told Cary so, didn't I, darling?' She smiled at him lovingly. As soon as he came home, I was really cross, wasn't I? Rayanne must come and stay with us, I said, and your bedroom is all ready for you, dear child. I am so happy to see you . . . it is wonderful . .

It might be an idea if Miss Briscoe was to go to her rondavel and pack her things, then come back here. I'm sure Samantha will make us a cup of coffee,' Cary Jefferson said quietly.

His mother beamed. ' A wonderful idea, darling. I always enjoy Samantha's coffee.'

I'll go with Miss Briscoe,' said Cary, taking a torch from his pocket. Come along.'

They walked down the narrow path, Cary striding ahead, Rayanne not sure if she was pleased or not. Living in the same house with Cary? Sitting at the same table at meals? Seeing him so much? Would she be able to hide her secret? Or wake up from the idiotic idea that she was in love with him? How could you love a man you've only known one and a quarter days? she asked herself.

At the rondavel, Cary waited patiently while she packed. As she straightened, he smiled at her.

I must warn you of two things, Ray. Mother

has 'always wanted a daughter, so you'll be smothered, or rather mother-smothered, with love. I hope it won't be a nuisance, because it'll make her happy. Secondly, don't be embarrassed if she matchmakes. Mother is convinced it's time I got married and had at least four children, if not more. She's a frustrated grandmother, you see. Mind, she's very, choosy. She may take a little while to decide if you're good enough for me.'

' Well! ' Rayanne felt about to explode. Of all' the nerve . . . ! and then Cary laughed.

Don't let it embarrass you. I'm certain she'll find you ideal for me and do her best to throw us together in romantic situations.' He chuckled. ' You know, soft lights and sweet music that her generation used to go in for so much. So don't let it worry you. You're quite safe as far as I'm concerned.'

Rayanne stared at him. She couldn't speak. How dared he talk to her like that! If he knew the truth . . . but he must never know it, that was for sure!

She managed a light laugh. ' What a joke! I certainly wouldn't want to marry you if you were the last man on earth.'

' Is that so?' he asked, and the amusement had

left his voice. Very interesting,' he added sarcastically. We'd better get going or poor Samantha will begin to scream. She and Mother don't get on.

He led the way and she watched his back and hated him one moment and knew the next that she could never really hate him. But why did he have

to be so nice and then so beastly? Saying she was safe as far as he was concerned! Indeed, the arrogance of it. And then the sarcastic way he had said ' Is that so? Very interesting.' What did he mean? Didn't he believe her? Did he, like Samantha, think she had come there for one reason? And one reason only? she asked herself. Him!

Maybe if she had known him before . . . if they had been old friends . . . but how could you chase a man you had never met? A man you had no desire to meet. But now . . . but now?

Mrs Jefferson was waiting for them and soon all were in the car, Cary driving. Back at the house, it was ablaze with lights. Mrs Jefferson fussed happily as she led Rayanne to her bedroom.

You have your own bathroom and loo, dear child, and plenty of hot water. Do you like a big or a light breakfast? In bed?'

It was a beautiful room, Rayanne thought when she was finally alone and could look around her. She stared out of the picture window at the black night with a dark sky brightened by a beautiful new moon and stars all sparkling. The trees were silhouetted against the sky. Everything was quiet. They were high above the crocodiles and the electric light wouldn't go out . . .

Lying in bed, Rayanne relived the day, going over her conversations with Cary, wishing the talks were still to be said, for she had enjoyed the day so much. But would he ever be like that again? she wondered.

Sleepily she lay with just a sheet on her. The room had air-conditioning, so the intense humid heat

of the rondavel no longer roasted -her. The quick bath she had had had been lovely, too, the water clear and free of mud. She wondered how they had managed it. She had said she would get up for breakfast, but now she regretted it. She was afraid to see too much of Cary, afraid he might see in her eyes the love she could not understand. For how can you love a man you've only just met? she asked herself, and yawned. She yawned again and then fell asleep.

Rayanne need not have worried, for after she was called with a cup of tea, had showered, and then went to join her hostess for breakfast, Cary was not there. Mrs Jefferson beamed at her.

' So nice to have a companion for meals, my dear. I get tired of sitting alone. That's why I'm always trotting off to stay with friends.'

Doesn't . . Rayanne paused. She had not

yet called Cary Jefferson Cary, yet she could hardly call him Mr Jefferson to his mother. ' Your son . . . ?'

' He rarely eats meals with me. He has his own flat at the other end of the house. You see, he's always out somewhere. We used to fight because he never came in at the right time for meals and I got tired of waiting for him, and he didn't like it because I had waited, so I suggested he had his own little flat, his own cook and so on.' She paused, breathless. When I know he's going to be in the house at a reasonable time then I invite him to dinner and we enjoy each other's company. The trouble with poor Cary is . . .' Mrs Jefferson added sadly as she

helped Rayanne to kidneys and bacon . . . is that he's allowed his work to get control of him. He eats, sleeps and drinks conservation. He used to be so different, gay and social-minded, but that was when he was a stockbroker. He did very well. His father and I were proud of him.' She sat down opposite Rayanne and smiled. Am I boring you, my dear?'

' Of course not,' Rayanne said instantly. Please go on.'

Well, my husband died and Cary told me that he had always wanted to have his own wild life reserve. You can imagine how amazed I was. He had never said anything of the sort to his father or to me. I knew he enjoyed coming to the Reserves—he spent all his holidays there if we let him—but for a future! Not that I was worried about money. His father left us both very comfortably off and I knew Cary had been earning good money and had saved a lot of it. But it was the thought of living so far from civilisation—in the midst of wild animals.' She laughed and passed the marmalade to Rayanne ' You're sure you wouldn't like some more kidneys and bacon.'

' Quite sure, thank you. You don't mind living here?'

Mind?' Mrs Jefferson chuckled. ' I hated it at first, but I saw what it meant to Cary, so I put up with it. He's often away for weeks at a time and then I do miss him, so I usually go and stay with friends or invite them here. They find it very exciting. Frankly, it all rather bores me. It seems an awful waste of money to me to bother to keep

wild animals when there are so many human beings who are starving to death.' She sighed. But there it is, my dear. When you love someone, you accept the fact that their beliefs are almost certain to be different from your own. All I want is for Cary to be happy.'

It's a very lovely house,' Rayanne said slowly, looking round the lofty room with its walnut furniture and beautiful silver.

It is, isn't it, my dear? Cary is so thoughtful. He knew how important a beautiful home is to me, so he had it built specially for me. He knows I like entertaining, so there are several guest rooms. It's quite a lonely life, sometimes, though, for when the courses start, I hardly see him at all.'

The courses?'

Yes, my dear. We have groups of students who come here for several months to have lectures and see for themselves. Cary feels strongly about this, because he wants more young people to be interested in conservation of wild life. Next week, our next course starts. It can be quite noisy. Young people of today do like such loud music, don't they?' She laughed. My dear child, I forgot you were one of the young people.'

' I don't like loud music, either,' Rayanne said with a smile.

A tall African in an immaculately cut khaki safari suit came in and spoke to Mrs Jefferson.

Thank you, Kwido,' she said, and turned to Rayanne. Your Land Rover is at the door and Kwido will escort you. He's a well-trained mechanic and a good shot, so you'll be in safe hands. I made

sure of that. I talked to Cary last night after you went to bed. I said any relation of Joe's must be treated as a V.I.P. He was a darling. I've so much to talk to you about, but of course your work must come first.' She stood up. Kwido will bring you back for lunch and then we can have a long talk. See you later!' Mrs Jefferson gave her a smile and left the room.