CHAPTER VIII

ROBYN was moving along the path towards the house after a "dip in the pool when David's red car drew alongside. For a second her heart flipped, then settled again, for it was Maria who was at the wheel. The other girl slowed the car to a stop, leaving the engine running.

"Hi !" She leaned from the window, tossing her gay empty smile towards Robyn. "David was going to run me down here, but something came up, something important that he had to r see to, so he lent me the transport."

Looking as perfectly dressed as before, though now she wore a simple Island shift, Maria tossed a curl back from her face. Robyn thought she looked rested, happy. Well, wouldn't anyone? There was no trace of the near-hysterical girl of a few nights previously.

Robyn forced a smile. If that was the way she wanted it, to blithely ignore the events of the night of the fire and act as though no wild allegations had been hurled against her, she would go along with it.

"David sent you a message —" Robyn was aware of the cool, noticing glance that flickered over her face, realised too late she was tense, eyes alight with expectancy.

"Oh, nothing personal," Maria said with her mocking smile, "he just wanted me to warn you to get ready for the tourist invasion! He's contacted all the local tourist agencies letting them know the Islander is now in business, so the crowd should be heading this way any day now. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Robyn tried to force her features into an expression of polite interest. "Yes, of course. I'll come along with you and show you to your unit —"

"Don't trouble." Maria slid the car into gear. "David told me to take whichever one I fancy ! " A peal of laughter and

the car moved away, leaving Robyn with lips pressed tightly together in angry frustration. To be treated with careless condescension by this stranger, her in her own home — well, it was near enough to her own home ! Were it not for certain obligations that kept her at the Islander and her promise to David that she would help in the craft shop ... David; once again the black tide of misery swept over her spirit.

The following day found the newly-completed motel hidden amongst the coconut palms to be crowded with guests. Taxis, buses and private cars continued to draw up at the wide concrete parking area at the rear of the building. There was a babel of varying accents as tourists from Canada, England, America, Australia, moved through the foyer and lingered in the boutique on their way to the native-style restaurant. Throughout the day the tortoise-shaped pool was never empty. Afterwards guests lazed on the springy green grass, their bodies glistened with oil and faces upturned to the blue sky as they sought a hurry-up tan. Others hired the specially thick-soled shoes from a thatched but near the beach and strolled out at low tide to the coral reef.

The newly-painted Katrina, now manned by Selani's handsome boy-friend Lesi, was packed with passengers on every trip and stragglers arriving from the neighbouring hotel around the bay were forced to await a second viewing.

It was all working out perfectly, Robyn thought, just as David had planned it — except for her own wayward heart! If only she could get him out of her mind ! As day followed day the longing to see him once more intensified. She found herself endlessly longing, looking for him. She had been so certain he would have come back to the Islander before this, if only to finalise arrangements for the opening night. But he , hadn't arrived; why should he? With Maria in charge of everything he could be confident that matters would be in hand for the approaching celebration. Oh no, there wouldn't be the slightest hitch, she mused bleakly. The other two no doubt would be on the telephone daily to make arrangements, and to keep in touch with each other. That was the hurt.

 

Would it ever lessen? The pain, the aching longing, the dreary sense of despair? She couldn't forget David's attitude towards her on the night of the fire. If anything were needed to underline the directions in which his feelings lay, it was the curt way in which he had brushed past her, all his thoughts centred on the girl in the adjoining bure.

In the days that followed she had to admit that the other girl was proving herself to be an outstanding asset to anyone engaged in the tourist trade. Now apparently fully recovered from the effects of shock suffered on the night of the fire in the bures, Maria appeared to be on duty both day and night. Trim and neat in her short-short black linen frock, her flashing smile welcomed guests and she was quick to see to their comfort. To add to the pleasure of the holiday she arranged daily launch trips to one of the outlying islands, and for shopping in Suva, short air flights travelling in the little blue and white plane leaving daily from the grassy airstrip over the hill from the main building. It was clear that Maria was careful to sustain as far as possible the unspoiled island atmosphere David had envisaged as one of the main attractions of the new Islander. But of course she would want to please him. Robyn hated herself for the thought. They would work in together, they were two of a kind. It was she who was the outsider, naive, young, inexperienced. In some indefinable way Maria contrived to remind her of the fact whenever they met, which wasn't often, not if she could help it!

It wasn't difficult, for Maria was fully occupied with her duties in the motel and Robyn herself was busier than ever, something for which she was grateful, she told herself, as she threw herself into selling the local curios and native clothing in the small store. For part of the time she was relieved by Selani and for the rest, apart from swimming in the tepid waters or in the pool and strolling at low tide along the reef, she spent her time with canvas and paints in her own modem unit. She tried to concentrate only on matters of the moment as gradually she fulfilled the art orders for hangings, pictures and murals that had continued to arrive from various new

tourist hotels and guesthouses that were springing up in the islands of the Fiji group. Come to think of it, she hadn't yet seen Johnny to thank him for putting the commissioned work her way. She had left a message for him at the Yacht Club in Suva asking him to come to the opening night celebrations at the Islander, but so far she had heard nothing. Surely if he was back in time from his cruise on the luxury yacht with Noeline and her parents he would be sufficiently interested to make an effort to be here for that one night. But she knew the hope was a frail one.

On three occasions Kevin had rung her from Suva inviting her out. He urged her to meet him in the city. They'd take in a dinner, a dance, an island show, anything she'd care to see. Robyn had made excuses why she couldn't go. She had to complete art orders, she was tied to the craft shop. Anything but the truth that she had no heart for anything except staying here waiting and hoping for David's arrival.

On the day of the magiti Robyn met Mrs. Daley in the hall. The older woman paused with a bright smile. "Did you ever see such a difference in a place? Every unit full all the time and bookings made for months ahead ! They say everyone in Fiji is talking about the success of the Islander. They call it the most attractive place in the islands. And that special continental chef David had brought over ... those tempting creations of his would be the end of anyone not wanting to put on weight. Have you tried his coconut cream pie?"

Robyn shook her head. She hadn't sampled the sumptuous meals so attractively served in the cool, native-style restaurant, It was difficult enough for her to choke down food at all when all the time she was fighting this sense of heartache. She would be thankful when tonight was over, then David would return to Suva and she wouldn't need to see him again. No, she wasn't glad, she wanted him on any terms, even if meeting him again was only misery and pain. Besides, how could she have forgotten, naturally he would be visiting the place as much as ever, only now it would be Maria whom he came to see !

The older woman echoed her thoughts. "You have to hand it to Maria. She's got everything arranged for the opening tonight. No trouble at all. Nothing seems to put her out and she's a marvellous linguist. Just look at her now! The way she's welcoming in that party from Europe you'd think they were the most important guests ever ! She's got a real gift for reception work. David was lucky to get her !"

Lucky to get her. The lightly-spoken words sent a pang through Robyn's heart.

"It's just a pity she doesn't know as much about Island ways as she does about tourism in Europe," Mrs. Daley was saying. "The Fijian girls don't take kindly to being ordered about in that authoritative, do-it-or-else sort of way. She hasn't an idea of how to handle staff out here in the islands. They're like children, trusting and laughing and happy, and they'll do anything for you if you treat them in the right way. Oh well," she murmured philosophically, "give her time and one of these days she'll find out that you get better results with the native staff if you play it friendly, let them work along at their own pace more or less, instead of expecting them to jump every time to your beck and call."

"I suppose so." So there was one aspect of management of which the super-efficient Maria was ignorant. For a moment Selani's wistful face flashed to mind. Involved in her own emotional problems, Robyn had scarcely been aware until this moment that the big dark eyes held a shadow of late. Now she came to think of it Selani didn't dissolve into helpless giggles as often as she used to. How could Maria understand? She knew nothing of life in these unspoilt islands where the lazy beat of island music formed an endless background to sea and sand and wind-tossed palms.

"But give her time," Mrs. Daley said cheerfully. "She'll learn, after she's lost a lot of good faithful helpers. Or maybe David will put her in the picture about the relaxed way of life in the South Pacific ... that is, if he isn't too wrapped up in her to criticise anything she does."

There it was put into plain words, the truth that she had

 

tried to explain away, but there was no denying it any more. Robyn fled before her unsteady lips and stricken eyes could give away her anguished feelings. Blindly she went out into the brilliant sunshine, hurrying past the pool where guests lazed in the limpid water or sipped ice-cold drinks at the tables set on the grass beneath giant sun-umbrellas. Everyone appeared happy and carefree, everyone but herself. She took a path leading through the wild tangle of coconut palms David had insisted be left undisturbed when the alterations to the buildings were made. High in the branches a chorus of bird song echoed sweetly on the air and she was conscious of the fragrance of frangipani growing wild along the narrow pathway. There was everything here to make her happy — except David ! And then she saw him! For all her resolutions her foolish heart gave that too familiar leap. It was too late to turn back, he had already caught sight of her, and slowly she went forward along the path to meet him. Was his smile really so heart-catching or was it merely her own imagining? Just as all at once the sunshine seemed burnished to a higher gleam, the birdsong a wild carol of sound ... and all because David was coming along the path towards her, his face lighted with the special look he seemed to keep just for her.

"I've been looking for you, Rob ! Come along, you're just in time !" Suddenly everything was different, the misery of the past weeks swept away as he caught her hand in his warm clasp and drew her along the path at his side.

She had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. "Where are we going?" she queried.

"You'll see in a minute! Ever heard of the firewalkers of Fiji?"

"Yes, but

They emerged from the wild tangle of palms on the wide road leading to the native village. The air was acrid with the smell of smoke and Robyn caught the sound of men's voices, melodious and singing in harmony. The next moment they turned a bend in the track and came in sight of a group of Fijian men who were busily hurling great logs on to the flames curling over the huge stones that littered an old pit in the clearing beneath the trees. As a heap of brushwood was thrown over the stones, the flames crackled and leaped high and David drew her back from the intense heat. "You haven't seen the performance yet, have you?"

His touch, his smile, the warm tones of his voice were doing things to her composure. Her mouth said, "I've read about them, and Johnny told me that they'd even performed the ceremony here once or twice, ages ago, when Dad had the place." Her mind was saying, How can he look at me like that, in that deep soft loving way, as though he's missed me as much as I've missed him, when all the time...

"It's really something! The firewalkers come from Beqa, as far as I know the only island in the world where the ritual's known. You can see Beqa from here ... there it is, that tiny smudge on the horizon . .." An arm thrown lightly around her shoulders, he gestured towards a small blur on the shimmering blue of the ocean.

It was no use. His nearness was working its way under her defences. Unsteadily she murmured, "Isn't it something to do with the fire god?"

His gaze was on the men throwing a big log on the leaping flames. "That's right. The legend runs that two priests on the island have handed on to the natives there the power to withstand heat from the fire god. The warriors prepare beforehand for firewalking on white-hot stones, and so long as the particular conditions are kept to, the embers won't worry them. They simply won't feel pain or any heat!"

"Conditions?"

"That means fourteen days' preparation for the special ones. No coconuts to be eaten, no contacts with women. I was darn lucky to have managed to persuade them to come here tonight. Usually the ritual only takes place on their own island and then only once a year. Believe me, Rob, it's a spectacle you'll never forget! They say some devotees undertake to walk the fire in order for the goddess Kali to cure illness in themselves or their loved ones. They believe their immunity to fire was given them by an ancestor who spared the life of a spirit-god he caught while fishing for eels."

"It's incredible!"

"Wait till you see it happen !" He had forgotten to take his arm from around her shoulders.

She was silent, content to be here with him in the filtered sunshine slanting through the breadfruit trees. For a few fleeting magical moments she forgot about Maria and everything else in the sheer pulsing excitement of being with him once again. Then she remembered and quickly, feverishly, began to talk of other things. Her purchases in the stores in Suva, the extra stock needed for the craft shop, the sudden influx of guests. But all the time she knew there was something that must be said. At last she gathered herself as for a great effort, said, "David, about Johnny —"

She caught the imperceptible tightening of the mobile mouth and back to her old uncertain self, heard her uneven tones rushing on. "I tried to get in touch with him to ask him to come to the opening tonight, but I couldn't contact him. I rang the Yacht Club when I was in Suva, but he was away at sea and they didn't know when he'd be back. I left a message there for him, but ... I just couldn't get him," she finished lamely.

"I didn't expect you would."

She shrugged his arm away. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Rob. Why not face up to things, stop kidding yourself? He's no intention of ever coming back here, not unless he can walk in with a lot of money to back himself up. As to returning here and working for a salary —no, you won't see brother Johnny back at the Islander, unless I miss my guess ! "

"You don't know him —"

"Do you?"

He was pleasant, as always. Was it the thought of Maria that drove her on to persist in this inane argument, made her say bitterly, "You never did trust him, did you?"

"What's got into you, Rob?" He reached out to put a hand over her own. "He doesn't matter."

His touch was making her tremble inside. "He does, to me."

But he chose to ignore the low murmur. "Forget about him, he's not worth the worry. Look," his eyes were on the chanting natives as they threw armfuls of brushwood on the flames, "I want to be around when you see the ceremony tonight. I've arranged for the firewalkers to come over from Beqa by outrigger in time to perform the ceremony after the island dinner. Chances are I'll be caught up with the crowd up till then, but I'll be here with you by the pit to watch the firewalkers. Right?"

An impulse she couldn't control forced the words. "I thought ... Maria ..."

"Maria won't be seeing this particular show." The light pleasant tones were all at once stern and unyielding. His tone deepened. "It's better for her to keep away. I made her promise me she'd give it a miss."

What could he possibly mean? Could it be that Maria could not be spared from important duties on this particular night and he wanted Robyn with him as a standin, a temporary fill-in when for some reason she couldn't understand, he couldn't be with Maria at the enactment of the exotic ceremony? She didn't know who she hated most at this moment —David, who was making a convenience of her, or her traitorous self, for feeling so wildly happy at the thought of being with him again, after all these days of absence !

After that it didn't matter that groups of guests came strolling towards the singing Fijians and soon David was engaged in explaining to them the significance of the blue smoke weaving among the palms overhead. It was enough just to watch him unobserved, to take in the face she loved ... fool that she was !

That afternoon she was glad of the guests crowded in at the entrance of the gift store. The eager hands thrust towards her helped to make her forget . other things. A charming Canadian woman asked her advice in the matter of a choice in the long gaily printed sulu she intended buying to wear at the island dinner tonight. Should she settle for the brown tortoise design or the one printed in green palm trees? Robyn, wrenching her mind from her own problems, was in favour of the palms. She also suggested a matching lei of brilliant blossoms that Selani and the other Fijian girls on the staff had made in preparation of the special island night. An elderly man with a sheepish grin made a purchase of a fun-shirt patterned in dancing dusky maidens, a shy young Fijian girl bought a tortoiseshell hair clasp, a business man selected a miniature model of a carved outrigger canoe to take back with him to his home in the States.

It wasn't until later when Selani arrived to relieve her at the counter that Robyn realised she had made no preparation in the way of special clothing for the evening ahead. She supposed she should make an effort to match the festive occasion in spite of her own feelings. She sighed. Just one more thing she owed to David. Maybe one of the long sulus the Fijian girls wore to such advantage would help her to look like everyone else at the makiti tonight, gay and island-orientated and carefree, no matter how she felt deep down.

In a temporary lull of customers Selani smiled down from her greater height. "What are you going to wear to the makiti, Miss Carlisle?" she asked shyly.

Robyn raised her heavy glance to the great dark eyes. "I haven't thought. Would you care to help me choose something?"

Selani's broad face broke into a teeth-revealing smile. "I know. This one for you — the butterfly frock." Turning towards the stand with its cluster of vividly patterned cotton fabrics, she extended towards Robyn a short frock.

"I'll slip it on." Robyn took it into the diminutive fitting room still littered with the piles of cardboard cartons she never seemed to find time to sort out and slipped the frock over her head.

In the mirror her face stared back at her with drooping lips

and shadowed eyes. She would have to do better than this.

"So lovely !" Behind her Selani's approving glance eased for a moment the sense of heartache. Robyn lifted her arms and the wide butterfly sleeves fell about her. The white-and tan patterning of the cool fresh cotton accentuated the translucent apricot of her skin.

"Wait!" Selani slipped away to the big refrigerator in another room, returning with a lei of creamy frangipani. She slipped the flowers over Robyn's shoulders and at once the perfume rose around her, heady and evocative, taking her back to David ... a deserted beach ... his kiss ... a flower lei she had tried to keep alive long after the blossoms had lost their freshness. Just as she was now trying to keep alive a fleeting lost love. Roughly she lifted the flower circle from around her neck. "Put it back, Selani." Then seeing the girl's face fall, she added, "Don't worry, I'll come and get it again later."

"What do you think of this, Robyn?" Maria had entered the room, a length of glittering spangled silk falling from her hands. In a few expert twists she had draped the flame-coloured material around her shoulders and moved to the mirror to study the effect.

Even in a sarong, Robyn thought uncharitably, Maria appeared as though the material were specially woven with her in mind. Aloud she murmured reluctantly, "It suits you." But she knew the other girl wasn't really interested in her opinion. With Maria's undoubted confidence in her powers of attraction, her near-perfect figure, she had no need of anyone else to tell her how well the bright silk with its silver embroidery complemented her appearance.

Robyn made her escape, snatching up the cotton butterfly frock that all at once seemed childish and cheap and ordinary.

The sun had set in a flaming ball over the horizon when a native boy blowing a conch shell gave the signal for young Fijians to light the torches throughout the grounds. From the window of her unit, Robyn watched as guests sauntered towards long trestle tables set out on the grass. The women wore vividly printed shifts and sarongs, bought for the occasion, woven scuffs on their feet, a hibiscus blossom in their

hair or a flower lei swinging around their shoulders. The men had twisted lengths of printed material around their waists, some wore a blossom behind an ear, and all were in holiday mood. And David ... from the shelter of the darkening room she saw him move across the shadowed lawns. Casually elegant in putty-coloured shorts, cream silk shirt, a bright cravat, he reached the tables, splashed at intervals with great mounds of hibiscus blossoms. He stood still surveying the guests milling around and obviously searching for someone. Maria, probably, she mused bitterly. It was unlikely that he would notice or even care particularly whether or not she herself was there.

At last when she could delay no longer she moved along the flare-lighted path, a tall girl with long fair hair lifting on her shoulders in the breeze that was blowing the wide wings of the butterfly sleeves of her frock back from her bare arms.

"Robyn! I've been looking all over for you!" Kevin was beside her, his boyish face alight with pleasure. "I was just coming up to the house to ask Mum where you were —" He stopped short, aware of her expression of bewilderment. "Don't tell me you weren't expecting me tonight?"

"Oh yes, I was !" She gathered her wits together. How could she have forgotten their conversation on the telephone only last evening?

He led her towards a table where a party of air crew and hostesses were already seated. Robyn's swift glance raked the group, but neither Pam nor Bruce, the flight-engineer whom she had met on the occasion of her first island dinner, were amongst the party. How could she expect to see Pam here? What would be the use when Johnny had shown her only too plainly that he wanted to finish any emotional ties between them? Pam and Johnny, herself and David. Oh, why was everything so wrong?

She realised Kevin was touching her arm. "Any special seat?" She shook her head, scarcely realising what he was saying as her eyes searched the shadows. Then she caught sight of David as he strolled into the fitful light of the flares, a radiant glittering Maria at his side. At once his glance singled Robyn from the crowd and the other two came towards her. David drew her to his feet. "Just a word to mark the opening of the new motel, folks. First of all I'd like to introduce you all to the owner, Miss Robyn Carlisle ! "

Shyly Robyn acknowledged the applause of the onlookers, then David was drawing Maria forward, saying how fortunate was the new Pacific Islander Motel in having obtained her services. In his easy effortless way he went on to say he hoped everyone would enjoy the evening of feasting and dancing, Fijian-style. There was too a special performance to be held tonight, perhaps the strangest and most mysterious ceremony of the islands. Tonight the firewalkers were arriving by outrigger canoes from their island of Beqa to give a performance of the ancient ritual in the old pits a short distance away. Meantime, he was pleased to begin proceedings with the traditional drink of welcome. At that moment the pounding beat of a lali drum cut across the booming of the surf as flower-bedecked Islanders came out of the shadows to place on the tables great wooden bowls filled with Yaqona.

David passed Robyn a glass of the liquid and as their eyes met she wrenched her glance away, tried to smile. "Would you mind if I went back to my place at the end of the table?"

"I'll take you Almost he appeared to be disappointed, but that was absurd. Why should he mind, when he had Maria at his side? There was, however, no doubt about Kevin's delight on finding her seated once more beside him.

When the welcoming ceremony was over, bowls of steaming island delicacies were carried in — prawns in coconut cream, baked dalo, rourou and Indian curries. They were followed by mounds of tropical fruit, paw-paw, passion fruit, mangoes, bananas. Robyn nibbled a wedge of freshly sliced pineapple and tried to concentrate on what her companion was saying, but in spite of herself her gaze strayed back to David and Maria at the adjoining table.

As the island dinner drew to a close, the idle strumming of

 

guitars quickened and out of the darkness filed a group of Fijian dancers. Their flying skirts of dyed coconut fibre glowed in the flickering lights of flaring torches as men and girls moved in time with the infectious rhythm.

When they fell back, drums beat out a wild tattoo and the next moment tall stately Fijian warriors leaped and chanted, raising their pointed spears in the wild stamping of a native war dance.

Then as the ferocious movements came to an end, guitars once more took up their lazy rhythm and gradually diners moved from the tables to join the swaying Fijian dancers under a canopy of stars.

Thankfully Robyn got to her feet and went with Kevin. She had no wish that David should approach her in a duty-dance. Let him dance with his Maria, she thought angrily. She'd get over this ... this madness, of course she would! All she needed was a little time — and a chance to escape from his nearness. She forced herself to smile and chat, anything to prove to him how happy and carefree she was with her tall young escort.

One of the members of the party of air crew was her next partner and she took the opportunity of asking the air pilot if he knew Pam, as they moved over the dry grass. Was the other girl still on the Fiji route?

"Not for much longer," he told her. At the end of the month she was changing over to the London—Singapore air route. He didn't know why she had applied for a transfer. She'd seemed quite taken up with Fiji for a time, then all of a sudden she never wanted to see the place again! According to the grapevine she'd got tangled up with some guy in the islands. Shrugging his shoulders, he grinned towards Robyn. "You know how it is, or do you? Pacific moon ... soft warm nights . . . only sometimes it doesn't last."

Robyn felt a sharp disappointment that she wouldn't be seeing the other girl again. Pam was someone she would have liked very much to have as a friend, a real friend. Now all such thoughts were out of the question. If only Johnny — At that moment she caught sight of him. At least, someone who looked like Johnny was emerging from a short cut through the palms. Then he paused in the shadows and all but obscured by growing bushes, she realised that a slight figure stood beside him. He'd come after all, and brought Noeline with him! With a murmured excuse to her partner, Robyn fled, hurrying over the grass towards the two on the edge of the darkness.

When she reached the other two, excitement coloured her tones. "I knew you'd get here if you could ! Did you get my message? I left it with the Yacht Club, but they told me you were away on a cruise and they didn't now when you'd be back. How did you come? How long can you stay —?"

"Hey, hold it!" Johnny stemmed the eager flow. "We just called in to see you, actually —"

"Oh, but you must stay. Look, there's dancing ... soon the firewalkers are coming. You remember the old pits? They're still here, and David —" She broke off abruptly.

"Would just love to see me? Was that what you were going to say? Well, don't trouble yourself. He's got no time for me, never has had, and I feel the same way about him. I don't have to spell it out, do I? Tell you what — I'll have some definite news for him in a fortnight's time. It won't hurt him any to wait that long. That's an offer, Rob, just two weeks and I'll let him in my plans — definitely. Is that good enough for you?"

She said very low, "He's waited a long time already for you to turn up. You said when the place was in working order you'd be —"

"Hey, whose side are you on? Do you know what I think, Rob? I think you're way over in the enemy camp ! All this concern for Kinnear. He can look after himself, believe me, and if you'll take a little brotherly advice, I'd say to keep well clear of him." She caught the teasing note in his voice. "I'm not too late, am I? Don't tell me you're just like all the others? You've fallen for that easy charm of his?"

All the others? Swiftly she jerked herself back to some sort

of composure. "Don't be stupid, Johnny ! It's just that —" "Just that you're the world's worst worrier! Well, let it go at that. You think so, Noeline?"

Robyn glancing towards the other girl, caught her nod, the secret smile playing around the thin lips. They were both against her. Suddenly she knew it was hopeless trying to persuade Johnny to accept his responsibilities. Perhaps he was even coming around to her way of thinking in some strange odd way of his own. She had a suspicion the other two were planning to put into action some arrangement in connection with the motel. If only it wasn't the obvious solution that she was trying to thrust to the back of her mind.

"We've gotta get weaving," Johnny was saying. "Just called in to ask you to pass on the word to Kinnear to hold his horses — and to give you an invitation."

"To what?"

It was Noeline who answered, and Robyn found herself wondering at the note of suppressed excitement in the light tones. "It's Mum and Dad, they're putting on a party for me at the hotel next Saturday week. Just a little family celebration at the Lodge in Suva. Think you could come along, and bring David Kinnear too? Dad's thinking of getting into the land promotion game," she ran on before Robyn could answer. "He's ever so keen to meet the architect who's in charge of all the big jobs around here ... might be able to put some work his way."

"Thank you. I'll come if I can."

"And you'll bring Kinnear?" Johnny appeared strangely insistent on the point. He was tapping a sandalled foot impatiently.

"I'll ask him. That's the best I can do." Imagine David escorting her to a function at Johnny's request !

"Good girl," Johnny sounded relieved, "I knew I could leave it to you!"

She raised perplexed eyes. "It can't be all that important his coming . . . or me? Why do you want him?"

"I told you, I'm letting him in on my plans for the future.

It's what you wanted, isn't it? Besides —"

"You'd be surprised," Noeline cut in lightly. "Anyway, why don't you come along and find out for yourself? Come on, Johnny, the gang will be wondering where we've got to. We've got to get back." She linked a hand in his, threw a smile back over a thin shoulder that landed somewhere in Robyn's direction. "See you at the Lodge ! "

"Wait! Wait ! " Robyn ran into the shadows of the palms, clutching at Johnny's bare brown arm. But as he swung around she knew it was hopeless. It was useless pleading with him to stay. Instead she found herself saying, "It was very good of you to put all that art work my way. The contacts have led to all sorts of other orders —"

"What art work ?" His voice held a puzzled note.

"You know, the commission from the big hotels for the

painted murals and hangings. I've really made a start now —"

"I don't get it. What the devil are you talking about?"

"It wasn't you, then? You didn't tell them ... about

me . . ." she faltered.

"I only wish I had, but I'm not guilty this time I Maybe it's your friend Kinnear. I told you he was a deep one —"

"Oh no!"

"Come on, Johnny," Noeline urged, "we're late as it is!" "Coming, honey. 'Bye, Rob, see you at the Lodge !"

"And don't forget to bring David Kinnear with you,"

Noeline added.

"Goodbye !" Robyn turned thoughtfully away and moved back towards the torchlighted lawns. She was still unable to take in what she had learned. Johnny was right, David was a deep one. But why had he done such a thing? He had nothing to gain by furthering her career. She simply couldn't understand him, but one thing she did know. She would have to thank him and it would take every bit of her courage to do it.

"That wasn't Johnny, was it?"

David stood at her side looking down at her and almost she made the mistake of letting him see the intense happiness he roused in her just by being there. "It was, but he's gone. He was with Noeline and they were in too much of a hurry to stay. He left a message for me to give you —"

His rueful grin was disturbingly correct. "He's not coming back to work for a while?"

"He said he'd let you know something definite about his plans in two weeks' time," she said stiffly. She hadn't intended telling him about the invitation. What was the use, he wouldn't be interested. But all at once she changed her mind, threw it over to fate. "He and Noeline, they want you and me too, to come to a party at the Lodge, in Suva, on Saturday week. Her family are putting it on. I wasn't going to bother telling you —"

"Why not, Rob?" His voice was very gentle. "Don't you like parties?"

"It's not that, but —"

"Me, then?"

Oh, he knew just how to confuse her so that she couldn't think straight about anything ... except his nearness. "You know it wasn't that. I just thought you wouldn't be interested—"

"That's where you're wrong, Rob. I take it you want to go — so we'll go together."

"But what about Maria ?" The words were out before she could stop them and at his cool enquiring glance she would have given a lot to recall them.

"I got the idea from what you said," he was as pleasant, as unconcerned as ever, "that the invitation was only for the two of us?"

She nodded.

"Well then ..."

"I didn't think you'd want —"

"I want a lot of things Rob ... like dancing with you . have you ever danced under the stars?"

He was pulling her along with his warm grasp, fingers linked, and a few moments later they were a part of the rhythmic colourful group moving on the green grass to the haunting music of the throbbing guitars. A cool breeze from the sea sent the palm trees whispering and stirred the greenery surrounding the blowing flares. It was all heady, intoxicating. It would be so easy to allow herself to forget Maria, dancing not far away with one of the guests, her lips curved in laughter. Why not? She had everything in the world she wanted, including David.

Moving in rhythm, Robyn summoned all her composure. "I just wanted to say vinaka . . . isn't that the word for `thanks'?"

"That's the word, Rob, but you'll have to interpret the meaning."

"About the orders for pictures," if she kept moving she needn't glance directly into his face, "I thought it was Johnny who'd recommended me to the hotel people, and all the time it was you!"

"That's right. Anything wrong with that?"

"No, no, only I wish you'd told me at the time. Why didn't you?"

"You know why, Rob."

"But I don't." She raised her glance. The way he was regarding her started the trembling inside her.

"Just that you weren't too crazy about me at the time. I got the idea you mightn't have done anything about it if you'd known I was behind it."

"But afterwards?"

"I was saving it."

"Saving it?"

"Uh-huh. Special occasion.. ." the easy smile.

"I don't know whenever that would be," she heard herself say, inanely, childishly. He was still looking at her in that unfathomable way. "Anyway," she murmured, "it doesn't matter now, does it?"

Before he could answer Maria came hurrying towards them across the grass. "David, the firewalkers are here. They're waiting under the trees by the pit until you're ready for them to start the performance." She ignored Robyn. It was a way of Maria's, and Robyn could never decide whether or not it was deliberate.

"Right, we're ready now! I'll go and have a word with the firewalkers. You get the crowd moving, will you, Maria? Sorry to have to rush away, Rob." He turned and vanished into a pool of darkness along the narrow track. If only, Robyn thought with a sigh, Maria hadn't happened along at that moment. Or had the interruption been entirely accidental? She would never know.

She had entirely forgotten Kevin until suddenly he was at her side. "Come on, Robyn, you're just in time for the firewalkers. Ever seen the performance?"

"No." Together they joined in the crowd moving into the shadows of a narrow pathway. She was relieved when a party of students came hurrying towards Kevin. Now she could be alone with her thoughts. It was David who was responsible for her success in the art world here in Fiji. She still couldn't believe it.

At the end of the track they turned into an old road where flares threw their fitful beams over the stony surface. Overgrown palms along each side of the road tossed in the trade winds, brushing the faces of the laughing, chattering groups who were moving towards the pits. When they came in sight of the glowing embers Kevin was surrounded by the student group and Robyn found herself for the moment alone. All at once a quiver ran along her nerves. Even before he spoke she was aware of him, that was the extent to which David filled her thoughts.

"Now they're preparing for the ones from Beqa." His voice was matter-of-fact and over the tumult of her heart Robyn was aware of colourful figures illuminated in the glow of the fires. A shower of sparks flew upwards as with long vines and sticks the natives raked away the glowing logs, leaving exposed smooth surfaces of flat stones heated to a white heat.

Then out of the darkness, shouting and chanting, came the

Fijian warriors in their bright skirts and swinging leis, muscular dark legs garlanded with beads and flowers.

"If you're a disbeliever, just take a look at their feet after the ceremony," David spoke beside her. "You won't see a burn or a blister." He was very close, his voice in her ear.

"It's incredible!" His nearness was making her pulses leap, filling her with a subtle excitement that had nothing to do with the ancient ritual.

As the party of firewalkers made their purposeful way towards the edge of the pits, Robyn found she was holding her breath. "David, they can't ! They'll be burned to death ! "

"They won't, you know. Don't ask me how it's done. Just watch and you'll see for yourself. You'll be seeing something not many Europeans have seen. Not many folk have seen the ancient ritual, and those who do experience a spectacle they never forget."

Fascinated, awed, unable to look away, Robyn watched as with no apparent effort a man strode over the white-hot stones. He was followed by others, walking singly and in pairs. The last man in the line of Fijian firewalkers was almost over the glowing stones when Robyn realised there was a sudden movement amongst the crowd watching on the opposite side of the pit. As the crowd parted she caught David's quick exclamation. "It's Maria! I told her not to come ! I was afraid this would happen!" He hurried towards the group on the opposite side of the glowing stones. Someone shone a torch and in the beam of light Robyn saw him lift the inert girl from the ground, then the two disappeared in the darkness.

The ceremony over, the men who had trodden the white-hot stones dropped down to the scorched grass at the edge of the firelight. Cheerfully they raised for inspection the soles of feet quite unharmed and apparently unaffected by heat or burning. Other Fijians were chanting and singing as they tossed leaves and branches over the glowing stones, then covered them with sand.

"Hard to believe your eyes, isn't it?" Robyn became aware of Kevin's voice. He must have been in the jostling crowd close by her all the time, but, absorbed in the spectacle, and David, she hadn't realised he was there.

"Oh yes, it was worth coming to see!" They were turning away, moving with the groups strolling along the metalled roadway, in the direction of the main building. But already Robyn had forgotten the awe-inspiring spectacle, for something else tugged at her mind. Why had David endeavoured to keep Maria away from the ceremony of the firewalkers, and why had she dropped in a dead faint at the sight of the spectacle? Maria, who appeared to be the most confident of women, not one to collapse at sight of a native ritual, however awesome. She couldn't understand it. All she knew was that whether intentionally or otherwise somehow the other girl appeared to have an unhappy knack of ruining the rare moments Robyn had alone with David. In one way or another Maria always succeeded in drawing his attention away from Robyn and capturing it for herself. Or was she once again being uncharitable towards the other girl?

She couldn't understand Maria any more than she could fathom the reason why David had been instantly agreeable to accept an invitation to a celebration given by Noeline's parents. It was all quite beyond her. All she knew was that she was tired of being used by him as a convenient substitute for someone he really loved. Next time she would be stronger, she wouldn't allow herself to fall a victim to the stirring of her pulses — or the sense of his nearness that got under all her defences.