that one. Did he have his milk cows with him?' Vicky was for a moment
at a loss, until she remembered the two madonnas. 'His men scour the
mountains to keep him supplied with pretty young mothers in full milk
ugh!' She shuddered theatrically, and Vicky felt her unsettled stomach
quail. 'That and his hemp pipe and the sight of blood. He is an
animal. His people are animals they have been our enemies since the
time of Solomon, and it shames me now that we must have them to fight
beside us.' Then she changed the subject in her usual mercurial
fashion.
'Will you go down the pass again today?'
'Yes,' Vicky said, and Sara sighed.
'The doctor says that I cannot go with you not for many days still.'
'I will fetch you, as soon as you are ready.'
'No. No,' she protested. 'It is shorter and easier on horseback. I
will come immediately but until then carry My love to Gregorius. Tell
him my heart beats with great fury for him, and he walks through my
thoughts eternally.'
'I will tell him,' agreed Vicky, delighted at the sentiment and the
choice of words. At that moment a tall young man in a white jacket,
with the face of a brown pharaoh and huge dark eyes, came to record
Sara's temperature, stooping solicitously over her and murmuring softly
in Amharic as he felt for her pulse with delicate finely shaped
hands.
Sara was transformed instantly into a languid wanton, with smouldering
eyes and pouting lips, but when the orderly left, she was instantly
herself again, giggling delightedly as she drew Vicky's head down to
whisper in her ear.
'Is he not as beautiful as the dawn? He studies to be a doctor, and
goes soon to the University at Berlin. He has fallen in love with me
since last night and as soon as my leg is less painful I shall take him
as a lover.' And when she saw Vicky's startled glance, she went on
hurriedly, 'But just for a short time, of course. Only until I am well
enough to ride back to Gregorius.' When Lij Mikhael came, riding with
his wild horsemen.
They waited outside in the sun while the Prince came into the ward to
take farewell of his daughter. His sombre mood lightened momentarily
as he embraced Sara, and he saw how well she was recovered. Then he
told the two women, 'Yesterday at noon, the Italian army under General
De Bono crossed the Mareb River in force and has begun to march on A
owa and Ambo Aradam. The wolf is into the sheepfold. There has
already been fighting and the Italian aeroplanes are bombing our towns.
We are now at war.'
'It is no surprise,' said Sara. 'The only surprise is that.
they took so long.'
'Miss Camberwell, you must return as swiftly as you can to my father at
the foot of the gorge, and warn him that he must be ready to meet an
enemy attack.' He drew out a gold pocket watch and glanced at it.
'Within the next few minutes, an aircraft will be landing here to take
me to the Emperor. I would be obliged, Miss Camberwell, if you would
accompany me to the-landing field.' Vicky nodded, and the Lij went on.
