the ecology of the Australian inshore waters, and the two of them were
soon so absorbed in the application of Samantha's techniques to this new
creature that when her assistant stuck her head through and yelled,
'Hey, Sam, there's a call for you/ she shouted back, Take a message.
if they're lucky I'll call them back. It's international, person to
person! and Samantha's pulse raced; instantly forgotten was the host of
Spiral-coned sea snails.
Nicholas! she shouted happily, spilled half a pint of sea water down
the Australian's trouser leg and ran wildly to the small cubicle at the
end of the laboratory.
She was breathless with excitement as she snatched up the receiver and
she pressed one hand against her heart to stop it thumping.
Is that Doctor Silver? Yes! It's me. Then correcting her grammar, It
is she! Go ahead, please/ said the operator, and there was a click and
pulse on the line as it came alive.
Nicholas! she exulted. Darling Nicholas, is that you? No., The voice
was very clear and serene, as though the speaker stood beside her, and
it was familiar, disconcertIngly so, and for no good reason Samantha
felt her heart shrink with dread.
This is Chantelle Alexander, Peter's mother. We have met briefly. Yes.
Samantha's voice was now small, and still breathless.
I thought it would be kind to tell you in person, before you hear from
other sources - that Nicholas and I have decided to re-marry.
Samantha sat down jerkily on the office stool.
Are you there? Chantelle asked after a moment.
I don't believe you, whispered Samantha.
I'm sorry, Chantelle told her gently. But there is Peter, you see, and
we have rediscovered each other - discovered that we had never stopped
loving each other. Nicholas wouldn't - her voice broke, and she could
not go on.
You must understand and forgive him, my dear/ Chantelle explained. After
our divorce he was hurt and lonely.
I'm sure he did not mean to take advantage of you. But, but - we were
supposed to, we were going to I know. Please believe me, this has not
been easy for any of us. For all our sakes - We had planned a whole
life together. Samantha shook her head wildly, and a thick skein of
golden hair came loose and flopped into her face, she pushed it back
with a combing gesture. I don't believe it, why didn't Nicholas tell me
himself? I won't believe it until he tells me.
Chantelle's voice was compassionate, gentle. I so wanted not to make it
ugly for you, my child, but now what can I do but tell you that Nicholas
spent last night in my house, in my bed, in my arms, where he truly
belongs. It was almost miraculous, a physical thing, but sitting
hunched on the hard round stool Samantha Silver felt her youth fall away
from her, sloughed off like a glittering reptilian skin. She was left
with the sensation of timelessness, possessed of all the suffering and
sorrow of every woman who had lived before. She felt very old and wise
and sad, and she lifted her fingers and touched her own not dried cheek,
mildly surprised to feel that the skin was and withered like that of
some ancient crone.
