The Man at Mulera (9 page)

“
It
is
Mulera.
”

“
Is it, though?
”
The information apparently gave
him
pause.
“
Is this the manager
’
s house?
”

She nodded.
“
Sit down and drink the coffee or you
’
ll get the shivers. Where are you making for?
”

He drank and put down the cup, lowered himself to a chair.
“
This house, as a matter of fact
.
I thought it would be empty.
”

Lou stood back from the table and regarded him; under his tan he was pale, and his movements had the slackness of more than normal tiredness.
“
Are you the new manager?
”

“
That
’
s the general idea. Three months
’
trial. I
’
m not due here for nine days, but I was footloose and decided to come.
”
His light brown glance rested on the youthful curves of her face.
“
Do you have a father or someone around?
”

“
Someone,
”
she replied guardedly.
“
Did you come by car?
”

“
Only as far as the river. The road is awash and I walked the rest of the way.
”

“
The river?
”
she echoed.
“
I don
’
t even know it
”

He shrugged.
“
That
’
s how a good many of the rivers are in Africa; they only show in the rains.
”
He pushed a hand over lank hair which now looked the color of old rope.
“
I
’
ll have to
think
this out
.
Don
’
t let it worry you.
”
His tone put Lou at ease. She went quietly along to the bathroom for a towel, brought it back and put it in his hands.

“
Dry your hair and take off your shoes. It
’
s only about ten, so we should be able to send a message to Mr. Gilmore. One of his servants lives in the quarters at the back and I
’
ll get hold of him.
”

“
Oh, no,
”
he said hastily.
“
I won
’
t let Ross Gilmore know I
’
m in the vicinity yet If the house had been available I
’
d have been happy to get dug in and familiarize myself with the plantation,
b
ut as things are he
’
s not likely to welcome me.
”
He thought for a moment
“
Do you have a spare room?
”

She shook her head.
“
Afraid I can
’
t offer you the empty bedroom.
”

He looked past her, at the open doorway to the corridor, raked back his drying hair,
“
Do you live with a brother?
”

Lou studied
him.
Now, his hair was lighter, the color of damp sand, and consequently the brown eyes appeared darker. His features were thin and good, but his mouth had the slant of disillusionment and about his eyes the
skin
was lined. He looked thirtyish and thoroughly seasoned; one might have said the same of Ross Gilmore, but in Ross the experienced look had vitality and keenness. Greg Allwyn carried a faint air of ruin about him but even so he was attractive. When he felt thoroughly well he was probably very aware of his good looks.

Carefully, she explained her position. He listened, nodded when she mentioned the Westons and was silent for a moment when she had finished. He began to look a little better, less grey about the mouth and slightly more alert. His eyes had the kind of smile she had seen once or twice in men who knew a great deal about women, yet she felt she could trust him.

“
I honestly don
’
t beli
e
ve Mr. Gilmore will mind your arriving rather early,
”
she said.
“
He has spare rooms at his house and can put you up right away—even tonight.
”

He felt in the top pocket of his bush shirt for cigarettes.
“
I
’
ll be honest too,
”
he said.
“
The way I
’
ve been feeling, a house of my own sounded like heaven. A room in Ross Gilmore
’
s house, on the other hand, sounds like a rather different place! I
’
d sooner live in a tent.
”

She was curious.
“
Do you know
him
very well?
”

“
Let
’
s put it that I know him.
”
It seemed as if he
might
leave it at that; then he looked at her, let his glance rove the slender shoulders, the short brown hair streaked with gold.
“
If you
’
re partners with him in the care of this child you must be finding out things about Ross. How do you get along with
him
?
”

“
He
’
s maddening, but quite kind.
”

“
Friendly?
”

“
In an armed way—yes.
”
She paused.
“
If you don
’
t like him why did you take on the job?
”

“
For me,
”
he said jadedly,
“
it
’
s a leg-up. I was in forestry with Ross for about a year—just before he took this place. Being the sort of guy I am I just stayed in forestry. It
’
s a good life if you
’
re keen on timber and scenery, but I was sated with both after about six months. I stayed because I hadn
’
t fitted myself to do anything else.
”

“
So this is a new start for you?
”

“
That
’
s right. I ought to be straining at the leash.
”

“
But you
’
re not—because you
’
ve been ill?
”

He lay back and crossed his khaki-stockinged feet, had the appearance of a man who longed to relax.
“
You
’
re awfully maternal for your age. For heaven
’
s sake stop looking as if you
’
re sorry for me, or I shall unload.
”

With a business-like movement Lou placed the cups back on the tray.
“
I only put questions because I couldn
’
t understand a man being so down in the dumps. You
’
re free to do as you like; you didn
’
t have to come to Mulera if you don
’
t get along with Ross Gilmore.
”

“
I get along with him. I haven
’
t his ruthless outlook and unlimited energy, so it makes me tired just to think ahead.
”
He offered
the
cigarettes and was lighting one for each of them now, with a match.
“
In the past few years I haven
’
t seen much of Ross. We
’
d meet occasionally at the club in Zomba, but I never came this way and Ross hardly ever came back to see the forestry types. The weekend after the Westons were killed Ross saw the lawyer in Zomba, and I ran into him. He asked me if I
’
d been working without a contract, so I gave a month
’
s notice, but half-way through it I hooked a dose of fever and had to
finish
. Actually, I gave up my quarters too soon. I
’
ve been kicking about for several days. When the rain came I had to make some sort of decision, and it seemed wiser to come here and settle in. Never occurred to me
I’
d find a pretty girl installed.
”
He livened a little.
“
If I believed in anything I
’
d take you as a good omen. One of my most troublesome dreams is about a girl who could easily be you!
”

She laughed.
“
Now you
’
re being obvious. And you haven
’t
made it
cl
ear why you aren
’
t keen to work for
Ross.”

“
Did I say that?
”
It
’
s not really true.
”
He paused.
“
Have you ever envied someone who
’
s thoroughly adjusted and successful? Maybe not, because you
’
re adjusted yourself and success wouldn
’
t mean much to you—worldly success, I mean. Ross is a positive character; he knows where he
’
s going and he expects others to
b
e the same. He came to Africa in a pioneering spirit, and I
’
ve heard
him
say that wherever a man lives he should create something permanent or perennial—like trees and industries. He
’
s never seriously thought of anything else since he
’
s been here.
”

“
You
’
ve created trees,
”
she pointed out
.

“
Oh, sure, but I don
’
t care about them.
”

“
Does Ross know that?
”

His smile flickered, his regard became a little more intent "You know, I
’
m beginning to wonder what I
’
ve dropped into—and to rather like it Would you care to take me on, and stay in the house?
”

“
Take you on?
”
she asked blankly.

“
Marry me,
”
said Gregg.

“
For a moment I thought you were serious about my staying in the house,
”
she said, relieved.
“
You
’
d better be careful with your proposals. Someone may call your bluff
!
”

He kn
ocked
ash into the tray she had pushed near him, sighed and murmured,
“
I
’
m no capture for any woman. It
’
s such a long time since I
’
ve met anyone remotely like you that I felt quite dizzy for a moment with hope.
”

“
You
’
re still light-headed from fever,
”
she said severely.
“
What are we going to do with you tonight?
”

He listened to the rain hammering outside, bent to put on his shoes. He looked up and his face was drawn.
“
I suppose there
’
s a garage; you must give me the key to it.
”

‘
It
’
s dusty and full of junk—you can
’
t sleep out there. I
think
you
’
re the most improvident man I ever met!
”

“
I could wade back to my car and spend the night in it
.
”

“
That
’
s impossible. Please let me send for Mr. Gilmore.
”