The Fire of Life (2 page)

Nice to have someone who's not a ghastly intellectual to talk to,' she began, then her face screwed up. ' I forgot—you're an intellectual, too. Straight from university with all the long words, I don't doubt.'

Rayanne laughed. Some of them do really go to extremes, don't they? I can't bear that kind of talk.'

Nor me, neither,' Samantha laughed. ' How do you like to live here?

Rayanne hesitated, looking round. It's a very nice house . .

Exactly,' Samantha said triumphantly. That's all that can be said. It's a nice house, it's a nice house! " You're lucky, you are, my girl," that's what they say. No, " my dear girl," of course. " Lots of women would be grateful," but I'm not lots of women. I want to live, not vegetate. I'd never have married Mike if I'd known life was to be like this. Tricked me, he did, all right. I thought he was interested in trees—forests, you know. I guessed we'd be off to Canada—British Columbia, or somewhere exciting like that, but oh no, oh dear me, no,' she said
bitterly
. Mike meets up with the boss and before you can say " Bob's your uncle "

we were on our way out here.'

Mike came in, yawning. ' Oh, dry up, darling,' he said. You're boring Miss Briscoe to tears. You know it's not as bad as you make out. I'm earning good money, we're not spending it.'

' You're telling me, Mike! Never a gay moment do I have. No one to talk to . .

Mike straightened, his glass in hand. Look,

Samantha, you know very well you can go to any of the socials. You refuse, but . .

' And why? You know why. All those girls with their hoity-toity words and that condescending grin. They talk all the time. I never get a chance to say a word.' She swung round to look at Rayanne. It'll be interesting to see how you get on with them, Miss Briscoe. You'll have to be tough or they'll just swamp you.'

Samantha, please ! Miss Briscoe isn't a student. She need have nothing to do with them.'

' Well, if she's got any sense, she'll keep away from them or they'll finish her off all right,' Samantha said angrily. I must go and see how the dinner's going. Dorcas has no idea at all . .

Alone, Mike and Rayanne smiled at one another. Poor Samantha,' Mike said. She really does hate it here. Trouble is, I love it. This is my work and, as I said, I get good money and am saving for our future. Samantha would like me to drop everything and walk out and find another job. I can't help feeling that wherever we go, she'll be fed up with it.'

I should think it could be very lonely,' Rayanne said carefully.

Mike jumped up, took her empty glass to refill

it. ' I don't find it so,' he said cheerfully. But

then I'm the type that can adjust. Unfortunately Samantha can't.'

Talking about me?' Samantha asked, coming in quickly, looking alert.

I was just saying, darling, that you and I are different types,' Mike said soothingly. That's why we get on so well. We complement one another.'

Compliment? You never pay me compliments,' Samantha said bitterly, and Rayanne saw that Samantha had got hold of the wrong word.

I expect if you always look as you are tonight, he just expects it of you. How do you manage to be so glamorous?' Rayanne asked.

Samantha's face relaxed. You like my hair

down?' She turned in a circle, her hair swinging. I've got to keep myself up to my standards or else I'll just . . . well, go to bits. Yes, Mike, another drink, please.'

Slowly the evening dragged by, or so it did to Rayanne, though Samantha seemed to enjoy it, talking away, constantly speaking angrily about the boss '. At last Rayanne, pleading a headache, was taken down through the dark night by Mike, who had two torches.

I'll leave you with one, because at midnight your electricity is switched off automatically. If you hear someone outside, don't worry. It's the watchman. He may look rather alarming, but I assure you he's to be trusted. He has a dog with him who sometimes growls or barks.'

Do crocodiles walk ashore?' Rayanne asked as he led the way, the torch throwing a beam of light

on the narrow path ahead. It was a hot humid night with small insects buzzing round her face.

Only up on to the sandbanks. Samantha told you about them?' Mike sounded annoyed. ' She delights in scaring people. I can assure you that no crocodile could get up to this height.'

Or . . . or snakes?'

Very unlikely. Maybe you noticed that there was a wide band of small stones round the rondavel. This keeps away snakes. It's where people allow creepers or shrubs to grow up close to the windows that snakes get in. You scared?'

Rayanne managed a laugh. The understatement of the year? It was another corny phrase, yet it described the words exactly. ` In a way. It's all so strange.'

You'll adjust. It's amazing what you can get used to when you have no choice,' Mike said cheerfully, unlocking her rondavel, opening the door, switching on the light.

After he had left her, first checking that a tray with iced water, a thermos of boiling water, a cup and saucer, coffee, sugar and milk was on the table by her bedside, Rayanne thought of his words.

It's amazing what you can get used to when you have no choice.' How right he was : when you have no choice! Had Cary Jefferson deliberately put her in this horrible rondavel in order to scare her? she wondered. Was this his sly method of getti
ng rid of her? He had said she h
as a headache '. Perhaps this was part of his plan.

Well, if so, his plan was going to fail, she told herself as she undressed, carefully putting the torch

under her pillow, for after midnight there would be no light.

Once in bed, she switched off the light and lay hugging the torch as if it was the proverbial teddy-bear. How quiet it was! She could hear the mosquitoes banging against the screens on the window. Perhaps they could scent her, for there was no light to attract them. Some frogs began croaking. Then quiet again. Then suddenly a loud buzzing, rather like a hive of bees let loose. The cicadas, of course! She was nearly asleep when a nerve-shattering howl broke the quietness. In a moment, the howling came again. It was closer. Another howl and again it was even still closer. Her hand shaking, Rayanne fumbled for the bedside lamp switch. Nothing happened. Only the darkness stayed. She switched on the torch . . .

Again nothing happened. The batteries must have run out, for there was only darkness still.

In the morning, Rayanne looked at her reflection anxiously. It had been a terribly frightening night in which she had hardly slept, hugging the useless torch, listening to the strange night cries. She was sure she had heard a lion roaring—and an elephant trumpeting anger. A flash of light had shone through her windows several times, frightening her until she heard a dog bark and knew it was the night watchman. Not that he was much comfort, for he was only walking by and soon gone. Never in all her life had she been so frightened.

And it showed in her pale face, her red tired eyes with the dark shadows below them. Somehow she must hide that. Cary Jefferson must not be allowed to win, or even know how near winning he had been! In the night, she had sworn she would leave in the morning. But now the sun was bright and warm, making the brown river sparkle as she looked out of the window and saw the huge red flowers on the flamboyants, and could smell the delicious scent from the white gardenias behind the rondavel, and she knew that somehow or other, she must stick it out. She could just imagine her brothers' teasing if she went home the day after she arrived at the Reserve.

' We knew you'd never make it,' they'd say triumphantly.

And her father would shake his head sadly. I told you this was no life for a girl. It's work for a man with his strength and brains.'

And perhaps her mother would say very quietly: I don't blame you, Rayanne, I'd have been scared stiff, too.'

No, she had to stay, Rayanne knew that. Maybe Mike was right and in a little while she would adjust. She had to. She had no choice.

Half an hour later, she made her way to the house where breakfast was waiting. Samantha smiled, her eyes amused.

Well, what sort of a night did you have? Manage to sleep?'

Rayanne forced a bright smile. It took a while to get to sleep, but then I slept like a log.'

Heard the hyenas howling? They were really bad last night,' Mike said, helping himself to toast.

Rayanne mentally made a note of that hopeful, helpful news. So the hyenas didn't howl every night. One blessing.

It was at ten o'clock that Cary Jefferson called for her. He was wearing what she had learned was known as a safari suit. He looked incredibly handsome, even more so when he smiled, yet she was on her guard. He had deliberately put her in the hateful rondavel to try to frighten her. No doubt he was waiting to enjoy his victory. Well, he could wait, she told herself, as she smiled sweetly at him and said she had slept well.

A most comfortable rondavel and Samantha looked after me,' Rayanne said brightly.

Cary smiled. ' I'm glad. Samantha is a wonderful hostess.'

He led the way to the Land Rover and helped her in. Before he started the engine, he turned to her.

` You'll be given a Rover and can go wherever you like for the research you plan to do—but there's one thing, Miss Briscoe, and on this I must insist.' He looked down at her gravely. ' You are not to go out in the Land Rover alone. Is that clearly understood? I'll let you have one of the Rangers and he must always go with you.'

But why?' she asked quickly, sensing patronage in his words. I mean, I'd never get out of the Rover, of course. Does everyone have to take a Ranger with him?'

A slight movement of Cary's mouth made her think he was amused. ' No, not everyone,' he said gently. Only girls.'

But why girls? I don't need protection. I promise you I'd do nothing stupid.'

He turned his body round on the seat so that he could look down on her more comfortably.

Look, Miss Briscoe, suppose the Rover broke down. Would you enjoy getting out in the midst of a crowd of lions to cope with the problem? That's why you're to take a trained
mechanic
who is also a Ranger with you. Is that understood?'

Rayanne frowned as she looked at him. Yet he was right.

I understand,' she said reluctantly.

It seemed to be his turn to frown as he looked at her. She was wearing white jeans and a vividly striped black and white blouse.

' Very attractive outfit,' he said thoughtfully, ' but hardly suitable for this. I suggest you run along to your rondavel and change into something else—brown, black, navy blue, or khaki.'

Instantly she was on the defensive. `What's wrong with what I'm wearing?'

He smiled. Nothing, but it's not for now. I

quite sympathise with you, Miss Briscoe. A small person has to wear something strikingly startling or else she—or he—will never be noticed, but I would prefer a little less publicity this time. The monkeys are attracted by bright colours and can be a darned nuisance. Do you mind?'

She hesitated. He had no right to criticise .. . yet he had, in a way. After all, he knew more about the Reserve than she did.

' I'll be as quick as I can,' she promised.

She almost tripped up as she ran fast to her rondavel, hastily changing into a pair of dull dark blue jeans and a matching blouse. She looked in the mirror and saw that some of her whiteness had gone. Anger, obviously, was doing her good.

As she hurried back to the Land Rover she wondered if she had a right to be angry. After all, Cary Jefferson was right about the danger of a Land Rover breaking down. She shivered at the thought of it happening and a great crowd of enormous elephants coming along the road towards her! This would be a time in which she would need a man, not only able to make the engine go, or change the tyre but to protect her as well. As for the clothes—! She hadn't been sure what sort of appointment she would have with Mr Jefferson and, thinking he might be going to introduce her to the rest of the staff, some of whom sounded ghastly, according to Samantha, she had thought she should dress up.

As she reached the Land Rover, Cary smiled,

' You were quick!'

' Well trained,' she said. ' Five brothers.' Help! ' he laughed as he started the engine. No sisters?'

None. Dad wanted six sons. I was a disappointment.' Without realising it, her voice was wistful. It had always hurt her, the knowledge that she had disappointed her parents. They made no secret of it. She had disappointed them in so many ways, for she had only just scraped through her exams while her brothers had got Honours. All five were lawyers. Only she was drifting, not knowing what she wanted to do. It had been Uncle Joe's suggestion that she write a thesis on wild life conservation that had seemed the answer.

Glancing quickly at the man by her side, she was no longer sure that it was. The Land Rover bumped over the earth road and went through the gate of the wire fence to the main road.

' I'll introduce you to the staff first,' Cary Jefferson said cheerfully, and Rayanne knew dismay. It was just as she had thought! He had made her change into these drab clothes and look a fright and then let her meet the staff members that Mrs Crisp disliked so much! What would they think of her? Had he done it on purpose? To cut her down to size? she wondered.