The Tamarind Seed Read Free Page B

you.’
    There was nothing she could do to stop him.
    When it did rain they stayed in the sea, swimming out and coming back on the crest of the frothing little waves. There were patches of coral which could cut the feet to ribbons. He warned her about them, and she found herself obeying him and swimming clear. Judith began to tire; the man swam like a professional, with long strokes of great power. He was obviously very fit. She lay on her back and floated. The brief shower slackened and died off. Immediately the sun poured out, the sky turned back to a hot blue, and the sunbathers reappeared on the beach like wasps coming down on a picnic.
    â€˜Machineel,’ Sverdlov swam up to her. ‘That is the name of it.’
    â€˜The name of what?’
    â€˜The tree that is poisonous. Will you come back now, and have some coffee with me?’
    As they stepped out of the water, he got hold of her arm and pulled her to one side.
    â€˜That is coral there. You must buy some shoes. I will drive you into the town before lunch. There is a shop where I got mine.’
    â€˜No thank you, I’d rather sit on the beach,’ Judith said. He had let her go, and was walking beside her. He was taking too much for granted. She needed shoes, but she wasn’t going into Bridgetown with him. She hadn’t come to Barbados to pick up with another man.
    â€˜I’ll order the coffee,’ Sverdlov said.
    She was lying on the canvas lounging bed with her arm up, covering her eyes against the sun. She didn’t hear him come back on the soft sand and he walked slowly, looking at her. He had never liked big women, or women with the motherly breasts which were considered so erotic in his own country. It occurred to him that his people were as obsessed with the mother figure as the Americans. Perhaps neither societies gave enough security at the start of life, hence this mania for suckling that disguised itself as a sexual stimulus. To Sverdlov, the body of the English girl was truly beautiful. It had shape and delicacy, a warm brown colour, with a line of white along the pelvic bone, where her bathing briefs had slipped. He stood looking down at her.
    â€˜If you will tell me the size of your shoes, I will go and buy them for you,’ he said. She sat up; he stood over her, not moving.
    â€˜I won’t intrude on you,’ he said. ‘I will get the shoes, but I won’t intrude. You mustn’t cut your feet. It would spoil your holiday.
    â€˜Please sit down—they’re bringing our coffee now.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ he said. ‘I would like to drink it with you. If you are sure you don’t mind?’
    â€˜No,’ Judith said, ‘of course not. It’s very kind of you to worry about the shoes. I’m sorry if I sounded rude.’
    He was not a handsome man; the slight twist of his mouth to one side gave his face a dour aspect, which completely altered when he smiled.
    â€˜You were not rude,’ he said. ‘You were telling me I went too fast. I understand. Here is the coffee. Will you give me three spoons of sugar please?’
    â€˜You have a very sweet tooth,’ Judith said. She realised that she had relaxed with him. The assumption of authority had been disturbing; more so because she had responded to it so naturally. He was used to giving orders.
    â€˜What do you do in the Embassy?’
    â€˜I am a military attaché. I work with General Golitsyn. Does his name mean anything to you?’ He had been looking out to sea when he answered Judith’s question; he turned and the light grey eyes had the same intent expression that made it difficult to look away.
    â€˜No,’ Judith said. ‘Why should it?’
    â€˜He’s been in America for nearly three years. You said you knew Washington.’
    â€˜I know someone who lives there—works there, I mean. I used to go down for a weekend sometimes and stay with friends. I don’t mix in