The Blue Mountains of Kabuta Page 7

  She sat still for a moment. What a nightmare it had been Now, as she got out of the car and the two dogs came bounding to meet her, she saw Alex drive in.

  She was surprised, for she had thought he would drive on past to his own home. Perhaps she should thank him for his consideration, for maybe it had even upset his plans.

  Alex . . . ' she began as he strode towards her, but he spoke at the same time.

  ` Congratulations,' he smiled. You did darned well.'

  She could not believe it Alex praising her Then

  be added: Considering it was your first storm.' Some of the pleasure caused by his words vanished.

  Why must he spoil everything ?

  ' I was terrified,' she confessed.

  He smiled again. ` Aren't we all, especially the first time. It's not a pleasant experience, Jon, but in time one learns how to cope. Next time you won't find it so hard.'

  She ran her hand through her hair. I hope not. I'm exhausted.'

  ' What you need is a cold drink and something to eat. So do I.' He glanced at his watch and whistled softly. Any idea of the time ? '

  ` None.' Jon looked at hers and gasped. Why, it's nearly three ! You'll have missed your lunch.'

  ` And you yours. Can't I share it ? What are you having ?

  Just cold meat and salad.' Jon hesitated. ' Mum is out,' she added, thinking that he might have suggested staying to lunch in order to see her mother.

  He grinned at that. So what ? Afraid there'll be a local scandal because we lunch alone ? '

  She went red. Of course not. I just thought ..

  ' Well, I'm hungry, so why are we wasting; time ? ' He took her arm and led the way up the steps to the stoep. ` Go and shout for Violet and I'll get the cold drinks.'

  She obeyed, stopping briefly in the bathroom and surveying her flushed face with a frown for her hair was rumpled and her nose shiny.

  Jon ! ' Alex called.

  ' Coming ! ' Jon shouted back, giving a little shrug. It would be a waste of time trying to make herself look attractive with two people as lovely as her mother and Madeleine around. In any case, Alex never even saw her; she was merely little Jon ', the niece of his best friend.

  As they ate lunch, Alex asked abruptly: Is your mother feeling happier here ? '

  Suddenly wary, Jon looked up. Definitely,' she said, and hoped he had not heard the note of defiance in her voice.

  ' I thought so this morning,' Alex went on, his tone casual. I'm glad she's making so many friends, because she needs friends, you know, Jon. She's not a loner like you.'

  Jon's mouth was dry. You . . . you were here this morning ? '

  Yes, you were out with the dogs. I just looked in.' He stared at her for what seemed an endless moment. Didn't your mother tell you I looked in ? '

  Jon shook her head silently. Had he seen her walking towards the house ? Had he seen her hesitate and turn hurriedly away ? Would he make her lie and then tell her that he knew that she'd heard what her mother had said ?

  She didn't tell me.' At least, Jon thought, she could say that truthfully.

  It wasn't about anything important. This is good meat, Jon. Which butcher did you go to ? ' he asked, and the conversation changed as they discussed the difficulties of shopping, the necessity of having a deepfreeze, and it wasn't until they were on the stoep, drinking coffee, that Jon became wary again, for Alex said casually: I was surprised to see your car in Qwaleni this morning. You see, I'd told your mother I was going in and she said you had been taking her in but her plans had changed. She was so sure you wouldn't go in alone, as you hate the drive. What made you change your mind ? '

  Jon tried to think quickly. Alex mustn't find out about the advertisement for the farm manager until it had all been settled.

  ' I felt restless. I hadn't anything much to do.'

  He looked amused. Don't tell me you're getting bored ? I thought you loved the quiet simplicity of your new life.'

  Of course I do, but . . .' Jon stopped herself in time, for it would be a mistake to let him make her lose her temper.

  Alex stood up. I must go. I've wasted enough time already today. What you need is a husband and six children, little Jon, then you wouldn't have time to feel restless.' He smiled down at her. ' Seen Madeleine ? '

  Yes. She came here this morning, looking for you.'

  I told her yesterday that I was going to Qwaleni today. She never remembers anything. Did she remember to invite you both to dinner tomorrow ? '

  Yes.'

  You're going, of course.'

  ' Well, I don't know about Mum ..

  ' She wants to go. I asked her this morning. She hasn't a very high opinion of Madeleine, has she ? How do you get on with her ? '

  With Madeleine ? All right, but ..

  But . . . ? ' There was a strange note in Alex's voice. Was it anger, exasperation, or irritation ? Jon wondered. She stood up. She hated it when he towered above her and it made it a million times worse when she was sitting down.

  ' We get on all right, but we're not close friends, Alex. You know that very well.'

  She wants to be friends. She needs one badly.'

  Does she ? That isn't the impression I get, Alex.'

  He looked surprised. ' I don't understand.'

  Jon moved impatiently. Of course you do. Madeleine is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, but she never lets me forget it. And it's I . . . I . . . I .. .

  all the time. She's been most helpful, but I'm sure It was only because you told her to be.'

  ' You think she'd obey me ? Just like that ? ' Alex was smiling, openly amused by Jon's outburst.

  ' You know very well she'd do anything you told her to.'

  He laughed. ' I'm flattered. I don't think you know Madeleine very well. She suffers from an outsize inferiority complex.'

  ' Madeleine ? ' Jon stared at him. ' That I can't believe.'

  He shrugged. ' Well, she does.'

  'But...'

  ' You'll understand better after you've been to her home. I'm sorry for the girl.'

  ' Sorry—for Madeleine ? You're teasing me,' Jon said.

  ' Why should I waste my valuable time teasing you ? ' Alex asked with a smile, lifted his hand and said goodbye. ' See you tomorrow, then,' he said casually, and walked off to his car.

  Jon waited until the car was out of sight and then she sat down, ignoring for once the loving tongues of the two dogs as they moved round her, trying to persuade her to take them for a walk.

  ' Wasting his valuable time ', Alex had said. Wasn't that just what Madeleine had said, too ? So he must have said those very words to her and she merely repeated them. Had he, perhaps, told Madeleine to tell Jon ? Well, she thought angrily, soon he wouldn't have to waste his valuable time. Soon she would have her own farm manager and be quite independent. Perhaps then people would stop laughing at her and waiting for her to give in and admit failure. Perhaps the laughter and watching was due to Alex's . . . ? Well, they were all due for a big surprise. Nothing—but nothing was going to make her give up the farm. Nothing whatsoever.

  Rex began to whine, rolling over on his back and

  waving his legs, then leaping to his feet, barking excitedly.

  Jon laughed. ' All right, all right ! ' she told the dogs. ' Let me just change my shoes and we'll go for a walk.'

  The well-known beloved word brought them both to life as they raced up and down the stoep, barking impatiently until Jon was ready.

  She walked slowly down the track, a light hat on her head. She had so much to think about. The two dogs leapt about and raced far ahead, occasionally looking to make sure she was following them and then rushing off again. The spaniel, Jock, walked behind her, still ignoring her but no longer avoiding her, even wagging his tail when she stroked him. Maybe he was accepting her in a minor way, but she still was not his beloved Uncle Ned.

  Jon thought of her uncle, wishing she had known him better, wishing for the thousandth time at least that her mother would stop bla
ming him for something he was not guilty of doing. She also wished she could tell her mother that it had been Uncle Ned financing them for those nine years, without any expectation of gratitude or friendliness from them.

  She also wished she could understand her uncle's letter. Why couldn't her mother read it ? And why could the farm be sold, but not to Alex ?

  If only she could understand the real Alex ! Sometimes she would think him sympathetic, even kind, and then instantly he would change, openly laughing at her.

  And how odd that he should say Madeleine suffered from an inferiority complex ? How could she, when she looked so lovely ?

  And why—another question came into Jon's mind —why had her mother been so silent at breakfast ? Why not have said Alex had looked in and that they'd been invited to dinner at Pumula ? Surely she couldn't have forgotten it in that short time ? Then her mother had also known Alex was going into Qwaleni ? Why

  hadn't she said so ? For that matter, so had Madeleine known and she had said nothing.

  Jon rubbed her face wearily and yawned, for it was too hot to walk far. She saw the mountains ahead and the clouds were coming in fast and low, hiding the green pastures and grey-blue rocks. She called the dogs, turned and walked back to the empty house. She could hear music from the radio in the girls' rooms and their laughter, but as she went from room to room of the house before having her shower, she tried to think of her uncle living here alone, always alone.

  Showering, she wondered what Alex had meant when he called her a ' loner '. Hadn't he once before said the same about Uncle Ned ? What exactly was a loner ?

  As she rubbed herself dry, she decided that maybe he meant that she and Uncle Ned were rarely lonely and preferred not to be one of a crowd. In England she had had her friends, but she didn't need them.

  Putting on a clean frock, she thought of Madeleine. How could she need a friend ? In any case, after the way she had spoken that morning, it was obvious that Madeleine had no friendly feelings for the rooinek—the laughing-stock ' of the neighbourhood

  Dressed, Jon went into the guest room of the house. Would it be suitable for the farm manager ? she wondered. She could get him a table or desk to go under the window. She could move in an armchair from the lounge. There was a bedside lamp. The colour scheme was leaf-green, quite attractive. Would he consider it big enough ? He need only have his meals with them, of course. It seemed an excellent plan, for her mother would be much happier, knowing a man was sleeping in the house to protect them.

  She went back to the stoep, wondering what sort of applications for the job she would get. She must choose wisely or else Alex would have another opportunity to make fun of her.

  How quiet it was ! For once there were no noisy tractors, but the clouds were getting lower and coming

  closer. Now there was only a small part of the sky that was still blue, touched with a faint tinge of pink, reminding her that it was later than she had realized and that soon the sun would go down.

  She went out to the kitchen and told Violet there would only be one person for dinner Not feeling hungry, she changed her mind, telling the girls they could go to their rooms and she would cook her own dinner. It would give her something to do, she teased herself as she got out her writing case. She'd scramble some eggs and add some tomatoes, since all she felt like was a light meal.

  She was busy writing letters when suddenly a wind seemed to spring up from nowhere, making the curtains blow into the room and the doors and windows rattle. It was like a gale. Jon jumped up. The trees were being whipped savagely by the wind, bending almost to the ground. Even as she hurried round the house, closing the windows, shutting the doors, the electricity came on and she silently blessed Leonard for remembering to do it for the sun had gone down and everything was getting dark. At that moment the rain came.

  Never had she seen such rain. It was even worse than it had been during the storm she met coming back from Qwaleni earlier that day. The hard rain beat into the ground so that it became mud almost instantly, making deep ruts through the garden. As Jon stood by the windows watching, she could see the havoc being played amongst the flowers as they were whipped out by the wind or beaten to the ground by the rain. A terrific clap of thunder filled the air and the room was bright with the flash of lightning. Jon moved rapidly away from the window and then felt ashamed of her fear. She hoped they were not having this bad storm where her mother was, for she, poor darling, was absolutely terrified.

  So was she, Jon confessed, as the storm grew worse. Never had she seen such savagery as the sky was cut in half almost by the brilliant lightning while the thunder

  made a reverberating crash at the same instant. It was as if she was in the centre of it all, caged in, never to escape.

  She swung round as the front door opened. The dogs heard nothing, all three of them had retired under the beds at the first noisy crash. She saw Alex, water dripping from him, his hair flattened, water running down his face as he took off his mackintosh.

  Okay ? ' he asked. ' I'll put this in the kitchen.'

  When he came back she had not moved, then she swallowed and managed a smile. It was a bit frightening,' she confessed. I've never seen lightning like that before.'

  Shall we have a drink ? ' he asked, and went, without waiting for her reply, to Uncle Ned's circular bamboo bar '.

  She sipped the drink he gave her and though it burned her throat a little, it warmed her. She sat down and laughed uneasily.

  ' I know it's absurd, but I've . . . You know, Alex, I've never really minded a storm before.'

  She had to shout, as the thunder was still crashing overhead and then rumbling away into the distance so that for a moment it seemed as if the storm was over, but suddenly another great crash overhead told them the storm was still with them.

  Alex smiled, You'll get used to them.'

  Jon found herself laughing. I wish I could be as optimistic as you. I just hate to think what poor Mum is going through. They terrify her even in England.'

  I expect they'll be too busy playing bridge to notice.' He glanced at his watch. Or else they'll be having dinner. You eaten yet ? '

  No. I sent the girls off. I thought I'd scramble some eggs.'

  Alex stood up. I'm starving. You've never tasted the famous Roe omelettes, so now's your chance Just sit still, I know where everything is. Uncle Ned and I were great at cooking.' He chuckled. Just wait

  until you taste my omelettes They're not easy to forget.'

  How right he was, Jon thought, a half hour later when he brought in an enormous omelette with fried tomatoes. The storm seemed to be dying away, but the rain still beat wildly against the windows, streams of water running down the glass.

  ' Well,' Alex demanded, what's your verdict ? Am I a good cook ? '

  Jon laughed, Absolutely perfect. After this, I'll never dare to cook anything for you ! '

  How strange he was, she thought. He did it all with such dignity. How she wished she had been there when he and Uncle Ned had played at being chef '.

  The phone bell rang and Jon hesitated for a moment, but the storm seemed to have subsided. She answered and it was her mother.

  Jon darling, you are all right ? I know how you hate thunderstorms.'

  Are you all right ? ' Jon asked, amused at the way her mother always implied that it was her daughter who was the scared one.

  I'm fine, darling, having a lovely time. I just rang to say I won't be home tonight.'

  What ? I'm sorry, Mum, I didn't hear what you said.' But Jon had heard, every word.

  I said I can't get home tonight, darling. The river down here has flooded and the road's impassable. I hope to be up tomorrow. You'll be all right, of course. You've got the dogs.'

  Yes, said Jon, her voice suddenly dull and lifeless, ' I've got the dogs.'

  As she put down the receiver, there was another loud crash of thunder and the whole room was bright with lightning. Slowly she realized what it meant. That night she would be alone in the hous
e that had been more often burgled than any in the valley But she'd have the dogs. Of course. And she was a loner, as Alex had said. Besides it wasn't her mother's fault. Of

  course, Jon thought, she didn't mind. She'd be perfectly all right. . . .

  Something wrong ? ' Alex's voice pierced her thoughts.

  Jon's face felt stiff. No. Just that Mum can't get home tonight because the river's flooded.'

  He stood up and collected the plates. ' I made some fruit salad. Okay ? '

  It sounds wonderful,' she said dully.

  Alone, she hugged herself, her arms round her body, as she had always done as a child when she was frightened. Don't be so silly, she told herself. After all, if her mother was there, what protection was she ? Yet, of course, it was just knowing someone was there. But she would have the dogs. . . .

  Alex brought in the tray with the fruit salad. He sat down and they ate in silence, the thunder coming and going, almost rhythmically. Then he put down his plate and stretched out his legs, yawning

  ' Well, it's been quite a day, so I suggest we make it an early night. I've got to be up soon after four tomorrow. I'm expecting the delivery of a young eagle.'

  Jon nodded silently. She had hoped he wouldn't go just yet. Another mighty crash of thunder split the silence.

  Jon stood up. ' It was very good of you to come, Alex. I'll get your mac.'

  He smiled up at her. I'm not going, Jon. Do you think I'd leave you here on your own ? This is your first bad storm.'

  Her legs felt absurdly weak and she sat down. You're not . . . going ?

  He smiled. Of course not. I've brought my toothbrush and razor.' He laughed. Don't look so shocked, little Jon. You ought to know you're safe with me. This is Africa, you know, and not a small market town. No one will know, and if they did, they'd think nothing of it.' He stood up, stretching

  his arms above his head and yawning. Mind if I have first bath ? Put the sheets on the bed in the guest room. I can make the bed.' He came to stand by her, leaning down to tilt her head back with his hand. ' I'll be gone when you wake up in the morning, little Jon, but sleep well and don't be scared. The storm is all noise. We rarely get struck down here in the valley.'