infectious, and he could not help but laugh with her and share the warm
excitement as she anticipated her release from the hospital and their
return together to the sanctuary of Jabulani.
There were no doubts in her mind, no shadows across her happiness, and
gradually David began to believe that it would last. That their
happiness was immortal and that their love could survive any pressure
placed upon it. It was so strong and fine when they were together now,
carried along by Debra's bubbling enthusiasm, that surely she could
regain her sight and weather the first shock of seeing him.
Yet he was not sure enough to tell her yet, there was plenty of time.
Two weeks, Ruby Friedman had told him, two weeks before she would be
able to see him and it was vitally important to David that he should
extract every grain of happiness that was left to him in that time.
In the lonely nights he lay with the frantic scurryings of his brain
keeping him from sleep. He remembered that the plastic surgeon had told
him there was more they could do to make him less hideous. He could'go
back and submit to the knife once more, although his body cringed at the
thought. Perhaps they could give Debra something less horrifying to
look at.
The following day he braved the massed stares of hundreds of shoppers to
visit Stuttafords Departmental Store in Adderley Street. The girl in
the wig department, once she had recovered her poise, took him into a
curtainedoff cubicle and entered into the spirit of finding a Wig to
cover the domed cicatrice of his scalp.
David regarded the fine curly head of hair over the frozen ruins of his
face, and for the first time ever he found himself laughing at it,
although the effect of laughter was even more horrifying as the tight
lipless mouth writhed like an animal in a trap.
God! he laughed. Frankenstein in drag! 'and for the sales girl who
had been fighting to control her emotions this was too much. She broke
into hysterical giggles of embarrassment.
He wanted to tell Debra about it, making a joke of it and at the same
time prepare her for her first sight Of his face, but somehow he could
not find the words.
Another day passed with nothing accomplished, except a few last hours of
warmth and happiness shared.
The following day Debra began to show the first signs of restlessness.
When are they going to let me out, darling? I feel absolutely
wonderful. It's ridiculous to lie in bed here. I want to get back to
labulani, there is so much to do. Then she giggled. And they've had me
locked up here ten days now. I'm not used to convent Ille, and to be
completely honest with you, my big lusty lover, I am climbing the wall
We could lock the door, David suggested.
God, I married a genius, Debra cried out delightedly, and then later.
That's the first time it ever happened for me in Technicolor. I think I
could get hooked on that That evening Ruby Friedman and the Brig were
waiting for him when he returned to his suite, and they came swiftly to
the reason for their visit.
You have already left it too long. Debra should have been told days
