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Show 2U1 "Tha river, sir." "Let's have a look. Coming along?" he asked the Satterwhites, "You go, Marvin," said Mrs Satterwhite, fanning herself. "I'll wait." And she indicated a bench beside a catalpa. The General grunted and marched away, followed by the entourage, as Mrs Satterwhite sat back to rest. A solitary type really, she enjoyed moments alone, particularly when, as with Curtis, companionship involved a continual violation of her spirit. For there was, about her brother, a constant silent intrusion: it was as if he wished to rip her open, violate her, make her betray herself. Always she was on the defensive. Consequently she was not completely pleased when a Detachment jeep rounded the corner, eased up as it passed the line of Engineer vehicles, and came to a stop only a few feet distant. The woman beside the driver glanced about without seeing Mrs Satterwhite, spoke briefly to the driver and the two women in the back seat, and proceeded to step down. "Harriet!" said Mrs Satterwhite. Her eyes swept over the trim figure, the sleek legs exposing their graceful length as they reached groundward. "What a coincidence." "Indeed," said Harriet. "We were just passing through and thought we'd stop." She nodded at Phyllis Parker and Evelyn Murakami, who had debarked and stood at her side. Harriet gazed around. "Not much left, is there?" She pondered for a moment, and looked back at Mrs Satterwhite. "You're not alone?" "The others have gone to look at the river-" "Then we mustn't leave you. We'll stay till they return." |