returned. "And, and what am I to do for My Lady?" Wili spoke with his best
diffidence.
"Whatever Paul asks."
She led him around to the back of the mansion where a large pool, almost a lake,
spread away under the pines. The water looked clear, though here and there
floated small clots of pine needles. Toward the center, out from under the
trees, it reflected the brilliant blue of the sky. Downslope, through an opening
in the trees, Wili could see thunderheads gathering about Vandenberg.
"Now off with your clothes and we'll see about giving you a bath." She moved to
undo the buttons on his shirt, an adult helping a child.
Wili recoiled. "No!" To be naked here with the woman!
Irma laughed and pinned his arm, continued to unbutton the shirt. For an
instant, Wili forgot his pose ў that he was a child, and an obedient one. Of
course this treatment would be unthinkable within the Ndelante. And even in
Jonque territory, the body was respected. No woman forced baths and nakedness on
males.
But Irma was strong. As she pulled the shirt over his head, he lunged for the
knife strapped to his leg, and brought it up toward her face. Irma screamed.
Even as she did, Wili was cursing himself.
"No, no! I am going to tell Paul." She backed away, her hands held between them,
as if to protect herself. Wili knew he could run away now (and he couldn't
imagine these three catching him) ў or he could do what was necessary to stay.
For now he wanted to stay.
He dropped the knife and groveled. "Please, Lady, I acted without thought."
Which was true. "Please forgive me. I will do anything to make it up." Even,
even...
The woman stopped, came back, and picked up the knife. She obviously had no
experience as a foreman, to trust anything he said. The whole situation was
alien and unpredictable. Wili would almost have preferred the lash, the
predictability. Irma shook her head, and when she spoke there was still a little
fear in her voice. Wili was sure she now knew that he was a good deal older than
he looked; she made no move to touch him. "Very well. This is between us, Wili.
I will not tell Paul." She smiled, and Wili had the feeling there was something
she was not telling him. She reached her arm out full length and handed him the
brush and soap. Wili stripped, waded into the chill water, and scrubbed.
"Dress in these," she said after he was out and had dried himself. The new
clothes were soft and clean, a minor piece of loot all by themselves. Irma was
almost her old self as they walked back to the mansion, and Wili felt safe in
asking the question that had been on his mind all that morning: "My Lady, I
notice we are all alone here, the four of us ў or at least so it appears. When
will the protection of the manor lord be returned to us?"
Irma stopped and after a second, laughed. "What manor lord? Your Spanish is so
strange. You seem to think this is a castle that should have serfs and troops
all round." She continued, almost to herself, "Though perhaps that is your
reality. I have never lived in the South.
"You have already met the lord of the manor, Wili." She saw his uncomprehending
stare. "It's Paul Naismith, the man who brought you here from Santa Ynez."
"And... " Wili could scarcely trust himself to ask the question,"... you all,
the three of you, are alone here?"
"certainly. But don't worry. You are much safer here than you ever were in the
