The High Valley Read online

  But even as she stood there a boy appeared from the direction of the kitchen quarters and Morgana recognised him as the boy who had attended to their horses the previous day. He was carrying a tray of coffee, and he smiled when he saw Morgana.

  “Bom dia, senhorita,” he said, politely. “You are up very early.”

  Thankful that he spoke English, Morgana nodded. “I appear to be. Tell me – what time does Senhora Salvador usually have breakfast?”

  The boy frowned. “The Senhora Marianna usually breakfasts in her room, senhorita. And this tray of café is for Father Juan. He is soon leaving for the church in the valley.”

  “I see.” Morgana was at a loss for a moment.

  “If you wish I will bring you some café, senhorita, just as soon as I have taken this to the Father.”

  “Thank you.” Morgana nodded gratefully. “I – I'll be in the lounge.”

  “There is a small study here,” said the boy, stepping forward and throwing open a door. “Perhaps the senhorita would prefer to sit in here.”

  Morgana walked tentatively into the room whose walls were lined with books. Even at this early hour a fire burned in the grate and it was very warm and comfortable. Looking round at the boy, she said:

  “This is perfect, thank you – what is your name?”

  “Pieter, senhorita.”

  “Well – thank you, Pieter. I'll wait here.”

  “Yes, senhorita.”

  Pieter closed the door behind him and left her and Morgana looked about her with interest. Obviously this room was used by Senhora Salvador as a kind of study-cum-reading room, and perhaps Luis used it also when he was here. It overlooked the flowers in the courtyard, and if its view was less spectacular than that of the lounge it made up for it in being more intimate. The carpet on the floor was well-worn and the upholstered chairs had rather faded patterns upon them. There was an air of warmth and personality about it and Morgana was grateful to Pieter for being so astute as to realise that she would have felt out of place alone in the lounge.

  When he returned he had a tray on which stood a jug of coffee, some rolls, still warm from the oven beside a dish of curls of butter, and a pot of home made conserve. Morgana looked at him delightedly and said: “How did you know I was hungry?”

  Pieter smiled. “Obviously the senhorita would be hungry. She ate very little at dinner last evening.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “My mother is the cook,” he replied simply.

  “Your mother?”

  “Sim. Benjo is my father.”

  “Ah!” Morgana understood. “And you all work for the senhora?”

  “Sim, senhorita. It is very pleasant here at the Villa Carrilhão.”

  Morgana applied herself to the rolls and looking up saw that Pieter was still watching her. Frowning, she said: “Do you want to say something else, Pieter?”

  He frowned. “O Halcão, the senhor, he tell me that you may wish to go riding. He asked me to offer myself as your escort.”

  “Luis said that?” Morgana was so surprised she forgot to be formal.

  “Sim, senhorita.”

  Morgana felt nonplussed. “Well – I – I should enjoy that very much, Pieter,” she said, at length. “But are you sure the senhor said I might leave the villa?”

  “Sim, senhorita. Besides, I shall be with you.”

  Morgana looked rather wryly at him, and his young face became stern.

  “I can use a rifle, senhorita. I am not a boy. I am a man!”

  Morgana's cheeks turned slightly pink. “I – I'm sure you are, Pieter,” she agreed, gently. “I'm sorry if I implied otherwise.”

  Pieter smiled again. “That is all right, senhorita.“ He stepped backwards and caught the handle of the door. “Will you be ready to leave in about half an hour?”

  “Half an hour?” Morgana was astounded. “You mean we should ride this morning?”

  Pieter's face changed again. “You do not wish to do so?”

  Morgana shook her head helplessly. “I – I never thought of it,” she admitted, awkwardly. “But – I suppose we could.” She frowned. “All right, Pieter. If you think Senhora Salvador won't mind.”

  “Senhora Marianna does not get up until ten o'clock,” replied Pieter knowledgeably. “We will be back before she knows we have gone.”

  Morgana wasn't at all sure that this was what Luis had meant when he had suggested that Pieter might accompany her riding, but she did not want to think about him right now. And it would be exhilarating to get out in the air, even if her thighs did ache a little from yesterday's experience.

  “All right,” she said now. “I'll meet you in the courtyard in about thirty minutes.”

  After Pieter had left her, Morgana finished her breakfast, relaxing for a few minutes in her chair before going to put on another sweater. Apart from the anxieties that plagued her concerning the fate of the other passengers from the plane she knew she was not finding this interlude at all unpleasant. Excitement rippled along her veins in a way she had never before experienced, and the prospect of the ride ahead of her was a very agreeable one. Pieter was a nice boy and he would be good company. Even so, she was sure he was as accomplished with his rifle as he had claimed. Otherwise, she thought dryly, Luis might not have agreed so readily to her having so much freedom. Although why he would care what happened to her was beyond comprehension.

  It was not yet eight o'clock as they left the villa, Pieter dismounting to close the wooden doors behind them. Morgana couldn't help feeling apprehensive as she looked down the steep winding track, and she waited until Pieter had mounted again and allowed him to lead the way on his chestnut pony. It had been so much less terrifying coming up, but she refused to panic, letting Consuelo pick her own way down through the rocky passes. And after a while her confidence returned and she was able to take pleasure in the day and in the magnificent panorama spread out below them.

  Pieter must have sensed her nervousness, for he refrained from speaking until they reached the lower slopes and he was able to ride beside her. He was an attractive boy and as he turned to smile at her understandingly she felt a warmth of feeling towards him.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked now, putting a hand on the mare's pommel and glancing back rather thankfully up the winding track that they had now successfully negotiated.

  Pieter looked around. “Where would you like to go? We can ride along the lake shore if you like. Sometimes I come swimming here.”

  “Swimming!” Morgana was interested in spite of herself. “But isn't it cold?”

  “Icy!” he admitted with a laugh. “But wonderfully clear. Come. We will go this way.”

  Allowing the mare full rein, Morgana cantered along behind him through the semi-tropical undergrowth that grew in such profusion on the narrow ledges above the water. From here the lake looked quite green, but Morgana knew it was the reflection of the foliage, for from above it was quite blue.

  Eventually, Pieter turned his mount away from the water and they followed the path through a belt of trees. The sun was beginning to find its strength and the dappled shade of the forest was very pleasant. They emerged onto an open stretch of land and in the distance Morgana could see rising plumes of smoke.

  “Is that another village?” she asked, with interest.

  Pieter looked and shook his head frowningly. “I don't know,” he said, obviously puzzled. “I didn't know anybody lived here.”

  Morgana felt a tremor of excitement in the pit of her stomach. “You mean – it could be trouble?” she asked. “You don't suppose someone has invaded your valley, do you?”

  Pieter gave her a scornful glance. “Of course not. There is no pass into the valley.”

  Morgana frowned. “But surely there must be some way in …”

  Pieter shrugged. “Oh, yes, there is a way. But that is something else again.” He frowned. “Do not ask me about things like that.”

  Morgana coloured. “I didn't ask you,” she
contradicted him. “I was merely making an observation.”

  Pieter compressed his lips. “Very well, I'm sorry.” He was obviously disturbed by the sight of the smoke and Morgana felt rather sorry for him.

  Sighing, she said: “Couldn't we go and investigate?”

  Pieter gave an impatient gesture. “You cannot be serious, senhorita. Whoever is responsible for that smoke we cannot risk getting involved until we have reported to someone.”

  Morgana shrugged her slim shoulders. “So?”

  Pieter chewed his lips. “Not far from here there is an army depot,” he said, slowly, thinking aloud. “I could ride there.”

  “And me?” exclaimed Morgana, ungrammatically

  Pieter frowned. “Could you go back alone?”

  Morgana gasped. “No! Can't I come with you.”

  Pieter was obviously struggling with his priorities. He needed to make his report, but he knew also that he was responsible for the safety of the senhorita.

  With a shake of his head, he looked helplessly at her. “O Halcão would not be pleased if I took you with me,” he said.

  Morgana shrugged. “Need O Halcão know?”

  Pieter raked his hands through his hair. “Yes – no! Oh, I don't know!”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake,” exclaimed Morgana. “Stop behaving like a child. You told me you were a man. What would O Halcão do in this situation? Would he worry about taking a helpless female back to the security of the villa, or would he ride like the wind to report possible invasion of his territory”

  Pieter sighed. “Of course, you are right. I must go and report. Very well, senhorita, you will have to come. But I warn you …”

  Morgana shook her head. “Don't threaten me, Pieter. I have no intention of trying to escape. Where could I escape to?”

  Pieter nodded. “You are right again. Now – how well can you ride? We must not waste any time.”

  Morgana was doubtful of her capabilities when it came to hard riding. It wasn't too difficult, sitting astride the mare and allowing it to make the pace, but the prospect of sitting low in the saddle, digging in one's heels, and driving the animal to the ultimate of its ability was an entirely different matter.

  However, Pieter just told her to lie low over the mare's neck and allow her to choose her way. She was a sure footed beast, and could be relied upon not to throw her. Even so, by the time they had been riding for about fifteen minutes, Morgana felt shaken to the marrow, and sore in every limb.

  The track they followed brought them to where Luis had parked the Land Rover the day before, and Morgana saw the black stallion had been turned into a long corral. But instead of taking the road back to the village, they turned instead down a narrow track that gradually gave way to a gravel coated path that ran alongside a pair of railway lines. This discovery was so surprising that for a while Morgana forgot her weariness in wondering exactly where Pieter was taking her. Now she could see caves ahead of them and the narrow railway track disappeared inside one of them. They saw some men, grimed and curious, who waved at Pieter and stared with obvious curiosity at Morgana. They must be the miners, she thought, wondering what was mined here in the mountains of La Nava.

  She didn't have long to wait. Further along she saw heavy wagons loaded with a rocklike substance waiting to be driven away, and it was here that Pieter was halted and hauled from his horse by a very angry-looking man with a curling moustache. Morgana watched in astonishment as the man shouted angrily at Pieter in their own language, gesturing wildly at Morgana, and then at the surrounding sheds where groups of men had come out to watch.

  Obviously this was the mine and Pieter had done an unforgivable thing by bringing her here. For the first time she felt a ripple of trepidation as she wondered what Luis might have to say about this incident. But she was innocent of all blame. They had seen the smoke, and Pieter had had to report it. Surely that was excuse enough.

  Now Pieter was explaining, gesturing vigorously, telling these men of their discovery. The men listened grimly and then bit out a stream of remonstrance that caused Pieter to grasp the bridle of his horse a trifle weakly. He was shaking his head now, and looking unhappily at Morgana, and she shifted uncomfortably on her horse, wondering what she would do if these men should decide to haul her down also.

  But eventually, after one of the men had spit rudely on the ground in front of Pieter, he was allowed to mount his pony again and leaning over he grasped Morgana's bridle. “Let's get out of here,” he said, sharply, and she clung to the pommel as he wheeled the horses and galloped back the way they had come.

  For a while they rode in silence, but as the railway tracks disappeared into the trees, Pieter slowed and hunching his shoulders rode slowly on. Morgana looked at him curiously, wondering what she could say. Obviously he had been blamed for bringing her to the mine, but that still didn't alter the fact that they had seen smoke, and their reasons for approaching those men had not been ones of inquisitiveness.

  With a sigh, she said softly: “Pieter! What's the matter? What happened back there?”

  Pieter looked round at her grimly, and then his features relaxed. “Did you understand any of it?” he queried, briefly.

  Morgana shrugged. “Well, it was apparent they didn't care for you bringing me there,” she said. “Apart from that – no.”

  Pieter lifted his shoulders in a defeated gesture. “I see.”

  “But why were they so angry? I'm only a woman. What did they expect me to do?”

  Pieter ran a hand round the back of his neck rather wearily. “I knew I shouldn't have taken you. O Halcão will be furious!”

  Morgana shook her head impatiently. “For heaven's sake, Pieter, you had a duty to report that smoke!”

  Pieter compressed his lips. “Oh, yes,” he said, “I had a duty!”

  Morgana stared at the back of his head in exasperation. “What is wrong? Weren't they interested in what you had to say?”

  “No.”

  “But why? Are there people living there after all?”

  Pieter pressed his mount forward. “Come,” he said, ignoring her question. “It's getting late. The senhora will worry about you.”

  “Pieter!” Morgana gave an angry shout as he began to put many lengths between them. “Pieter – wait!”

  The rest of their ride was completed in silence, and not even the hair-raising bends of the track up to the villa could rid Morgana of her sense of frustration. The ride which had begun so well had ended disastrously, and now it was likely that not only Pieter but she, too, would get into trouble over it.

  It was almost eleven o'clock as they cantered through the gates of the villa, and even as Morgana slid wearily from the horse, Senhora Salvador came out onto the terrace to regard them angrily.

  “Pieter!” she said, fiercely. “Just exactly where do you think you have been?”

  Morgana raised a hand to intercede on Pieter's behalf, but he would not allow a woman to speak for him.

  “O Halcão has permitted me to accompany the senhorita when she wishes to go riding, senhora,” he replied, politely.

  Marianna looked no less angry. “Indeed. And at what hour did you leave the villa?”

  “It was about eight o'clock,” said Morgana, swiftly.

  Marianna looked at her distastefully. “Thank you, senhorita, but Pieter is perfectly capable of speaking for himself.”

  Feeling rather like a chastised child herself, Morgana waited while Marianna verbally castigated her companion. Pieter listened in silence as Marianna informed him that in future he would not ride with the senhorita unless it was on her instructions. Nodding, his head bent, Pieter allowed the tide of her anger to flow over him, making no mention of their visit to the mine or of the welcome they had received there.

  All in all it had turned out to be a disastrous morning, thought Morgana, tiredly, wishing she could go and soak her aching limbs in a bath of hot water.

  At last Marianna seemed satisfied that Pieter had been suitably admo
nished, and with a gesture she indicated that Morgana should precede her into the villa. In the hall, Morgana stood feeling as untidy and dishevelled as she had done the previous day, her eyes taking in the svelte picture Marianna made in her silk suit, her hair sleekly groomed.

  “Now, senhorita,” Marianna began, raking her mercilessly with cold grey eyes and obviously finding her wanting. “I do not have to remind you that your position here is difficult enough as it is without you complicating matters by behaving irresponsibly. Already you have got the boy, Pieter, into serious trouble, and you haven't been here twenty-four hours yet!”

  “I'm sorry, senhora.“ Morgana was resigned.

  “Being sorry helps no one. I suggest you think before acting in future. Surely it occurred to you that I might expect you to be here when I arose!”

  Morgana sighed. “We expected to be back by then.”

  “And why weren't you?”

  “We must have ridden further than we intended,” Morgana replied, rather lamely, but she could hardly tell Marianna what had happened if Pieter had not done so.

  Marianna tossed her head impatiently. “Of course I knew there would be trouble,” she exclaimed. “Ricardo was a fool to think he could direct the course of events by proving his own beliefs! As it is, he has created an impossible situation!” She looked contemptuously at Morgana. “Oh, go and change! You look hot and untidy. I shall expect you down for lunch at one o'clock.”

  Morgana needed no second bidding although her pride rebelled at Marianna's deliberate intimidation. She was no child, after all, no boy like Pieter who relied on her for his livelihood. She didn't have to take orders from anyone.

  Even so, it was easier not to argue and without waiting for further argument she went swiftly up the stairs.

  The rest of the day passed reasonably quietly. There was just the two of them for lunch, and although Marianna endeavoured to question Morgana closely about herself, Morgana succeeded in making only monosyllabic replies, which seemed to annoy her hostess considerably. Marianna was obviously trying to weigh her up; trying to decide exactly what level of society Morgana was used to, and why she should have been in Brazil in the first place. Talking briefly about her stay with the Dennisons, Morgana wondered what her father would do when he heard the news of the plane's capture. Might he fly to Brazil in the hope of gaining more news? The realisation that it could be weeks or even months before she saw him again was a devastating notion. And yet already her conscious mind was adapting itself to its new surroundings, and while she missed her father terribly, she knew she would miss the valley, too, when she left.