Follow a Stranger

dripping wet, and stared at herself in the full length

mirror on the wall. She even looked different. She could

not be sure what it was, but her eyes had a new

expression. They were more alive, more secretive, as

though concealing something, even from herself. That

look of youth was beginning to go. Her mouth had an

adult bitterness in its curves.

She shivered, and began to dry herself vigorously.

Slipping into her new dressing-gown, she padded

towards her own room, and met Marc coming out of his.

He still wore his jeans and sailing shirt. They looked at

each other in silence for a moment.

“I’ve rung the doctor,” he said curtly. “He’ll be here in

four hours. He has to come over from Epilison and this

is not his usual day for visiting Kianthos.”

Kate shrugged, “There’s no hurry.” She went past

him, in a cloud of perfumed talcum, and he caught her

arm.

“Kate,” he said huskily, “why do you fight me all the

time?”

She couldn’t look up at him. She was too painfully

aware of him, big and dark and dominating, standing

very close to her. He waited for a moment, then dropped

her arm and stalked away down the stairs.

He did not appear at lunch, nor did his mother, who

was recovering from the shock of believing them both

drowned yesterday. Sam, Pallas and Kate lunched

quietly together. Then the doctor arrived, examined her

and pronounced her perfectly fit, but slightly shocked.

“No more excitement,” he ordered. “Rest, relaxation.”