In the darkness the lantern burning in Katrina's wagon glowed through

the canvas and guided them the last half mile into camp. Thief bayed

them welcome and Mbejane ran out at the head of the other servants to

take Sean's horse. His voice was loud with worry and relief. Nkosi,

there is little time . . . it has begun Sean jumped off his horse and

ran to the wagon. He tore open the canvas flap. Sean. She sat up. Her

eyes were very green in the lantern light, but they were dark-ringed.

Thank God, you've come.

Sean knelt beside her cot and held her. He said certain things to her

and she clung to him and moved her lips across his face. The world

receded and left one wagon standing in darkness, lit by a single Lamp

and the love of two people.

Suddenly she stiffened in his arms and gasped. Sean held her, his face

suddenly helpless and his big hands timid and uncertain on her

shoulders.

What can I do, my fancy? How can I help you?

Her body relaxed slowly and she whispered, Did you find a priest? The

priest! Sean had forgotten about him. Still holding onto her he turned

his head and bellowed, Alphonso. . .

Alphonso. Hurry, man Father Alphonso'S face in the opening of the wagon

Was pale with fatigue and grimy with dust. MarrY us, said Sean-

Quickly, man, che-cha, chopchop . . . you savvy!™ Alphonso climbed

into the wagon. The skirts of his cassock were torn and his knees were

white and bony through the holes. He stood over them and opened his

book. Ring? he asked in Portuguese.

I do, said Sean. No! No! Ring? I Alphonso held up a finger and made

an encircling gesture. Ring?

I think he wants a wedding ring, whispered Katrina.

Oh, my God, said Sean. i'd forgotten about that- He looked round

desperately. what can we use? Haven't you got one in your chest or

something? Katrina shook her head, opened her lips to answer but closed

them again as another pain took her. Sean held her while it lasted and

when she relaxed he looked UP angrily at Alpbonso. Marry us . . .

damn you. Don't you see there's no time for all the trimmings? Ring?

said Alphonso again. He looked very unhappy. all right, I'll get you a

ring Sean leapt out of the wagon and shouted at Mbejane. Bring my

rifle, quickly-if Sean wanted to shoot the Portuguese that was his

business and Mbejane's duty was to help him. He brought Sean the rifle.

Sean found a gold sovereign in the pouch on his belt, he threw it on the

ground and held the muzzle of the rifle on it. The bullet punched a

ragged hole through it. He tossed the rifle back to Mbejane, picked up

the small gold circle and scrambled back into the wagon.

Three times during the service the pains made Katrina gasp and each time

Sean held her tight and AlPhonso increased the speed of his delivery.

Sean put the punctured sovereign on Katrina's finger and kissed her.

Alphonso gabbled out the last line of Latin and Katrina said, Oh, Sean,

it's coming. Get out Sean told Alphonso and made an expressive gesture

towards the door, thankfully AlPhonso went.

It did not take long then, but to Sean it was an eternity like that time

when they had taken Garrick's leg. Then in a slippery rush it was

finished. Katrina lay very quiet and pale, while on the cot below her,

still linked to her purple-blotched and bloody lay the child that they

had made. It's dead, croaked Sean. He was sweating and he had backed

away against the far wall of the wagon.

No Katrina struggled up fiercely. No, it's not . . .

Sean, you must help me.

She told him what to do and at last the child cried. It's a boy, said

Katrina softly. Oh, Sean . . . it's a boy.

She was more beautiful than he had ever seen her before;

pale and tired and beautiful.

Sean's protests were in vain, Katrina left her bed the next morning and

squeezed into one of her old dresses.

Sean hovered between her and the child on the cot.