elegance and spacious palmy gardens to the modern slabs of glass and
concrete upon the foreshore and the rocks of Sea Point. They stayed in
the suite for the two days, awaiting the Brig's arrival, for David had
grown unaccustomed to humanity in its massed and unlovely multitudes,
and found the quick inquisitive glances and murmurs of pity that
followed him hard to stomach.
on the second day the Brig arrived. He knocked on the door of the suite
and then entered with his aggressive and determined stride. He was lean
and hard and brown, as David remembered, and when he and Debra had
embraced, he turned to David and his hand was dry and leathery, but it
seemed that he looked at David with a new calculation in the fierce
warrior eyes.
While Debra bathed and dressed for the evening, he took David to his own
suite and poured whisky for him without asking his preference. He gave
David the glass and began immediately to discuss the arrangements he had
made.
Friedman will be at the reception. I will introduce him to Debra and
let them talk for a while, then he will be seated next to her at the
dinner-table. This will give us the opportunity to persuade Debra to
undergo an examination later, Before we go any further, sir, David
interrupted, I want your assurance that at no time will it ever be
suggested to her that there is a possibility of Debra regaining her
sight.
Very well.
I mean, at no time whatsoever. Even if Friedman determines that surgery
is necessary, it must be for some other reason than to restore sight, I
don't think that is possible, the Brig snapped angrily. If matters go
that far, then Debra must be told. It would not be fair It was David's
turn for anger, although the frozen mask of his features remained
immobile, the lipless slit of mouth turned pale and the blue eyes
glared.
Let me determine what is fair. I know her as you never can, I know what
she feels and what she is thinking. If you offer her a chance of sight,
you will create for her the same dilemma in which I have been trapped
since the possibility first arose. I would spare her that. 'I do not
understand you, the Brig said stiffly. The hostility between them was a
tangible essence that seemed to fill the room with the feel of thunder
on a summer's day.
Then let me explain, David held his eyes, refusing to be brow-beaten by
this fierce and thrusting old warrior. Your daughter and I have
achieved an extraordinary state of happiness.
The Brig inclined his head, acknowledging. Yes, I will accept your word
for that, but it is an artificial state.
It's a hot-house thing, reared in isolation, it has no relation to the
real world. It's a dream state.
David felt his anger begin to shake the foundations of his reason. He
found it offensive that anybody should speak of Debra and his life in
those terms, but at the same time he could see the justification.
You may say so, sir. But for Debra and me, it is very real. it is
something of tremendous value. The Brig was silent now.
