Out into the sunlight and across the street to the rank of hire cabs
they walked together, while behind them the uproar was muted-sounding
at this distance like the voices of wild animals.
Sean handed Ruth up into the coach and was about to join her before he
remembered what there was still to be done. He spoke to the driver and
gave him money before coming back to Ruth.
'Please wait for me at the hotel, my dear. ' 'Where are you going?'
'I must offer Garry our congratulations.
Through the screen of bodies that surrounded him Garry saw Sean
approaching, and he felt his body tensing involuntarily racked by that
conflict of hatred and love he bore for this man.
Sean stopped in front of him and smiled. 'Well done, Garry!'
he said and offered his right hand. 'You beat me in a hard straight
fight-and I'd like to shake your hand. ' Garry took the words up with
temerity, examined them with growing realization of their meaning and
found that they were true. He had fought Sean and beaten him. This
was something that could not be destroyed-something that Sean could
never take away from him. I've beaten him. For the first time-the
very first time in all my life' It was an emotional orgasm so intense
that for a long moment Garry could not move or make any reply.
'Sean . . .' His voice choked up. He caught Sean's outstretched hand
in both of his and held it with desperate strength.
'Sean, perhaps now . . . ' he whispered,
'I'd like to . . . I mean, when we get back to Ladyburg . . . ' Then
he stopped and blushed scarlet with embarrassment. Quickly he released
Sean's hand and stepped back. 'I thought you might like to come out to
Theuniskraal,'
he mumbled, 'some day when you're not busy. Look around the old
place.
' Then more eagerly,
'It's been a long time. I've still got Pa's old . . . ' 'Never!' Anna
Courtney hissed the word. Neither of them had noticed her cross the
hall, but now she appeared suddenly at Garry's side. Her eyes were
bright gems of hatred set in their patterns of wrinkles, and her face
was white as she glared at Sean.
'Never,' she hissed again, and took Garry's arm. 'Come with me,' she
commanded, and Garry followed her meekly.
But he glanced back at where Sean still stood, and there was a
desperate plea in his eyes. A plea for understanding, for forgiveness
of this weakness.
Like one who lives in a hurricane belt, and recognizes the shape of
clouds and the breathless hush that precedes high wind-Ruth knew she
would have to deal with the brooding undirected rage which would be
Sean's reaction to this failure of his plans. His moods came at widely
spaced intervals and did not last long-but she feared those moods of
his, and like the prudent householder forewarned of the hurricane's
approach, she took precautions to minimize its wrath.
When she reached the hotel she sent an urgent summons to the Manager.
'In half an hour I want lunch served in the suite-not your ordinary
bill of fare. Something really good.' The Manager thought a moment.
