When, in another interlude of her dream, M‘Crae arrived, the shadow of the acacia had moved away from her, and she found that she was lying in the tempered sunshine of late afternoon. He brought her water. That was the thing which mattered most. And when she had drunk she found that she was ready to tackle another plug of biltong. Little by little the dream atmosphere faded.
“I’ve been a long time,” he said, “but I wanted to make sure of everything. I can tell you we’re in luck’s way. We slept within a couple of miles of water. To think of it! The railway lies over the brow of the hill on our right. I made a false cast for it at first. And there is not only the railway there, but a sort of station. Now you can be sure of safety. I can leave you happily.”
Their eyes met, and both knew that he had not spoken the truth; but she also knew that his mind was already made up on what he still conceived to be his duty and that, however tragically, leave her he must.
“I found a man there working in the rubber. A Greek I took him to be. And I told him about Godovius and his levies at Luguru. They can’t send help from here: but the stationmaster has sent a wire through to Kilossa. Probably they thought I was mad. He was old and very fat; but I saw his boys washing a woman’s clothes, so I think you will be safe. So now I shall take you to the edge of the bush above the station. After that you will fend for yourself. It may be difficult . . . but I know how brave you are, you wonderful child.”
“It is only a little way,” he said, “and you must let me carry you. I know that you’re done, my darling. No other woman could have stood what you have stood already. If I put everything else aside I should have to have loved you for that. You know how I love you?”
“Not well enough. You must keep on telling me. . . . But now,” she said, “I can walk. Do they know that I am coming? Does that Greek woman know?”
“They know nothing. Only that a madman out of the bush has brought a message from Luguru and has gone again. When you get there you know that you will be a prisoner.”
“But the Germans are not at war with the women,” she said.
“No . . .” he said. “I am sure that you will be safe. A white woman is safe anywhere in Africa with white men. If it were not so it would be impossible for women to live here at all. But we must not waste time. You’ll put your arms round my neck and I shall lift you.”
“I will put my arms round your neck, and then I will kiss you; but I shall not let you carry me. You must be more tired than me. I’ve been resting all day.”