I don't.
The fire had been built on a piece of waste ground that was divided from the road by a low wall. The land itself was about ten feet below street level; it was reached through an entrance in the side street. The site was crowded with students, most of them holding bottles or glasses. A crowd of them were dragging a tree trunk across the fire. It was too big to lie flat; it formed a kind of bridge across the centre of the fire, supported at its far end by branches.
Let's go down for just a moment, Gerard?
Sorme trailed reluctantly behind her as she walked to the side street. There the ground sloped naturally on to the site. He asked with misgiving:
Do you know many of them?
A few. But we don't want to get involved. Let's just have a warm and then go.
Somewhere, a portable radio was playing dance music, but no one was attempting to dance. In the shadows, towards the wall, couples were stretched out on the grass. Most of the crowd stood around the fire in a wide circle. It was too hot to stand close. In the blaze, Sorme could distinguish an old sofa and the remains of a door. As they stood there, someone leapt over the tree trunk where it lay across the centre of the fire, and landed clumsily on the far side, sending up a shower of red sparks. A few students began to cheer spasmodically. The youth turned round and leapt back the other way, flinging his arms in the air and shrieking as he jumped. Sorme said, disgustedly: Bloody fool.
That's Ivor Fenner. I used to go out with him.
Sorme repressed an irritated comment and turned away, shrugging. She took his arm, saying:
Let's go.
As they came back on to street level, he said gloomily:
It all makes me feel as if I'm fifty. I detest students.
They're all right.
Individually, perhaps. En masse, they're loathsome.
Before they had walked more than fifty yards they heard a distant clang of bells.
The fire engine passed them and pulled up opposite the bomb site. Caroline said:
They're going to put it out. Let's watch.
When they reached the site the waste ground was already empty of students; they clustered around the walls, looking at the fire. Sorme and Caroline stood at the end of the wall, and watched the long, white jet of water that hissed across the grass and curved on to the fire. Immediately, clouds of steam rose, and the flames disappeared. The water hit the end of the tree trunk, and set it jerking across the grass. A groan went up from the students. Someone shouted:
Rotten spoil-sports!
The fire was out. It had taken less than three minutes.
As they walked away, Sorme found himself feeling ashamed of the irritation he had felt earlier; it was not that he sympathised with the students, but that he revolted automatically at the idea of the authority that could put an end to the party. She looked at his face as they passed under a streetlamp, and asked:
What are you annoyed about, Gerard?
He laughed, becoming aware suddenly that he had been scowling:
I'm not annoyed. I suppose I'm never satisfied.
How do you mean?
I disliked those students because they seemed a sloppy and undisciplined mob of adolescents. That makes me an authoritarian. But I detest the authorities when they stand about in uniforms and give orders. So I dare say I'm an anarchist. An authoritarian anarchist!
They had turned into Cheyne Walk. The breeze that came from the river was cold.
She turned up her collar, and pressed her head against his arm. They crossed to the wall that overlooked the river, and stopped to stare at the water. The lights from the Albert Bridge wavered up from the ink-coloured dark. He became aware that she was looking up at him. He bent to kiss the cold lips, and felt the tip of her nose icy against his face.
She said:
I don't care what you are.
There's no reason why you should. You don't have to live with me like I do.
She said stubbornly:
I wouldn't care if I had to live with you.
He kissed her again and wondered, as he did so, how many times before she had been kissed in the dark, and by how many men. He stopped himself before his speculation went further, but was not soon enough to stop a feeling of resentment towards her.
They crossed the bridge that led out to a landing-stage. From this, a narrow gangway of planks ran out along the side of the moored houseboats. He said:
I'd better go first. It's as black as your hat. Which boat is it?
The third along.
What do we do if they're not in?
We could wait for them. Or go home.
As he came level with the third boat, he observed that there were no lights on.
It looks as though they're out. What now?
Let's go on board. The door might be open.
He clambered over the side of the boat, and helped her over. She asked:
Have you got any matches?
He found a match, and lit it. She pulled at a door, which opened.
Thank heavens! We can get in, anyway.
He followed her curiously. An electric light came on, revealing a small kitchen, with two Calor-gas cylinders standing beside a gas stove. She called:
Anyone home? Yoo hoo! Barbara! Madeleine!
He noticed a corkscrew hanging on a hook on the wall.
We can have some wine, anyway.
He tore off the lead foil, and opened the bottle. There were no glasses, but he found two china cups on a shelf. Caroline said:
Come on in here.
It was a small bed-sitting room, containing only a wide single bed and an armchair. It was barely six feet square.
This is Barbara's room. Madeleine's is next door, but that's smaller still.
Where do they eat?
In the kitchen.
And where do they receive visitors?
There's another room through there, but they're painting it at the moment.
He handed a cup half filled with wine. She asked:
What shall we drink to? Shall we drink to us?
To us.
He met her eyes as he lowered the cup; she turned her face up to be kissed. He could taste the wine on her lips. They still held the cups. She said:
I wonder what Aunt Gertrude'd say if she could see us now?
I dread to think.
He flung his coat over the armchair, and sat on the bed.
Do you think Barbara would mind if I sit on her bed?
Of course not. Move over.
What about my shoes?
Take them off.
He unlaced them and slipped them off, then moved over to the wall. She immediately lay down beside him
