Black Mischief Read Free Page A

been much danger. For me the biggest danger is that I have learned to deceive, sometimes by telling lies and sometimes by just not telling the truth. If I wanted to give an excuse for myself, I would say I did all this not for myself but to protect another person. I was afraid for Thomas. I became a clever liar and I became less tender for being so. Sally, I was not honest when I came to your home in Karen. Did my lies help to kill Julius? Yes, they did. When I started out on this dangerous path I thought I was being strong. Julius was too strong for me. I was weak and in a panic.’
    â€˜Child, when you came to me, I saw these things and my weakness was that I was a deceiver too, hiding away from the truth. I hoped you would come to love Julius. Darling, these wounds will be with us to the end, but the blood has dried and we must wash it away, together. But, you know, part of the problem is that we are little people and we think that happiness is our birthright. On very good days I have a little chuckle about this. It’s true! It always helps. One time I was alone in the bedroom and I took off all my clothes and stood in front of my long mirror. It still makes me smile when I remember it. I moved about a bit. In seconds I was laughing out loud and talking to that woman wobbling back at me. That’s a pretty face, Sal, but with all that blubber, don’t think of entering any races! Picture it!’
    Without rising from her chair, she gently shook the upper part of her body. ‘Isn’t it hilarious? Our dog can do it much better!’
    The chuckle was back, and the broad smile. She kept the movement going, raised her bent arms and swayed sinuously as though she was dancing. A burst of coarse laughter was infectious and all her companions, almost in spite of themselves, were smiling, with Rebecca and even Angela bending over and happily losing control.
    Sally stopped her moving and gradually the laughter subsided. The solemnity returned, at a deeper level than before the change of mood. There followed a long, relaxed silence broken by a subdued Sally.
    â€˜I want to ask you a favour. Abel wants to visit.’ Another silence with Maura and Rafaella, and Angela and Rebecca exchanging puzzled looks. ‘I can see you are shocked. He needs to talk with Alex and Thomas.’
    â€˜But why, Sally? It’s not six months ago that he wanted to kill Tom. If it’s anything to do with that horrible night, why don’t you include Stephen? He would have been the first to die if Abel had pulled the trigger.’
    â€˜Maura, when I cooled his anger just enough to prevent him pulling the trigger, that was the greatest achievement of my life and I thank God for it every day. And I beg you to let him come.
    Try to see him for what he is today. Rafaella, Angela, Rebecca and you, Maura, you are the dearest women in the world to me. You do not judge me. I am not the big man’s wife here. Talk to your men. See what they say. Let me know.’

Chapter Three
    euben Rubai was the second son of Sally and Abel and quite different from his elder brother. While Julius was tall and muscular, Reuben was shorter and wiry. Julius was proud of his close crop of tight, curly hair. Reuben worked hard to look after his thick, flowing locks which his brother often told him was a sign that he was not a proper Rubai. ‘They make you look like a whitey with black skin. Get them shaved off. I’ll do the job. No charge.’
    Reuben’s reply was to smile and shake his head as he pushed the hair back from his forehead. ‘Uh,uh. This mop will come in handy one day. Just you wait.’
    Julius was a loner with no close friends. Reuben loved mixed company and could call on a dozen or more people to help him when he found himself in trouble. Julius was spoilt and Reuben scorned him for grovelling to their father to make sure he was well stocked with funds. He resented his father for not recognising or not